Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nantale Muwonge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Nantale, 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?
I’m lucky enough to have been raised by parents who taught me how powerful I am, so I’ve always known that no environment can diminish this. Even when I’m the only Black woman or Black person in the room, I’m not intimidated. But going to the University of Stellenbosch, and spending my college years around a lot white kids who had only seen Black people who were domestic workers, taught me a lot about how to engage people with limited experience of the world without losing your sanity. The main thing is to not internalize their projections and their ignorance. This can be difficult when you’re surrounded by them every day because the racism, microaggressions and gaslighting are constant. So do what you need to do to keep your mind right and to separate your idea of self from their cloudy view of you.
Also, correct them when they mispronounce your name, always advocate for yourself, and get comfortable taking up space and asserting your boundaries. Whether that looks like calling out colleagues who talk over you, or declining tasks that downplay your skills and education, don’t ever play small.
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 what you do?
I teach Black women in ecommerce how to curate content that gets publicity and media coverage, so they reach more people and have a bigger impact. It’s exciting because these women who are underrepresented in the media and who don’t know how to access it, are now learning how to leverage it to create opportunities beyond just the visibility. They’re getting corporate sponsorships, funding for their mission-driven initiatives, winning awards, and of course they’re also driving traffic back to their websites and converting it into sales. And in the process they’re taking up more space online and being the representation that was lacking before they stepped into that space. But it’s changing the space because they’re sharing uplifting, meaningful stories and bringing education, which is countering the stereotypical narrative and harmful, negative messaging that we typically see around Blackness.
So they’re changing the landscape in real-time and I get to watch! And then the fact that they’re also boosting their sales is exciting because they’re turning around and reinvesting this money into their businesses and their communities, which is leading to all kinds of improvements that are going to have a significant impact long term. So I also get to watch them make the world a better place in real-time, which is the best part of my job.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think having a very well-developed sense of self, being action-oriented and focusing on impact have made the biggest difference in my journey. I know what I’m capable of, so I don’t second guess and question myself, and I don’t hesitate when opportunities present themselves. I also enjoy opportunities that challenge me, I don’t shy away from them. I like stretching into the next level, especially because for the first time in my career, I actually have coaches and mentors who I can turn to for support. Taking consistent action has propelled me very far ahead on this journey. I don’t just read and get certifications and take workshop after workshop, I implement. I do the work, study the results, figure out what I need to do to improve, make the necessary changes, and rinse and repeat. I am constantly in the process of improving optimally, the result of which is accelerated growth.
And focusing on impact has allowed me to build something that really does make a difference. Something that actually achieves my mission as opposed to modeling the typical corporate framework, which I didn’t want to do. I highly encourage anyone who is early on in their journey and wants to create something that they don’t see being modeled, do it anyway. Build something new, test it, look at the results of your case studies and then figure out what you need to improve to turn it into a viable business. Have fun experimenting!
And be very intentional and strategic with your time to make sure that you do take action and factor in how much time you need to implement. If you aren’t intentional about taking action, it’ll slow your growth or your idea just won’t go anywhere because you aren’t driving it. Lastly, get clear on what areas you need help with and get help when you need it. You can’t do everything by yourself, it isn’t feasible or the most cost-effective approach. So get clear on what you can do, what you’re capable of doing and what you need to do, and then start outsourcing the rest. This way you can focus on the most impactful activities that will propel your business forward.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is on a mission, she’s making the world a better place and her business is a vehicle for that. Doing things the right way is important to her because she’s building a legacy, so she’s all about effective strategies, efficient systems and simple processes. She wants to reach more people and build brand awareness, so she can build up her customer base and do some of the big things that she has planned for her business. For her, getting press and media attention isn’t just about being in the limelight, it’s about sharing her gifts with as many people as possible because she’s actually helping people. And she’d rather work with an expert than do it on her own because she wants to move quickly and efficiently.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackgirlpr.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlpr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackgirlpr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nantale
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/blackgirlpr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackgirlpr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackgirlpr
Image Credits:
Nantale Muwonge / Black Girl PR AAMA graphic courtesy of the African American Marketing Association & Hot Buttered Soul
