Today we’d like to introduce you to Elandria Charles.
Hi Elandria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story is rooted in coming home—finding myself outside of external validation. I like to think my mother’s courage and tenacity, choosing to rise above a childhood marked by struggle and trauma, has been propelling me my whole life.
On the surface, my life was what some would call “easy.” I had a magical childhood as the only child of two parents who loved God and loved each other. But even that picture-perfect upbringing couldn’t protect me from perfectionism or, eventually, burnout.
It wasn’t until I took a bet on my own worthiness that things began to shift. I realized I could only be of true service to others once I had come home to myself.
I founded Ayoka Partners for both versions of me: the one who was a shell of herself, depleted by exhaustion and burnout, and the one I am today—committed to being fully present as a wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, Big Sister, and friend.
My work is as much about legacy as it is about leadership. I often think about bridging the three generations before me with the three generations behind me. That’s the heartbeat of what I do: rooting Black women in rest so their brilliance can continue to ripple outward.
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?
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been purposeful. Every bump and bruise has pushed me toward a deeper understanding of myself and what I’m called to do.
One of my first big setbacks was not getting an internship I thought was the perfect steppingstone into advertising. Nearly a decade later, after building a career in that field, I was laid off just months after receiving a glowing review and promotion. More recently, a Chief-level role I held was eliminated altogether.
Each of these moments felt devastating in the moment, but looking back, they were redirections. Missing out on that internship led me to one that equipped me with the exact skills I needed to thrive in my first advertising role. Getting laid off pushed me to lean into my passion for connecting under-invested communities with investors. And transitioning out of my last role created the opening for me to step fully into my calling as a founder and champion for Black women reclaiming their clarity and joy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I started Ayoka Partners out of both necessity and calling. For years, I worked at the intersection of philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, helping organizations move millions of dollars and design strategies for impact. On paper, it looked like success. Inside, I was chronically fatigued, constantly “on,” and slowly losing touch with myself.
That season became a turning point. I realized that if I—someone with access, resources, and community—was struggling to sustain myself, then countless other Black women leaders were too. I wanted to create the space I needed: a place where rest, clarity, and joy weren’t luxuries, but strategy.
That vision became Ayoka Partners. What began as a focus on helping Black women raise more money with ease has grown into a practice of sabbatical care—both extended time away and everyday sabbatical moments—that allows leaders to come home to themselves. Today, I partner with women, organizations, and movements to pause with intention so they can live, lead, and love from a place of clarity and joy.
What I most want readers to know is this: you are worthy of a strategic pause. Whether it’s a few months or a few moments, you can return to yourself and find clarity, energy, and, most importantly, joy.
What were you like growing up?
During a recent rest session, I recalled a phrase: “You once was wild.” It was a beautiful reminder to channel my fiery side in how I live, lead, and love. My five-year-old son mirrors that same energy every day in the way he is curious, creative, confident, playful, charming, and bold.
As an only child, I was my parents’ universe, though they made sure my “only” came with plenty of community and accountability. Still, I moved through the world as if it revolved around me. I wasn’t intimidated by people or new experiences, and I spoke my mind… a little too much. (My lowest marks were always in conduct.)
I was a natural leader and creative. People gravitated toward me, I felt at home in front of large groups, and I could be persuasive. At the same time, I was a perfectionist and people-pleaser, working harder than everyone else both inside and outside the classroom. I got good grades, and by twelve, I was a Junior Olympic champion.
Joy has always been a throughline, whether on the track, in the classroom, or when bringing people together. Many of those traits have carried into adulthood, now rooted in authenticity and humility. The same qualities that once made me move as if the world revolved around me now allow me to center others and create space for their brilliance to shine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ayokapartners.com/about
- Instagram: @restclarityjoy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elandriajacksoncharles/
Image Credits
Kimberly Taylor
Latisha Guster
