Celebration Of Women

September 24, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in women of color, queer, life, womensupportingwomen

Oh how I love being a woman! When I think of our pulchritudinous splendor, the ability to bring lives into the world, and how we are built like countries, I am reminded of an immigrant exiled from their home. Lost but not forgotten. The amazing truth is that most women don’t know who they are because of one simple truism…we have given away our power!

Doing What I Love

September 03, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in leadership, careers, queer

I acquired my education with a deliberate intention to do something that I loved. It was necessary to have more than just a paycheck that carried the weight of an unfulfilled adult with tons of student loan debt. It was essential that I made more than an obscene amount of money, because I watched people “forget”. You know the people that get a touch of amnesia when they have acquired that particular number in their bank account; yet they can’t seem to remember what it feels like to want to make a difference. It was imperative for me to live in service because I have witnessed the benefits of doing magnanimous deeds. It was one of my non-negotiables, an unwavering fervor to do things that brought me immense joy!

The Power of Commitment

August 27, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in queer, marriage, relationships

There is no mystery that it takes an unusual amount of work to make a relationship work. As a matter of fact, I am convinced the strength of your relationship does not surface until two completely different individuals are nestled underneath the same roof seemingly living life. Meanwhile there is always the weight of reality that settles on the cracks of your delicate foundation as you pray that the structure doesn’t give under massive pressure; yet we strategically construct elaborate plans to pursue elusive #relationshipgoals. The truth is relationships are not merely some make-shift perfunctory union; rather it is an intentionally crafted business that decides to make things work.

Allow Me To Introduce Myself: The Quiet Revolutionary

May 13, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in women of color, queer, careers, leadership

In my pursuit for a career, it was extremely important to be myself. It was essential to exude my heritage because my ancestors required me to represent the highest version of my elders. The proclivities of my forefathers were anchored in reverence, rooted in intellectual prowess, and cultivated with exceptional discipline. The mere fact that I accepted the mission was revolutionary! So many of my predecessors stopped short of the requirements to fulfill this purpose; therefore, I had no other choice but to be unequivocally original.