Meet LaToya Shambo | Founder, Speaker, Influencer Marketing Expert, & Small Business Advisor

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

Hi LaToya, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factors behind the success of my business and brand are: Commitment – I became committed to seeing it through. No matter how big, small, or tedious the task involved in building, I am committed to completing it. I am committed to my team, mission, personal development, and building the best company that outlives me.
Consistency – kick-ass, wake up, rinse and repeat. A big part of my success is about doing some of the most tedious tasks day in and day out. Do things that the average human is not willing to do over and over. I also wake up every day to deliver my best. That is a constant action.
Confidence – I believe in my brand, my mission, myself, and my team. No one and nothing can break what you believe in when it comes from the soul. I operate from that daily.
Courage – To claim the CEO title requires courage. When you are building something great there are risks involved and you have to have the courage to take them right, wrong, or indifferent. You have to be willing to fail but fail fast. You have to be willing to do what it takes to build the right team and the best company. You have to be willing to do what your peers and/or competitors aren’t willing to do in order to succeed. All of that requires courage, which I apply daily.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Black Girl Digital is a small fish in a big ocean. Trying to capture market share is not and has not been easy. Since launching in 2016, we’ve brokered brand partnerships for over 300 Black and Brown Influencers and that brings so much joy to my heart. For us, it is about helping more people of color secure fair and equitable brand deals. The more opportunities we funnel into the Black Creator Economy the better. We work hard to communicate and educate our customers on why this is important. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of our success. We are still in development and have a long way to go. This is our contribution to the culture so the growth is never-ending nor is it easy. The lesson that I see as a constant is always to bet on yourself, no matter what, and don’t give up because times get hard. It takes courage to keep going when shit hits the fan or you’ve depleted your bank account. If there is one thing I want the world to know about me is that I never gave up on myself or the mission no matter how hard it got. In 2011, 5 days after giving birth, I was hit by a car while crossing the street with my daughter in my arms. That moment in time did not take me out or keep me down. God gave me the opportunity to see that life was worth living and to get back up. I cashed in my 401k to launch my business, paid my creators before myself, and sometimes didn’t have enough in the bank because advertisers paid late but I found a way. In life, and in business it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, what matters is how you get up and do better the next time.

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.
This is a very good question. Well, I love flavor so we are definitely passing by Delbar Middle Eastern for lunch, then Serenidad for dinner, and for drinks after Oreatha’s At the Point. But first, Black Coffee to get the day started. But If we are going out on a Tuesday, we are definitely stopping by my girl Yandy Smith’s restaurant, Dancin’ Crepe at the Underground! Taco Tuesdays are lit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is so much credit to be given. I am genuinely grateful for my good friend Lashawnda Goffin. Without her support over the years, I wouldn’t be here today. She believed me and my vision. She committed her time, energy, and love to what we were building here at Black Girl Digital. The same goes for Jazmyne Archer, another long-time friend that has been with Black Girl Digital from the beginning of time. Loyalty is a gem that I hold near and dear to my heart. Also, it takes a team to build an empire and I recognized that very early.

Website: www.blackgirldigital.com

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