What if I told you that the Treasa I’ve showcased to the world is only a third of who I am? That there is so much left untold and that truthfully you guys barely know me. Great News! Today the Tea is HOT and ready to be served.
I recently did a poll on my personal Instagram Story and asked my followers what they wanted to know about me. Chile, some of my followers are nosey but I am here for it. I promised full transparency from the beginning so that’s what I’m going to deliver. I’m going to answer the juiciest questions that were asked in this blog. Here we go.
I saw in one of your bios that before jumping into entrepreneurship, you had a 6 figure 9-5 job. If being an entrepreneur didn’t work out for you, do you think you would go back to working at your old 9-5?
To be honest, my goal of starting my own business wasn’t the only reason I decided to leave my 9-5 job.
About 7 Years Ago, I received news that changed my life forever. I was sitting in my office when I received a phone call from my doctor. He asked if I could come in to see him because it was better to discuss everything in person. Now you know any time the doctor tells you to come in, there is a very slim chance that it’s because they have good news. The following day, my husband and I went to the doctor to later find out that I had cancer and it was worsening by the day.
I wish I could tell you what my doctor said next but all I remember was feeling my body go numb and completely zoning out. My mind instantly went to the worst case scenario. What will my kids do without me? How will I say goodbye to the love of my life? Why is this happening to me?
After a couple days of processing, I started to reflect on my life. I distinctly remember asking myself if I were to die tomorrow would I have regretted the life I chose for myself. In short, the answer to my question was the wake up call I never knew I needed.
I realized I was doing very little of the things that sparked a fire in me. Outside of my home, I was at a desk. I was working for a company that had no interest in guaranteeing me a fulfilling life. Realistically, that wasn’t their job, it was MY job to ensure that I was living a life full of passion, authenticity, and intention. I was tired of working for someone else. I was tired of delaying my passions because I felt as if “it wasn’t the right time”. NEWSFLASH, the “right” time doesn’t exist. You either go for it or you don’t, so I went for it. Later that month, I quit my job and knew it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
As a Black Woman previously working in Corporate Canada, did you experience a lot of racism even as the VP of Finance?
In short, not as much as you think. Did I experience a lot of misogyny? Enough to write a book about. Ironically, I still consistently work in corporate Canada for my clients that have hired me for Leigh Event Group’s Business Development Services. Truthfully, there is no escaping racism or misogyny when you’re a black woman working in corporate settings. I learned early on that regardless of how qualified I may be for a job there will always be someone privileged assuming that I’m unfit for the job or waiting for me to fail because of the colour of my skin or because of the mere fact that I’m a woman.
Everyday I showed up, I intentionally outworked every single one of my male coworkers. Working my way up to being the only female in senior management was my favourite way of showcasing the luxury of being a hardworking, determined, resilient, unapologetic BLACK woman. When it comes to work, I let my skills speak for me. Choosing to combat their ignorance with results is an inevitable way to the top.
“Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”
You’ve spoken about your journey as a teen mom on multiple occasions. If you could go back and change when you had your kids, would you?
Absolutely not. Having my first son when I did was an absolute blessing. Motherhood allowed me to see the world in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to comprehend beforehand. It taught me how to love unconditionally while learning how to accept love again. Having my son motivated me to become the best version of myself for him and I.
In all honesty, my experiences from being a teen mom is what motivated me to start my non-profit organization, We Rise TogetHER. Remembering how difficult it was for me to build a life for myself after having my son has allowed me to create effective ways to give back to young mothers. One of my biggest takeaways from being a teen mom, was remembering the generosity I received from people that didn’t have much to give. Experiencing that magnitude of selflessness has been one of the biggest influences of why I will continue to give back regardless of personal circumstances.
My goal for We Rise TogetHER is to create a safe haven for teen moms, single moms, and domestic abuse survivors, so that they too have the opportunity to experience the care and selflessness that exist in the world. We Rise TogetHER will provide housing, food, clothing, and mentorship to all the mothers that feel like they have nothing else or nowhere else to go. After being continuously shamed for being a young mother, my ultimate goal is to provide enough support to young mothers to show them that they will always deserve an opportunity to improve their quality of life personally and professionally.
Above all else, today’s tea has only been a snippet of what’s to come. Subscribe and stay in the loop to get the latest tea from T.
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