Lekeshia Angelique & Shannon Kill Podcast
Mon, 12/20 11:01AM •
SPEAKERS
Shannon Kill, Lekeshia Moore
Lekeshia Moore 06:04
Welcome back to the inclusive business Lab. Today I'm super excited to have our guests Shannon keel. She's one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. You hear me say that over and over again because I just love people. Welcome to the show. Shannon.
Shannon Kill 06:54
I thank you so much. I'm so pumped to be here with you.
Lekeshia Moore 06:57
Good good. Are you ready for the new year?
Shannon Kill 07:01
Ah, yeah, actually we are taking the whole week off after Christmas to go on a very much needed vacation. So that's how we're starting our new year off. So if that's any indication of what 2022 is going to be like for me I'm here for it.
Lekeshia Moore 07:16
Awesome as to so great minds think alike, which I say that all the time. We're like twin flames like we're, we're always on the same path and thinking but I'm so excited again to have you here. So tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do.
Shannon Kill 07:31
Yeah, so you you already know me pretty well, but I do. I am a personal finance coach World Wealth coach. Primarily what I do is well, let me start by saying my favorite people to work with are women who have experienced some level of trauma or abuse or poverty or who are part of a minority group and and who have created a successful business of some sort in spite of what they've had to go through in order to get to that point. And so those women are when they come to me they're looking to to build generational wealth. So whether it's for them or for their community or for their children, they're really looking to learn how to make their money work for them in the best way. They're they're trying to get away from some of those negative habits around money, whether it's overspending or impulse buying or just generally having a not so great relationship with money, and then actually coming up with a plan for them to reach those goals. So whether their goal is to pay off debt or to travel more or to invest in the stock market or to have a rental property that's an investment property for them, whatever those goals are. And my my way of doing things is to create a plan for them to reach those goals. Whatever that looks like for them however, that fits into their unique lifestyle.
Lekeshia Moore 09:05
And hence you can understand why I absolutely love and all the things in one when it comes down to building generational wealth. Breaking trauma, generational trauma, and understanding finances all the things that we need to create equity in all the spaces that we talked about here on this podcast and in my business as well. So love, love, love had to have her on so we can get dig deep into finances that trauma and starting to build that generational wealth. How in the world did you get into this field, Jan and how did you get into finance because it is a male dominated field? Correct.
Shannon Kill 09:42
And it totally is. Yeah, and it's funny because I have always kind of been drawn to more male dominated fields. My My background is actually in the automotive industry and specifically in warehousing and both of those things are very male dominated. And then I went from that into the financial field, which is another male dominated industry and I think where that comes from is for me, it was a deep seated trauma around, you know, growing up in this environment that women were less than or, you know, men were more capable and where women are emotional men are passionate, and so I actually grew up with a lot of self loathing in a way because I was thought that men were just better and so for me that turned into me trying to mirror whatever the men around me were doing. And so a lot of my interests involved things that were and I'm using your air quotes here, and things that were more manly or more masculine and so one of my major interests has always been finance. And another place that that comes from for me is you know, I grew up for how to single mom like a lot of people can resonate with that story. But for me, how that manifested in adulthood was that I wanted to learn how to fix that I wanted to know how to manage my money. I wanted to know how to make sure that I never ended up in in the same positions that my mom did. And without the resources that she didn't have, you know, I never wanted to go back to that place. And so the system that I use now with my clients, it's actually just a newer, smoother, more tweaked version of the same system I've been using for myself for the last 11 years and it really just came from a place of needing to understand how money works. So I created a system for myself and then I realized a few years ago like oh, this is actually a thing that will work for other people. So yeah, that's that's kind of what led me into finance it was initially because that was a male dominated industry and that was right up my alley. And I wanted to be the woman to prove everybody wrong and that I could do it just as well as the boys and then it was also from a place of need and just not ever wanting to to have the same experience. Again of of dealing with poverty or going without or not understanding what resources were available to me. So that's kind of where it came from for me.
Lekeshia Moore 12:24
Yes, that is amazing. And I can attest to the amazing work that you do because you don't know your money trauma until you know your money. trauma. Oh yeah. Building a Business will wake you right on up to that starting to try to get financing for your business or if you're self funding your business definitely be running crossing paths with you has absolutely changed the course of my life and my business. It was so easy, I should say well yeah, I mean, it's the hard work but it's so simple things that you need to do that are the hardest and that's what I talk about here in you know the inclusive business lab as well while it will be. There's simple steps to do they won't be easy, but well worth it. And it's just amazing. So what made you start to think more intentional about underrepresented communities and the social justice aspect of your business and incorporating that in there. Why was why is that important to you?
