Meet Salima Omwenga | Brand Developer & Strategist

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

Hi Salima, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The willingness to start, move, and take action is the most important factor behind my success. Learning has always been intriguing to me, and I always knew I could retain information very well. However, as I continued to grow, I found that learning – the very thing I loved so much – became a crutch as it became a tool to aid in my imposter syndrome and fear of taking action. I kept pushing the goalpost of when I had learned enough, or prepared enough, to step in the path of my purpose.

Ultimately when I realized that my love for learning was hindering my ability to move, I knew I had to start taking the leap of faith before buying that next course or ebook. I learned that growth and success come from applying things you learn, not just learning them. The willingness to take action and learn as I go changed the trajectory of my brand and, ultimately, my life.

What should our readers know about your business?
UFlourish is a boutique brand consulting firm helping leaders build a strong brand to leverage in their careers or business and unlock new opportunities. UFlourish started as a creative outlet as I loved the art of taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. UFlourish provides the clarity, confidence, and resources needed to clarify your story, understand how you want to show up in the world, build your platform, and use your brand as a force for good, whether you are looking to make quantum leaps in your career or impact the world through entrepreneurship. Platforms aren’t reserved for a select few. With deep discovery, development, and design, everyone can deliver a strong brand to unlock a whole new world of opportunity.

UFlourish began when I took a good look at my own life and wondered if I was just going to keep going through the motions or dig deep, discover my purpose, and take control of my narrative so I can clearly communicate the value I bring and leave a legacy – all while living a life I love. I walked the walk before I talked the talk. The strategies I leave with clients, I have implemented in my own life and brand. Every step has been tried and tested. UFlourish is an extension of me, what I have learned along the way, and what I wish I knew when just getting started. Clients trust me because of that level of relatability and transparency. I take the time to dig deep and understand my client’s unique goals so everything we do is curated specifically for them at the same level of time, effort, and care I would if it were my brand. I am proud of taking that extra step to learn and understand them instead of just regurgitating the same strategies for everyone, and I can see the huge difference it makes.

Building UFlourish and becoming an entrepreneur overall has not always been easy. It was like working out a new muscle. I was sore in places I have never been sore before, but I saw growth in ways I had never seen before as well. It has been tough at times but so rewarding to build something from the ground up, fight doubts and fears, learn to be resourceful, think critically and creatively, and, most importantly, remain resilient. I got to where I am today because I aim to take everything one day at a time, dare to try, and learn from my missteps and mistakes. It is easy to look left and right and see what other people in your industry are doing and feel behind, out of place, or feel a sense of inadequacy, and I find that can be one of the hardest mental roadblocks in entrepreneurship. A trick of mine is to create more than you consume. I find that when I create more content than I consume or push myself to contribute to more conversations versus just sitting in them, the momentum I build in doing so leaves me no time or room to doubt myself because I see what others are doing. It forces me to look within versus outside and around me, and that is how I stay on track.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a foodie through and through, so if my best friend was visiting the area and I wanted to show them a good time, I would be sure to hit a few of my favorite food spots in the city. To start the day, a stop at Baked & Wired in Georgetown, DC, to grab a latte and fresh pastries for a quick boost before walking and shopping down Georgetown’s M Street is a must. For lunch, a quick stop at Thai Chef Street food or Cava would hit the spot, followed by an inspiring walk through any of DC’s museums. For dinner, Sfoglina Van Ness for the most delicious hand-made pasta and a soothing ambiance, and what other way to end the night but at 12 Stories, a rooftop with low lights and large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city at the Wharf.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It may be cliche to credit my parents for who I am today, but I will anyways. Beyond the standard role of a parent, my parents implicitly instilled in me the values I still hold today through their example in times when I don’t even think they knew I was watching. While the term entrepreneurship was foreign to me until later in my life, I witnessed the concept right before my eyes by watching my dad forge his own path, fueled by his faith and his passion. His dedication, drive, and resilience have undoubtedly influenced how I show up in my own life and career. While my entrepreneurial blood and hustle may come from my dad, it is my mom, the perfect blend of grit and grace, that has taught me the importance of balance. Watching her navigate through life’s ebbs and flows and conquer motherhood and a career while putting her best foot forward in all areas has taught me to be diligent and work hard but make sure if something costs me my peace, health, and well-being, that I recognize it’s too expensive. Through her example, she has instilled in me the importance of putting myself first, and everything else will follow. While this particular area in my life is a work in progress, I deeply recognize its importance, all thanks to her example. They also gave me amazing siblings, Minna and Justin, that I love so much and who bring joy to my life every single day.

I also want to shout out those who have been in the trenches with me. Deonte Holden was the first person I shared my entrepreneurial plans with. From the beginning, he has taught me so much about the world of entrepreneurship and beyond. He helped me transform my mindset to help position myself for everything I’m striving for, and for that, I’ll forever be grateful. My big brother Stephen Williams has believed in my abilities from the beginning as well and has been there through so much. I would not be where I am today were it not for his guidance, mentorship, and support. My good friend Pace Fordham was my very first “client” and I am so grateful for the opportunity to bounce ideas off of him, learn, and grow with him. My girls Damilka Joaquin, Tyjeeha Baldwin, Abby Espino, and more have been such great support and a source of love and laughter.

So many people have helped shape the woman I am today, and I wish I could name and shout out every single person that has been a part of my journey. I know I can never say I’m “self-made” because it is the love, support, encouragement, and mentorship of all of those I have been surrounded by through this journey that has brought me to this point.

Website: https://www.salimaomwenga.com/ and https://www.u-flourish.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salimaomwenga/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salima-omwenga-11318614b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uflourishconsulting