Shannon Garrison Negi is a business strategist, money expert, confidence booster, social influencer & crazy mom as she confidently recalls. Having recently relocated to Colorado, former corporate finance executive turned multi-passionate entrepreneur Shannon specialises in money, confidence & creating visibility online for the ridiculously busy mom who’s ready to make herself a priority.
For years she’s been providing financial and strategic decision support to companies around the world including Deloitte, Warner Music, Kaplan Thaler, Capitol Records, NFL On Location Experiences and iHeartMedia. From saving $500k in expenses to growing a company from $0 to $40m in its first year her experiences have given her the knowledge she needs to help others get free on their terms.
Driven by her heart to help other moms strategise to make their dreams a reality, we discuss Shannon’s global business scaling plans and her mission to help as many people as she can.
Hey Shannon, can you introduce yourself to us?
I am Shannon Garrison Negi! I am a business strategy coach who specializes in money, confidence & creating visibility online for the ridiculously busy mom who’s ready to make herself a priority. I am a former corporate finance executive turned multi-passionate entrepreneur. I recently relocated from NYC to the suburbs of Colorado with my 2 gorgeous daughters, husband and giant fur babies. I love popcorn, Chinese food, mascara & lip gloss. I believe that everyone should understand how to make money with ease and design a life they are in love with.
Can you take us through your journey to where you are now as a former corporate finance executive?
Sure! I was that girl who was good at math in school and knew I wanted to be an accountant going into college (sounds crazy I know). I had my first job before I graduated and spent the next 17 years climbing the ladder from super large global companies (public accounting, music, advertising, sports) to a small start that I built up from $0 to $40m in the first year, I have done amazing things.
I spent year after year working towards promotions, pay raises & pleasing those I worked for because at the time that is what I thought success was. I have been let go multiple times, quit my job several times, started a side gig with a network marketing company and after having my 2nd daughter in 2017 I realised that there has to be more to this life than working 24/7 for someone else. The thought of spending another 25 years struggling to help others reach their dreams instead of going after my own was ridiculously depressing so I decided to take a chance and build my own business.
How did you launch your career as a business strategy coach?
I kind of fell into it actually, I was on a bit of a self-care journey after I decided not to return to corporate in 2017 and started working with my first business coach. the program I joined was geared more towards coaches so as I dug in to learn as much as I could gradually I realised that I could actually help way more women across many industries as a business coach so I made the choice to shift my focus into this!
What is a day in the life of you like?
No two days are the same right now honestly! With 2 small children (one of which is with me most of the time) I have to be flexible with my time & work around tantrums, activities & naps. I’m also a morning person so I tend to focus on work & getting stuff done is the first thing so I can spend afternoons with my babies.
Can you talk us through the many driving forces on your journey so far?
I have had many driving forces on this journey, from needing to make tons of money (because I was taught that it meant I was successful) to now the biggest one in my life currently being my beautiful girls and being able to provide crazy opportunity and adventure as they grow up (think world school, first class traveling and you will get the picture).
Now, previously provided financial and strategic decision support to global companies such as Deloitte, Warner Music, Kaplan Thaler, Capitol Records, NFL On Location Experiences and iHeartMedia. What did you take away from, those experiences?
These experiences really gave me the knowledge foundation that allows me to help so many women grow businesses & become leaders. I learned how to build a business from the ground up, how to put process & procedure in place, problem solved and worked with all kinds of different people which now enables me to serve others that much better.
Who does the team involve behind you at Embracing The Brilliance?
Right now we are a small shop (just me and some mentors/friends) as we are just getting going but you will be seeing the team grow in the coming months.
Where can you see yourself within the next 3-5 years?
In the next 3-5 years, I see myself as a global brand known for helping the millions of hardworking moms around the world realise that they too can build a life they love and have time with their family. I also see myself as also having more time to show my family the world, being financially able to take them to wherever we or my business want to be.
What strategies do you have in place when looking at the expansion of Embracing The Brilliance?
Biggest strategy is putting systems & process into place so that as we expand it’s not overwhelming. You cannot build a huge company without putting the right structure in place before it gets crazy!