Shannon Kill 13:27
You know, initially it started out and I know we'll get a little bit more into this later about how this is shifted for me but Initially it started out because I found such a need to I don't know it started out with a passion for anti racism for me. Because it seemed like such a no brainer for me, I guess is the best way to put it. Somebody asked me recently why I was so passionate about anti racism and I didn't really know how to answer that question because I'm like, Why is everybody not passionate about that? You know, it seems like such a it seems like such an obvious thing that people shouldn't be racist. It seems ridiculous to me like when I when I talk to my children about it, they're like, Wait, there are people who don't like other people because of the color of their skin. And so the fact that a child can understand that but it's still such a deeply embedded issue. I mean, it's Sims all the way through every single branch of our government and and and I know you know all these things and the people who are listening probably are already you know in the know about that but but for me it just it really started with the anti racism work because I just didn't understand how this was still such an issue. And the more that I started to dive into it, it's it starts at a very surface level of like, Duh, why would you want to treat someone differently based on the color of their skin to then diving in deeper and realizing that their entire systems designed to keep people of color down, right like we we consistently Redline and make it difficult for for people and especially women of color, to receive the sort of resources that they need in order to become successful in order to build generational wealth. And, you know, as I've, as I've dove more into D and I work as a whole, and I realized just how many blind spots I had and I think this is one of your questions later. So I'm sorry if I'm jumping ahead but for me, it started with the anti racism work and then it has spread out so much more from there to understanding that we we do the same thing to people with disabilities, you know, we do the same thing, really to any marginalized community. Right. And there's, there's just so much there. So yeah, that's a long winded answer.
Lekeshia Moore 15:59
No, it's perfect. And I love the fact that you said he just didn't understand he started delving into it because I harp so much on bringing empathy back into the education process and really meeting people where they are and their level of understanding because we don't know what we don't know. And so bringing that to the forefront is the way that we're going to change the way we do business and how we impact these systems of oppression. It's going to be the only way so I absolutely love that you have that foresight now to say hey, I just needed I didn't understand I sought to understand and now I can use that information to go forth and you know continue to do great things. But it does bring us to like what what was the moment that shifted and the way in your life that you ran your your business around? Wanting to have that equity based business model?
Shannon Kill 16:52
Well, real quick, I want to go back to something that you said and then I'll answer your question, but you you put an emphasis on having empathy and the work that you're doing and I just want to shout out how impactful that wasn't what makes your program different from some of the other programs that I've been in because, you know, for me, I feel like in order to call yourself an active ally, you need to be consistently pursuing this type of work you need to be finding other programs you need to be listening to other people's perspectives. And so, the your your course your program was not the first program that I have been through like this, but what separates yours from others, is the amount of empathy and understanding that you bring there was never an error of judgment. It was always you just really meet people wherever they are and their journey. Because you know, the group of women that we had in the cohort, I think it was all women, the group of women that we had in our cohort. It was it was a very diverse group of women from all over the place in different industries and everybody had a different level of understanding and everybody had different challenges and and you really were able to somehow meet everybody exactly where they are and people ask really uncomfortable questions. That you would normally be scared to ask because you don't want to be attacked and you don't want to sound like a jerk, you know? Yeah. But you created this, this space, this safe space to really have those discussions.
Lekeshia Moore 18:32
That makes my heart melt because that's exactly what I was going for. I know even Yes, I've listened to people talk about the trauma that has come from delving into this work and being in spaces that are saying they're teaching anti racism work or inclusivity and they come out more traumatized and ready to run away from the work because no who wants to feel shame, you know, so I really appreciate you being an ally taking on the work and continuing the work and just being in my space. I love you
Shannon Kill 19:05
first know your your life. You know and here's the thing is that I I feel like as white people as white women, it's our job to seek out education. It's our job. It's our charge to do whatever we can black people who've been doing the work of anti racism always right, like that's your existence. And so it's our job as white allies to continue to seek out understanding so I can definitely understand where a lot of a lot of black people who do anti racism work are just kind of fed up. And so I can I can understand that saltiness, I can understand where they're just like, they're impatient, they don't have time to or they don't have the mental or emotional capacity anymore to hold space for another white woman asking questions about racism. Right? And so, like, as much as I can understand that, when you are able to hold space for people when you're able to come with a level of understanding and empathy. That is, that is really life changing. Not to say that both approaches don't have the ability to be life changing. It's just that not everybody has thick enough skin to come into those spaces where somebody is just completely fed up. You know what I mean?
Lekeshia Moore 20:34
Absolutely, and that's exactly why the ally ship activation program was created that entry level it's the basics getting you comfortable with starting this work in, you know, making that first post or making that first contribution to an organization or finding one like how do I even start it's it's it's really overwhelming for people if they're not engaged in the work so I definitely appreciate that comment and having people just really get what I'm trying to do here. What advice you have for others just getting started on doing this work, or if they're still waiting to get started.
