Exploring Life & Business with Rashonda Harris of Purple Sheep Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rashonda Harris.

Hi Rashonda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey has never been linear—it’s been layered, lived, and led by purpose.

I started as a Black girl from the projects of South Philadelphia, raised in a non-traditional family structure that taught me resilience long before I understood the word. I learned early what it meant to be invisible and underestimated—yet also what it meant to rise anyway. That foundation shaped not only who I became, but why I built everything I lead today.

I entered research administration in 1998 and grew into leadership by 2006, often as the only Black woman in the room. Those experiences—navigating bias, carrying unspoken expectations, and learning to stand firmly in my voice—became the catalyst for my work far beyond compliance and grants. I found myself mentoring women organically, offering clarity, safety, and strategy for those navigating systems that weren’t built with us in mind. And from those lived experiences, an entire ecosystem was born.

We Are H.E.R.™ emerged first—a movement and community grounded in being Healed, Empowered, and Resilient. It became a place for women who needed not just motivation, but recalibration. A place where transformation feels possible, accessible, and sustained.

From there, Black Women Who Mentor™ became the bridge to sisterhood I always wished existed when I was coming up. It formalized what I had been doing privately for decades: helping Black women rise, lead, and mentor with intention, clarity, and legacy. The program is growing—live cohorts, self-paced learning, and now a pathway that includes digital badges and a Sister Circle model.

Then came Purple Crowns & Connections™—a heart-centered monthly circle for women ready to lead, heal, and connect in a deeper way. It’s where community meets conversation and where the power of shared truth becomes a source of collective elevation.

Alongside this community work lives Purple Sheep Diaries™, my podcast. It captures the voices and journeys of those who stand out, stand firm, and stand in truth—those who refuse to shrink. It’s storytelling with purpose, leadership with vulnerability, and empowerment through lived experience.

And of course, Purple Harvest™—what began as one book has become a trilogy and a movement of its own. In 2025 and 2026, we expanded that universe even further, including weekly content series like Purple Roots, Soil to Soul, and Harvest Truths. And now, I’m stepping into a new chapter with the release of She Spoke, So She Bloomed, written under the pen name Loretta June in honor of my mother. It’s a poetry collection about womanhood, survival, and the beauty that rises from pain—another extension of the healing work that threads through everything I do.

Together, all of these brands—We Are H.E.R., Black Women Who Mentor, Purple Crowns & Connections, Purple Sheep Diaries, Purple Harvest, and now She Spoke, So She Bloomed—represent the evolution of my own story: a girl who was once unseen becoming a woman who helps others feel deeply seen.

My journey is still unfolding, but every chapter—from the projects of South Philly to stages, classrooms, boardrooms, and global circles—has been guided by one truth:
I wasn’t built to fit in. I was born to rebuild systems, create legacy, and make room for others to bloom.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not—my road has been anything but smooth.
And truthfully, that’s exactly why my work exists today.

I grew up in the housing projects of South Philadelphia, raised in a non-traditional family structure, surviving systems that weren’t designed for girls like me. Hardship wasn’t an episode—it was the environment. I learned resilience through necessity, not choice. Those early experiences shaped my voice, my leadership, and my understanding of what invisibility feels like.

As I moved into higher education and research administration, the struggles didn’t disappear—they simply evolved. Being a Black woman in predominantly white, male-dominated spaces meant fighting to be heard, seen, and taken seriously. I navigated bias, code-switching, assumptions, and microaggressions long before we had proper language for them. I carried the double burden of excellence and invisibility—expected to perform at 200% while receiving 20% of the recognition.

Leadership brought new challenges:
being the only one,
the youngest one,
the Black one,
the woman one—
all at the same time.

There were seasons of burnout, moments when I questioned my purpose, and years when the weight of being “the strong one” felt like a silent battle. I had to learn how to advocate for myself, how to lead with boundaries, and how to stop shrinking my brilliance for other people’s comfort.

And even outside of work, life was not always gentle.
I built my career while raising a family, navigating financial hardship, earning multiple degrees, and carrying the trauma of past experiences—all while still pushing forward.

But every struggle became a seed for the work I do now:

We Are H.E.R.™ was born from the healing I had to do myself—learning to reclaim my identity beyond survival.

Black Women Who Mentor™ came from knowing how deeply Black women need spaces of protection and sisterhood.

Purple Crowns & Connections™ emerged from my own longing for community that sees you without demanding that you explain yourself.

Purple Sheep Diaries™ became a place to speak truth to experiences that are often whispered or dismissed.

Purple Harvest™ and now She Spoke, So She Bloomed grew from the parts of my story that once felt too heavy to name—and now uplift others.

So no, it hasn’t been easy.
But I am a firm believer that purpose is not discovered on smooth roads. It’s revealed in the fire, in the pressure, and in the moments when life bends you—but does not break you.

