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

Hi Shakira, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Authenticity, Accountability and Integrity are the most important principles to me. Every action is a reflection of myself and my brand, so I make sure that every decision I make is positive and congruent with who I am and what I set out to accomplish. I believe you must always hold yourself accountable and always strive to be the best version of yourself. We all make mistakes, but with integrity to guide us, this allows one to make the necessary changes to grow and evolve.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My goal is simply to create a safe haven for others. I want to add confidence, self love and peace into the world. Honestly, I’ve been struggling with defining what sets my blog/brand apart from others, and the conclusion is that it is a reflection of ME. I share my experiences, my feelings, and my inner-thoughts through pictures and writing. It hasn’t been easy and are there have definitely been challenges and obstacles that have arisen. I remind myself that challenges are temporary, to stay positive, keep my foot on the gas and continue pushing with the end goal in mind. A few of the lessons I’ve learned along the way are to “Walk your own path” and “Good things don’t come easy.” If you want to have a successful career with emotional satisfaction, you have to work hard. Don’t let someone else’s goals and dreams influence your vision of life. It’s your path and you decide where you’re going and how long it takes you to get there.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am very spontaneous, so I love exploring the city and trying new restaurants. We would definitely go to Five Church Atlanta for brunch and Ponce City Market for a night cap! I live for a glass of wine, so Chateau Elan for wine tasting and a massage is life! Lol. For a reset, we would definitely make reservations for Intown Salt Room for a meditation session and then go to Doc Chey’s for a quick bite.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents and my sister. They allowed me to be expressive and supported every crazy idea that I presented to them and never made me feel like they didn’t matter. Thank you for always being the voice of reason when I had doubt or needed reassurance. I appreciate you all more than you will ever know.

Instagram: shakira_nycole

Twitter: shakira_nycole

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