Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia B. Fanning.
Hi Mia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I think about what it took for me to get to where I am today, I am reminded of a simple yet powerful phrase that has been deeply rooted within Black communities and our culture for some time, and that is that “it takes a village.” I’ve been privileged enough to have had a consistent village throughout my life. My village has been filled with an outpour of love, encouragement, and financial support that helped develop me into the powerhouse I know I am as a twenty-nine-year-old Black female entrepreneur and professional today. Sure it would be easy to say that I earned two degrees, accepted a managerial position at 25, and launched a business in the middle of a pandemic by myself, but it wouldn’t be true.
Everything that I’ve accomplished is only because of God’s will for my life, my ancestors’ sacrifices and living family members, and my tribe (community) that’s helped uplift me and position me for success. My father is a pastor, so I grew up immersed in the church where my spirit was regularly fed with God’s word and I was affirmed through Christ as “somebody” who is worthy of good things. I was empowered early on by attending all Black primary and secondary schools except for one year in elementary school. In high school, I served as the yearbook editor for two years designing spreads and capturing photos for Stephenson High School of Stone Mountain, Georgia, while also serving in various leadership positions as a teenager. My teachers were Black. My neighborhood was Black. My friends were Black. Everything I knew was Black.
Growing up, I was always writing, reading, telling elaborate stories, creating imaginary scenarios, and making worlds of my own, which I believe reflected the film, television, and music of the 1990s and early 2000s. I was actively involved in many youth programs in my community, where I saw and learned from successful Black men and women who looked like me, which helped shape my thinking of the endless possibilities that I could have as an African American millennial. Being surrounded by this type of representation and these supportive and deeply rooted cultural environments allowed me to become confident in my Blackness and my creative abilities. In 2010, I packed my bags and left the comfort of my little metro Atlanta bubble, and ventured off to a predominantly white institution in the rural town of Carrollton, Georgia, to attend and later work for the University of West Georgia. When selecting a college, I’ll be candid and say that I was never the type of student who dreamed about going to school. I thought I was ready to be an entrepreneur in a creative service-based field but didn’t know exactly how I would achieve that, nor did I have an awareness of what all entrepreneurship would entail. All I knew was that I wanted to be my boss one day.
As an undergraduate, I remained undeclared for several years foolishly because I felt like I didn’t want to get a degree in something I already knew: Mass Communications. What I didn’t realize back then was that God knew all along that Mass Communications was where I was always supposed to be. Naturally, I took up film and media arts, in addition to marketing, and finally began to thrive academically in my creative endeavors (YouTube), met my now-husband, and became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. I worked throughout my freshman to senior year in retail, at a grocery store, and as a collegiate relations intern for a Fortune 500 company. A year and a half after graduating with my Bachelor’s of Science in Mass Communications, I earned my Master’s in Education in Media (Instructional Technology) from the same school after obtaining a graduate assistantship covering tuition costs. When most of my friends graduated from college and returned home, I decided to return to school. I did this partially because I wasn’t ready to return home, and I knew that I would position myself for a higher salary down the road if I could get another degree. My mother has always emphasized having a strategy, which I have applied to many of my professional endeavors.
During my graduate program, I worked on the third shift at a library. Simultaneously, I substituted during the day until eventually accepting a full-time communications manager position in higher education (current status). When I initially accepted this position, I immediately put on my “professional hat”. I stopped creating like I once had because I was attempting to mask the louder and more innovative parts of myself that might not have been seen as “professional” in the traditional workforce. I allowed myself to slip away into the shadows. I had to realize that that wasn’t who I was called to be. I had to evolve to remember my self-worth while celebrating the creativity and uniqueness that lives so vibrantly within my soul. Across the span of four years, I have been afforded the opportunity to wear multiple hats simultaneously while refining my existing skills acquired overtime in internal and external communications, design, branding, marketing, social media, event management, customer service, leadership, office management, talent acquisitions, and much more.
Towards the end of 2019, I went on to take on the responsibility of managing various social media platforms in this role, which allowed me to become even more proficient in digital marketing, branding, and online community engagement. Fortunately, I had a wake-up call to finally begin revamping my Instagram account and position myself for monetization. I learned everything I could, absorbing information like a sponge while experiencing trial and error and taking note of what worked and what didn’t. I slowly took the lessons I was learning in my traditional job, attended training, researched strategies, and then applied them to my platforms. Somewhere mid-quarantine, I began to think about how my creative juices were returning to me, and I was becoming more excited about creating content and looking to start a business. People were randomly beginning to contact me asking if I knew how to do this and that (branding, web design, copywriting, etc.) which was confirmation from God that I was on track and doing what I was supposed to be doing. It was like all of my talents were finally starting to make sense. God ended up speaking “House of Bequest” to me one day in the shower, and it all began to flow slowly.
