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

Hi Sherita, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought was “I don’t want to start my own business”. That sounds counterproductive but it’s true. I did not anticipate EVER having my business. I lived overseas in Dubai for 4 years. They were the most trying, growing, and precious four years of my life. I accomplished things there that I could never have imagined accomplishing in my lifetime in the U.S. One of the many accomplishments was performing in the off-broadway production of Nora Ephron’s, Love, Loss, and What I Wore. I had the privilege of working with an all-star cast from the UK, Whales, and London’s West End Theater. At the end of our show’s run, I wasn’t able to pick-up payment because I had to fly to my grandfather’s funeral in the U. S. Upon my return, I was directed to the HR office holding the check. Now, most payments in Dubai are issued to entities, not individuals. When I went in, I requested the check under the name of the company that had employed me for the show. The check was nowhere to be found. The assistant finally asked me, “Could it be under any other name? Any other company?” I stood silent rummaging through my thoughts and finally said, “Well maybe it’s under my name?” He searched one last time and to my surprise he found it. He glared at me in frustration and declared “You are the company, not anyone else. You are the company!” I moved back home to the U. S. a year later and couldn’t find a full-time job. The moment I decided to pick up the little courage I had to walk in the truth of the words “you are the company”, I saw God open door, after door, to do exactly what he curated my heart to desire.

What distinguishes you as a creative?
I lived in New Orleans for 6 years. It was there I fell in love with food, learned to play jazz music, and harnessed the experiential power and language of storytelling. Those magic-filled traits are just a few of the ingredients that make up my creative heart. Add 1/4 of content creation, 1/4 strategy, 1/4 experience design, 1/4 “all things” event production, a spoonful of enneagram 1, a dash of Meyer’s Briggs INTJ, and a cup full of faith. Before you know it, you’ll have Sherita – a wonderfully complex blend of story and dream.

Additionally, I think what truly distinguishes me as a creative is my ability to remain. How to stay, pray, and work through the “not yet” moments of any story. It’s in those moments I’ve experienced my life’s most transfiguring work. Work that creatively inspires someone else’s journey and helps to cultivate my own.
That’s the hope and heartbeat for every client + partner of Trading Fourz. It’s the lifeline to every story we craft, every installation we design, every digital platform we enhance, every event we elevate. At the end of the day, your brand alone may not change the world, but your audience’s experience with your brand should challenge them to change theirs.

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?
This one is easy. I’d take them to the following restaurants: Ecco, Bone Garden Cantina, Casi Cielo, Restaurant Eugene, Ria’s Bluebird, Murphy’s, Gusto, Waffle House, St. Cecilia, Truett’s Hawaiian Chick-Fil-A in Fayette (hello, sweet potato waffle fries), Doceuer De France, Le Fat and SUN IN MY BELLY.  Of course, we’d have to stop for ice cream and coffee at all the faves – Jenni’s Ice Cream, San Francisco Coffee, Hodgepodge Cafe, Portrait Coffee, and Paolo’s Gelateria. We’d have to make a quick road trip to Elijay, GA to pick up a bag of Chocolate Merlot infused coffee and an amazing bottle of red wine from Fainting Goats. Somehow, we’d also walk the Beltline, browse Ponce City Market, get our nails done at SugarCoat on St. Charles, stroll through Piedmont park, catch a movie at Phipps AMC, explore the civil rights museum, visit Tyler Perry Studios, and walk the Cochran Shoals trail along the Chattahoochee with my energetically sweet Yorkipoo MJ. How long do they have in town again?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Community is such a vital part of the story God has written with my life. These are just of the few of the men, women, and organizations that have made my journey worth traveling:

Dedra Waindi – 5th Position Podcast
Kristi Collins – Coco Red Events
Leslie Pierce – Nest Financials (Best CPA Ever)
Marissa Whaley – Marizzle’s T-Shirt Shop
Shelly Giglio + Cara Dyba (+ Team) – Passion City – The Grove
Chinua Hawk – Chinua Hawk Music
Josh + Angelica Bias – JoshAngelica Music
Jamie + Joni Portier  – Portier Music
Teja Veal – HelloI’mTeja
Madison Ehlen – Madison McCall Designs
Terrence Smith – Buckhead Church Transit
Lamees Aisami – therapy.match
Joseph Sojourner – The Scene Atlanta
Okorie “Okcello” Johnson Music
Luke Robinson – Patternfit Styling
Marissa Schmidt – Marissa Jean Photography
Katie Cathell – KVC Photography
Hayle Swinson – No.Matter.What.Podcast
Josh Clemons + Hazen Stevens – One Race Movement
Heath Ward – Lion Chaser Fitness
Erica Tony – ET Productions
But most importantly I want to “shout out” my parents, George and Joyce Harkness Jr. They believe in me, stand by me, and ran the race alongside me when I had nothing. They taught me to run with perseverance – to run my race. And to trust Jesus every step of the way.

Website: www.tradingfourz.com
Instagram: sjharkness1
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sheritaT4Z

Image Credits
Lululemon + Lion Chaser Fitness Brooke Greene Marrissa Jean Photography Joy Cannis Photography Colin Harman Chris House Madison Elhen Okcello Music