Hi! I'm Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) I help you Go from where you are (stuck, stagnant, scared) and where you want to go in your business and life (freedom). I provide Black and Indigenous creatives with strategies that empower them to achieve their goals through branding and storytelling, and marketing.For the last 20 years, I've been storytelling by any creative means necessary; photography, writing, film, and podcasting.I check all the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility boxes.I’m a visually impaired, hard of hearing, cancer survivor, chronically ill Muslim Woman. Knowing your history helps you propel and prepare for your future. Entrepreneurship is ownership, and flexibility is key. Sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter!
Essence Fest Recap and Disability Pride Month
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Reader, I just got back from Essence Festival — and I’m still processing. I spoke at two activations, both filled with people who showed up ready to listen and talk about disability, inclusion, and what it truly means to be empathetic to other communities. It was powerful. And in both rooms, I kept hearing the same thought echo in my mind: we need more of this. We need spaces to belong, to rediscover ourselves, and to feel empowered to keep going. Here is the link to watch the 3 minute recap: Here is the link to watch the full 17 minute See Life Different: Reimagining Inclusion panel discussion I moderated. There were bright spots. I got to meet Lachi, a blind singer songwriter, who spoke on the author’s stage and had her book, I Identify as Blind featured. I got to meet Dr. Munirah Bomani, a Muslimah who vended at BeautyCon and took the stage Unbothered and Well, in addition to the We Love Us Stage (Pictured in the middle - to the left is a Muslimah first time attendee and then there is me in the long blue scarf). Representation showed up — and it mattered. There have also been some visible improvements in accessibility since I last attended Essence Fest in 2024, such as more ASL interpreters, which I’m genuinely grateful for. But a gap still remains. At the venue level, there were no clear instructions for attendees with disabilities. On the content side, captions were largely absent from social media coverage. Small things — but not small to people like me who need them. Two years ago today, my Facebook memories reminded me that what I’m building has been in motion for a while. This is a manifestation coming to life. So I’m building it. If you’re ready to make your content, your workspace, or your events more accessible for people with sensory and other invisible disabilities, and also build your brand so you too can speak on stages, I’m available for consulting. Next week, I’m hosting a free webinar — See Your Content Different — and I’ll be sharing more details about something I’ve been quietly working on that I think you’ll want to be part of. Join me July 16 at 7pm Eastern Time. Click here to Register. P.S. It’s July — Disability Pride Month. There’s no better time for this.
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Your Branding and Marketing Therapist
Hi! I'm Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) I help you Go from where you are (stuck, stagnant, scared) and where you want to go in your business and life (freedom). I provide Black and Indigenous creatives with strategies that empower them to achieve their goals through branding and storytelling, and marketing.For the last 20 years, I've been storytelling by any creative means necessary; photography, writing, film, and podcasting.I check all the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility boxes.I’m a visually impaired, hard of hearing, cancer survivor, chronically ill Muslim Woman. Knowing your history helps you propel and prepare for your future. Entrepreneurship is ownership, and flexibility is key. Sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter!
Reader, At Essence Fest over the holiday weekend, I moderated a panel, had a founder feature, and hosted a Soft Stories sensory session all in one day. In between, I kept noticing people wanted to be inclusive but almost nobody had a framework for actually doing it, especially in their content. Most of the attendees I spoke with, particularly other New Voices founders, admitted they hadn't considered captions or image descriptions yet, but they were very appreciative of the insight. That's...
Reader, I'm at Essence Festival this week — moderating a panel, doing a Soft Stories segment, and leading a workshop on inclusive entrepreneurship. Three activations in one day, which honestly is its own kind of access challenge nobody talks about: the cost of showing up fully in spaces that weren't designed for how your body or brain works. I'll have more to say about that next week. Social Media Day is June 30th — a reminder that the platforms we've built our voices, speaking opportunities,...
Reader, ✨ BIG NEWS FIRST I'll be speaking at Essence Festival of Culture 2026 in New Orleans on July 4th!I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams and my blessings come in two folds. I have not one but TWO activations: 🖤 We Love Us Marketplace Stage — I'll be moderating the See Life Differently Panel at 10:20am CT. This is the room for conversation about representation, storytelling, and what it means to see yourself centered in spaces that weren't always built for you. Panelists are: Lisa C. Willis,...