My Foundation

I have built and run many online businesses, achieving steady sales in both B2B and B2C markets. What sets my work apart is the range of skills I bring together into a single, complete business model—a true one-stop shop. I gained these skills by marketing my own products and creating solutions for other businesses.

I learned desktop design from my grandmother and web development from my mother. My mother picked up HTML and coding through an early TV-based internet platform called WebTV. My grandmother, who worked as an executive secretary for Western Union and as a church clerk, made detailed church souvenir journals from scratch. She printed each page herself, often using several printers. My mother and I would groan when we heard the printers start, knowing we’d soon be sorting, assembling, and stapling books. When my grandmother found new software and glue guns, her projects became even more creative. One year, she used bright ribbon and glitter to bind the books. It took almost a year to get all the glitter out of the house.

My step-grandfather, Elwood Dennis, showed me how to build frames and use tools. I still remember building a doghouse for my dog, She-Ra, with a frame, a window, and insulation. Looking back, it makes sense that I wasn’t afraid of power tools or table saws when I started at Moore. Those early hands-on lessons still give me confidence to take on projects like fixing up my house and Jamir’s.

Each morning, I might create visual art, design a website, work on graphic design, build a web or mobile app, or handle digital marketing projects. It’s a special feeling to travel around Philadelphia and see my work or to find my projects online, both nationally and internationally. Every day, I wake up with purpose, wanting to honor God by using the gifts He’s given me.

For a long time, I wasn’t sure what my gifts were because my talents cover so many areas. Now I see that both natural talents and spiritual gifts come from God. As James 1:17 says, every good and perfect gift is from above. Singing, business skills, and creativity are all gifts from God. Sometimes, God adds a spiritual gift to a natural talent. For example, someone who is naturally a leader might also receive the spiritual gift of leadership after coming to Christ, making that ability even stronger and more focused on serving others. At this point in my life, I see my leadership skills more clearly than ever. I can lead through my talents, and while that has sometimes made others uncomfortable, it comes naturally and has been encouraged in me.

My mother encouraged me to be independent and to keep learning. My grandmother helped me improve my speaking, presentation, and responses, even when others seemed uninterested. I knew I had made her proud when she called me “a walking intellectual weapon.” That always made me smile. My spiritual father, Rev. Dr. Robert P. Shine, also saw my tech skills and put them to use in both business and church.

My parents never made me feel like I was better than anyone else; they taught me to be humble. My grandmother also helped me become a public speaker, even though I had a speech impediment. I remember doing a talk show with a relative, and afterward, she already had notes on my pronunciation, grammar, and diction. That’s why I laugh when people are surprised to hear me speak in public. My latest lecture was at the OIC 50th Anniversary at the Convention Center, thanks to invitations from Norm Bond and Deborah “Scottie” Scott. I’ve been invited to many other events and have met some well-known celebrities and public figures over the years. Those who know, know. One of the funniest nicknames I’ve gotten is “Philadelphia’s Olivia Pope.”

8x10designs—A full-stack web, website, and graphic design company
Duchess Robinson—A digital marketing consultant website
Seals & Crests—A design company focused on clergy and church logos
Black Girls Hair Rocks—Digital marketing for Black women’s hairstyles, haircare, and wellness products
The Cultural Lens—An automation and AI-driven news website/blog
Black Men in Fashion—A fashion and wellness website co-founded with Jamir J. Coker
Essence of Melanin—Positivity-inspired designs for African Americans
Pop Shirt Shop – Popular slogan-based shirt designs
Black Girl Moments—An online journal, healing website, and app
Melanin Magic Gifts—A digital greeting card company
The Black Marble Mosaics—My AI urban jazz group
The Hyssop’s Pillow– A YouTube channel based on stories of the gardens in the Bible

There’s even more, but these are the businesses and platforms that come to mind right now.