Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalainna Ogunbiyi.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shalainna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a young child, I knew I was destined to be great. I’ve always been the person others sought out to give them advice, resources, motivation, etc. Even as a youth, I knew that helping people would inevitably be in my future. I was an obese kid growing up (Almost 200 pounds by the end of elementary school and nearing 500 pounds at my highest weight in college), so people always put limitations on my abilities judging my weight.
At a young age, I made it a mission to break the barriers and judgments of others by doing everything my heart desired, not only for myself but for other curvy women that also didn’t fit society’s “beauty standards. I committed myself to being well rounded, social, and classy. Becoming involved allowed me to be a face for the women and girls that felt overlooked and unheard of.
In the beginning, the majority of the people around me laughed at my emerging aspirations and dreams, but I was strong-willed and determined. I couldn’t be stopped. With perseverance and drive, I became an NCA ranked cheerleader, member of the school and professional dance teams, track team, in the marching band, president of several organizations, Homecoming Queen, winning local pageants, sponsored by the city of Houston and bringing a wide scope of awareness to inclusion within my school and community. Although very well known (I hate the word popular), no one ever thought the “400-pound girl” could get it all done. I proved the nay-sayers wrong, stopped my fears in their tracks, and even graduated a year early, all by the age of seventeen. That’s when I knew I had a calling, I just needed to grow into my purpose.
When other young girls were playing with make-up, I was looking up colleges and comparing their pros and cons. While friends were debating over dollars given to them, I was selling candy and trying to start my own business. “I always felt like my vision has been bigger than the bigger picture”. I’m convinced Drake was talking about me when he wrote that line.
After obtaining so many accomplishments in my youth, my passions didn’t t die and my spirit allowed me to continue to make an impact in college and beyond. I went on to attend Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX and continued to be a positive light and guiding force for others. I had always received more love than hate in whatever I had done but felt the difference in opinions and judgment as I got older. In college was the first time I took into consideration how cruel others can be. Being strong-minded assisted me in not taking the harshness to heart, but it didn’t stop my ongoing desire to get to the root of the problem and end the hate, judgments, and downright ugly notations places on curvy women. Ignorance in adulthood was a bit harder to overcome, but with the guidance of God, my mother, great family and friends, I was still “armored” and nearly bullet proof to anything negative or things that didn’t serve me. My perseverance took the town of Nacogdoches by storm and was thorough in being a force with representation for other women.
I continued to be involved on campus, participating in fashion shows, sorority recruitment, becoming a face for diversity, battling oppression and small-town racism for African Americans in Nacogdoches, overcoming blatantly racist professors & colleagues, and even was told I “exceeded the weight limit” for my college dance team by the coach (can you believe it? ) and still showed up to auditions. I couldn’t be stopped then and didn’t need validation from anyone but myself. My strong acknowledgment of self-worth has always helped to carry me. It may sound cliche in this day and time, but when you know your worth, YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE.
Finishing college, making an impact in the city of Nacogdoches, and desiring to use all my knowledge in becoming a Speech Therapist, I thought I had life all figured out. Little did I know, my purpose hadn’t even found it’s way to me, and I was just getting a very small taste of “the real world”. It took me three years after college to land a job in my field. In the time before landing my first “big girl gig”, I worked several jobs to pay my bills and “just get by”. I remember being 23 and starting a job at a very elite high-rise in Houston, TX. Being around so many people that had obtained levels of success that I had only read about in magazines was the environment I needed to put me into “Tunnel Vision”. I remember staying after my shift very long nights at my job doing research and immersing myself in the atmosphere. I could have done quite a bit from the comfort of my own home, but I would come to work just to be in the midst of my goals and manifest them, even on my off days. I met so many amazing people, built strong connections and relationships with some of Houston’s most elite in business and the lessons I learned from working amongst others in this environment could never be taught, only experienced.
Once I knew that “MORE” was available for my life and got to live/experience it first hand, I had to have it. There were no exceptions, this is the life I wanted to live and provide for my current and future family. As a young adult, I went on to become a speech therapist in Houston, serving a variety of patients in school, home, hospital, and retirement facility settings. I loved helping people speak. Most people never know what it’s like to not have a voice or have your ability to speak suddenly stripped from you. Helping my patients through their speech disorders and discovering their voices gave made me feel very accomplished.
