September 24, 2025 • 41 mins
SHOW NOTES COMING SOON!!!
Bio:
Shantel Nock, a transformational servant leader with a powerful passion for educating, uplifting, and advocating for others. Shantel is a visionary with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, committed to breaking systemic barriers and standing in the gap for those whose voices often go unheard.With over 16 years of experience, Shantel has devoted her career to supporting vulnerable and marginalized families and communities. Her impactful work spans across healthcare, mental health, and social services, where she has helped countless individuals, families, and community partners navigate complex systems with compassion and clarity.An international public speaker and future author, Shantel brings both lived experience and professional expertise to every platform she touches. She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Biology, Pre-Medical and Human Services, along with a Master of Public Health focused on Social and Behavioral Health.As the founder and CEO of Empower With Words Educational Services, Shantel leads a mission-driven organization offering educational training and support programs. Her work equips individuals for college readiness, workforce development, and entrepreneurial growth.Beyond her professional accomplishments, Shantel is deeply rooted in her faith and serves within a community of faith and in the community. As a devoted follower of Christ, she uses her platform in the marketplace to guide and empower others in their spiritual and personal journeys.
Bio:
Shantel Nock, a transformational servant leader with a powerful passion for educating, uplifting, and advocating for others. Shantel is a visionary with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, committed to breaking systemic barriers and standing in the gap for those whose voices often go unheard.With over 16 years of experience, Shantel has devoted her career to supporting vulnerable and marginalized families and communities. Her impactful work spans across healthcare, mental health, and social services, where she has helped countless individuals, families, and community partners navigate complex systems with compassion and clarity.An international public speaker and future author, Shantel brings both lived experience and professional expertise to every platform she touches. She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Biology, Pre-Medical and Human Services, along with a Master of Public Health focused on Social and Behavioral Health.As the founder and CEO of Empower With Words Educational Services, Shantel leads a mission-driven organization offering educational training and support programs. Her work equips individuals for college readiness, workforce development, and entrepreneurial growth.Beyond her professional accomplishments, Shantel is deeply rooted in her faith and serves within a community of faith and in the community. As a devoted follower of Christ, she uses her platform in the marketplace to guide and empower others in their spiritual and personal journeys.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome to the Fortified Life Podcast, where we learn how
to develop a dependency on Jesus in the marketplace. From
the boardroom to the bathroom. God is with you. Here's
our host, author, speaker, teacher, encourager, spiritue, coach, and my husband.
It's the man they call mister forty five Jason Davis.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Hey, what's going on everybody? Welcome back to another episode
of the Fortified Life podcast where we are passionate about
developing a dependency on Jesus in the marketplace. I'm your host,
Jason Davis aka mister Fortify. Every week we have the
opportunity to bring on authors, speakers, coaches, CEOs, leaders of
(00:59):
non prophets who are also passionate about putting God back
in business and folks, like I say all the time,
it is no different this week. And I'm very excited
because folks, I've said this before, there's just certain people
you meet and it feels like you've known them.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
For a while.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And that's just because of being brothers and sisters in Christ. But,
ladies and Jele, our guest today on the Fortified Life
Podcast is she intel Knock. She's a transformational servant leader
with a powerful passion for educating, uplifting, and advocating for others.
She's a visionary with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and she
(01:41):
is committed to breaking systemic barriers and standing in the
gap for those whose voices often go unheard. She's the
founder and CEO of Empower with Words Educational Services. Chante
leads a mission driven organization offering educational training and support programs.
(02:02):
She equips individuals for college readiness, workforce development, and entrepreneurial growth.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the Fortified Life podcast.
Shantell no Chantel.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Thank you Jason so much. It's such a pleasure and
honor to actually be here. You know, God is it's
strategic on how he orders orders steps. So I'm so
glad that my steps were ordered where we cross paths,
and as you stated before, it's an instant connection, especially
when we are of like minds and believers, so kindred spirits.
(02:37):
So thank you again for just the opportunity to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Thank you absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you on
the show. Now, folks, this is This episode is part
of our Tools and Resources series where we deep dive
on things both personally or professionally and or both that
you can me imediately start applying in your life or business.
