Meet Shay Sane | Retired Public Servant (DOJ 30+ years) , Mental Health Advocate & Travel Influencer

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

Hi Shay, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Being open about my mental health journey has helped me become successful because now instead of being afraid of sharing my story because of how people might judge me for having these issues, now I am confident enough in myself where I don’t care what others think anymore and know that everyone goes through hardships in their life but if you find someone who understands then they will support you along the way!

What should our readers know about your business?

Black Girls On The Go® (BGOTG) formerly known as Black Girl Travel Movement is a global wellness brand dedicated to empowering black women to prioritize their mental health through travel, seminars, education, workshops, advocacy, events & sisterhood. Founded in 2014, BGOTG is the first organization to curate Therapeutic Travel Therapy™ for Black Girls aka TTraVsperience® (TTV) with a specific for to support those dealing depression, grief, parenting, dating, financial stability, motherhood wounds and entrepreneurship etc., all around the world. Each TTV is facilitated by a licensed professional counselor who has expertise in the field or subject.

It has not been easy for me as when I first started there was no other organization promoting travel as a form of healing for those challenged with mental health. Therefore, I had a lot of trial and error including clearly identifying my target audience. Although the mission has always been to empower black women to heal through travel and sisterhood the brand was promoted as a travel group. This resulted in attracting people that signed up to travel with the group because of the price of the trip. Conversely, due to the affordability of the TTV we also attacked people that did not appreciate the luxury experience they received as they were not a custom to the environment.

I was able to overcome each of the above challenges by now longer tip toeing around the true mission of the brand which is MENTAL HEALTH and pricing our 4.5 star luxury travel experience accordingly.

I want to let the world know that BGOTG is out here to support them in living in mental wellness every day, and that travel can be a complement to talk therapy for those on a mental health journey looking to heal.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My daughter, other black women (especially my sisters), my business coach and God. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of being abandoned by my mother when I was around seven/eight years old. Growing up, I was neglected, felt unloved and uncared for which left me feeling worth less. At the age of 13 I was molested by a distant relative this contributed more to my feelings of worthlessness. I had difficulty making friends and trusting others that contributed to me acting out in school and being required to attend therapy once a week.

During the absence of my mother my sisters stepped in to take care of me and although they too were living below poverty, they did the best they could. Being raised in that environment I vowed to not become a productive of that environment as I wanted a different life than my sisters and family members. Early in life I recognize that I was not the only black women having a difficult time just as I was and was encouraged to create environments and opportunities for us to come together and support an uplift one another.

I gave birth to my first child at the age of 15 and my family wanted me to give my daughter for adoption. Although I didn’t have the money or knowledge to raise a child, I refused to give my daughter to anyone else as I did not want her to cause her any childhood trauma. During my early 20’s into my late 30’s I struggled with depression, thoughts of suicide as the direct result of being a single mother, lack of money, and constant death of family members.

Early in my tenure as a business owner I attracted a lot of black women that were angry, mad and untrusting of me and my brand. Due to my own experience with being angry, hurt and feelings of being manipulated. I was able to recognize that they were also dealing with some unhealed trauma that may have occurred in their life. Once on our Transformational Travel Therapy for Black Girls ™ we would have discussion about issues and challenges that everyone was going through in their life and most time they revealed some past childhood trauma.

Rev. Dr. Vikki Johnson is my business coach and friend was instrumental and teaching me how to love myself first before pouring into the cups of others. She so graciously invited me into her Soul Wealth community where there are other successful, ambitious strong women just like me. The ladies in the Soul Wealth community are completely unselfish and when I call anyone of them they are there. Vikki has also invited me into circles with prominent leaders and advocates that are allowed me to grow into an exceptions leader. A few months ago I had the first opportunity in life to witness a leader and successful entrepreneur talk openly about her personal battle with depression while speaking to an audience of over 200+. I was instantly impressed and received further clarification that it was ok to be a leader and struggle with depression. Since, November 2021 Mrs. Veronda Brookes-Bellamy has also been one of my business coaches. Mrs. Brookes-Bellamy is also a Therapist and owner of Bridging the Gaps America, Inc., in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Abandonment, molestation, deaths, living with depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and epilepsy are only a few of the traumatic events that I have encountered in my life. I now know that God created me to be resilient as he knew the calling, he had on my life. That was to be an advocate for those who are dealing with the same challenges as I have had and bring awareness so they can witness they can recover and thrive in greatness despite obstacles

Website: www.bgotg.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackgirlsonthego

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/88881346/admin/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackgirlsonthego

Image Credits
Shay Sane