Meet Lasheika Kassa

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lasheika Kassa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lasheika below.

Hi Lasheika , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I have always had a passion for helping others and knew from childhood that whatever path I found myself on, it would involve helping others that can’t help themselves or struggle to find their own voice. People have always gravitated towards me and found it very easy to talk to and share their livelihood, their failures, and all that life has offered and taken from them. I remember being a child and everywhere I went with my dad, aunts, and grandmother, people always respected them and took the time out to talk to them. As I have grown older, I am the exact same way. I can’t walk into a grocery store without someone holding a conversation. I attended Clark Atlanta University and majored in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. I have been working in the field helping others since I was 22 years old. This has always been my purpose.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a jack of all trades and find joy in all of my ventures. I am a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC-II), a medication assisted treatment specialist (MATS), as well as the founder/owner of Fanik Consulting Company. I started my career working as an addiction counselor helping those in the criminal justice system overcome their battle by teaching evidence-based curricula, conducting individual therapy and assessing their substance-use needs to determine a treatment plan for long term recovery. I always credit my credentials as a counselor because this helped me move my career into the Director level to assist companies/organizations with training, planning, developing policies, and helping to establish a healthy work environment inclusive of the mental health needs of employees to prevent burnout. I started my consulting company to work on a larger scale which allowed me to continue to help others. Fanik Consulting works with companies large and small to help them with strategic planning as well as those mentioned above. I work closely with executive level leadership and human resource departments to see what changes they would like to implement. Afterwards I work on a plan to present to them with the next steps on how to accomplish it within their organization. I still hold all my counselor credentials because those ethics help keep me focused on the bigger picture and still allow me to consult on a national level with other organizations. I love staying educated in best practices and standards and using that knowledge to inform and train others. I also use my personal journey of workplace burnout and my recent diagnoses of anxiety disorder to connect with others. Believe it or not, mental health disorders are still taboo in my cultures. I am such a different person than I was just 2 years ago due to therapy, medication, and a renewed outlook on life.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Being able to connect with others and understand the needs of others is a huge skill that has taken me far in life as well as with my career. When others feel at ease around you and opening it, it usually leads to professional networking and it has really helped my business when it comes to consultations and working on the federal contract level. Your reputation and word of mouth will take you very far in life.

Another quality that is important is being well versed and educated in whatever you deem to be an expert in. I have met several people that can talk a good game and will fake it until they make it, but when it comes down to it others will figure out very fast that you are not a subject-matter expert. I always research and study if there is an area I am unfamiliar about and will let individuals or companies know that I am not sure and will get back to them within 24 hours. I have worked with judges, commissioners, and stakeholders for years and one thing I am sure they will tell you is that I always knew my stuff and never missed a deadline.

The biggest skill to stay on top is self-care. I am a perfectionist in recovery, would worry myself to death about the most minuscule things, did not sleep, barely ate and my mood swings were all over the place. It has taken me well into my forties to know just how important putting myself first and setting boundaries goes. I will turn down any job if it puts my health or well-being at risk. I am also very happy to say no to protect my energy. It took a long time to get here, but I am so happy I did.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me is to teach me what a good work ethic consists of. My parents would get up every day, go to a job that didn’t pay well, never complained, yet still made sure we were taken care of. I started working at my first summer job when I was twelve. I was a volunteer at an African-American museum and was paid $200. I remember opening my first savings account with that money. I worked all the way through high school and college to support myself, even though my dad still contributed financially. I think this helped mold me into the business minded person I am today and helps me put my all into my work on a consistent basis. Lately, there have been several articles about the lack of skills our youth are facing today as it relates to work ethic and I think a huge issue is the amount of technology being utilized which takes away from soft skills. Soft skills are major when it comes to today’s workforce.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fanikconsulting.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lasheika-kassa-8753a0322