Local StoriesMay 22, 2023

Meet Shantera Chatman

Local Stories

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Shantera Chatman. Shantera was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Kandice Cole.

Shantera, thank you so much for joining us today. We’d love for you to bring our readers up to speed – can you introduce yourself and share your story?
My story is not unlike many who grew up in a poor neighborhood. I was raised by a single mother who did the best she could for her kids. I knew I would do better because I loved school and was determined to make it out. I remember being called “at risk” by school counselors and that bothered me so much. “At risk for what?”, I would think. I knew it meant something bad and I had to prove them wrong. And so I did. As I grew up, I was the girl who made straight A’s and did not have time for foolishness. I was on the drill team in high school and dated the star football player, but he had to step up his game to be seen with me (not the other way around). I had very high standards early on. It was not a surprise that I graduated at the top of my class and went to Texas A&M University where I graduated with a degree in Information & Operations Management.

Once I graduated, my career as a consultant began. I worked as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton for 13 years where I serviced the Johnson Space Center. I broke barriers and was the “only” in the room for many years. The only Black and the only woman in some cases. Little did I know, this would be my story for years to come.

Please tell us more about your brand, PowHer Consulting & HerWay Retreat
PowHer Consulting is a boutique culture development consultancy that helps our clients build strong cultures through strategic planning, engagements, and communications. These engagements and communications encompass organizational & cultural assessments, leadership development & training, stakeholder analysis, and equitable workplace coaching. PowHer Consulting is a minority, woman-owned business that has over 20 years of experience in government, the aerospace, oil & gas, higher education, and automotive industries. With a stellar reputation for building strong client relationships, PowHer Consulting has built an online resource, PowHer Learning Portal, for its clients that allows for facilitating workshops and/or difficult conversations in all the areas the firm has expertise. I am most proud that I built the PowHer Consulting brand and it is becoming recognized for quality delivery.

Kandice Cole and K. Cole Wellness have been great to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship with them as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about Kandice Cole and K. Cole Wellness and your experience with them.
I have known Kandice Cole for years but was first introduced to K. Cole Wellness during the pandemic. She was offering virtual mini-retreats and I registered to attend. At first, I thought I would attend simply to support my friend, but shortly after the event started I was entrenched in the event fully. It was nothing I had ever experienced and not what I expected. I loved it It was fun and approachable and relaxing. I found myself waiting for the next one. As the host of The HER Way Retreat, a luxury experience for Black female executives, K. Cole Wellness was the first and only company I sought for the retreat. Kandice has a very unique way of curating experiences that is unlike any other company or organization. First, she listens intently. She hears everything her client says about their goals and vision for an event. At one point, I thought she was just taking notes for the sake of taking notes until I saw the finished products. Kandice delivered a curated experience within my experience that had guests in tears. She made them feel seen in ways that were unexpected. Her use of art, music, poetry, and nature allowed the most closed individuals to interact with her and leave asking for more.

K. Cole Wellness is a staple at my retreat and is the most requested. As I plan for next year’s event, I do so knowing that K. Cole Wellness has to be on the agenda or I risk losing repeat attendees. Kandice and K. Cole Wellness are diamonds in the rough that can never be duplicated. There are many self-care practitioners, but not many can reach each person individually. Kandice’s superpower is her ability to see you for who you are and walk with you on your journey at your pace all while not interrupting the person sitting next to you. How does she do it? By being unapologetically Kandice.