I filed for a business with the state without much of a plan in the end of 2020, but with all the intention and didn’t do anything with it for months. I was fasting and in prayer, asking God for guidance. I knew not to make a move that God hadn’t orchestrated. Before I knew what had happened, I had grown my account from 1.8k to 3k in just a few months using IG Reels and other strategies, while increasing my engagement all before raising it to 11k in January. One month later, on February 26th, I launched House of Bequest, a creative services agency, with my new business partner and best friend, Imani Gay, family, and friends. I genuinely believe that our lineage is the greatest gift we’ll ever receive, and our legacy is the most notable contribution that we will ever bequeath to our loved ones in our lifetime. Our responsibility is to make our ancestors and future generations proud by walking fully and confidently in the light and accomplishments of our heritage by cultivating generational wealth. House of Bequest is for the culture. It’s for the unseen and overlooked. It’s a place where your creative dreams can become a reality. Again, none of this would be possible without my village who keeps me grounded.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If I had to choose one word to describe my story, I would choose the word “transcendence.” For those who may not be as familiar, Oxford Languages defines it as to “be or go beyond the range or limits of” something or someone. In other words, I’ve always been the type of person who can endure, overcome, and completely transform the obstacles that are put before me. I do all of this confidently through my commitment to serve Christ, my undeniable Type A personality, an innovative, creative approach, and my acquired expertise over the years. Starting House of Bequest has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding endeavors of my life. By no means has this been an easy journey to get here. It took several events and factors to occur to get me to this new place. Before I could even fathom the idea of launching a creative services agency, God spent years working on me and cultivating me into the woman I am today. Many of my struggles have been internal and external battles with learning to find my voice, demand my worth, and make difficult decisions to better my family and future.
I always knew growing up that I had a calling on my life to be more and do more, but in my youth and early professional career, I wasn’t able to fully see how that calling would come into play until 2020. 2020 was a beast. It was ugly. It was hurtful. It was rough. It was hard to be Black in America in 2020. It’s always hard, but it was really hard, and that hurt and pain are not over simply because the world has decided it’s time to move on. However, 2020 was also one of the best times for my personal growth because it gave me my life back. It allowed me the freedom to be still and silent to gain clarity to begin creating again. It made me think outside the box and break free from the mental shackles I was once a prisoner. The isolation, unpredictability, and highly emotional year forced me to step up and build something that would empower people, specifically Black entrepreneurs and enterprises. I poured my heart into the House of Bequest. It is more significant than just me. House of Bequest is the cultivation and preservation of Black legacy building and generational wealth.
Having this type of mindset has allowed me to break barriers that most might deter from, such as launching and running a new business, pursuing a doctoral degree, writing books, being a content creator and social media influencer, balancing family and church life while also working full-time for a traditional 9 to 5. I don’t share any of this to be boastful, but instead, to highlight that we all have time to pursue our passions. However, it is how we use the time we have that can make or break us and our ability to accomplish great things. If we’re really being honest, without Jesus, time management, a strong support system, especially my husband Brandon, and perseverance, none of the things that I’ve been able to do thus far could have happened.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about House of Bequest?
House of Bequest (HOB) is an exclusive one-stop-shop creative services agency that specializes in business and brand-building, personal development, and event management. We are committed to helping entities and individuals cultivate thriving sources of generational wealth. HOB is the hub for entrepreneurs, new and existing businesses, and success-driven beings looking for creative and strategic ways to cultivate sustainable legacies. Through timeless branding, targeted graphic and web design, social media maximization, in addition to proven writing/editing and career preparation services, HOB delivers a high-touch personalized luxury styled experience to meet your needs.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Get inspired with me through my motivational platform via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miabfanning/.
Services:
- Branding and Marketing
- Social Media
- Design and Content Creation
- Professional Writing
- Speaking and Training
- Business, Career, and Personal Coaching
- Event Design and Management
Pricing:
- Instagram Audit + Strategy Session Price – $50.00
- Every Grid You’ll Ever Need for the Perfect Instagram Feed eBook Regular Price$21.99Sale Price – $15.39
Contact Info:
- Email: info@houseofbequest.com, miabfanning@houseofbequest.com
- Website: https://www.houseofbequest.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofbequest/, https://www.instagram.com/miabfanning/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HouseofBequest
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/houseofbequest
- Get a Quote: https://www.houseofbequest.com/get-a-quote
Image Credits
Photographed by Naomi Curtis Photo: https://www.instagram.com/naomicurtisphoto/
