We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrice D McClendon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrice D, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always knew I wanted to be a business owner. However, it took me a long time to nail down if I wanted to sell a product, sell a service or encourage/mentor others. Well, I am not a great salesperson, so I prayed about it. I would talk to God during my prayer time and ask Him to reveal to me what I should do. He showed me my gifts. The gifts of effective communication, networking, leadership, mentoring, encouraging and empowering people. Specifically, women and young girls. I want to be a positive influence on others and with this mindset, I created Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women was created to bring together women of diverse cultures and backgrounds in support of one another in family, business, health & wellness, mental health, education, spiritual wellness, finances and so much more.

What sets Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women apart from others is the heart for people. There is a strong belief that through networking, we can build relationships and have a village of women who can empower others and be empowered by others.

The exciting part about our organization is that through our events (annual luncheons, workshops, community service, etc.) ladies have an opportunity to meet other women who can share in their journey. Some only need someone to talk to while others need a helping hand. This could be financial awareness, health care, counseling, business coaching, writing coaches, resume writing, photography, apparel, dressmakers and so much more. Our goal is to be available to every woman on every level.

Getting to this point in my business was not easy. Over the years in corporate America, I have been laid off several times. Each layoff came with struggles and made it very difficult for me to start the business. Although, I still work in corporate America, I had to take a leap of faith to start Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women.

There were many challenges to face when creating and building the organization. I overcame the initial challenges by seeking wise counsel and wisdom from those who walked this path before me. Some of the lessons I learned in this process of building and growing Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women was the importance of a developing and mission statement, having a vision, a good website, social media sites, and the hours I need to invest to see my vision and brand come to life.

The Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women brand is who I am. I want people to know that Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women is here to help make the world a better place by strengthening our village of women through conferences, workshops, networking, and community service

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If my best friend was in town for a week, we would eat plenty of seafood, try different restaurants, go to Ormond Beach, hang out in Orlando, shop and visit friends all week. She says I have too much energy, so I guess I will need to give her a couple of rest days in between all of the activity. But there will be alot of talking, crying and laughing. That’s what best friends do.

My favorite spots to visit in Jacksonville are the beaches and the museums .

Some of the things I love to do is attend networking events, going to the beach, traveling, shopping and going to flea markets . In my travels, I met the most interesting people in Jamaica. I met people from England, Paris, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, and of course, the US. It was a true melting pot of the human race. My favorite travel spot was Hawaii. I visited the islands of Oahu and Maui where I snorkeled for the first time. It was phenomenal. I hope to visit Alaska in the near future.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

This Shoutout is dedicated to my parents, Eugene and Claretha P. McClendon. They instilled in me hard work, humbleness and the compassion to serve/help others. They also taught me to be resilient, to stand strong during all trials and trust God. The leadership I received from my parents is visible in my day to day walk through life and my work ethics.

I also send a Shoutout to my sister and her family, Marilyn, Eugene and Kayla Barnwell. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. Shoutout to my sister, Diandra McClendon. Thank you for your support also.

The last Shoutout goes to my family and friends who have encouraged me over the years, before and after, starting the Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women organization. You are the best and I am grateful for all of you.

Website: www.sista2sistaempowerment.com

Instagram: Sista2Sistapower

Linkedin: Patrice D McClendon

Facebook: Sista 2 Sista: Women Empowering Women

Other: Email sista2sistapower@gmail.com

Image Credits
Photographs by Aaron Mervin, Heads Shots Studio

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.