Meet Sarea Flo | Entrepreneur

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

Hi Sarea, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I love answering this question. I had been wanting to work in the entertainment industry since I graduated college in 2008. After living through a recession and having to take on a career (legal) completely opposite of that, I tried to stay connected to the industry anyway that I could. It wasn’t until 2016 at my then job at a law firm that I knew I could no longer live a life of a 9-5er. I had an unprofessional exchange with my then office manager who wouldn’t accept my doctor’s note for my previous day of absence. I called HR and asked what my options were and decided to take FMLA. During my time on FMLA I begin to apply for tv production jobs and landed my first full time gig with Family Feud. After 2 years of working as a full time freelancer in tv production, I reflected on the lack of women representation as well as black women representation in my area (Washington, D.C.). In November of 2018 I LLC’ed my company Sarea-Flo Productions. It all became official. That was the best decision I made for myself and other women who search for opportunities like I did in quest of working in this industry.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I shared earlier that I started my career unconventionally. I was working at a law firm in 2016 and it came a time (Thank you God for divine timing) that my purpose was no longer being served at the law firm. It literally took me 8 years from the time I graduated college till the first day of me starting with Family Feud for me to start my career. In between time I worked with my former boss and mentor Jamal Spratley who gave me amazing opportunities. He had his own production company, was the director of photography at several churches in the DMV and also had a contract on Capital Hill to do corporate video production. I was writing scripts and treatments for gospel artists, interviewing celebrities at the Congressional Black Caucus, meeting with clients and potential clients of Jamal’s and so much more. It was with Jamal that I was prepared to go full time into production.

No it was not easy, there were days where I questioned my existence and my purpose. Honestly when I think about how I overcame it is truly the grace of God because I literally hated where I was in life. I had an envious spirit of my peers who were working full time in production directly out of college. I would question God like “why not me?”. I had my days, I tell you. What I learned was that everyone’s path is different. I became a mother in 2009, which was just months after I graduated college. I had to go on my own journey of discovery, what’s for me and how this is the best option for me.

What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is that I am a true walking testimony and my story is for the young girls, young women, women my age and older. It does not matter where you currently are, it’s just a season. There will be a time for you to blossom, flourish and grow. The reason why I go by the name Sarea-Flo and my production company also has the same name is because Sarea means beautiful woman and Flo is a derivative of flourish. I selected this name my last year of college, and when I put it all together it means “a beautiful woman who wants to flourish”. I kept saying that to myself, and said I want the same for other women. I want to work with beautiful women who want to flourish in production. Thanks be to God I am currently doing just that. God is so faithful.

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.
Oh wow! Well since I love hosting and entertaining me and bestie bout to have a ball. I am a self proclaimed foodie so we are definitely going out to eat daily, go to a game (depending on the season football, basketball or baseball). Then we have to do top golf, indoor race car track, skating, bowling, a movie, karaoke, the spa (literally love a spa day), indoor adult arcade rooms go to a cafe for tea time or coffee. You can not come to D.C. without hearing live music, especially Go-Go. We are going to see my favorite Go-Go band, Backyard. We have to go to my church, give praises to God. I mentioned going out to eat, there are so many restaurants that I can name but I will just name a few La Vie, NaRa-Ya, D’Lena, L’Ardente, Huncho House, Hot & Juicy, The Bygone, Victory, Kitchen Cray, Yume Sushi ok I’m going to stop right here because the list can get ridiculously long. Also there are so many hotels in DC that have lounges and rooftops so we have to make way. Just know if you coming to visit me you going to have the time of your life and you will be well fed.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I love that you all recognize others for their value and effort in life. My first dedication goes to God, without him I am absolutely nothing. Without him I would have stayed at a 9-5, given up on my dreams and settled for a life of mediocrity. Secondly, Yes, absolutely I have someone that I attribute my success to his name is Jamal Spratley (my angel now) he gave me my first opportunity right out of college in 2010. I worked with Jamal initially for 3 years as his personal assistant. He owned a production company and he gave me literal hands on experience. He threw me in the fire, I had to basically run his business as if it was my own. I was 24 years old, I didn’t know a thing about running a business. I use to tell him all the time, “You hate me, because why would you make me do these things?”. (lol) Little did I know he was preparing me for the life that I have now. Most recently we decided that we would continue to work together through our respective businesses, however he transitioned in 2021. That left my heart so broken. However it has fueled me to make sure that I pay it forward to someone who is now in the position I was in back in 2010 and give them the opportunity to thrive. I believe you are only as great as your greatest teacher and Jamal was absolutely that for me.

Website: www.sareaflo.com

Instagram: @sareaflo

Linkedin: Dameka “Sarea-Flo” Mack

Twitter: @sareaflo

Facebook: Sarea-Flo

Image Credits
Chanel St. James – Director & Producer at Sarea-Flo Productions