Meet Valencia Neptune | CEO & Founder

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

Hi Valencia, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
One main philosophy of mine is to live life with no regrets. The only way that philosophy can manifest in my life is for me to take risks. It’s not always easy, but I choose to embrace it. I haven’t had any major achievements in my life that didn’t involve risk-taking. As a a woman of faith, risks and faith go hand-in-hand in my personal journey. I step out on faith because I know God is right there with me and he will direct my steps. After receiving my Master in Music, I took a major risk by moving to New York alone. There, I discovered who I truly was and wanted to be. I realized what I truly wanted to accomplish in my career, found my husband, started my business, and met some amazing new people. I would advise anyone to lean into the risk and embrace the fears that come with it because as the saying goes, “If you want something you’ve never had you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Singing since the age of eight years old helped me learn early on that I was a creative. I would always jot down lyrics, sing, dance and perform, but at the time I didn’t know what it all meant. After years of performing, singing in choirs, operas and solo gigs, I discovered that I am a singer-songwriter & producer. I loved everything about the music creation process. I knew I wanted to make music, help others make music, and empower women and all people.

That being said, as an avid participant in the music industry, it’s no secret to me that prejudice towards women—especially minority women—is common practice, and breaking barriers is no easy feat. It is challenging to build a company set out to help other women overcome challenges that I also face on a regular basis. I face the wage gap, racism, sexism, and so many forms of prejudice. I’m trying to live my best life while constantly fighting to make a difference, and that is the challenge. I established So Am I-Worthy in 2017 to empower and elevate women, and it has now blossomed into an up-and-coming indie label. We have done such great mission work and truly see the need to provide resources for women, especially Christian women of color. I am very proud to have just recently incorporated So Am I-Worthy, Inc in GA, a nonprofit organization that highlights and uplifts female Christian & Black Indigenous Women of Color Singer-Songwriters. We advance their music careers by offering paid music gig opportunities, mentorship, coaching, artist development, educational workshops, events, and grants for further music creation.

I’ve learned that you will lose people along the way when you pursue your passion, but you must stay the course. This loss can sometimes be painful, but don’t slow down your dreams to meet the expectations of others. The right people will find you and support you. Also, achieving your goals might take longer than you would expect, but again, stay the course. Success takes time. Change takes time. Breaking barriers takes time. And we have to learn to be okay with that.

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 love a nice ambiance! If I had a friend visiting me, I would go get some insight from Black Girls Guide ATL, an instagram account created by Shanita Miller showcasing some of the most fabulous spots in ATL. One place for sure we would visit would be the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. It’s such a beautiful place. We would also stop by the Atlanta Breakfast Club because the experience and food are just amazing. For some good music, food and a night out, Georgia’s Juke Joint for the win. For a shopping experience I would check out Atlantic Station, Ponce City Market and Buckhead. For dessert we would go to Yaas cookies because I love the name and the warm specialized cookie flavors can’t be beat. Lastly if we wanted some fine dining we would definitely go to Capital Grille, the lobster mac & cheese and lamb chops are so good! There are so many amazing places in ATL, I haven’t nearly seen them all.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am blessed to have many amazing people in my life. First, I will give a shoutout to God, who is my Savior and best friend; I am who I am by his grace, love and mercy. Next, I have to give a shoutout to my family because they’ve always been there for me and supported my endeavors. I can’t express enough what having a supportive family means to me. A special shoutout to my mom for empowering me to love myself, not compare myself and embody the So Am I-Worthy mentality. She is such a strong and wise woman, I would not be who I am without her. I would love to give a shoutout to my church family. I’ve lived in 5 states, and in every state I’ve found a church family that has nurtured my soul and helped me in so many ways. Last but not least, my amazing husband, my best friend, supporter, confidant and music partner; I am truly blessed to have found true love on this earth.

Website: www.soamiworthy.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/soamiworthy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/so-am-i-worthy

Facebook: www.facebook.com/soamiworthy

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@soamiworthy

Other: So Am I-Worthy, Inc- www.soamiworthy.org