An Inspired Chat with Paula Sima of Sandy Spring

We recently had the chance to connect with Paula Sima and have shared our conversation below.

Paula, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Honestly…what is normal? 😂 My life doesn’t really fit into a neat daily routine. Some days I’m deep in creative projects, other days I’m traveling, podcasting, or catching up with my community (when not avoiding people).

I guess my ‘normal’ is embracing the unexpected—staying flexible, following where the work (and inspiration) takes me, and sprinkling in moments of rest and joy whenever I can. Normal for me is a vibe, not a schedule.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Paula Sima… a storyteller, podcaster, and all-around creative who believes in showing up unapologetically. I’m the founder of Wrap Shit with P, a “rebel-with-a-cause” brand that brings big ideas to life through curated gifting, branding, merch, and virtual assistant services. Born in Africa and having lived across five continents, I thrive on connecting with different people, cultures, and perspectives everywhere I go.

Networking isn’t just something I do, it’s who I am. Friends affectionately call me The Networking Godfather because I genuinely love making connections and helping others find their tribe. And that global lens fuels everything I do from hosting my final season of the Talk Shit with P podcast to speaking, moderating, and volunteering and working at major podcast conferences like Podfest, and Podcast Movement. What started as a way to help friends package their visions has grown into a hub where creatives, entrepreneurs, and brands come to show up bigger, bolder, and better.

So whether I’m hosting, building experiences for clients, or creating merch that makes people feel seen… My mission is simple and stays the same: amplify voices, celebrate individuality, and make impact look good.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
One of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was in 2007 when I left the UK to move to Malaysia. I had already traveled alone before, but this was different; it was the first time I was moving to a completely new country on my own. In the UK I’d lived with my brother and had my mom and close family nearby. After dropping out of law school and taking a gap year to figure out my path, I finally realized that events and hospitality were where my heart truly belonged and UK wqs nolonger the place for me.

I went home to Tanzania for barely a week after being away for five years… Off to Malaysia i was to start college. My dad came with me for the first two weeks and eventually had to leave and once he left, I was completely on my own in a country whose language and currency I didn’t understand. Standing there, thousands of miles away from everything familiar, I remember thinking: This is my life now, and I get to build it from scratch all by myself.

That moment of stepping into the unknown, trusting myself to figure it out, and starting a new chapter taught me that real power isn’t loud… it’s the quiet courage to bet on yourself and move forward even when you have no map.

Moving to a whole new Country in a whole different Continent by yourself is not easy and definitely not for the weak so to everyone out there who ever did it, kudos to you and hope you know how powerful that was.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly? Almost every DAMN day, lol. There have been countless moments where the weight of running a business, creating, and simply being felt overwhelming.

From financial uncertainties to the mental and emotional toll of showing up consistently. There are days when giving up whispers like an easy out. But each time, something pulls me back… a client’s success, a message from someone my work has inspired, friends showering me with my flowers or just the reminder of why I started in the first place.

Those small sparks of connection and purpose keep me moving forward, proving that resilience isn’t about never wanting to quit, it’s about choosing to keep going anyway (pivoting however you need too).

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely.

The public version of me is more real than any curated social media version could ever be, lol.

What you see in person or on my platforms is the same energy I carry in everyday life… no filters (maybe a few) lol, no forced persona.

I might share different pieces of myself depending on the space, but the core of who I am; my humor, my directness, my sarcasm (& sometimes “pettyness”), and most importantly my heart for people never changes.

I’ve always said I’m a rebel with a cause, and that shows up everywhere… whether i’m podcasting, building Wrap Shit with P, or just out here connecting with folks.

The only difference? How wild the stories or i get probably depends on whether I’m holding a Budweiser or a Red Bull.

Either way, it’s still 100% me.😉

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell the story of my heart.

That I lived with it wide open, even when life gave me reasons to shut it down.

That I led with love, connection, and a fearless belief in showing up as my full self.

I want them to say I made people feel seen, that I created spaces where others could dream bigger, and that my laughter and energy made the hard days a little lighter.

More than anything, I hope they remember that I left a trail of kindness, boldness, and unapologetic love everywhere I went.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.flowcode.com/page/talkshitwithp
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrapshitwithp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-sima-mulamula
• Twitter: https://x.com/talkshitwithp
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkwhitwIthp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkshitwithp
• Soundcloud: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1028638