We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shawna Christian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shawna , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
From an early age, I didn’t look like anyone in my life. Born to a white mother of Russian Jew heritage and an African American Father, I was too light to be considered black and too dark to be considered white. It made me feel special. I loved being the one in the room who didn’t look like anyone else. As I got older, I only became more confident and secure in myself. I use it as a superpower. I feel like if you can’t be comfortable anywhere if you are not comfortable in your own skin.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
After dedicating 24 years to the management of a highly successful outsourced IT firm, several pivotal changes occurred in my life. The sudden passing of a close friend and the realization my children had transitioned into adulthood prompted me to reflect on the shortness of life. It became evident that if I was going to have significant change in my life, it needed to be immediately.
From an early age, I understood that one’s home should serve as a refuge. While we devote countless hours to work and social engagements, our homes must always remain a haven of safety and comfort. For most of my adult life, I meticulously cultivated such a sanctuary for my family. A place where my children were reluctant to leave, their friends were always there, and most social events were held at our home.
This journey has allowed me to create unique opportunities for others by introducing vibrant individuality into a very grey world. Our mission from the beginning was centered around helping people experience the transformative joy of crafting their personal sanctuaries through color, light and greenery.
We are the only black female owned nursery in Los Angeles County. We offer plants as well as home decor accents from around the world. We have creative workshops all month long as well as pop up markets.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My most impactful skills that have carried me this far is my resilience to weather the ups and downs of the retail landscape, my business knowledge from years of running a multi-million dollar business for over 20 years and the love of what I am doing. I relish in the joy of helping people find the thing or things that will make them smile and start them on the journey of creating their own sanctuary at home.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The number one challenge we have faced is the downturn in the economy and the strikes that have plagued the entertainment industry over the last year. We are doing our best to come up with community to events to drive business to our locations as well as posting heavily through social media platforms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shoptansy.com
- Instagram: @shoptansyla
- Facebook: @shoptansy
- Yelp: Tansy
- Other: Tik Tok @shoptansyla
Image Credits
Aidan DaRe
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
