An Inspired Chat with Rasheda Williams

We recently had the chance to connect with Rasheda Williams and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rasheda, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
On a typical day, I wake up, stretch and give gratitude. That expression of thanks sometimes happens in my bed, as I’m walking in the local park or while I’m driving to get an iced latted. I believe that gratitude and intention are vital in setting the tone for your day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As a former journalist and PR/communications professional with experience in the education and the nonprofit sectors, I have always been passionate about storytelling. In 2010, I became really passionate about youth advocacy and empowerment and launched, Empowered Flower Girl, a social enterprise. Through my work in the community and even nationally, I had the privilege of meeting other purpose-driven professionals whose incredible work often went unnoticed.
Their passion for serving others inspired me to think about how I can help them. I saw how many struggled to gain the recognition, media attention and accolades they deserved, and I felt compelled to act. Leveraging my professional background, I began helping them tell their stories in ways that resonated with reporters, funders and other stakeholders.
This ignited a deeper passion in me and led to the creation of Inspired Life Professionals, which I officially launched on December 4, 2024. Inspired Life Professionals offers coaching, communications support, and PR strategies to help changemakers elevate their brands and gain recognition. We believe that visibility is viability. My goal is to ensure that these extraordinary individuals and organizations don’t just do good work, but they get the attention they need to sustain and expand it.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was in 7th grade. I had a classmate whose family had emigrated to the Detroit area after being displaced by the Gulf War. She was kind, quiet and often wore the same outfit several days in a row, not by choice, but because of her family’s circumstances. I knew about her refugee background, and while most kids didn’t understand, I felt deeply for her. She was teased relentlessly because of how she dressed.

What made it even more personal was that I wasn’t immune to bullying either. I was teased for my own differences, but something in me refused to stay silent. One day, I stood up for her in front of our classmates. I used my voice to shut down the cruelty and speak up for someone who couldn’t, at the time, defend herself.

That was the moment I realized how powerful empathy and advocacy could be.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life came in a heartbreaking sequence over five years. It started in 2020 when I lost my maternal grandmother. The following year, my world shifted again when I lost my mother, who was a everything, and my uncle. Then in 2022, I lost my only brother. And just this year, I said goodbye to my beloved cat, Domingo, who had been with me through all of it.

Each loss felt like another piece of me breaking away. There were moments I didn’t know how I’d make it. I didn’t know how I’d keep moving forward with so much grief weighing on me. But somehow, I did. I breathed through the pain and allowed myself to feel it fully.

I’ve been able to find strength in their memory. I carry them with me in everything I do. I’m on a mission to make them proud.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m deeply committed to changing the narrative around young people no matter how long it takes. Over the years, I’ve searched news outlets and Googled terms like “teen” or “children,” only to be met with stories that paint youth as either victims or perpetrators of crime. Rarely do we hear about the teens leading service projects, advocating for justice, mentoring others or launching businesses. That imbalance drove me to take action.

In 2020, I launched the She’s EmPOWERed initiative through Empowered Flower Girl to recognize girls and young women making a difference in their communities. It’s my way of amplifying the voices and actions of young changemakers who are too often overlooked.

This mission has expanded with my new company, Inspired Life Professionals, where I help founders (especially those from underrepresented backgrounds) tell their stories with purpose. That includes youth and young adult entrepreneurs and advocates. I believe their stories matter. They deserve to be seen not just as future leaders, but as current leaders shaping our world.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing both. I’m living in my purpose, and I’m honoring the divine instructions I was given. I truly believe I was born to do this work. The calling on my life was placed in my spirit by God. I’ve had moments of divine inspiration that made it clear. I’m meant to use my voice and my experiences to empower others, especially young people and those often overlooked.

This path is a career and a calling. I’m being obedient to that calling, even when the journey has been hard or uncertain. And at the same time, I’m doing what I choose. I’m doing what lights me up. I dance. I travel. I spend time by the water and allow the beach to remind me of how expansive life can be. I fill my days with gratitude, movement and moments that nourish my soul.

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