Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shantell Owens. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shantell, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I’m a wife, mother, and business owner, and I will be going back to school for law in March 2026, in my mid-30s. My journey hasn’t been straight, and honestly, it’s been full of pivots, lessons, and moments where I had to really reconnect with myself.
I’ve always wanted to be an attorney. I loved everything about it, the Harvey Specters, the Annalise Keatings, the kind of badass lawyers who own the room. But it wasn’t the job itself that intimidated me. It was the work behind it. The years of school, learning every single law, the sacrifices, it felt impossible back then.
So I leaned into what I was naturally good at, hair. I ran my business in Memphis, and in 2019, I got curious about trademarking my brand name. The attorney fees? Ridiculous. So I said, okay, I’ll figure this out myself. Once I realized I could actually do it, I made a YouTube video showing others how to trademark without hiring an attorney. That video blew up, over 21,000 views, and I started helping entrepreneurs protect their brands.
Fast forward to 2021, I moved to California, opened a hair salon, and later launched a hair extension company. By the end of 2024, my focus shifted to brand strategy, but even then, everything kept circling back to one thing, protecting people’s brand. And that’s when it hit me, it was finally time to chase my childhood dream and study law.
I started retrieving transcripts from multiple colleges, miraculously got them all even with outstanding balances, completing CLEP exams, and finding a supervising attorney. After some trial and error, I reached out to a Facebook friend I didn’t really know, and she agreed to mentor me. After submitting my application, paying all the required fees, and selecting a start date, I found out my supervising attorney was actually a year short of being eligible to supervise me. While that delayed my official start, she offered me a position as a contracted legal aid in her office, which gave me hands-on experience.
My purpose has always been clear, I help people protect what’s theirs. A name, a brand, a dream they’ve poured years into, I make sure no one loses what they’ve worked so hard for. I’ve come full circle back to that little girl who wanted to stand up, fight, and protect, except now, I get to do it in real life.
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’m currently pursuing my dream of becoming an attorney. My focus is helping people protect what they’ve worked so hard to build. Whether it’s a brand name, a product, or a dream they’ve poured years into, I make sure no one loses what they’ve created.
I started out in the beauty industry, running a salon and launching a hair extension company. Along the way, I got curious about trademarking and realized many entrepreneurs couldn’t afford legal help. I began showing people how to handle it themselves, and now I’m combining that experience with my legal education to provide hands-on guidance and support.
Right now, I’m focused on gaining real-world legal experience and preparing to officially start law school in March 2026. My goal is to help people safeguard their ideas and work in ways that feel accessible and practical.
For anyone following my journey, I want them to know this: protecting your work is just as important as creating it. It takes strategy, patience, and the right support. I’m here to make sure people don’t lose what they’ve poured their heart into.
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?
1. Pivot. My path hasn’t been straight. I’ve had to change directions more than once, and each time it felt like starting over. But every pivot taught me something new and opened doors I didn’t even know were there. Learning to adjust without overthinking or beating yourself up has been huge. Sometimes the plan you thought was perfect isn’t the one that actually works, and that’s okay.
2. You vs You. I’ve realized the only person you’re really competing with is yourself. It’s so easy to look at what other people are doing and feel behind, but that just distracts you. The real work is figuring out what you need to improve, what’s holding you back, and how to be better than your past self. Focusing on your own growth and progress keeps things realistic and keeps you moving forward.
3. Determination. Sticking with something, even when it’s messy or frustrating, has been key. Determination isn’t about doing everything perfectly, it’s about showing up, doing the work, and refusing to quit on yourself. The small, consistent steps you take over time are what really add up.
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 collaborating with creative businesses, especially graphic designers, because we share the goal of helping business owners build and protect their brands. I also love educating entrepreneurs, whether that’s by speaking on podcasts, joining mentorship programs, or sharing insights wherever business owners are looking to learn.
If you’re interested in collaborating, the best way to reach me is by email at [email protected] or on Instagram @shantelllanise. I’m excited to connect with people who want to make a real impact and help others protect and grow their brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shantelllanise.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantelllanise
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shantelllanise
Image Credits
Photo credit: Photos by Nefertiti
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
