Meet Aisha Ritchie | Author, Speaker, and Empowerment Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aisha Ritchie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aisha, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
As a youngster who grew up in one of Jamaica’s inner-city communities, I was exposed to several social ills and societal stigmas. From as early as childhood, I knew that I had to rise above it – I was convinced from as early as my years of primary education that I would not fall within the status quo.

I can recall my father advising me of three clear paths to escape the ghetto – musical talent, sports, and/or education. While I enjoyed and did well in the performing arts, I knew that my route had to be education, as I enjoyed learning and had control over how well I could do – the success or failure to learn and apply what was taught was completely dependent on me.

So, my ambition to challenge the status quo initially inspired me. I want to demonstrate that it does not matter where you are from and which undesirable circumstances you are handed in life. We all have the ability to rise above our challenges because we have greatness embedded within us. How we start the race does not determine how we end it, what matters most is how we run – what we do with the time we have been gifted.

Now, I am inspired to share my story with as many persons as possible in order to motivate, encourage, challenge, and empower them to rise above mediocrity and challenge the status quo. Through my book, “Choosing Me: 33 Inspirational Quotes” and my soon-to-be-launched podcast, Rich Ignition, I aim to reignite passion and purpose in the lives of all readers and listeners.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a recently published Author, Speaker, and Empowerment Coach, I aim to empower, inspire, and reignite passion and purpose in the lives of individuals who may be experiencing feelings of self-doubt, limiting beliefs and inadequacy, persons who are fearful of stepping out of their comfort zones because of the crippling fear of uncertainty, judgment or failure. I hope to help these individuals to overcome these pessimistic, pusillanimous, and defeatist feelings and mindsets in order to ELEVATE, as I have learnt and continue to learn and practice daily how to overcome.

I have experienced some of these challenges firsthand and have been working daily to rise above them and help others to conquer them. It is not an easy task but requires a daily commitment to do better. I had to re-discover who I was and remind myself of my unique value in order and self-worth. I had to change the way I spoke to myself – from negative self-talk to positive self-talk. I also used daily affirmations to help me assert myself and sought help when I needed it.

Having been through a period of “playing small”, and then going through a period of rediscovery and awakening, I knew that I had to pass it on so I started to share my story to help others who faced similar challenges to conquer.

This purpose-driven mission also led me to write a book entitled “Choosing Me: 33 Inspirational Quotes”, which contains quotes that remind us of the greatness locked inside each of us, quotes that encourage us that employ tenacity when things get rough, quotes that challenge us to be the best version of ourselves.

Ultimately, I aim to help persons who suffer from imposter syndrome, as I did, to rise above it. I want them to embrace and unleash their innate power into the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am from the beautiful tropical isle of Jamaica, a little pebble on the map but possessing a very ‘tallawah’ presence in the world. Though I live in Kingston, our capital city, I love to travel across parish borders to enjoy all that Jamaica has to offer. From beautiful, scenic beaches to bumpy country roads, the Jamaican experience cannot be accomplished without a good ROAD TRIP to experience our culture and our people.

Kingston Stops:

– A visit to the iconic Bob Marley Museum

– A trod by Water Lane Art Walk in Downtown, Kingston

– A tour of the historic Devon House followed, of course, by some delicious Devon House Ice cream

– Lunch at StreetFoodSaturdays in Golden Spring, St. Andrew

– A relaxing evening with a good laugh from one of our live theatre productions

Let’s “Do Road”:

– A visit to Portland to experience Boston Jerk Centre

– A scrumptious meal from The Houseboat Grill in Montego Bay, St. James

– A visit to the breathtaking Blue Lagoon in Portland

– A relaxing raft on the Rio Grande in Portland

– A night trip to the magical Glistening Waters (Luminous Lagoon) in Falmouth

– An adventurous ride to Mystic Mountains Jamaica Adventure Park in Ocho Rios, St. Ann

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout would have to be to my family – especially my parents, Odette Finn and Frank Ritchie.

My parents have been in my corner and have always supported me, no matter what. They provided me with the stability necessary to pursue my dreams. They have never dictated my path or projected their own dreams on me and I am forever grateful for that because it has allowed me to discover who I am along the way – my likes, dislikes, and interests.

I have learnt so much about hard work, perseverance, and responsibility from them. I observed my parents working hard to ensure that I was properly provided for, understanding their responsibility to me, as parents. Even when circumstances were not favourable, they would never allow me to be in want, they remained sedulous in order to ensure that I was properly taken care of and would miss no opportunity to propel me forward.

Demonstrating kindness to all and being sacrificial are also life lessons I have learnt from my mother and my now deceased grandmother, Millicent Finn. I grew up in a household that was always giving, even if it sometimes meant giving our last. I never understood it as a child, but as I grew older, I came to see and witness the miracle of giving and sharing.

These qualities, among others, which were imparted to me, have distinguished me as an individual and made me a better person today.

Instagram: @rich_ignition

Linkedin: Aisha Ritchie

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFCGvmEBRyo2H-Uqk5qXxA

Other: Email: richignition1@gmail.com

Image Credits
Images 1,2,6 – Oraine Meikle (@jah_meikle) Images 3,4,5,9 – Jordache Jones (@iamdashproductions)