All Episodes

August 27, 2025 71 mins

In this week's episode, join Monique as she shares her inspiring journey from side hustler to executive coach.  

Monique takes us on a journey through her recent conversation with Nicaila Matthews Okome on the Side Hustle Pro podcast. Together, they dive into Monique's career trajectory, from her time at Spelman College to her evolution as an executive coach, and the lessons learned along the way.

Tune in to gain insights into the significance of resourcing oneself, the power of community, and the necessity of setting high standards for personal and professional growth.

GUEST INFO

Nicaila Matthews Okome, host of Side Hustle Pro PodcastWebsite | Instagram | YouTube

MENTIONED

59 | You Don’t Need More Time — You Need a New Identity

GEMS DROPPED

“ When ​we ​feel ​connected ​with ​the ​truth ​of ​who ​we ​are ​and ​how ​we ​actually ​feel, ​and ​then ​we ​get ​to ​know ​what ​we ​actually ​think ​and ​what ​our ​imaginations ​can ​bring ​us ​to, ​we ​get ​to ​dream ​forward.” - Monique R. Shields

“Corporate ​spaces ​are ​not ​designed ​for ​anybody ​to ​be ​their ​full ​authentic ​selves. ​You ​have ​to ​decide ​what ​pieces ​of ​you ​are ​safe ​here, ​what ​pieces ​of ​you ​are ​advantageous ​to ​share ​here. ​You have ​to ​kind ​of ​design ​yourself ​a ​certain ​way. ​It's ​just ​what ​it ​is.” - Monique R. Shields

“Instead ​of ​shaming ​ourselves ​for ​decisions ​we ​have ​made ​or ​are ​about ​to ​make, ​remember ​a ​lot ​of ​these ​decisions ​are ​rooted ​in ​survival. ​And ​you ​need ​to ​do ​what ​you ​need ​to ​do ​​in ​that ​moment ​or ​in ​this ​moment ​to ​put ​your ​survival ​first. ​Right. However, when ​you ​do ​have ​space ​and ​time ​to ​be ​able ​to ​think ​beyond ​surviving ​to ​thriving, ​ ​this ​is ​the ​conversation…”- Nicaila Matthews Okome

“If ​you're ​still ​feeling ​on ​the ​fence ​about ​things,  ​I ​think it's ​good ​to ​listen ​to ​that ​survival ​instinct ​in ​you, ​that ​gut ​check and remember ​that just ​because ​something's ​high ​ticket ​doesn't ​mean ​it's ​going ​to ​be ​valuable. You must vet ​the business and ​make ​sure ​it's ​what's ​really ​going ​to ​help ​you ​to ​move ​the ​needle ​in ​your ​business. ​Emphasis ​on ​your.”- Nicaila Matthews Okome

“A ​lot ​of ​us ​​actually ​need ​to ​start ​to  ​dismantle ​some ​of ​the ​identities ​we've ​taken ​on ​​unknowingly.” - Nicaila Matthews Okome

“We’re walking ​around ​with ​a ​lot ​of ​invisible ​I ​ams ​and ​I'm ​nots​ and ​it's ​about ​doing ​the ​work ​to ​make ​those ​things ​a ​lot ​more ​visible ​to ​you ​so ​that ​you ​can see the one's ​holding you ​back or ​the ​one's keeping  you  ​stuck.” -Monique R. Shields 

“Whatever ​it ​is ​that ​you're ​facing ​down ​next, ​whatever ​challenge ​it ​is ​that ​you're ​trying ​to ​take ​on ​or ​figure ​out, you ​don't ​need ​more. ​You're ​not ​deficient ​in ​anything. ​There's ​no ​deficit ​within ​you. ​You ​don't ​need ​to ​take ​on ​anything ​new. ​Tack ​on ​anything ​new. ​Build ​yourself ​up ​more. ​Usually ​you ​need ​to ​release, ​so ​focus ​on ​what ​you ​need ​to ​let ​go and ​let ​that ​be ​your ​energy. ​Let ​yourself ​be released.” -Monique R. Shields 

 STAY IN TOUCH

Come and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to ambition@moniquershields.com. 

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

The Bobby Bones Show

The Bobby Bones Show

Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.