(03:03):
And so with Chantell's expertise, Listen up.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Parents, listen.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
You know, we have a lot of entrepreneurs and corporate
folks that come on here as well, and I love
our nonprofit episodes today, Listen up parents, College career planning,
how do we navigate going to school?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
All of that.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
We're going to get into that and what Chantell's organization does. Chantel,
if you will, let's maybe take I remember back in school,
remember those current events we had to do Chantell.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Almost everybody remembered.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
There's some version of that if you had to do
a high level snapshot Chantel. Obviously, education is in a
completely different space than like when you and I were
in school, and I don't even feel like I'm super
old and it's like whoa. Everything has changed.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
It's quite a bit. So if you had to do.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
A shortened State of the Union on education in college,
what are you seeing out there as you're working with
parents and kids applying for school? You know, how to
pay for school? What is twenty twenty five? What's the
current market look like?
Speaker 4 (04:22):
One of the things that I would say that now
is the time, and that now may be different from
for everyone because we are in different spaces of our
life right there are so many different transitions and changes.
So I'm always going to say now is the time
to prepare because the way that even public schools and
(04:46):
now the public universities, the way that things are shifting,
you have no idea what's something well, what is going
to take place next year? So I always tell people
prepare now, even and if your student is in the
fifth grade, prepare now. Come up with that plan, that
(05:06):
strategic plan, because the way that things are constantly shifting,
we have no idea what's going to be ahead of
us in the next five year, years, the next ten years.
Because of the constant and again I don't want to
get political, but the constant political climate of where we
are right now. The time is now to prepare because again,
(05:29):
there are so many things that are shifting, especially with FASTPA,
and you know how that you know how it impacts
not only high school students but current undergraduate students, current
graduate students, So how does that impact students, How does
it impact the family as a whole. So it really
(05:50):
is understanding just being informed on a consistent basis regarding
the changes and the shifts that are taking place. So
that's what I just encourage people. I encourage all families
to prepare now again, your now is different. So that
is just one of the things that I would say,
(06:11):
because there's a constant shift that's taking place.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, folks, you heard, you heard the the edict. Now
is the time, Chantal, you brought up FAFSA. So and
again we're not getting political, but it is a reality
of funding mechanisms. So if you look at the shifting landscape,
so government based student loans versus private institutions.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
So Chantell speaking.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Of doing it now, you know human beings are creatures
of habit and also Chantell, you know this. When there's
kind of too much on the table, humans have a
tendency to freeze and not do anything. What has the
conversation been with parents and students of okay, all right,
there might be funding lost from the government in terms
(07:02):
of student loans because we get college is also expensive.
How are you navigating that conversation about around paying for
school and a mentor of mindset it this way, Everything's
not always about know or the negative, but it is
about shifting So how do we redirect the conversation even
(07:24):
where we're seeing funding be pulled, especially in the student
for loan, which we'll get in the student that's like
a whole other deal what we'll call all of it,
because we know that you know, you have the money
to pay or you have student loans, you have scholarships
and grants, which we will get to that in a second, folks,
because we want to talk about the difference between scholarships
(07:46):
and grants because perhaps now more than ever, that may
be a lot of the pivot away from student loans.
So what how do you navigate the financial aid conversation
and light of what's happening in government politically.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Sure, Honestly, the way that I like to do is
it really is an individualized conversation because everyone is in
a different space in their life. I have had conversations
with married couples, I have had conversations with separated families,
divorced families, and every situation is unique, and it really is.
(08:27):
So it is a multifaceted conversation, and there's so many
factors that play and into those conversations. So the first
thing it really is understanding what is the parent's expectation,
because a parent could have an expectation for their child
where that child may not be able to meet that
(08:48):
expectation because there and we talked about this before, my
expectation and my direction of going in a certain path
with education might make might be different than you know,
my child, my niece, my nephew, and really exploring One
of the things that I challenge families to do is
(09:09):
explore your options. What is your plan? What is that
student's plan? Do you have a strategic financial plan? Does
that child have a plan when it comes to their career?
