Meet Sadik Roberts

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sadik Roberts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sadik , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

I feel that my optimism in life as well as business comes with the understanding that the tide can and usually does change. I have always had an entreprenurial spirit, which was inspired by my parents, who owned a food truck throughout my childhood. I cut my teeth in business working alongside them to prepare inventory, count the register and occasionally take orders. It amazed me how rewarding it felt to provide a integral community service and resource in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where there were so few convenience stores, and even fewer black owned enterprises that considered the needs and circumstances of the perdominately black community. It gave me a sense of pride and appreciation for the long days and the many thankless elements of entrepreneurship. In later years, the city of Pittsburgh priced our many mobile vendors with various certifications and unfortunately my family was on of them. Quickly I saw how a good thing can quickly become a challenging situation, and vice versa. However, as quickly as one venture closed, my parents taught me that when one door closes, another is sure to open, and the tide continued to turn.

I used the candy from the food truck to start my own business at school as well as in the community, and this excitement and chance to create translated into my desire to be my own boss and lay my own path.

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?

My name is Sadik Roberts, and I am the owner of Pyramid Pgh Marketing & Advertising Agency in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. What started as an events management business in college evolved over ten years into an award-winning agency, providing expert marketing outreach, business strategy, and philanthropy throughout the Pittsburgh region. The light of my adolescent candy enterprise still shines bright in me. I see every challenge as an opportunity to grow and continue to move through the world with a light of optimism and curiosity. I enjoy every chance to mold a challenging situation into a rewarding win for my family and community, and I believe that this spark is what truly keeps me inspired.

As I move into my second decade of business ownership, I still get the most satisfaction from teaching and hosting marketing workshops for emerging business owners. My spirit gets recharged every time I reach into my archive of experiences to build intrinsic real-world examples into my stories and presentations. I love seeing the glimmer of hope from students as they embrace the task ahead and all of the hilarious, divisive, discerning, and faithful experiences that will make them stronger entrepreneurs in the future.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I feel that the three most impactful qualities that I have developed over the years are:

I have an unparalleled desire to problem solve, which encourages me to be and maintain strong relationships and resources in my community!
Secondly, I would call out my quality of patience, which has not always been a strength, but the more I embrace stillness, the more I have been able to allow opportunities that are truly for me to fully develop and rise to the top. Finally, I would celebrate my love for family, which keeps me grounded and courageous knowing that I will always have the love and support of my village to stand on.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

As a professional communicator, I find myself having racing thoughts and challenges acknowledging and processing all of the ideas that come to me throughout the day. I have been able to quell this through avid journaling. Sometimes, we truly do need to have a conversation with ourselves, and what better way to take some time to articulate your feelings, thoughts, goals, and fears in a safe space?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pyramidpgh.org
• Instagram: sadikroberts_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadik.roberts/