She Did That‪!‬ Nikai Fondon

I sat down with Xiomara to discuss her new career move and how she found herself winning Business West's 40 under 40. 

Xiomara currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC). With over a decade of experience in the public and private sphere, Xiomara has been a steadfast advocate for equitable access to economic and academic growth and opportunity in the region and beyond.  

A Springfield native, she has dedicated her career and community involvement to serve as an active change agent in Western Mass with a focus in identifying inequitable, inaccessible, and inefficient practices within organizations and developing inclusive solution-oriented strategies that lead to tangible + positive outcomes.

Facebook: Xiomara Albán DeLobato

F O L L O W   ME:

Facebook- @shedidthatpod (She Did That)

Instagram- @nikaielise

Twitter- @nikaielise8

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I sat down to speak with Nina Read, owner and founder of Sarcastic Sweets, LLC about her journey to owning her own brick and mortar bakery after starting as a food truck!

Hear her story and order some sweets :)

W E B S I T E: https://www.sarcasticsweet.com/

F O L L O W   ME:

Facebook- @shedidthatpod (She Did That)

Instagram- @nikaielise

Twitter- @nikaielise8

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I sat down with Jaunique Sealey to chat about her new book called "Black Girls Must Die Exhausted", being a modern woman and how the book came to be! 

The Harvard Law grad is a popular speaker, thought leader, seasoned business executive, and noted author who writes fiction under her chosen nom de plume, Jayne Allen. The Detroit native and L.A.-based writer began her career as an attorney in the music industry as an executive at Universal Music Group. She later served as a senior digital strategist and business development executive for Lady Gaga and as an attorney and strategist for Prince, whom she credits for teaching her how to truly be an artist.  She has also dabbled in standup comedy, is trained in improv, and is a fun and engaging conversationalist offering quick-witted humor and notable insights.

In the forthcoming publication, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted, Ms. Sealey shares relatable, real-life experiences of the lead character Tabitha Walker, a young professional who knows what she wants with a plan in place to have it all. That is until life gets in the way with an unexpected fertility diagnosis. BGMDE centers around the narrative and perspective of a black female protagonist navigating contemporary fertility issues, family, race, relationships, and inequality, to ultimately discover what matters most wasn’t what she originally thought. This book is about receiving a wake-up call and opportunity to define life on your terms rather than accepting how the world imposes its own definitions. With this story, Jaunique implores readers to "find your word" in life. Tabitha's word is exhausted.

Link to the Book

Jayne's Instagram: @jayneallenwrites

F O L L O W   ME:

Facebook- @shedidthatpod (She Did That)

Instagram- @nikaielise

Twitter- @nikaielise8

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I sat down with Taniqua to speak about starting a program to help empower young women through developing leadership skills and practical life knowledge.

Taniqua hails from Long Island City, NY and has lived in Hartford, CT since 2011. She is the Outreach Director of Open Communities Alliance, an organization aimed to unwind intentional segregation and to provide housing opportunities and access to all. She is also the founder and owner of a new organization Black Girls Achieve, which is a girl empowerment program that aims to provide black girls the skills and tools to learn about the ways society shapes black girlhood and how to navigate its nuances. Taniqua is a two-time Trinity College graduate, in 2011 she received het Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology; in 2017 she received her Master of Arts degree in Public Policy. Taniqua has also received the 50 for the Next 50, Hartford’s Finest, and 100 women of color awards.

INSTAGRAM- @blackgirlsachieve_

F O L L O W   ME:

Facebook- @shedidthatpod (She Did That)

Instagram- @nikaielise

Twitter- @nikaielise8

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I spoke with Dominique to catch up with her and hear more about her dedication to building stronger communities. She and her family was featured on the tv show Extreme Home Makeover when we were both in high school and her mother was super invested in making schools safer by creating government policies about bullying. I have seen her advocate for communities in many capacities so you already know I had to sit down and chat with her! Hope you enjoy.
Dominique Dawkins has spent most of her professional career working in county government and engaging the community on strategic initiatives and policies related to the Census, poverty-related issues, and citizen engagement in local government. As an advocate for higher learning, Dominique has volunteered in creating college scholarship and internship opportunities as well as assisting high school and college students in college scholarship research in North Carolina. Dominique currently works for Spartanburg County in the Community Development department as a Community Specialist. She received a Political Science and Global studies degree from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Dominique is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts and currently resides in Spartanburg, SC with her husband André.
Dominique on Instagram: @_dominationnn_
F O L L O W   ME:
Facebook- @shedidthatpod (She Did That)
Instagram- @nikaielise
Twitter- @nikaielise8
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I sat down with Anna to understand more about the Scrum Master industry/ position title, starting a coaching business and achieving everything she has set her mind to. If you haven't heard of what a Scrum Master is, this is the episode to find out! 

"An Agilist at its best ! Driven by Gratitude. Love being a Scrum Master/ Agile Coach ! Interested in networking, traveling, business ventures and ideas. You can find me in the gym or being a once a month weekend warrior in the Army or traveling Somewhere."

Anna on Instagram: @scrum_champions

F O L L O W   ME:

Facebook- @shedidthatpod (She Did That)

Instagram- @nikaielise

Twitter- @nikaielise8

Buy Me A Coffee