We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Santoria Sawyer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Santoria below.
Hi Santoria, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience was forged through lived experience. I am a survivor of childhood trauma and, later, other forms of adversity. But more than that, I am a product of community of mentors, family, and faith that reminded me that my story didn’t end with hardship.
I draw strength from knowing that every challenge I’ve faced has shaped my ability to lead with empathy, communicate with purpose, and keep going even when the path wasn’t clear. Being a coparenting mother while building a career has also strengthened my resilience. It’s taught me how to juggle pressure with grace and to show up every day as both a nurturer and a professional.
Resilience, for me, isn’t just about bouncing back. It’s about learning forward. It’s why I’m so passionate about the work I do today: building partnerships, creating spaces for others to thrive, and helping elevate voices that too often go unheard. Because I know firsthand the power of what happens when someone chooses to build not just buildings but people, too.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I currently serve as the Director of Business Development at Smoot Construction, The Midwest’s Largest Minority-Owned Construction Management Company. In this role, I lead strategy around building partnerships, elevating brand visibility, and pursuing new opportunities that help move both our company and our community forward.
What I find most meaningful about my work is the ability to help shape the spaces we live, work, and gather in. Smoot is behind some of the most impactful development projects in our region, and it’s an honor to contribute to that legacy. But beyond the buildings, I’m equally passionate about the people. I’ve always believed that how we support those inside the walls we build matters just as much as the structures themselves. Helping create environments, internally and externally, that are rooted in safety, dignity, and inclusion is a part of the work I take seriously every day.
Outside of my professional role, I am also the author of The Broken Crayon That Colored Still, a memoir about my journey from childhood trauma to healing and purpose. As a survivor and advocate, I often speak to youth and community organizations about resilience, self-worth, and the power of rewriting your own story. Whether I’m in a boardroom or a classroom, my goal is to use my voice and platform to encourage others to rise above their circumstances and believe in the possibility of something better.
Right now, I am focused on deepening community engagement efforts through my work at Smoot, continuing to speak and share my story when invited, and helping ensure that as we build this city from the outside, we’re also investing in the well-being of the people within it.
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?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, relationship-building, and faith.
Resilience came from learning how to keep going when life gave me every reason to stop. From overcoming childhood trauma to navigating difficult moments in my career, I’ve had to find strength in seasons where the outcome was uncertain. That resilience wasn’t just about bouncing back, it was about learning how to stand firm in who I was, even when everything around me was shifting. For anyone early in their journey, know that resilience is built in the hard places. Let challenges shape you, not define you.
Relationship-building has been key to every opportunity I’ve had. Whether it’s in business development or community work, people connect with people who are real, consistent, and trustworthy. I’ve learned that how you show up, your tone, your words, your presence, matters just as much as your title. Communicating with authenticity, clarity, and compassion allows people to feel safe and seen, and that is what truly builds trust. For those just starting out, invest in listening well, speaking with intention, and cultivating relationships that are rooted in mutual respect, not just transactions.
And without question, Faith has been my foundation. I love the Lord, and I begin every day by seeking Him. There have been doors opened in my life that my resume could have never touched. Prayer has given me direction in moments of doubt, and His presence has given me peace when I needed it most. Faith has reminded me that my purpose is bigger than any position, and that staying grounded spiritually is what keeps me centered, no matter the pressure or pace of life.
These three anchors have shaped who I am. They’ve not only helped me build a career, but they’ve helped me build a life that I’m proud of.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes, I’m always open to meaningful collaboration, particularly in my role at Smoot Construction. I’m looking to connect with architects, developers, engineers, and other professionals across the built environment who are passionate about creating impactful spaces and building stronger communities.
If you’re working on a project, exploring partnership opportunities, or simply want to learn more about how Smoot can support your vision, feel free to reach out. I can be contacted at [email protected], and I’d be happy to start a conversation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://smootconstruction.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santoriasawyer
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