And those are the conversations that we really have to
have because when we really dissect okay, let's get down
(09:30):
to roots, and let's get down to those specific goals.
Now we can kind of put something in place, and
I'm talking about a strategic plan so we can help
navigate those transitions that may occur. For example, I have
a good friend, I love her dearly, dearly. She followed
the traditional path of a four year university, etc. However,
(09:55):
we've had this real conversation in regards to the expectation
that she has for her son, and I had to
have a conversation and say, Okay, your child is I mean,
he's a great academic student, he's an athlete, but does
he have the habits and the mindset to go to
a four year university as you expect him to have. No,
(10:18):
he does not look at his behavior patterns, look at
some of the things that he's talking and he's speaking right,
So it really is exploring those conversations and getting uncomfortable,
I'm gonna say it like this, gettingcomfortable and really looking
at Okay, let's look at his options. Right, does it
matter that he needs to go to a four year university? Right?
(10:41):
Because we want to dissect what is his personal goals?
Where does he see himself? And then where is he
at right now in this moment in time. Does he
have the mindset? Does he have the motivation to do
those things? Because it always what I always tell parents
is that you don't want to set your child up
for failure or if their mind hasn't shifted before they
(11:02):
even got to that next place. So it really is
a multifaceted conversation of where is that parent, what is
the expectation of that parent, and then really dissecting where
that child is mentally, emotionally, academically, you know, do that
child understand the financial plan of making that decision. And
(11:24):
those are the different difficult conversations that I help facilitate
with certain parents. And going back to this is individualized,
which is why I love my coaching program because I
can really really tail it the conversation based upon again
the need of that particular family.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
I like what you said, Chancea. I feel like in
these current days, these present days we're living in a
lot of people are having to reset expectations and a
lot of areas. This one kind of hits home because
it's dealing with children and college and you're talking about
career planning and livelihood and in some cases skills, talents,
(12:08):
purpose and calling uh and so I what I hear
you saying is a lot of what guides that directionally
are Maybe there's uh, maybe there's level headed expectations and
in some cases maybe there's a gap of like hey,
maybe we're thinking here the child's here, the child's here,
(12:30):
and the parent is here and uh so. So for example,
I'm again not to promote schools, but you know, I'm
an alumni of Georgia Tech, the Georgia Institute of Technology,
and in terms of the state of Georgia. I mean,
it's always ranked from an ROI perspective, But like if
(12:51):
I were thinking about a kid today, like instead of
just oh, you need to go to Georgia Tech, because
I did you know Tech is ranked very high and
engineering and in many things. But to hear what I
hear of the expectation is, you know when we have
conversation around, well, mommy and daddy are an alumni. Okay,
what's the what's the cost of attendance? Yes, this school
(13:14):
is known for this. Do I see myself realistically finding
a career here here? So I'm just I'm putting piecing
that together as you're saying that expectations shape a lot
of a lot of that convoss.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
I couldn't agree with you more.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Yes, it is, and it's a very complex. Uh, it's
a very very complex conversations. I'm gonna say plural conversations
because again it really is. For one, you have to
and this is the perspective in the direction of me,
you have to build a relationship with the person first.
(13:51):
But you also again you you understand who you're speaking to.
You'd have to know your audience, and then you ask
God to guide those conversation stations in a way that
it's received because some conversations you may have to repeat yourself,
or you may have to change the way and the
method in which you communicate those things, because there are
(14:13):
so many again, pieces to making those decisions. As you stated,
there's so much I mean, I mean, we again live
in a forever changing world and climax and culture, and honestly,
a lot of these kids there are not dealing with
some of the things that we did, you know, dealt
with twenty years ago. There's a lot of decision making
(14:35):
that comes into place. And of course, you know again,
I feel like there's so many different faces of conversations
that we can get into. But even like with inflation,
I mean, school is expensive, and I'm transparent that I
went to a four year university, I went to graduate school.
