BOSS Spotlight Feature: Shekira Farrell

 

Shekira Farrell has been a proud mother and passionate Autism advocate since her son, Jaiden, was first diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2014. She’s also the Founder and CEO of Jai At Play, which she operates with her son, created to change how the world views Autism for autistic youth and their families. Shekira was also diagnosed with Autism in her adulthood, and by leveraging her personal experiences and insights, she is able to operate from a place of genuine understanding, empathy, and awareness while also being an authentic and dedicated representative and advocate for those within the Autism Community and beyond.

What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? Jai At Play originally started as a personal blog on social media to share our Autism journey, dispel negative misconceptions about Autism, inspire and encourage parents of newly diagnosed children, and spread more positive Autism awareness, acceptance, and representation. I realized there was a need to continue to share that mission in more impactful ways, specifically to encourage, empower, and support autistic youth. So, I would definitely say one obstacle was trying to figure out how I wanted to do that

What inspired you to break into your industry? When my son, Jaiden, was first diagnosed with Autism, there was a list of things his therapists and pediatrician said he would never be able to do. One of them was that he might never work a “regular job.” I never wanted him to have to prove that he was good enough or worthy enough to work for someone while being autistic, so I created something he could call his own and something we could do together. Instead of letting them have the final say over my son’s life, their negativity lit a fire under me to protect, support, and empower him and other kids like him.

How do you balance your personal and professional life, or have you been able to find a balance? Honestly, I don’t, and it’s something I’m constantly trying to work on. I’m a woman of many roles, interests, and goals. If “personal life” means being a mother, then that’s most of my time. However, if “personal life” means having a social life, I don’t know what that is. When I’m not in Mom-Mode, I’m working on our business.

What is an inspirational quote that you live by? I have to remind myself constantly that I don’t have to do it all in order to be worthy of the things I want and deserve. I don’t have to run myself into the ground or pour from an empty cup to prove that I can be a superwoman. The better I take care of myself, the better I can be for everyone and everything else in my life.

Who were some influential people or mentors who helped or encouraged you along the way? My mother has been and will always be someone I admire for her heart, strength, courage, and kindness. Feeling like the weight of the world is on your back feels a little lighter with people like her in your corner. I must also show love to Dr. Cameka and the Boss Network for seeing me and believing in me. Witnessing a strong, inspirational, supportive black woman who wants to bring others along with her and provide opportunities to help them succeed is truly a beautiful thing!

What are your "must-haves" to keep your career or business going strong? One of my must-haves includes tons of notebooks because they include all my “to-do lists” and help me get a lot of my thoughts out of my head and onto paper. The feeling of checking something off the list is something special. Even more important than that is seeing my son every day because he’s the inspiration and reason for it all. No matter how I feel, seeing him reminds me why I’m doing what I’m doing.

What is your definition of a BOSS? A BOSS is someone who refuses to give up, despite the challenges and the obstacles because those are inevitable. It’s having a dream, a vision, a mission, a purpose, and knowing that no matter how long it takes, it will get done.

Provide us with two words that describe you? Autism Advocate/Representation Champion

Learn more about Shekira at https://jai-at-play.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/jai_at_play