Check Out Shalia Ford’s Story

Shalia Ford

Hi Shalia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My story is comprised of many defining moments where I was presented with viable options but only one choice: the best option for me. I want to share three instances that were my most life-affirming decisions to date.

I was born to an unwed teen mother who dropped out of high school to raise me. My mom put her dreams and goals on hold to ensure I/we were well cared for. She got a great job in the mailroom at an insurance company and retired after 30 years of service. My mom instilled in me and later my sister that education was necessary to make it in life. As young as third grade, I would more fully embrace the fact that education would increase economic mobility and independence. Due to my own traumatic childhood experiences, education became my way of escape and the possibility of a different outlook. I chose to excel academically. You could call me an over-achiever. I worked hard to obtain A’s and B’s and participated in several extracurricular activities. I am a first-generation high school graduate due to hard work, self-determination, and my mom’s encouragement. I received a Bachelor of Arts in African American history and a master’s in business administration.

Before I graduated high school, I made one decision that would change my life’s trajectory for the good. I chose myself and decided to leave home for my health and safety. My childhood was riddled with abuse. When the fear of breaking the silence was no longer a stronghold, I reached out for help, yet I didn’t receive it from the expected sources. Ultimately, I had to choose to walk away from my family, home, and life as I knew it. I was sixteen years old.

I attended a Catholic school in grades one through eight. I was taught about Jesus in religion class but didn’t begin to learn about a personal relationship with Him until high school. Even then, I was under the impression that I had to get myself together before He would accept me. My life was a mess. I was a mess, but He (Jesus) chose me! Finally, at age 25, about one month after my golden birthday, I decided to accept Jesus Christ as My Lord and Savior. My faith has been a grounding and guiding force since that moment.

These three defining moments in my life illustrate that many things beyond our control can happen to us, either through circumstances or choices of our own. However, the choices we make in those pivotal moments in life become the ones that ultimately define us. These defining moments and countless others have shaped me into the woman I am today and who I am becoming in the future. What I’ve learned through the years is priceless. Specifically, I am enough, I am loved, I am forgiven, I am strong, I am resilient, and I have the power to choose!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We all have encountered stressful and uncomfortable challenges in life; that’s part of living. It’s how you respond that makes the difference. In the context of leadership, I believe in leading by choice and not by chance. Leading in uncertain times, even for the most seasoned leaders, can be difficult. In my experience, I have realized that leadership is a choice, even if you are thrust into leadership by chance.

As I began my early professional pursuits, I volunteered with the local NAACP office in my hometown of Minneapolis, MN. I wore many hats as a volunteer, from helping organize the youth component of a national convention to reactivating the local youth council to serving on the fundraising committee to chairing that same committee before I was invited to take on even more responsibility as an executive committee member. While initially reluctant, I agreed to serve as second vice president with the condition that I would remain involved with the youth and fundraising.

Within a few months, the president and first vice president resigned for other obligations, leaving me to ascend automatically to the position of president. The organization experienced what I would call a “perfect storm” during my tenure—several community issues needed to be addressed, from education inequities to community policing to voting. As one of the youngest black women leading a local affiliate of this national organization, I had to learn how to navigate the uncertainties of championing social justice issues and how to avoid letting hurtful, slanderous public attacks on my name and character sway how I would lead. My faith and resolve were put to the test. I choose to lead in a way aligned with my Christian values. I led with courage, humility, hope, integrity, and compassion. It was the most challenging and unforgettable 18 months of volunteer service. I made it through by God’s grace and the support of a few key individuals who stayed by my side, encouraged me, and offered sound counsel.

My tenure with the NAACP as a volunteer wasn’t all strenuous. One of my best experiences was helping bring former South African President Nelson Mandela to serve as the Annual Freedom Fund speaker. It was an honor to meet one of my heroes. In addition, under my leadership, the local NACCP secured state education funds to open a parent information center supporting educational choice. The volunteer role eventually led to employment as one of seven Regional Youth Directors with the National NAACP Youth & College Division. When the NAACP sought a new location for its Region IV Office, St. Louis was selected for several reasons, and that’s how St. Louis became my new home. Moving to St. Louis has opened doors of opportunity for me and my family.

Through this experience and countless others, I have benefitted from leading by choice and not by chance. As a leader, I have become braver, stronger, more resilient, and wiser, which has helped me recognize time and time again how God is/was doing work in my life that I could never have imagined.

I am a nonprofit leader with over twenty years of experience. I have held leadership roles with the Community Action of Minneapolis, Hamline Midway Coalition, YWCA Metro St. Louis, and the NAACP National Office. Presently, I serve as the director of leadership programs at FOCUS St. Louis. At FOCUS St. Louis, we believe that everyone possesses the power to be a leader and that even the most difficult issues are solvable. Through experience-based leadership programs and civic issues education, FOCUS St. Louis helps people better understand the St. Louis region and build their capacity for change. I am also a principal with GSI Consulting, LLC, a boutique consulting firm specializing in ministering to the needs of marketplace leaders.

I have been fortunate to have worked in my “Why” throughout my professional career. This can best be described with the Purpose Venn Diagram, a combination of four things overlapping, which reveal your purpose in the center:

1.What I love

3. What the world needs, and

4. What can I be paid to do for a living?

I equip individuals to lead (with purpose) where they live, learn, work, play, and worship. I achieve this by designing and creating transformational learning opportunities and experiences, primarily for women and girls, that inspire hope and facilitate healing. This work allows me to share with individuals how to see life challenges and frustrations as a mirror that reflects their inner strength, which is a more accurate measure of seeing their true selves and realizing their purpose. My philosophy on leadership is that leadership is an inside job, meaning you must know and lead yourself before you can genuinely lead or influence others. This form of leadership requires ongoing personal growth and development. I love creating content to help people become better leaders while becoming more self-aware, confident, and empowered.

One of my most significant achievements in the past 12 months was becoming an international best-selling author for the anthology INTENTION: The Deconstructing G.R.I.T. Collection. In my chapter, I Choose Me, I share a deeply personal journey from childhood trauma to triumph. I hope my story resonates with others, reminding them that their past doesn’t define them. The lesson in the journey is to reclaim joy and the power of personal choice. So, I encourage readers to choose themselves.

Looking ahead, I am excited to continue my leadership and personal development work on a broader scale. I am also eager to explore more opportunities for motivational speaking, writing, and coaching. These avenues allow me to share the message of hope, healing, and self-love, which I am deeply passionate about.

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