Meet Tawanna Shantelle Cullen

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

Tawanna Shantelle, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My confidence and self-esteem didn’t come from a childhood full of compliments. In my house, compliments were earned, and let’s just say I wasn’t exactly collecting them like trophies. My mother was a single parent who grew up during the Civil Rights Era, and survival shaped the way she raised me. She loved in the way she loved, and I was raised not to seek attention or stand out.

I stuck out. My height, my race, my health, and my religion made me noticeable. I was tiny, always asthmatic, the only African American girl in my classes, and that kid who could not participate in celebrations because of religious restrictions, which translated as weird to my classmates. All of that made me feel like a puzzle piece that clearly came from a different box. I was not intentionally disruptive, I was simply different from everyone around me. The racism I faced from classmates and even the community made it clear that blending in was not an option. Middle school was so emotionally draining because of the bullying I experienced that the district transferred me to what was labeled the “rich kid school” for my own sanity. Honestly, it was the best life changing decision for me that year. It quieted the noise and gave me space to figure out who I was. High school was even better. I leaned into being different, I was an art student, and finally felt proud of something that was mine.

Adulthood tried me as well. Abusive relationships had me questioning everything I thought I knew about myself. Years later I realized I wasn’t “The Crazy One.” I was “The Manipulated One.” Therapy helped me unpack all of that, and I left those relationships scared of the unknown but determined to find peace. Motherhood fulfilled me and broke me at the same time. I poured so much into my family that I lost myself. Depression set in, but going back to school, returning to art, committing to my health, and deepening my faith helped me rebuild my identity from the inside out.

I’ve learned that confidence isn’t something someone hands you like an invitation to the coolest clique. Trust me, I waited, and nobody invited me to anything. Confidence only comes from within. I was told consistently that I couldn’t achieve several things in life, whether because of my health, doubts about my intelligence, or just because people assumed my abilities match my height.

I realized that if I believe I can, then I usually will, no matter who doubts me. And if I believe I can’t, then the chances of failing go up no matter who believes in me. After everything I endured in childhood and early adulthood, I learned that my mindset is my greatest tool. Almost everything I was told I couldn’t achieve, I did. I’m still challenging those old random voices of doubt that pop up uninvited.

I developed my confidence by reclaiming my voice, my health, my creativity, my faith, and my belief in myself.

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?

Professionally, I wear a lot of creative hats, and I have learned to embrace that instead of shrinking from it. I am an Award Winning Creative Director, Designer, Educator, and Author, and everything I do centers around storytelling, design, and education, whether it is visual, written, or lived. My work is rooted in helping people feel something or understand something.

My background in graphic design taught me how to communicate through visuals, and my experience in education sharpened my ability to break down ideas in a way that is understandable. I have also spent years producing and managing creative projects, developing curriculum for young students, homeschooling my own children, and supporting my daughters in the acting industry, which gave me a deep understanding of talent development, production, and the behind the scenes work that makes art possible.

What excites me most is the freedom to create across mediums. One day I am designing, another day I am writing, another day I am producing video content or helping someone learn something new. One of the most satisfying parts of my work is taking an idea and turning it into something that has a positive impact. I love when something I have created helps people in a meaningful way.

Right now, I am focused on expanding my creative work in a few areas. I am developing new projects that support youth, refining my writing projects, and continuing to create content that tells my story with the intent to teach and encourage. My goal is to create work that feels honest, impactful, and rooted in purpose.

At the end of the day, my brand is about visual communication, education and, spiritual growth. I take lived experiences, creativity, and faith, and turn them into something that inspires 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, the three qualities that shaped my journey the most were resilience, emotional intelligence, and creativity. Each one showed up at different points in my life, but together they helped me create a life that feels authentic and who I want to become.

Resilience was the first quality I learned, long before I even knew what it was. Growing up as the kid who stood out unintentionally forced me to develop a strong sense of self. Resilience taught me how to keep going even when I felt misunderstood or underestimated. Resilience starts with small choices. Keep showing up. Keep trying. Keep believing that you can, even when the moment feels heavy. Be your own hype‑man with a theme song that hits like a victory lap.

Emotional intelligence became one of my greatest strengths and interest. It is a skill that will take you far in any career field and in every relationship. It helped me understand people and navigate environments. Emotional intelligence is not just about being sensitive. It is about being aware, being reflective, considerate, and knowing how to respond instead of react. It will also help you avoid embarrassing yourself beyond the point of no return. If you want to develop this skill, start by paying attention to your own emotions and the emotions of the people around you. Listen more. Observe more. Give yourself space to process before you speak or act because words are powerful but actions speak louder than words. Emotional intelligence grows through self‑awareness.

Creativity is the interestingly weird thread that ties everything together for me. It is how I process life, how I solve problems, and how others see me. Creativity is not limited to art. It is a way of thinking. It is the ability to imagine something different and then build toward it. For anyone trying to develop their creativity, give yourself permission to experiment and try something new. Get out of your head, touch some grass, stop doom scrolling, and let your mind breathe. Make mistakes. Follow your curiosity. Creativity grows when you stop trying to be perfect and start allowing yourself to explore.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My number one obstacle I face is dealing with imposter syndrome. I have dealt with imposter syndrome for years without realizing it. I often downplayed my achievements and felt like my accomplishments didn’t “count” because I wasn’t in a traditional job, even though I never fit the traditional job mold to begin with. Growing up being labeled as different (more like weird, but in a fun way), experiencing bullying (because people can be jerks), and later being in environments that chipped away at my confidence (again, jerks) all played a part. I eventually learned that sometimes people want you to shrink due to their own insecurities, not my lack of worth. That realization alone was freeing. It is a them issue, not a me issue.

What helps me overcome moments of imposter syndrome, because let’s be honest, it still pops up at the most inopportune times, is choosing to look at my life through an honest lens instead of a critical one. I started acknowledging and honor what I had actually built: earning my degrees, homeschooling my children, writing books, winning awards for my film work, reclaiming my health, surviving difficult seasons (and difficult people), and returning to my art. When I got the courage to submit my creative work to film festivals, I was bracing myself for more rejection than acceptance. Much to my surprise, it started winning awards, over 25 of them. Each one challenged the “I am not good enough” narrative I had believed for years. It reminded me that my creativity does have impact and that my voice deserves to be heard.

My faith has also been a huge part of overcoming imposter syndrome. Studying scripture more deeply helps me unlearn popular misconceptions and unhealthy practices that hold women back. My relationship with God has strengthened because of my determination to learn His truth without tainted human agendas. It reminds me that my value has never come from people or anything outside of us, because it already exists within us. Our value is woven into our DNA and into our human design, and no one can tamper with it. No one else has the power to distribute value because we are all born with it.

To overcome imposter syndrome, I am learning to quiet the doubt by leaning into faith, honoring my growth, trusting my gifts, and choosing truth over fear… that and therapy helps.
I want my life to positively impact others, and reclaiming my identity is a big part of that. My motivation is to live a novel worthy life.

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Tawanna Shantelle Cullen

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