Can you tell us what areas you have struggled in professionally?
I’m a former people pleaser & this was one of the biggest struggles in my corporate life, you cannot make everyone happy at the same time. I had to realize this and eliminate the struggle as I moved into entrepreneurship.
Have you ever had any other mentor? If so how has this benefitted you to grow?
I’ve always sought out mentors from my first corporate days through the last days. I knew that surrounding myself with those that had already blazed the trails in a company I was in would be where I would learn the most. Now that I am on my own I work with several coaches that have done what I want to do in order to become the best version of myself and be able to grow as a business strategist.
What outlets do use to market Embracing The Brilliance?
Currently, Facebook & Instagram are my biggest outlets. I’m getting into Pinterest and starting monthly in-person events as well to be able to reach more amazing women.
Which methods are you using to build your own support network?
I am building quality relationships with people who have done the things I want to do & are successful at life as well as surrounding myself with like-minded people who genuinely want to see me succeed for no other reason than they care about me.
What do you believe are the common misconceptions about being an entrepreneur?
That it’s easy to start a business & build something from scratch. The time, commitment, focus, and mindset it takes to actually build something of worth for yourself is by far one of the most difficult paths I have chosen in my career.
What would you like to see changed for millennials in business?
For millennials, I think they really need to focus on authenticity & building real relationships. We live in a world where most people spend all of their time online and you forget how to actually connect with someone in real life.
What is the best piece of business advice you have received to date?
Don’t quit! Whatever it is you want out of life, keep going when it gets hard because the magic is about to happen.
What is the number 1 critical lesson you have learned in your career so far?
Great question, for me the biggest critical lesson was that nothing is guaranteed when you work for someone else. No matter how much you may think you are indispensable when you aren’t in control of your destiny, anything can happen.
How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?
Evenly balanced is a bit of a myth (for me) especially when you are starting something new. I strive to be present with my family when we are together & work around their schedule, it’s not easy by any means but as my business grows I will get more time back so it’s worth the sacrifice now.
The highlight of your career so far?
I really can’t just choose one! Each step of my journey has been amazing. I have counted Grammy ballots, been a part of large company mergers & growth, helped plan events for Super Bowl 50 and now I am creating a brand that ultimately will help moms just like me create lives they only thought possible in their dreams. These are all highlights to me!
What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?
Knowing I am a part of something bigger than just myself & that I have knowledge that will help make a huge impact on women around the world.
What challenges have you seen to have been presented during the growth of Embracing The Brilliance?
The biggest challenge so far was understanding that I have something unique to offer & then putting myself out there to offer it to the world. Once I realized that I am not competing with anyone but myself it’s been a lot easier to show up and actually grow this brand.
Which other leading entrepreneurs and pioneering game changers do you also admire and why?
Cara Alwill Leyba & Romi Neustadt are two of the most fabulous entrepreneurs I can think of because they both had successful careers but still chose to go against the norm, believe in themselves and have since created wildly successful brands that are changing the lives of women around the world.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
I have a stack of books by my bed I am trying to get through but the last one I finished that really inspired me to take action was ‘Like She Owns The Place’ by Cara Alwill Leyba.
Top 3 go-to Podcast channels?
- Style Your Mind
- Net Worth It
- The Angie Lee Show
How do you measure your own terms of success?
My own terms of success involve how happy am I and how many people have I helped at the end of the week. As much as money is important (because without it you can’t have an impact), if I have helped others move forward and take action I count that as a successful week!
What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?
This means showing up as my authentic, unique self, believing in myself, sharing my gifts so that others may learn from what I have to offer & knowing that there is nobody else out there like me that can make a difference in this world the way I can.
Lastly, what is next for you and Embracing The Brilliance?
There are so many things in the works but coming up for the end of the year is a group mastermind, monthly live events for local women in my city and a social media monthly membership platform. 2019 will be all about reaching more mom bosses!
Instagram @shannon_negi
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FB Group: https://facebook.com/groups/embracingthebrilliance
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LInkedin www.linkedin.com/in/shannongarrisonnegi
Website www.shannongarrisonnegi.com
