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!
I'm speaking at Essence Fest on July 4 and Beyoncé just gave us all a Sacred masterclass
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Reader, ✨ BIG NEWS FIRSTI'll be speaking at Essence Festival of Culture 2026 in New Orleans on July 4th! 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, Dr. Lana M. Joseph, and Derra Howard. 🖤 Unbothered and Well Stage - 12:00–12:30 PM CT — Soft Stories: A Sensory Reset Session for anyone who feels stressed out. Whether that's sensory sensitivity, sobriety, neurodivergence, or simply being a Black woman in a loud world, I will guide the circle through a Soft Stories practice. 🖤 New Voices Village Entrepreneur Hub — At 3:30pm CT, I'm facilitating an interactive mini workshop on accessibility, self-advocacy, and navigating travel and professional spaces as a disabled or neurodivergent person. Small groups. Real conversation. Tangible takeaways. If you're going to be in New Orleans, come find me. If you're not — keep reading, because I need my community around me either way. 🤝 HERE'S HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THISThis kind of programming doesn't happen without support. I'm currently open to: → Sponsors — brands and organizations aligned with inclusive storytelling, accessibility, and Black community impact. I'd love to talk partnership. → Donors — if this work has ever moved you, a contribution goes directly toward making this programming possible and keeping it accessible. → Volunteers — will you be in New Orleans July 4? I'm looking for a small, passionate on-the-ground team. Reply to this email. 📣 MARKETING STORY OF THE WEEKBeyoncé just gave us all a brand storytelling masterclass. Most people would called it a vlog because most of the footage is from a phone. On the surface: a personal moment between husband and wife and their daughter. Underneath: a precision brand move. Here's what she did: → She made the ordinary extraordinary. Combing out 9 years of locs. A couple and a Houston loctician. Every frame carries weight. She let the intimacy do the work. → She controlled the narrative on her terms, in her aesthetic, with her voice, instead of letting the press continue to make assumptions about Jay-Z's hair appearance a story. → She reminded us that your personal life IS your brand, when you deploy it intentionally. This was curated vulnerability and it landed because it was real and relatable. The lesson for you: intention, authenticity, and the courage to share something that feels personal will always be exactly what your audience is waiting for. If you haven't seen it, she posted a 7 minute YouTube video documenting Jay-Z's hair transformation. Watch it here → What story are you sitting on that you haven't told yet? Thank you for being here. Until Next Time. With love, Zaakirah P.S. Forward this to someone who you know will be at the convention center on July 4th. 🖤
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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 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:...
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,...