Meet Drisana “dru” McDaniel | Mother/worker/activist who is an author, researcher, and PhD student

We had the good fortune of connecting with Drisana “dru” McDaniel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Drisana “dru”, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I now have more work-life balance than before. Previously, I spent many years in the luxury retail sector, with an eight-hour workday outside the house and a long commute. This significantly affected my time with my family. Now, working from home, I have a different work style, not necessarily less work, but with more balance. I am home when my youngest daughter gets off the bus, and I can take many meetings from home. I work almost every day in some capacity, but it doesn’t compromise my work-life balance. My work and life are integrated, bringing me joy and purpose. For example, listening to a podcast or reading early in the day informs my writing and enriches my work.

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.
Yeah, my career is very different now. I spent a couple of decades in luxury retail as a makeup artist and field trainer for a global beauty brand. It was busy and wonderful work, taking me around the country and the world. During this time, I also juggled classes and parenting. When COVID hit and I was furloughed, it became the perfect transition point to shift careers. I started consulting, facilitating, and pursuing my master’s degree. Now, I work squarely in my purpose: facilitating social justice education and serving as a senior researcher and curriculum designer at the Acosta Institute. I’ve also been an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston, teaching environmental sustainability and women and gender studies.

In addition to that, I’m one of the co-founders of the Transformative Teaching Collective and do consulting work that integrates my doctoral studies in philosophy and religion, focusing on women’s spirituality. My work is centered around healing culture, specifically black feminist and womanist philosophy. It hasn’t been easy—pursuing my PhD is the hardest thing I’ve done next to having my children. But despite the challenges, it’s deeply rewarding. I’ve learned that true success and purpose-driven work are rooted in relationships and radical interconnectedness. It’s also quite rewarding to not be locked into a job, but instead gives me the opportunity to collaborate and serve with people I truly care for.

I use my framework, the Alchemy of Now, to hold space and coach others, helping them remember their inner wisdom. Coaching, to me, is about witnessing and supporting people in turning towards life with intention and courage. I’m committed to leaving behind published work and evidence of a life lived on purpose. My goal is to leave the world better than I found it, not by changing a world that I am not in control of, but by fostering meaningful relationships and sharing approaches that help us serve and heal each other and 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.
If I have a friend visiting, I’d want to show them the best time. I’d leave Charleston for St. Helena Island to visit a wonderful healer there. We’d stop in Beaufort for dinner at Saltus. In downtown Charleston, we would dine at 167 Raw, The Grocery for seasonal farm-to-table fare, and Malagón for cozy drinks and tapas. We would head to Stems and Skins for drinks in Park Circle. We would have to enjoy oysters at Bexley’s, an amazing raw bar here in Summerville, where I live. Finally, we’d spend some time at the beach in Kiawah.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe my joy and position in my purpose work to many people. First, the Transformative Teaching Collective, a worker-owned cooperative we co-founded in 2015. A big thanks to the Acosta Institute, especially my dear friends and colleagues Dr. Angel Acosta and Maria Tan. My children greatly influence my writing, as I see parenting as a path to spiritual awakening. My multitude of dear friends, my village and community, including my sister Alexandria Ravenel and my mother.

And books—I am a book hoarder! One of the most important books I own is The Womanist Idea by Layli Maparyan, which greatly informs my approach to life and scholarship. Also, a shout out to Dr. Michelann Parr, an editor I’ve worked closely with at Demeter Press, who continues to affirm (and publish) my writing

Instagram: magnolia_honey

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drisana-dru-mcdaniel-7ab8023/

Image Credits
Alice Keeney picture #2 and picture #6.