Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanté Smith-Daniels
Hi Shanté, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My career began with cold-calling leads from the White Pages for an insurance agent. Through the years I’ve worked my way up in the corporate space in various industries which spanned from financial services to publishing. One thing that I realized early was that businesses often overemphasize outcomes at the expense of people.
I started SSD Consulting LLC, because I want to partner with small to mid size businesses to create growth using people focused processes. Operations is the heartbeat of a business, no matter how many sales you make, if your operations are not in order your business will continually lose money. I see what I do, like personal training for businesses. I work closely with the business owner to learn their goals and vision, develop strategic plans, and oversee their implementation. My strength lies in uniting people around a shared vision. My experience managing teams in various countries has helped me to understand how to foster a collaborative innovative environment that drives growth.
I love volunteering. I have led several projects, including ‘Breakfast at the Bus Stop,’ where we provided breakfast to children of the Ferguson-Florissant School District on their first day back after the tragic shooting of Michael Brown. I currently serve as a Board Member of The Fit and Food Connection and an Ambassador for the Greater Houston’s Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, my journey has been filled with significant challenges. I have survived sexual assault three times. As a single mother of three, I faced numerous hardships, one of which was learning to stretch a tight budget to feed a family of four. The Good News is during my time as a single mother, I managed to earn my Bachelor’s degree and buy my first home. More recently, my daughter faced serious mental health issues, including suicide attempts, but thankfully, she is now doing better. Of all the challenges I’ve faced, that has been the most difficult. My experiences could fill a book. However, these struggles have taught me the importance of resilience—always taking one step forward, no matter the circumstances.
We’ve been impressed with SSD Consulting LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
SSD Consulting LLC provides fractional operations leadership to small and mid-sized businesses, focusing on team management, project management, change management, and system optimization.
Our approach centers around a framework of people, profits, and peace of mind. We believe that without people—be they customers, employees, or vendors—businesses cannot thrive. Our operations aim to simplify their lives, not complicate them. By creating better systems, we open up increased opportunities for profits. Additionally, effective operations provide peace of mind, allowing founders and CEOs to focus on their organization’s vision rather than its day-to-day workings.
Prioritizing processes over people can create barriers to engagement. At SSD Consulting, we foster a culture where people feel heard and can thrive, transforming from mere employees to active team members who contribute significantly to realizing the company’s vision. While I do build processes, I prioritize building your team first.
As a purpose-driven company, we are committed to creating sustainable frameworks. How can you engage with us? We offer operational audits, in-house operations leadership, business consulting, and customized projects like system implementations or product launches.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
To be honest, I’m not sure how much luck has really played a part in my life. I’ve always had to put in the work. I really believe it’s God’s grace that has pulled me through, time and again, in both my personal and professional life. It feels like a guiding hand that’s always there, pushing me forward, and I’m just excited to see where it leads me next.
Pricing:
- $2,500 Operations Audit
- $3,000/month Operations Administrator
- $6,000/month Director of Operations
- $8,000-$10,000/month Fractional COO
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ssdconsultingllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssd.consulting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ssdconsultingllc
