Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shatiera Porte'e, founder and CEO of School Counselor On Wheels, LLC., located in Red Bank, NJ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
School Counselor on Wheels LLC is an education consulting company that provides student services in various organizations serving students in grades K-12. Our primary goal is to empower youth to connect, communicate and collaborate with themselves and others to build, strengthen, and promote self-love.
Our mission is to achieve lifelong student success for underserved and under-resourced youth to help them overcome challenges, cope with extenuating life circumstances, and reach their post-secondary goals with ongoing support. We offer programs for youth to be equipped with skills to feel good about themselves through promoting confidence, self-love, self-awareness, relationship-building skills, and responsible decision-making so that each individual will be more connected to themselves and their communities.
Tell us about yourself
I am a New Jersey native and have worked in the mental health field for almost two decades and as a school counselor for nearly one. As a child, I experienced firsthand feeling alone, lacking self-love, and having low self-esteem. I have been challenged with several adversities and struggles throughout my life. However, my life lessons have helped mold me into a stronger woman. I know the importance and value of honoring oneself, and now I am empowering others by sharing my own story and the tools and resources I used to overcome challenges and unhealthy relationships while finding myself. I wanted to create a space to help kids who feel alone to feel supported and empowered. I've always known what I wanted, inspiring to help people one day.
My passion is youth, education, and mental health! I have extensive experience in various counseling capacities, corrections, residential treatment facilities for adolescents, long-term care facilities, emergency crisis and psychiatric screening services, homeless youth, support needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance abuse treatment centers. I've successfully rolled out and optimized more than a dozen programs, initiatives, and projects for businesses and communities empowering youth.
Our philosophy, “counseling beyond the classroom,” stems from my desire to support students toward mental health wellness. I conduct seminars promoting self-love, self-discovery, and empowerment for others, focusing on minority adolescent girls. Our goal is to have all students feel good about themselves! I know what it is like firsthand to be under construction with my own self-love healing. I had to become brave and vulnerable enough as I stripped down to reintroduce myself to my heart to “forgive myself for forgetting myself.” I now have a strong commitment and unbreakable bond as I love myself. Self-love requires accepting who you are, your journey, and taking accountability for accomplishments and learned lessons that we are not proud of.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment thus far has been able to connect with people all over the world. Impacting someone every day is my mission. Being able to execute that means the world to me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
"The new business owner journey" and battling self-doubt. Any decision that I am making is "me taking a risk." It is hard within itself to wonder if you should do this, make sure things are perfect, and second guess yourself. My educational background is in social sciences and mental health. Not business. So I am learning as I go while balancing life.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up and celebrate every part of the process because you are already one step ahead once you start. You got this!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.schoolcounseloronwheels.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Gxwrzy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolcounseloronwheels/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/38t8yg4
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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