I loved my job and the impact I had on others, but a very small voice inside of me was aiming to make big noise. It took years for me to listen to it. By the age of 25, I knew that I was great within my occupation, but had to tap deep within and ask myself if I was fulfilled. After several internal “heart to hearts”, I knew that speech was only a stepping stone in my path to greatness. God used me as a blessing to help so many people find their voice, but in that season was when I found MINE. I’ve always been technology savvy and love to get lost in the digital world. Creating digital graphics, illustrations, custom virtual items for others, and online promotions was something I could spend hours doing. Graphic Design became my “go-to” activity of choice and soon, I found myself slacking on my speech assignments and deadlines to create digital work/art.
In 2017 I was ready to pivot. Around the time, I had a family vacation to Jamaica that gave me every bit of motivation I needed to take the “big leap”. Once I arrived back to the states, I was determined to go after my dreams and booked the first flight I could to Los Angeles. I was finally ready to pursue Graphic Design on a higher level and tap into my dreams of acting, modeling, and film that I always kept to myself (with the constant limitations set from others, I always kept my biggest aspirations a secret. It wasn’t until adulthood where I found my release). Just when I thought I was ready to pivot, found my perfect LA apartment, and had life all figured out I was diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease and placed on Dialysis at the age of 26. I felt like my life had taken the biggest hit yet and nothing was in my control. I was in grad school and planning a big move with my whole life put on pause instantaneously.
As an adult, I was still obese, and although I had gone on countless diets, lost hundreds of pounds on my own (just to have bad eating habits and gain it back. Check out @BLKMERMAIDFITNESS on IG, and was on a “see-saw” effect to a “healthier” way to life, God had to slow me down. I was ruining my body. November 2017, I was admitted to the hospital with a blood pressure of 300/297, found out that my kidneys were at a 2% functioning rate, and put on Dialysis. My life was forever changed. Being a young-adult and still naive, I had heard of dialysis before but had no idea of the impact it would have on my life. I was angry, disappointed, and blamed God for allowing this to happen to me. Little did I know, DIALYSIS WOULD SAVE ME.
Being sick allows you to be still, and I’m sure that was apart of the plan God had for me. I was so used to being active and serving others that I neglected one of the most important things in my life. My health. Being in the hospital and for a little over a month allowed me to go and grow through every emotion possible and become one with myself. Having a health scare of this magnitude forced me to change my lifestyle, diet, and outlook on health. I the midst of sudden and severe change, God made way for my gifts and for that I am forever grateful. Being on Dialysis, I have lost 235 pounds, changed my perspective on life, impacted other kidney warriors and finally tapped into my purpose. I was 26, broke and sick but found every resource available to me.
Using Social Media, digital marketing, and my gift of design in branding, I founded my two businesses Social Boss Empire (@socialbossempire) and WanderWomenHTX (@wanderwomenhtx), on a dialysis machine. With research, determination, a Micro following, and never giving up, I managed to double my income using Social Media and am now helping countless female entrepreneurs in various industries do the same.
We’d love to hear more about Social Boss Empire.
Social Boss Empire helps female entrepreneurs elevate using innovative marketing, captivating branding, and social media for leverage in their business. Aside from social media management and marketing services, Social Boss Empire is a hub for FEMprenuers but also a safe space. Coaching for start-up entrepreneurs, motivational sessions, and relatable counseling to business owners that simply need mindset alignment are provided within the empire.
Being a woman that is accustomed to being in spaces where she never fits into a “box”, I take pride in committing to the inclusion of all women and helping them to propel to the next step in business. SBE aims for members of the empire to use their natural gifts, talents, and purpose in becoming fulfilled within their endeavors. Social Boss Empire was cultivated for women who want to BOSS UP but also have a tribe of others in sisterhood they can empower and be empowered through along the way.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Future goals for Social Boss Empire are quite large. As a driven entrepreneur, I am always striving to obtain greater and tap into the next level of success. With patience and perseverance, I aspire to have a Social Boss Empire creative studio and co-working space for FEMprenuers based in Houston, TX. I would also like to have a mentorship program for young girls aspiring to be future business owners. Long term goals include taking Social Boss Empire Internationally and helping women in their business ventures worldwide.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.socialbossempire.com (Launching 12/2020)
- Email: socialboss.ceo@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/socialbossempire (business) www.instagram.com/shalainna (personal)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOCIALBOSSEMPIRE
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