Meet Djuanna Brockington | Consultant and Writer

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

Hi Djuanna, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I originally started my consulting business as a grant writing side hustle. It was a great way to make money and it was something that I could do in the evenings and weekends that did not interfere with my full-time jobs. When I started getting frustrated with the organizations that I was working for and with (largely due to workplace cultures that felt chaotic at their best and toxic at their worst), I realized that entrepreneurship was a real option.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a fiction writer. I love story in all forms, but I absolutely LOVE stories about southern Black women and their practical magic. My love for fiction helps me professionally, as it helps me re-imagine the work in a way that could be immensely impactful in the future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First Charleston Visit Itinerary: There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting under a beach umbrella and chatting with a good friend after breakfast at Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. A stop at Daddy’s Girls Bakery in North Charleston is a requirement because you haven’t lived until you’ve experienced their Chewie Pound Cake. Of course, we’re going to wander downtown to the shops on King Street and the Market. You can’t come to Charleston without seeing the International African American Museum to experience the history and present of African Americans. We’ll finish the day off at Heavy’s Barburgers, because they are delicious!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So, first and foremost, shout out to my friends Kellye McKenzie (GoodStock Consulting) and Lisa Van Bergen (Nonprofit Professional Solutions). They both own and run their own consulting firms and they were instrumental in encouraging me, referring clients to me, and kicking my butt when I needed it. Shout out to my writing group because they keep me tied to my true love- writing. Joselyn Johnson (Eventions by Joselyn) is my Ace! We were co-workers who became amazing friends. There have been times when I’ve mentored her, and she has turned around and used my same words to her to mentor me! There are so many more folks who take my calls, answer my questions, or just let me vent when I need to. Way too many to name.

Instagram: instagram.com/djdoesmidlife/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/djuannabrockington

Image Credits
Djuanna Brockington Emanueal Smith