We recently had the chance to connect with Shawna Solomon and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Shawna, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Tell my personal story as I navigate facilitation and speaking engagements. I’ve been ashamed of my teen mom & domestic violence story and afraid of how I’d be viewed. Especially as someone who is looked up to and always being a strong woman.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Shawna Solomon, Brand Success & Growth Strategist. Owner of Shawna Solomon & Associates, A creative firm that specializes in brand development from a brand image perspective. This perspective assists business owners with showing up as a credible & trusted brand. Currently working on our Black Label Experience for Small Business Saturday & facilitating entrepreneur cohorts. I’m also now the Houston Regional Director for Girlcom, a non profit organization for woman of color, in the ecommerce space. We have a few accelerators coming up in 2026 and a retreat in 2027. Excited to work with them to not only increase impact & community by providing them the tools & resources, to be financially self sufficient through entrepreneurship.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My aunt asked me if I believed in myself, I wasn’t sure at that moment. She reminded me of everything I had overcome up until that moment. Her response was, if you believe you can fly, or not…either way, your ‘re right. She told me she believed I could fly. I remember crying & not understanding it. Until as an adult, I felt exactly what she meant. Now I tell people, don’t come around me, unless you believe you can fly. It’s a mindset shift & I needed it.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
The day I turned 50. Someone who had triggered me as a teen mom, Said Happy Birthday, I’m proud of you, on my FB page. I cried realizing how long I’ve allowed everyones words to dictate how I moved. Never settling, mind constantly on what I could do more of and better. always climbing that ladder of success, to not be what most said I wouldn’t be….Nothing.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Family & Business. Don’t mess with neither.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
Nothing. Everything has been a lesson, good or bad.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shawnasolomonandassociates.com
- Instagram: @theestylemuva
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShawnaSolomon
- Other: Tiktok @theestylemuva
Image Credits
Ray Carrington
