Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Daniels.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started S. Daniels Consulting after working in the nonprofit sector for a while and consistently seeing the same issues plague nonprofits. The challenges tended to be operational issues, so I figured I could use my knowledge and expertise to create an opportunity to support nonprofits in that way. I also felt challenges at a lot of jobs I worked at with feeling boxed in or not being challenged enough. I felt that past jobs couldn’t provide me with the space to be a thought leader or continual learner, so I would grow bored quickly. I also had past jobs that were extremely unforgiving when dealing with personal issues or didn’t provide room for autonomy.
All of the aforementioned pushed me into starting my own business. My future goals include scaling my business to provide more jobs as well as use some of the revenue to support the development of local community projects in my hometown.
I was born and raised in southwest Louisiana and currently reside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I was a first-generation college student who successfully matriculated through three-degree programs and obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in General Studies in Arts & Humanities, a Master’s degree from the University of New Orleans in Public Administration in Nonprofit Management, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Southern University and A&M College in Public Policy.
I am a certified facilitator and trainer on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). I am a member of the Urban League of Louisiana Greater New Orleans Chapter of Young Professionals and Forum 225. I also volunteer with The Butterfly Society domestic violence organization and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling abroad, creating art, and listening to music.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This journey has been interesting, sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating, but always worth it. Starting a business with minimal capital creates a variety of challenges along the way. It requires a lot of persistence and resourcefulness to keep the business running. Personal challenges also interfere will the work. As a business owner, I often deal with issues of rejection (when business deals fall through) and the feelings that come with it. In addition, I often struggle with perfectionism in my work which creates barriers to productivity. Running a business doesn’t exempt me from very real and deep human emotions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
S. Daniels Consulting was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The firm’s work focuses on helping clients optimize their operations to create more efficiency in their services or offerings. This is done by providing a variety of tailored solutions for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
When working with clients, I identify problems, then diagnose them, and finally find and implement solutions. S. Daniels Consulting specializes in project management, research and assessment/evaluation, process improvement, and professional development, and teambuilding.
In the early stages of business operations, I have supported a variety of new nonprofit organizations in the startup phase and supported their organizational development. As a Woman-Owned small business, S. Daniels Consulting is committed to excellence and creating innovative and flexible solutions for our clients. The firm’s track record of high-quality customer service, expertise, and ability to remain on budget throughout our projects enables S. Daniels Consulting to deliver a customer experience unrivaled by our competitors. S. Daniels Consulting is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise and SBA Women-Owned Small Business.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For anyone who is just starting out in business, I would suggest that ensuring that you are always operating with integrity. Your personal and business reputations are extremely important. Also, always be willing to learn and educate yourself about your industry as things change. This will ensure your business remains relevant.
There are so many things I wish I would’ve known prior to starting my business. The lesson I carry with me is the importance of developing and cultivating genuine and mutually beneficial business relationships and partnerships. Talent and expertise are important, but having solid people skills is key.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@sdanielsconsulting.com
- Website: www.sdanielsconsulting.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/sdanielsconsulting
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/sdanielsconsulting
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-SNzSON3lCeB26hPbY65Nw
Image Credits:
Darrell Freeman