Shannon Kill 21:09
Um, just just start honestly, and it's going to be hard at times it's going to be very emotional if you're doing it the right way. And there's there's just no way to avoid it. Because at the end of the day, you're you're dealing with you're you're dealing with ABUSE, you're dealing with trauma, you're dealing with people who have been shunned and others, you know what I mean? So if you're really doing the work, if you're really putting your all into it, it's going to be hard and it's going to be emotional, and you're gonna feel overwhelmed. And but that's the beauty of having someone like Lee Keisha, to be able to guide you through that process and to keep you on course and to hold space for you. And so So yeah, I mean, my advice is really just just to go ahead and get started. And there was another question that you asked that I completely went off on a tangent. I want to go back to that youth. You asked what it was that made it so important. For me to, to participate in this program. Um, I, I actually had never considered how important it was for my business, to be involved in programs like yours, and it was always just a personal passion of mine and i i where I really started to see a shift and decide that okay, this is important for my business as well. Was was actually in working with you one on one. And you reminding me that hey, you know, if you're going to be working with people on their money, trauma, and you're going to be specifically wanting to work with with black women or women of color or women who are disabled, it's going to be incredibly important for you to understand the challenges that come along with their existence. So it's, for me in the financial realm, the the people who are underserved in one area are often underserved in all areas, and so finance is no exception to that and if anything, and finance is one of the worst films when it comes to underserving specific communities like it's, it's really kind of built for white men and you know, maybe that's maybe that's like, sounding too one sided but that's that's kind of the reality of it right now. And so for me, it became incredibly important that if if I truly want to be able to serve these women at my highest capacity, then I need to be able to understand the struggles that they face and because I'm not a black woman, I can never possibly experience what a black woman or woman of color has experienced. I've never been disabled. And so I can't understand that experience. But what I can do is do the work and listen to people who have experienced those things. And I can change the way that I do business down to making sure that the fonts that I have on my website are are easy to read. For someone who might have a disability involving their eyesight, you know what I mean? So absolutely, it can feel very overwhelming at first because it's like you you notice all of these blind spots. And once they're pointed out to you, you feel like oh my gosh, I have to do all of the things immediately. And so it was really good to have you throughout the program, say like okay, let's slow down, take a step back. Do what you can do today, right? Do one thing today. And you're still better off than you were yesterday.
Lekeshia Moore 24:57
Oh, absolutely. Oh, I love that so much. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks for sharing. Oh my goodness. And again, like you said financial trauma and financial education is like the core like everyone deserves to be able to sustain their lives and excel and to do whatever it is they need to do. And money is a tool that helps us do that. So it's a human right to have access to money and I love that you're in this space creating that access for everyone. So what is next for you? What is next for Shannon keel?
Shannon Kill 25:33
Oh, that's a great question. I plan on spending the majority of 2022 really just collaborating with as many other female entrepreneurs as possible. Um, and so I don't know exactly what that looks like. I mean, obviously, I want to grow my business as much as I can. I'm gonna continue to do a lot of one on one work because that's, that's really where my passion is because I feel like there's so much magic that can happen inside of that very intimate container and you know, you've experienced that firsthand. It's, it's so it's so Um, no, well, that's I was gonna say, but thank you.
Lekeshia Moore 26:13
It is honestly like, I can't read enough. We'll definitely have all of the links to get to Shannon in the show notes, but I seriously not a paid actor here can't say how much and how important it is to work with Janet in her 52 weeks natural. It's amazing what you can do in a year like never in my life would I have thought possible, the things that Shannon was able to bring to light in my life. Or financially until I was able to see it in print. And it's like, Hello, yeah, you can do that. So sometimes we need that permission from someone else. And it's the same in the work that I do when I give permissions that people didn't think they needed. You gave me that permission to see beyond next month's budget or next week's budget, my next Amazon purchase or wherever without being restricted, like oh, I have to live this horribly tight life for the next 50 years in order for me to retire. With, you know, a million dollars or whatever my goals are, or even setting goals like some of these things, until we connected did not just seem possible for somebody who looked like me. Yeah, no, I am like just forever grateful for that. And I look forward to what we collaborate on in 2022. And I'm so glad that I was able to have you on the show today. There's just share all of your greatness with us. Where can people find you if they want to learn more about what you do and where you hang out?
Shannon Kill 27:47
Yeah. Oh my gosh, I wish you guys could see my face right now. I'm on the verge of tears. Oh, I love anytime that I'm able to impact anybody on that level because it really is such an emotional, intimate process. And that's why I'm so passionate about doing this deep on one on one work because just like Keisha dies, it's so important for me to create a safe space for people to to experience that growth that I can see that they're capable of. And so if you want to find me, you can find me on my website. It's just my name Shannon Murray hill.com. I spend some time on Facebook. So same thing Shannon Marie kill and then I have a Facebook community called first generation wealth builders, which is all around the idea of you know, we, we the members of the group, were not given an inheritance. We didn't really have anything to start with but we're gonna make sure that the the next generation can just have the baton pass to them instead of having to start from where we started from. So that's really
Lekeshia Moore 28:54
love it. Love it. Love it. Thank you so much again, Shannon for being here. And thanks for being amazing. Have a good 2022 and I'm sure we'll talk soon. Oh of course we will.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
