Meet Saasha Demps | Founder and President of S.I.N.C.E 21 Women Empowerment Organization

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

Hi Saasha, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“Same level, different path”

I believe all women should feel comfortable to succeed in any environment regardless of race, size, or education level in a judgment-free zone. Everyone needs support that is genuine and not full of jealousy and hate. We have one thing in common, we are women looking to reach our full potential for the time we have on earth in peace. We have the same opportunity to reach our goals even though we are utilizing a different path.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Wow, my journey has been so rewarding. My career began under the Hilton Hotels Corporation at 18 years old. I worked for the Hilton for 11 years. I started as a hostess/cashier transition to a server/bartender. Then I was promoted to a supervisor, Food and Beverage Manager, and Specialty Restaurant Manager. I learned so much throughout the years. During this time, I received my Associate Degree in Hotel/Restaurant/Tourism Management as well as a certification in Front Office Services. I met so many people from around the world which open my interest in traveling. I will love to visit every state in the United States and as many countries as possible before I leave this earth. The world is so big and there’s so much out there. I would love to experience other cultures because I love diversity. The Hilton allowed me to work in a well-diverse environment where I have gained life-long friendships. A few cons about the hotel industry are that it is a white male-dominated industry and I realized, I have to work three times harder just to get a comfortable salary along with the position. Also, the hotel industry does not provide an adequate work-life balance for people with families. I decided to take a leap of faith and applied for a local government agency to gain a work-life balance. What I did not know is four years later I would be still be working in government. I started off in the Contracts and Procurment Department as a Purchasing Assistant. I was promoted to the Deputy City Manager’s Execuitve Assistance one year late. I just was recently promoted to the Assistant to the City Manager in July 2021. During this time, I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Adminstrative Managment and will be graduating in December 2021 with a Master Degree in Public Administration. I thought I would return back to the hospitality industry someday but I have grown to love public service. My next step is to become a Management or Policy Analyst or Project Manager in government. I also plan to be a City Manager in the near future. I must say it was challenging working in the hospitality industry as well as in government but I grew to love helping people. I realize my purpose in life is to help others and that was one of my reasons for creating a women empowerment organization. Along the way, I have learned that having patience and understanding will get you further in life than simply working hard. I take challenges as gifts and feel so amazing after resolving the issues. I would want the world to know that women are superior human-being who will love to respected for their skillset and ambition to achieve greatness.

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?
Interestingly enough, I was born and raised in Georgia all of my life. I personally have not experienced Georgia in a tourist way but I must say we have a little of everything. If my best friend wanted to spend a week doing things in Georgia, we definitely start off with downtown Atlanta and the historic sites like the Capital and the King Center. I would want her to see the nightlife in the City so we ride the Ferris wheel at Skyview Atlanta. Then I want her to experience a few attractions like Atlanta Zoo and the Georgia Aquarium. Hint…I love animals. I also love nature so going to the Botanical Garden, hiking at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, and Stone Mountain is a must. For relaxation, I would take her to Treat your Feet Massage Spa and end the night at Chateau Elan with a nice glass of wine and dinner. We will definitely eat at Elevation Chophouse while we watch the private plane’s takeoff and Another Broken Egg Cafe for breakfast. Lastly, we have to go to the Battery Atlanta and experience the nightlife including Fat Tuesday and Punch Bowl Social.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been blessed to have some phenomenal women in my life thus far. To name a few, my 5th-grade teacher, Ms. Solomon was the first non-family member to believe in me. She took me under her wing and made sure I reached my full potential as a student. She is my mentor and godmother because she believed in me when no one else did. I will forever be grateful for God placing her in my life. She’s ambitious, works hard, and is extremely smart and I look up to her professionally. Next, my former Food and Beverage Director, Melanie Holmes inspired me by working hard to get to the next level in her career. I admire her dedication to her profession but also the strength she has to do whatever it takes to reach her professional and personal goals. Lastly, I met so many women in my current workplace that have inspired me professionally, Melissa Echeverria, Ella Sizemore, Yolanda Broome, and Taffini Guffie. I have never worked for a place that has so many women in leadership positions. These are African American women with college degrees who are extremely talented and smart. They are very supportive of me and encourage me daily to reach my goals. From family to friends, I have a huge support system that sees my skillset and pushes me to be great.

Website: www.since21.org

Instagram: since21inc

Facebook: Saasha Demps

Other: Email selfdevelopmentbyus@gmail.com sdemps@since21.org

Image Credits
SnapsbyBritt Xandra K