Meet Sanya Hudson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sanya Hudson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sanya, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Distorted history and propaganda in media has alarmingly tried to convince people that those born in marginalized communities have limited potential. At an early age, I had the audacity to see beyond the institutional barriers surrounding my neighborhood and made a promise to break barriers.

A mantra I live by is, “Children can’t be what they don’t see.” In order to be effective in spaces where I was the only black woman in the room, I first began to define and understand my vision. My vision is to create pipelines to access; affording those who look like me opportunities that would not otherwise be offered to them. I operate with a full understanding that inclusiveness should never be a luxury.

Knowing and understanding my vision, I began to strengthen my armor with knowledge, information, resilience, self-awareness, effective communication, and faith. However, with all of those attributes, I still found that the color of my skin and my gender still made people feel uncomfortable or created a false narrative that I was not qualified. So, resilience and persistence is what I lead with. I know I have nothing to prove.

Being the only one in the room will never be acceptable to me. Therefore, I make sure to invite others who look like me, share the same vision and work ethic into the same spaces. The goal is not to dismantle isolated practices and truly embody diversity, equity, and inclusion. I come from a lineage of advocates whose fire runs through my veins. It is my responsibility to leverage their legacy in order to make a real difference in marginalized communities.

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?

In like to call myself a multi-hyphenated powerhouse who spreads her magic in podcasting, radio, education, and philanthropy. Upon graduating from college, I worked as a case worker for mentally-ill ex-offenders in city, state, and federal correctional facilities and then found my way into the classroom as a special education teacher who piloted the first inclusion class for the state of New York.

After a few years as a classroom teacher, I felt as if I wasn’t doing enough to prepare black and brown kids for the real-world so I shifted my focus, tapped into my network of professionals and began creating enrichment opportunities and lucrative partnerships for New York City high schools.

Still feeling a void, I wanted my voice to expand it’s reach and accepted an offer to become a radio host. This is when all of my early years of getting into trouble for talking in class was beginning to pay off. People were listening and the owners of the radio station offered me my own show. Unsure of the unknown, I knew that life had prepared me for this moment and I graciously stepped into it. Soon, executives and talent from television, film, music, and beauty industries began contacting me to be interviewed on my show. They told me that they were impressed by the purpose of my conversations: unpacking celebrity pivotal moments and milestones . My message was clear, I want to pour positivity into the world. I want to be an example to people who look like me. I want to be included in the media space; a space that doesn’t often represent me.

To date, I’ve created many pathways for students to access opportunities. I’ve watched them grow from inner city high school students to lawyers, doctors, finance analysts, and educators.

Trusting that I am always where I am supposed to be, to date, I’ve interviewed a myriad of celebrities I assumed were not within reach.

Two things I am truly proud of are: the relationships I’ve built over the years and the doors I’ve opened for others.

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?

Looking back, three skills that were most impactful in my journey are: self-awareness, fearlessness, resilience.

The advice I have for folks who are early in their career is to unapologetically bold! Have the audacity to ask questions and stand in your truth. Doing this sometimes comes with a hefty price tag called opposition, but knowing that your efforts will benefit the world, makes it all worth it.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing was parents did for me was involve me in extracurricular activities. As a kid, my schedule was packed! Going to school just wasn’t enough. I had to attend academic enrichment programs after school, I ran track, and participated in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and African dance classes. This kind of exposure helped me see what was beyond my community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.SanyaOnAir.net
• Instagram: Sanya_OnAir
• Facebook: Sanya On-Air Celebrity Interviews
• Linkedin: Sanya Hudson
• Twitter: Sanya Hudson
• Youtube: @SanyaOnAir
• Other: Sanya On-Air Celebrity Podcast also streams on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio