Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanitra Sanders.
Hi Shanitra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m from spicy New Orleans! As a child, I loved learning! Although I was good at math, I was shy and didn’t fully believe I could succeed in that field. (This was before Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math i.e., STEM was a coined acronym.) In high school, a few neighbors recruited me to tutor their kids; but honestly, I didn’t think much about it.
During my senior year of high school, I met a financial aid advisor at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) who encouraged me to explore Engineering as a career (vs. my original interest in Law). I thought she was crazy until I researched the salaries. When I got accepted into Hampton University, my family and I took the 18-hour grueling drive in a cramped car from Louisiana to Virginia to my “Home by the Sea”.
Fast forward a few years, I received a BS in Chemical Engineering and moved back home. A year later, I lost my childhood possessions in my home which sustained 5.5 feet of water damage in Hurricane Katrina. The only thing remaining was a praying, porcelain Lladro doll. This was a reminder that my life’s purpose was bigger than what I could see at the time.
I relocated to Atlanta and started my 16-year career in Engineering, Business Development, and Program Management while tutoring part-time: coaching over 50 students in public, charter, and private schools in multiple states. I also obtained my MBA from Mercer University.
I always found joy in tutoring; but I let fear creep in several times with respect to becoming an entrepreneur. The COVID-19 pandemic, another life-changing event, forced me to step out on faith. I had a hard time finding summer enrichment camps to keep my daughter motivated during “Rona”, so I decided to “be the change that I wanted to see” and start my own. I combined our love of math and the community and hosted two “trial” virtual summer camps. Both were HUGE successes! That gave me the courage, confidence, and compassion to formalize Amount to SUMthing In November 2020.
Reflecting on pivotal moments, I made it my mission to continue serving and paying it forward. I founded a scholarship at Hampton University to encourage young women to pursue STEM and business careers and give back. I’m humbled that my Alma Mater honored me in 2020 with a “Forty Under 40” award. This award prompted more generosity with my time to mentor and influence the next generation of STEM leaders!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Using a 400-meter track as an analogy, the road has been mostly smooth with a few curves. The bumps have occurred when I’ve lost sight of my lane and compared my pace to others. On the road to entrepreneurship, my biggest obstacles were “getting out of my head”, overcoming perfectionistic tendencies, and having the courage to “put myself out there”.
I’ve been in business a year (officially), so I’m still learning! I finally embraced the fact that it’s ok not to have all the answers. Completing the Small Business Development Center CARES Start Up Accelerator course sponsored by the Urban League of Greater Atlanta helped to fill gaps by providing valuable tools, resources, and business coaches. Reflecting on this past year, I’ve learned the importance of having detailed contracts at the onset (I highly recommend Legal Counsel), re-branding as a company versus an individual, scaling at the right pace, and ensuring consistency with social media while targeting the right audience.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Amount to SUMthing, LLC?
Amount to SUMthing is a virtual boutique math tutoring and enrichment company catering to students in grades 5-12! “We add value, not subtract.” If your child has ever said: “I’m not good at math” or asked, “When will I ever use this stuff again?” then we’re the company for you. We relate concepts to the real world and build three C’s: Courage, Confidence, and Compassion.
Amount to SUMthing offers private math tutoring and test preparation services including SAT, STEM workshops, and summer camps. We inspire students through math affirmations, expose students to professionals in the community who utilize math in real life and encourage students to use math to positively impact their communities. We believe that every student can amount to something.
The logo depicts fun Mardi Gras colors; purple denotes royalty, green: growth and wealth, and gold: success. By choosing us, you not only invest in your child, but you invest in our larger community as well. We donate a portion of our proceeds each year to benefit an HBCU “Pay It Forward” STEM/Business scholarship.
What makes you happy?
My 12-year-old daughter makes me happy! She was the inspiration behind my company. She was born during one of the worst times of my life when my dad was dying of Stage 4 lung cancer. He died exactly three months after she was born. My daughter helped with the grieving process and has always been a source of tremendous joy in my life. She has a fun, humorous, and vibrant personality and keeps me on my toes. Plus, she’s a great travel companion and keeps me relevant with Tik Tok dances.
Contact Info:
- Email: ssanders@amounttosumthing.com
- Website: www.amounttosumthing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amounttosumthing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amounttosumthing
Image Credits
Lavender Ink Creative, LLC Strategic Roots, LLC