Everything I create today—the programs, the books, the community, the movement—is built from the places I had to heal, the barriers I had to break, and the legacy I am still shaping.

And I wouldn’t change a single chapter.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As a business owner, my professional life has been rooted in building an ecosystem, not just a company.
Purple Sheep Consulting began as a research administration and leadership consulting firm, but over time it grew into a multi-brand movement serving women, institutions, and communities across different stages of their professional and personal journeys.

My career has spanned more than two decades in higher education, research administration, and organizational leadership, and now I use that foundation to build programs like We Are H.E.R.™, Black Women Who Mentor™, Purple Crowns & Connections™, Purple Sheep Diaries™, and the Purple Harvest Trilogy. Each arm of the business serves a different purpose: leadership development, mentorship, storytelling, healing, or transformation. Yet collectively, they represent the impact I want to leave behind — building spaces where women, especially Black women, feel equipped, empowered, and affirmed.

Running this firm is equal parts vision, strategy, and heart. I get to design curriculum, coach emerging leaders, speak truth into rooms that aren’t always ready for it, and build programs that directly change lives. And as an entrepreneur, I’m proud to have built a brand that sits at the intersection of leadership, empowerment, and legacy.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I am who I am because of the people who poured into me, believed in me, challenged me, protected me, and held space for me. My success is not solitary — it’s shared.

First and foremost, I stand on the shoulders of my family.
My husband, Moe, has been my constant anchor — steady, supportive, and deeply invested in my growth. My daughters, Raniya and Sanai, have been my inspiration and my “why.” They remind me that everything I build is about legacy, access, and possibility.

I also honor the woman who shaped my earliest understanding of strength — my brother’s father’s mother, who raised me. Her lessons in resilience, pride, and survival follow me into every room I enter and every program I create.

Professionally, I’ve been shaped by a long list of mentors, advocates, and elders in research administration and leadership who saw potential in me long before I understood my own voice. My NCURA family, regional leadership teams, and colleagues across higher education have challenged me, sharpened me, and helped me grow in ways that changed the course of my career. Their guidance opened doors that I now hold open for others.

In entrepreneurship, I have been blessed with a circle of cheerleaders who support the vision even when the path gets heavy. Women like Dr. Laneika Musalini, Dr. Marianne Woods, Patrice Williams Lindo, and so many others have poured into me through partnership, wisdom, and sisterhood. They don’t just celebrate my wins — they speak life into the moments when I’m recalibrating.

I also honor every client who trusted me — from universities to small teams to individual women navigating transition. Each project has allowed me to expand my impact and refine my purpose. Purple Sheep Consulting would not be what it is today without clients who believed in what I was building, even in its earliest versions.

My village also includes the women in Black Women Who Mentor™, Purple Crowns & Connections™, We Are H.E.R.™, and Purple Sheep Diaries™. Their courage, transparency, and commitment to growth fuel the work in ways numbers could never measure. From mentees who blossomed into mentors, to women who shared their truth on the podcast, to those who show up month after month with open hearts — their presence is evidence that the work matters.

And finally, I have to acknowledge my team — especially Raniya and Solaine — whose creativity, organization, and support help me run an entire ecosystem with excellence. They are the quiet force behind so much of the work the world sees.

My story is a story of community — of people who stepped in, stepped up, spoke life, and helped me carry the vision.
I am deeply grateful for every hand that lifted me, every voice that affirmed me, and every partnership that expanded me. None of this was built alone, and I never pretend that it was.

Pricing:

• Purple Harvest™ (Books + Journals) Purple Harvest: Planting Goals, Growing Truths Purple Harvest 30-Day Personal Growth Journal Harvest Truths: Purple Affirmations Each available on Amazon, typically ranging from $12.99–$21.99.
• We Are H.E.R.™ Programs Monthly Community Circles: Free or low-cost, depending on the session. H.E.R.™ Signature Events & Workshops: $47–$97 for standard sessions; premium intensives vary by topic.
• Black Women Who Mentor™ Self-Paced Program (launching June 2025): Low-cost, accessible tuition to ensure equitable participation. Live Fall Cohort (launching September 2025): Price finalization in progress; sliding scale options and scholarship support available. Digital Badges (Certified Mentor of Legacy™): Included in program tuition; no separate fee.
• Purple Crowns & Connections™ Monthly Virtual Gatherings: Currently free, offered as a community-building initiative. Future live experiences: Pricing will follow a standard workshop/event model ($37–$97).
• Purple Sheep Diaries™ Podcast participation: There is no fee for guests to appear on the podcast. Season promotions, sponsorships, and ad placements: Will be introduced in 2026 as the platform expands.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://purplesheepconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purplesheep_consulting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/109525245245227
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/88171613/admin/
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/Purplesheep_C
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxs4uXn-VQ39o8H5RDl6xPw