We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shenice Wade Smith, Mba. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shenice Wade below.
Hi Shenice Wade, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
This process took time, and it still does. I knew that I was different since I was in Highschool. My perspectives were broader, my ideas were bigger, and my voice filled the room. During my first job at the World Renown Art Institute of Chicago, I approached a historical institution with a lens of modernization and I wanted to be a change-agent in a positive way. I quickly learned that just because you have great ideas, doesn’t mean people are ready to change. I learned how to tailor my delivery and change my approach to the environment and once I was successful, it helped me gain more confidence in sharing my visions. Next, that experienced prepared me for the Corporate Human Resources field. I worked at a financial institution in a leadership development program that immediately placed me in rooms with executives leading up to the CEO, and I was one of few minority women, and the only one in a role that did not directly correlate to finance. Even so, I allowed my passion for HR, skillset for identifying other people’s strengths, and personal confidence to allow me to thrive in that environment. However, that was not always the case. There were some departments that were not as welcoming, I did not have a strong supervisor, and the nature of my position made it more challenging to build personal relationships. What I learned from this experience, is that if you fail to show up as yourself, there is no purpose of you being there. It will be hard, it will be uncomfortable, and you may not receive all the positive feedback you hoped.. but my presence was felt and I deserved to be there.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
She Smith Consulting is my passion for strategy, project management, and process improvement coming to life on my own terms. What I enjoy most about being an entrepreneur in business, is that I can be honest with my clients about their areas of opportunities, what it will take for them to grow, and helping them cast a vision while understanding what it will take to implement it. Most businesses, small and large, experience challenges that align with their workforce, systems and technology, financial decisions, and basic operations. My job is to come in with a fresh lens and perspective to ask “What are your goals?”. Once my clients share their goals of business creation, expansion, infrastructure improvements, increase in employees, etc. I help them to create a plan to brings those goals to fruition. I can help implement those plans or help guide their teams to implement those plans through project management services and process improvements. This approach to business has become a dream come true.
I have a bachelors in Business Management with a minor in International business and an MBA in Finance. I have over 10 years of experience in Corporate Human Resources along with experience supporting non-profit organizations serve communities across multiple states. I have always used my experience to give back to the community in an impactful way through hands -on volunteering, serving on committees and boards, and helping to allocate funds to tried and true community organizations.
My journey started when I became independent at 17. I lived in the burbs of Chicago and I knew my future was bigger than my environment at that time. I decided to leave my home and focus on building a future that reflected my goal to live a joyful and fruitful life. It started with my college pursuit, studying abroad, working through college, and graduating early. Then I pursued FT employment while completing my MBA and diversifying my education. As I continued to progress throughout my career, I increased my visibility throughout my local community, got married, and had my son Micah. While my journey is starting to blossom and evolve, I appreciate the leaves and the vines that make up this journey and I hope to continue to expand my vision to pursue more things that align with my purpose.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resiliency, Resourcefulness, and Belief.
There are so many Nos, obstacles, twists and turns in life that are completely inevitable. While all of our strengths looks different, I believe it’s important to know what strengths we do have and lean into them as much as possible. I did not always have strong communications skills, but I also knew that I wouldn’t take no for answer to I tapped into my resiliency. My self confidence varied at times and I would shut down, but my belief will never allow me to give up on myself. I spent many days alone, but I knew if I didn’t have access to something, it was critical that I find a resource and ask for help.
No matter what you’re trying to accomplish or overcome, the answer is in you. The tools are in you. We just have to remember to deploy them.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Currently, one of my challenges is finding balance between being a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and community leader while also practicing self care. Its an ever-evolving journey adjusting to life transitions. I am learning that how I balance life and commit to certain things will need to change as my priorities change. For instance, it was easier to spend more time in the community when I wasn’t a mother. Now, my son needs me present for small and big moments. My role as a wife evolves as I support my husband through his life transitions and become a care-giver. Now with these new priorities, how I manage my business, time, and roles must adjust. My first mistake was thinking I could do it all with no adjustments, but once my self-care started to suffer I realized I have to make changes. I now prioritize counseling and that is helping me learn how to fit exercise and healthy eating habits into my daily routine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shenicesmith.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shenice-w-smith1700/
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