But I always tell students, what's your purpose of going
to school? If it's going to party or going to
(14:57):
figure out your life, that's not the good decision to make.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
You know.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
So those are those up from up front conversations that
we have so we can get down to the root
of why you're doing what you're doing and what you
want out of life. Versus what the parents want out
of life, right, because again that there's a there's a
there's a shift, you know, on the way that we
operate as culture.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Well, Chantell, you just gave me a download. So, folks,
as you're listening, there's different gaps in this conversation, and
Chantel kicked off. The first one is the expectation gap.
That's huge. Another one I heard is the financial gap. Uh,
and then I kind of call it directional or missional gap.
(15:45):
So these are these are wonderful and this is where folks,
you want to check out Chantell and are coaching because
it sounds like we're talking about the chasms that exist,
but if we can close them, say hey we can,
let's let's remove.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
That as of expectation.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Well, I went here, I went to a four year
I did this pathway maybe different, which gets to the
missional part with that child, what is their personality, what
is their giftings, what are their skill sets? And parents
being able to help come alongside them in partnership, and
then the financial gap, like hey it it sounds really cool.
(16:22):
Pipe dream to go again. I'm just throwing this out here.
We're in Georgia. I don't know I'd love to go
to the University of Oregon. Well, if you're gonna go
all the way across the country, you're paying out of
state tuition. So okay, let's reverse engineer it. That is
because you're out of state, and I'm just I don't
(16:42):
know what Oregon is. So folks just walk with me
for a sec. Let's say it was fifty grand a year,
but you're out of state, so you're not paying what
the kids and the families are paying in state.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
You're out of state.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
So if it's fifty grand a year, two hundred k
for the total cost of at ten TAR and it's like, Okay,
where are we getting two hundred k from? And which
means now we're back to okay, do we have the money?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yes or no?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Then now we're in the student the funding category, which
is where I'd love to go next, Chantell. So we've
got once now the financial gap. We have the money
or we don't. So then now we're in all right,
we're in student loan territory or scholarship or grant territory.
(17:34):
What's that conversation been? Like Chantel with and there may
be more options. So I'm just saying a lot of times,
maybe you might have only been exposed to one.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
It's like, oh, you know what, I'm just going to.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Take loans, and you hadn't really explored scholarships and grants.
I mean, chantel, I don't know the statue. You know
it better than I do. I hear about unused scholarship
and grant money every single year, and I know there's
a student loan crisis. So I'm not taking anything away
from that, But how are you educating people on the
(18:08):
financial gap with the options available.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I'm going to go back to what you stated. There
is so much information, right, it could be information overload.
There is so much information that a lot of families
are and I just had this conversation regarding the myths
that a lot of parents are hearing when it comes
(18:34):
to scholarships and grants and all of those things. There's
scholarships there that are for the students and it's and
I always tell people they're right there in the local community.
You don't have to go far. And that's the beauty
of it because it's so much information. But I think
(18:58):
so many times a lot of people are just overwhelm
that they don't have the I'm going to say like
the focal point to say, you know what, let me
just start in my backyard, let me have the strategic
plan to say this is where I'm starting and this,
And that's kind of our strategy where we look at
things from a micro level versus a macro level, especially
(19:20):
when we are helping those students with the scholarship research process.
And I tell parents, there are so many nonprofits, so
many churches that are extending their deadlines because not enough
people are applying or one or two students are applying, right,
so the money is there. It really is looking at
(19:43):
and I'm not I can't tell all my strategies there,
but it really is looking at those key key things
that benefit the parents and the students. But it's it's guidance, right,
And that's the part where one of our mission is
to help navigate those things. We want to navigate those
(20:04):
the information overload. Scholarships are there in the community. I'm
on the state level, on the national level, the scholarships,
the resources are there. Sometimes a lot of people just
do not know where to begin or how to begin,
and that's where we want to come in to really
(20:24):
support and help individuals navigate those overwhelming feelings and help
them actually provide the strategic plan on Okay, this is
where you are, this is beneficial for your family, this
is how we're going to move through this process. And again,
everybody's situation is different. And that's the beauty of the
(20:44):
individual coaching program because we individualize that process for that student,
for that family to help them navigate those resources that
are right there in their backyard. And when it comes
to you know, and I'm gonna say like this with
grants and so forth, and especially on the state level,
I mean that money is decreasing slowly but surely. And
(21:08):
this is why I encourage individuals to really come up
with that plan. You know, do you have a savings
do you have a five twenty nine plan?
