We had the good fortune of connecting with Classye James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Classye, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Every business that I have created thus far has a social impact component, that is a requirement for me. I want to ensure I leave a positive impact in this world. My first company, Shakeout, is a community-driven, transition coaching program for competitive and former athletes across the nation. Our mission is to motivate, inspire, and assist athletes as they prepare for life after sports. Shakeout is hosting its first conference, The Athletes Unite Conference, July 15-16 2022 in Atlanta, GA. The Athletes Unite Conference is going to be a game changing event in the world of athletics. Our emphasis is mental health while providing an experience for athletes to create businesses and career opportunities through sports, entrepreneurship, and technology.

My second company, Sip N’ Slay Tea, was born during the height of quarantine to encourage everyone to prioritize their needs by introducing self-love through herbal remedies. Emerging through the pandemic, this black-owned and female-owned health and wellness brand encourages an appreciation for life and holistic reflection, at a time when we need it most. The brand encourages customers to practice self-love and enjoy holistic experiences so you can give the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When creating Shakeout I had a vision, that every high school, university, and sports team in the nation is educated on the importance of preparing their athletes for life after sports. I personally went from being a college athlete with zero corporate work experience to an industry professional at one of the most successful tech companies in the world, Cisco Systems, within 3 months after graduation. But before this success, the struggle was real. It doesn’t have to be like that for every athlete. Preparing student- athletes for the SHAKEOUT is imperative for the well-being and future of young professionals. There have been several times when I have wanted to quit or give up because things became difficult for me, but that impact that I know I have made and will continue to make on athletes has pushed me to keep going.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Okay, so I want to preface this stating that I am originally from California and moved to Atlanta in 2019, right before the pandemic happened. There is still so much I have to personally experience in this city. My two favorite brunch spots are Toast on Lenox and Breakfast At Barneys, I am big on vibes and I really enjoyed the vibes at these two restaurants. I also love a good crystal shop, my go to shop in Atlanta is Crystal Blue. A location I am looking forward to visiting in The Plant House, it looks so cool and tranquil plus I have a lot of plants in my home and am always looking for more!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I first and foremost want to thank God, my family, friends, and anyone who has supported me up until this point and anyone who will continue to support me on my journey. It takes a community to bring life to the ideas and concepts like the ones I have created, and I am forever grateful for the endless love and support. I secondly, want to thank the author Jen Sincero. I was inspired by her book “You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life,” and decided to turn something I was passionate about into a business. Her book gave me the motivation I needed to stop doubting myself and take a risk, we are usually our biggest obstacles when we are trying to achieve greatness. Self doubt and imposter syndrome are real issues for several entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. My advice to anyone doubting themselves is to just take the first step, trust your intuition, and don’t be afraid to pivot! We all are capable of great things.

Website: https://www.sipnslaytea.com/ ,https://www.classyejames.com, https://www.shakeoutllc.com,

Instagram: @classyej, @shakeoutllc, @sipnslaytea

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/classyejames

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