Today we’d like to introduce you to Herschenia Brown.
Hi Herschenia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story started after my third experience working in a hostile environment in Corporate America. Over the past fifteen years, I seemed to find myself working for managers who either had little training in leadership, little to no understanding of diversity or felt threatened for one reason or another. It’s a tough space to be in when you report to people in positions of authority who have control over what happens to your job, then they exercise that power from a source of their own insecurity or ignorance. I’d seen so many people compromise integrity or secretly compete with others just to keep their job or define their importance through a title; and it worked for them. Self-validation and self-respect were crucial components of my consciousness, so unless my value was organically recognized, shrinking was not in the cards for me.
I was always incredibly ambitious and finding ways to release my various talents, but I knew I had to be strategic because I still had a full-time job. I started writing and released my books under my own publishing company using a PIN name (Aria Craig), so my managers wouldn’t find out. I wrote about topics that were important to me as a single mom of a son; books that empowered parents and children. The first single mom book became an Amazon bestseller and was the top in five parenting categories. My first children’s book, which was about overcoming bullying, garnered the attention of a national non-profit organization in bullying awareness and prevention. I’ve written several articles for print media and still working to reach higher levels of success as more people connect with my messages through my work. In the meantime, I continued to work full-time to bring in income.
Each experience was worse than the prior one, causing so much stress that it impacted my mental health. After talking to a professional about it, she mentioned that a lot of women of color experienced the same situations of harassment, discrimination, bullying, and unfair treatment; then retaliation after reporting incidents. These women, just as I had, suffered from chronic stress, anxiety, and depression that led to physical health problems and conditions.
From there, I did some research and found an increase in employment litigation cases due to the same issues/treatment festering in companies, which caused employees to become disgruntled and taking legal action (or worse). A large number of cases settled before going to court and non-disclosure agreements were in place to protect the images of the companies. Yet, the hostile working environments persisted and mental health claims due to work-related stressors were rising. After prayer and meditation, I had an epiphany and saw this as an opportunity.
I enrolled in the Dispute Resolution Program at Pepperdine University, received extensive training, and became a member of a few legal associations; including American Bar Association, DR Section; International Ombuds Association; and being an active member of the leadership committee for the Federal Bar Association, ADR Section. I turned my frustration into something more productive in finding ways to help both the employee and employer by creating another business entity, In Agreement Dispute Resolution, to offer three completely separate alternative dispute resolution services – external ombudsperson, employment mediation, and wellness consulting.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming a writer wasn’t a struggle, but becoming an author was. Nowadays, so many people are writing books and the market is very saturated, making it more difficult to be found. As a self-published author, I had to figure out different ways to become recognized. I didn’t want to establish a moms group or become a social media mom influencer. I admire the tenaciousness of moms who take on such great feats. It’s just those weren’t my lanes to travel for my journey. So, I started speaking at events and pitching to print media. Now, the next goal for me is national attention and advocacy, especially when it comes to bullying – childhood and in the workplace.
For my dispute resolution business, my competitors are attorneys and retired judges. These are experts who know their practiced areas of law left, right, and sideways. And because they are members of different associations and social groups that only attorneys and judges can participate in, their network is a lot larger. However, there are three specific benefits that I’ve identified:
1. As a nonlawyer, I have the flexibility to offer more reasonable rates.
2. It is easier for me to be neutral and impartial as part of my training.
3. As an African-American woman in an era of racial reckoning, more people of color are choosing professionals who they can identify and connect with.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
MNT Publishing, Mind Over Matters, and In Agreement Dispute Resolution are entities under the HSAB Group, LLC brand.
MNT Publishing – Writing about parenting was more than just a personal accomplishment. It was about other moms connecting with me for advice and support on the stressors of being a single mom; like co-parenting, fighting for child support, or raising a son, all while trying to elevate to the next version of self and accomplish their own goals. From there, I wrote children’s books that focused on a couple of topics I was very familiar with – bullying and being raised in a co-parenting family structure. I’m currently writing my first fictional novel on the generational curses between a mother and her two daughters, one having narcissistic personality disorder as a result.
Mind Over Matters is mental health coaching for individuals who desire holistic approaches for healing from chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. If there is a conflict of interest, I will refer to another coach.
In Agreement Dispute Resolution – Three dispute resolution services (completely separate from each other):
1. External Ombuds: For small of mid-sized companies, I am the first line of contact when any employee experiences conflict and needs support in finding a resolution. I operate within the principles of neutrality, impartiality, confidentiality, and independence.
2. Employment Mediator: I mediate employment cases between the plaintiff and defendant (both having legal representation) to facilitate a settlement.
3. Corporate Wellness Consultant: I identify issues and risks within an organization to create strategies in improving its corporate culture.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
While growing up, I was very observant, inquisitive, opinionated, high-sensitive, and empathic. I didn’t realize it until early twenties that was pretty good with using both sides of my brain, analytical and creative. I overcame a lot of obstacles and trauma (i.e., bullying) and still working through some of that through mindfulness, forgiveness, prayer, and meditation. That prepared me for the type of parenting I necessary for my son and the life I wanted to live for my future. A lot of it has come out in my writing as a therapeutic releasing mechanism. But, I also experienced love, independence, and the importance of self-validation. From that, I appreciate certain things from my childhood and look forward to navigating my future.
Contact Info:
- Email: IADR@HABrownADR.com
- Website: HABrownADR.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aria.craig
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorariacraig
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/aria_craig
- Other: HABrownADR.com/Aria
