Meet Whitney Frederic

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Whitney Frederic . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Whitney , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
My journey through imposter syndrome took a significant turn in 2023. Amid the chaos of preparing for my friend’s bachelorette party in Jamaica, I anxiously checked on a Shein order that hadn’t arrived yet– which added another layer of stress. Then, an email arrived, declaring my hand-selection by REVOLT and Target for season three of “Bet on Black,” a series amplifying brilliant Black entrepreneurs.

Initially dismissing it as a possible scam, I hesitantly researched “Bet on Black” and was stunned to discover the legitimacy of my selection. Confirming its authenticity through a call, I learned that I was genuinely chosen. Securing my spot on the show required submitting a pitch and enduring additional interviews with producers. From coordinating with them via WhatsApp in Jamaica to scheduling a visit with the production crew at my home and commercial kitchen my journey with Seasoned™ and facing imposter syndrome, continued to unfold.Throughout the entire process of filming (even in my hometown), I was nervous but grateful. If it wasn’t for constant confirmations from God to proceed with doing the show I would have backed out. I had to keep reminding myself of a biblical verse “God Doesn’t Call the Qualified; He Qualifies the Called” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). So even though I didn’t understand at the time why I was called, I now know that there was a bigger purpose.

Fast forward to traveling to Atlanta, GA to film the remaining portion of the show and stepping into a room of talented entrepreneurs. Connecting with with everyone was like a breath of fresh air, and after the first day of filming, I left feeling inspired. But let’s be clear, the second I walked back to my hotel room, my fears of pitching were at the forefront of all my thoughts until the day finally arrived.
Even while nervous and anxious, I confronted my misconceptions about my capabilities during the show (I was in the room with contestants who have already reached 1M in sales), and there I was stumbling with my words, with a big smile on my face.

The experience of being on stage, receiving constructive criticism, and witnessing a less-than-flattering clip on national TV was embarrassing. Despite the setbacks, I realized the unique purpose placed upon me, motivating me to refine my pitch. In the months following filming, my perseverance paid off with a 3rd place win at the Sistahs in Business conference in NJ and a 1st place pitch winner at the Mom Your Business pitch competition, proving that in order to overcome imposter syndrome, you need to face it, and doing just that allowed me to leverage my voice for meaningful impact.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
So I grew up surrounded by wisdom and in the kitchen with my Haitian queens – Mommy-na, Momma, and Mama. My great-grandmother, grandmother and mother– ignited my love for cooking from an early age. Those moments of shared stories, laughter, and the aroma of herbs and spices set the foundation for my journey. I am full-time Scientist and the CEO/Founder of It’s Seasoned™. When I’m not immersed in lab experiments, I’m curating seasoning blends with a focus on customer health. Initially drawn to a medical career, my path shifted during a gap year, leading me to a profound love for research. A critical moment occurred in 2018 when I learned about the FDA recall of a hypertension drug containing a carcinogen. Motivated by this revelation and armed with knowledge about the link between diet and hypertension, I founded It’s Seasoned™, a food/wellness brand rooted in Haitian influences. Here at It’s Seasoned, we have a simple yet important mission– to raise awareness to hypertension and to address hypertension via nutrition education and innovative food-based products. But let’s be clear, It’s Seasoned™ goes beyond seasoning; we believe in the power of evidence-based research, and our goal is to educate and empower individuals about mindful food choices. While our virtual efforts have been impactful, we aspire to secure a space where we can fulfill order fulfillment, host in-person nutrition-based cooking classes and offer build-a-blend workshops.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As I reflect on my journey as a scientist and business owner, I believe that being consistent, having a passion for continuous learning, and a willingness to take risks (even while afraid) were crucial. For those starting their journey, I advise being open-minded to learning new things, maintaining consistency in their pursuits, and embracing calculated risks as catalysts for growth and success.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
If you would have asked me this questions when I first started by business I would have said it is better to be more well rounded by investing effort on improving areas that I am not strong in. Today, my answer is the opposite– firmly believe in the power of leveraging strengths and then connecting with individuals who excel at your weaknesses.

And that’s not to say I don’t continuously improve on areas of weakness that need development, it’s just that I am fully aware that I can save time and money (in the long run), if I can focus on what I do best instead of trying to figure everything out.

Prime example, is when I tried doing my own personal and business taxes without a tax preparer. I used to always do my personal taxes, and didn’t have any issues, but things that wasn’t the case when filing them did my business, and I had to pay for those mistakes. Luckily, I only had to learn that lesson once, and I now have an amazing accountant who makes sure I am on the right track.

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Image Credits
Photography by: Emma Herman Dan Photography

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