We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alyceson-Grace Eke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alyceson-Grace below.
Alyceson-Grace, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
You are successful in those spaces when you are your best self. I grew up in that environment, actually. Most of my classes and groups were super-majority a different appearance through childhood. And I was often people’s first exposure to Black Americans or children of African immigrants, so as first impressions and instinct suggest, you want to honor your backgrounds accordingly. I am naturally intelligent, and I am also kind natured, so I didn’t follow the arrogance other people demonstrated towards me. Nonetheless, I would outscore them or outperform them. It wasn’t to shove my strength in their face. It was to be my best self and let that shine through.
Sometimes, there would be other girls that looked like me, but they didn’t extend warm hands as we got older. My mindset transitioned to one of isolation. While I was representing my family and my groups, it became more of a selfish endeavor. Admittedly, there is a chip on my shoulder that I was never “Black” enough for Black people. And for the other girls that were “not-Black-enough,” it made no sense that we acted as though there was only room for one white-washed token Black girl in the class or the friend group. You can tell it frustrates me. Over time, however, I realized that I should convey excellence not just for myself, but for the people that come after me of all backgrounds – not just Black or African. To encourage people to aspire to excellence even if others don’t believe you hold it, or they refuse to acknowledge what you hold.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
The ECON Queen is all about empowering communities to “Claim Their Crown.” What does that look like? We educate our kingdom, if you will, through academic tutoring, personal finance coaching, and adulting 101 classes. We provide supplemental education for all demographics, since the current education system doesn’t not sufficiently cover all aspects of life development – finances, social skills, personal development, etc.
It is the greatest joy to run this business, and it allows me to uplift my communities in a practical way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Open Heart, Open Mind, – “Love is Patient, Love is Kind.”
2) Your authentic self is essential.
3) Purpose, Persistence, and Discipline are the keys to success.
Each one of these qualities are what protect me from experience burnout or providing sub-par service. Keeping an open heart and mind invites opportunities, not just for sales, but also for networking, personal development, and life experiences. Exhibiting love provides trust and allows you to choose your community and its members every time. Being authentic keeps you from wasting energy on converting your natural self into a caricature of what others want you to be – and trust me, there is a high tax when it comes to faking who you are. And finally, knowing your WHY, continuing even in the face of challenge, and remaining consistent to build your empire will all but guarantee your success.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes. I want to work with organizations of ALL kinds to educate their members and communities on personal finance basics and adulting 101 skills. I want to teach people about money management, relationships, preparing for adulthood after class, and discovering themselves.
If this interests individuals or organizations, please contact me at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://econqueen.com
- Instagram: @econ_queen
- Facebook: TheECONQueen
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/alyceson-grace-eke
- Twitter: @TheECONQueen
- Youtube: @TheECONQueen
