Meet Kierra Burke

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

Kierra, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Growing up, I was surrounded by women with big dreams and aspirations, yet I watched as people, circumstances, and obstacles dimmed their light. They carried so much emotionally and sacrificed deeply for the people they loved; always putting others before themselves. As a teenager, I told myself, that will never be me. At 16, I made a promise to myself that I would be everything I wanted to be in this world, and I’d do it my own way. At that time, I knew exactly where I wanted to go and who I wanted to become.

Of course, no one escapes life without trials. I’ve faced them in friendships, family, my career, and relationships— with people trying to tell me who I was or what I should be doing. There were moments when I could feel my own light flickering, but I always chose to fight back. I remind myself of the women who came before me and the dreams they gave up, and I know I never want to live with the regret of giving up on myself. When you know who you are and believe it fully, nothing can stop you.

I was raised in a deeply spiritual family, and my faith has always anchored me. In tough times, when I didn’t get the job I wanted, or when the results I worked for didn’t come, I let myself feel the disappointment; I would take a day, sometimes a week to feel it. But then I remembered, God gave me these gifts for a reason. God placed me here for a reason. Who am I to question that? Who am I to ignore what I feel burning inside of me every single day?

My resilience comes from honoring the women who came before me and believing in myself the way God believes in me. When life gets hard and I feel like quitting, I think of all the women who deserved to shine but never had the chance. That reminder fuels me. I know I’m not just doing this for me, I’m doing it for them, and for the girls coming after me. I want them to know exactly what’s possible when you refuse to give up on yourself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’ve always been a multi-disciplinary creative; it’s simply who I am. In 2021, I launched Yas Black Girl, a podcast and digital platform created as a space for Black millennial women—and really Black women of all ages—to see themselves reflected positively. Regardless of our intersections —sexuality, ability, class, nationality, body type, or gender identity —I wanted to build a platform where Black women and femmes feel celebrated, can tell their own stories, and feel inspired by the incredible women who look like them.

Since its early days, Yas Black Girl has evolved into more than I could have imagined. Today, it’s a space where I highlight indie artists, share affirmational content, and cultivate community through storytelling. My vision is for it to evolve into a go-to resource for Black women, eventually expanding into conferences or festivals that provide opportunities and resources for career development, education, mental health, and wellness.

Outside of Yas Black Girl, I’m also a content creator. I produce comedic skits, recite monologues, and give commentary on pop culture. Recently, I’ve been taking music and acting more seriously—two passions I’ve had for years but never fully pursued. My grandmother always tells me to “add as many feathers to your hat as you can,” and that advice stays with me. I’m currently working toward releasing my first EP and building my acting resume, while continuing to expand Yas Black Girl.

What excites me most is the freedom to create across different mediums and the opportunity to amplify voices that deserve to be heard. Whether it’s through a podcast episode, a skit, a song, or a future festival stage, everything I do ties back to affirming and uplifting Black women.

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

The first quality is my ability to pivot. I’ve learned never to be afraid to walk away from something that wasn’t working, and to have the courage to start over when necessary. Pivoting has taught me not to stay in spaces that don’t serve me, and it pushes me beyond my comfort zone. You never really know what you’re capable of until you try something new. My advice is to keep the door open to new things and allow yourself to be adaptable; you’ll find that you’re stronger than you thought.

The second is having something greater to believe in. For me, it’s God. I truly believe we were created by something so powerful, and if God could, why can’t I? That mindset has carried me through so many challenges. Whether it’s faith, a strong community, or meditation—find something that roots you, so that you’re not easily shaken when life gets hard.

The third is curiosity and dependability. Be genuinely interested in the stories of others, connect with people, and build community. I’ve learned that you go much further by building with those around you than by only reaching up for a hand from people who have already “made it.” And when you’re dependable, when people can count on you, you’ll see that same support and loyalty come back to you tenfold.

Those three qualities—pivoting with courage, staying rooted in belief, and leaning into curiosity and community—have shaped every step of my journey.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

During my senior year of college, I read Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl. As a fellow awkward Black girl, her story instantly resonated with me. The book gave me gems that I still carry today—the importance of finding your confidence, the power of pivoting, and the value of building community to bring your vision to life.

Of course, other influences helped deepen those lessons, but Awkward Black Girl felt like a guide—a blueprint I could follow at that time. Now I know that each of us has to create our own blueprint, but Issa and that book showed me what it looks like to manifest your reality and to let failures and mistakes push you forward instead of derail you.

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Image Credits

Ussama Azam (Outdoor Headshot)

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