We recently had the chance to connect with Shereá Burnett and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Shereá, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity – Intelligence and energy can be developed, but without integrity, they seldom lead to work that is purposeful, impactful, or meaningful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Shereá Burnett, and I am the Chief Inkspiration Officer of ThisWomansWords. The ThisWomansWords brand is distinctive in that it extends beyond traditional blog content to include interviews, features on women I find empowering, and community-centered events that transform the mission into action.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I carried many limiting beliefs, shaped largely by not seeing people who looked like me living lives that reflected my own or doing the things I cared most deeply about. I came to believe there was so much I could not do or be—that there was no space for the fullness of who I was or who I might become. I assumed I would have to live a life of fragmentation, choosing which parts of myself to reveal in each space, never able to show up as my whole self. In my efforts to create spaces where people of color no longer felt isolated, I ultimately discovered that I was also creating spaces where all of me could be seen.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
Last fall, I made a professional shift rooted in my love for my community, my commitment to my own growth, and a conscious decision to step away from crisis-response–focused spaces. After the unexpected passing of a colleague, I was forced to confront the ways I had been conflating improving systems with fixing them – and, in doing so, taking on responsibilities and expectations that were neither mine nor aligned with the role I occupied. Reframing my professional identity and pursuing a new position informed by my prior work was challenging, but ultimately necessary.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Former First Lady Michelle Obama – While Mrs. Obama was in the White House, glimpses of what mattered to her were frequently eclipsed by the voices of the media and public opinion. In the years since her time as First Lady, she has revealed a fuller, more authentic self – vulnerable, candid, and resolute in choosing her own well-being in a world determined to define her on its own terms.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think people will most misunderstand my legacy by believing it is something that needs to be fully understood, clearly defined, or fixed. My legacy cannot be the totality of who I am, because I have been different things to different people at different moments in time. I believe that is part of my purpose – and part of many people’s purpose. What I hope to leave behind is not a single narrative, but permission: permission to be whole, to evolve, and to resist being flattened into one version of ourselves. No two people will ever hold the same understanding of my legacy, because no two people will have had the same experiences with me, and that variation is not a flaw in legacy; it is its truth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thiswomanswords.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shereadenise/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shereadburnett?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/thiswomanswords
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shereadenise8765?si=gIBKele-oTkxitiW
Image Credits
(Photos in blue dress) L.A. White Photography
(Photo in black & white blouse): Qupid Photography
