Meet Taneka Gillard

We were lucky to catch up with Taneka Gillard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taneka , so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?

There are many conditions that allowed me to develop empathy over 50+ years. I grew up in the New York Foster Care System. I’ve seen and experienced many things- good and bad. Eventually, I was taken in by a wonderful woman who set such a great example for me. She was kind and compassionate; worked in the medical field and devoted her time to raising me and my siblings. My love for her grew until her dying day.

My compassion and empathy towards others stemmed from neglect, abandonment, and ridicule. It pushed me to lean into education- getting a better understanding of myself and others. I am a nurse of 30 years and also hold a psychology degree. I am also certified as a child life specialist.

Working in the medical field, I’ve seen and experienced those who have similar struggles to mine. Foster children, neglected children, disabled children- families that may not have much- and are living in a constant strain.

I have a daughter who is considered special needs and also disabled. Our business is geared towards educating and advocating for this community. My childhood struggles is the key component to my empathy and compassion towards others. Our efforts have been recognized by the Mayor of our city as we continue to donate to various organizations throughout the city.

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?

Reignbows Handmade Knitwear and Accessories is about supporting and bringing awareness to the special needs community. As a medical professional of over 30 years and a mother of a child with disabilities, I find that it is important to bring understanding of the struggles these families often face. Health, financial, emotional and mental stress issues. There are many topics to be covered here.
Each of our colored hairbows represent a different condition affecting the community! Green for Cerebral Palsy, Purple for Epilepsy, Red and Blue for heart conditions, Puzzle Pieces for Autism, etc.
Adults can support the cause by wearing them as a broach or choker while our teenagers like to wear them as wristlets or anklets.
Reignbows has been recognized in many local and national publications! Our biggest event is slotted for 2026 as we prepare to present at a TED TALK. (confirmed.) We are also hoping to expand her market within local hospital gift stores in March of 2026.

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?

Knowledge, perseverance, and purpose have been the most impactful qualities in my journey. I believe that my background in nursing and psychology has prepared me to care for my daughter and, in turn, the special needs community.
My life has been a challenge from the beginning, but I had to persevere. College, especially nursing school, was another type of pressure. LOL. But the knowledge and skills I’ve learned has shaped me and guided me to where I am today.
Life experiences have led me to find my purpose! Compassion and empathy for others is the basis for what Reignbows is about. Love and acceptance of those different than you.
For those early in their journey, ignore the naysayers. I shared my vision with someone who discouraged me and I didn’t follow my call for 10 years!! It took a long time for me to get back on track. In the meantime, though, I continued to educate myself and grow- coming back stronger than before. Stay the course! Block the negative words or energies around you. Focus!

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

The biggest area of improvement in the past 12 months for me has been a change in my circle of friends. I have not neglected my old friendships, but I needed to expand my circle. All of my friends have different backgrounds and knowledge that I can build upon. However, some were just draining and non-productive. I believe relationships should help you grow either personally or financially. You should not be the smartest one in your circle. Cutting certain ties help free me mentally.
I’ve always been a reader. But, with limited time, I now listen to a lot of podcasts or books to continue learning and educating myself. I am able to keep up with my friends when they are in deep discussion or debates on certain topics.
Yes, your friend circle is important. Not everyone is rooting for you. Uproot those.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Keston Duke
D. Jerome Smedley
Jedon Holloway

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Working hard in 2024: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made