We recently had the chance to connect with Shante Graham and have shared our conversation below.
Shante, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The empire I’m building brick by brick when nobody’s watching.
The late nights planning workshops for young girls…
The early mornings making sure families understand life insurance…
The moments I pour into my community when I could’ve been doing *anything* else…
The seeds I plant that won’t bloom until years from now.
I’m proud of the purpose I’m walking in the kind that doesn’t need applause.
I’m proud of being the woman who shows up, even when it’s quiet.
I’m proud of building safety, education, and legacy for people who don’t even know they’ll need it yet.
That’s the work nobody sees…
But it’s the foundation of everything God is growing for me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Shante M. Graham a woman of God, a purpose walker, and a community builder who believes in showing up for people the way I once needed someone to show up for me.
I’m the Founder and Executive Director of Serenity Mentoring, a nonprofit I started five years ago to empower young girls to grow with confidence, purpose, and grace. What makes Serenity so special is that it’s not just a program it’s a safe space, a sisterhood, and a mission. We teach leadership, life skills, emotional wellness, and the power of becoming the best version of yourself. Watching these girls evolve is one of the greatest honors of my life.
I recently celebrated one year as a licensed life insurance agent, where I use my voice and my gifts to educate families on generational wealth, financial protection, and the importance of securing their legacy. I make life insurance simple, relatable, and sometimes even funny because learning how to protect your family shouldn’t feel intimidating.
What makes my story unique is that every piece of what I do is connected:
I mentor the next generation…
I educate parents and families…
I serve my community with purpose…
And I use my life as the testimony that God can take ordinary and make it extraordinary when you say “yes.”
Right now, I’m working on expanding Serenity Mentoring, partnering with schools, and continuing to build programs that uplift, empower, and strengthen families and youth.
Whether I’m mentoring a teen, hosting a workshop, or explaining why job insurance is not “your insurance” everything I do comes back to my purpose:
to empower, protect, and serve with excellence, faith, and love.
That’s who I am, and that’s the legacy I’m building.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was the moment I realized I could make it through things that were meant to break me. I didn’t grow up with everything handed to me, but I grew up with something stronger the ability to rise anyway.
I remember being young and choosing to push forward even when I was scared, unsure, or standing alone. That moment of choosing myself… choosing to keep going… choosing to believe there was something greater ahead that’s when my power showed up.
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t glamorous.
It was resilience waking up inside me.
That was the first time I understood:
Power isn’t about what you have it’s about what you refuse to give up on.
And from that day forward, perseverance became my foundation.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her, “Baby, it’s more than okay to be different. You were never meant to fit in you were meant to stand out. God anointed you with a special oil that doesn’t match everybody else’s fragrance.” Your uniqueness is your strength, your glow, your calling card. Don’t dim it, don’t question it, and don’t apologize for it. Walk boldly in who you are because God made you intentionally, beautifully, and purposefully set apart.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what truly matters to me is helping people however I can. They’d say I’m passionate about showing up for others whether it’s mentoring a young girl, educating someone about life insurance, or simply being a listening ear when life gets heavy.
They know I care deeply about purpose, impact, and making sure the people around me feel supported, seen, and covered. I’m that friend who checks on you, prays for you, encourages you, and pushes you to grow because serving others is part of who I am. At the end of the day, what matters to me is being a light… and being there in the moments where it counts.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m finally doing what I was born to do. For a long time, I followed what people expected, what felt safe, or what looked good on the outside. But purpose kept tugging at me. God kept nudging me into rooms, into roles, and into assignments that aligned with who I truly am.
Mentoring young girls…
Serving my community…
Educating families about protection and legacy…
Walking in my calling with confidence—
That’s not what people told me to do.
That’s what God created me to do.
I’m no longer living in other people’s directions. I’m walking boldly in divine purpose, and it feels like home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.serenitymentoring.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shante_m_graham/
- Facebook: Shante M. Graham