Speaker 1 (21:18):
You know?
Speaker 4 (21:18):
I mean, what what plan do you have in place
for your child? And I'm always I'm always transparent. Please
do not push your child. Please don't take our student
loans unless you have to. And that is a very
serious conversation that I have with parents. Your child is
not going to be behind if they don't go directly
(21:41):
to the school of your dreams or the school of
their dreams, because that is the gap that we see
often times, and I'm gonna be transparent. I had a
student that I'm originally from Virginia. I had a student
that I was working with in Virginia. He wanted to
go to Morehouse, Okay, and we had a conversation, and
(22:05):
again there's accountability that also comes into play, where hey,
we're here to support you, We're here to help you navigate.
But there is a part of it where the student
have to put their work and they have to do
the work to get those things. And honestly, the student
didn't put forth the effort with getting the scholarships that
they needed. So their playing was I'm going to take
(22:27):
out loans, I'm going to go to the college that
i want to go to. And unfortunately, due to the
financial strain, he had to return home back to Virginia.
So you left Georgia to go back to Virginia. And
now he's just like, well, I don't know exactly what
to do now because I'm lost.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
So those are again where I'm going to go back
and say, set your child up for success. And this
is really having those adult conversations about like you said,
those gaps, Okay, this is our financial plan. I want
you to be realistic about the school that you want
(23:06):
to go go to. I'm very visual because there are
people that they have to see it, So I'm very visual.
So sometimes I may develop kind of a spreadsheet for
a student and we're working here in our sessions, and
I say, Okay, these are your top five schools that
you want to go to. This is the tuition, this
(23:27):
is the room and board, this is you know, and
we're literally laying those things out so they can see.
And I'm like, this is what you have already. Now
if you want to go to that school, tell me
your plan. How are we going to get that? How
are we going to get the funds that you need?
Do your parents have it? Are you working? Let's look
(23:47):
at your scholarships? And these are the real conversations, because
again the reality sets in to say, wow, I see
it in front of my face. I know this is
what I'm reaching for. Do I have the plan? And
am actually working the plan in place? And these again
the conversations that we have to have to close those
(24:08):
educational and financial gaps that we see within our families
and so forth, and and ultimately we want to set
that family up for success and Honestly, I know people
that are in their forties still trying to pay back
student loans because again, they went to school to figure
it out. And I'm gonna I tell people, please, do
(24:29):
not go to school to figure it out. No, no,
not at all. And it's okay to take a gap year.
You have to know your student. Okay, let me put
that disclaimer. Know your student, and it's okay to take
a gap year. And it's okay to take time to say,
you know what, I'm not, I'm uncertain, I don't know,
I'm I'm not sure. That's okay. But this is why
(24:51):
I just did a presentation with a parent group in
DC about again the journey starting now even and that
child is an elementary level. You want to expose them
at that age so by the time they get to
their senior year, they're not again trying to figure out
(25:11):
or at that space of I don't know, because you
have provided them the opportunities, You have developed those those skills,
those habits, that mindset, the behavior pattern where whatever path
they do decide to choose, now they have the independence,
right and the boldness and the tenacity to say, you
(25:32):
know what, this is the path that I want to
go after I may not be certain exactly on how
to get there, but I know the steps that I
need to take or I am going to go and
pursue the mentorship, the guidance and so forth. But I
always tell parents college or career planning does not start
in high school. It starts it starts as young as possible,
(25:54):
because again, you are building that mindset, and it's all
about the mind said, and it's all about exposure, opportunities
and really developing those specific skills that you want your
child to have. And so that that's that's that's the
conversation that I typically have with my parents. I'm like, Okay,
(26:15):
I'm listening. I hear you, but let's let me let
me give you your words back to you in a
different way so we can see things on a different perspective.
So yeah, so yes, so good.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
You know, folks, you hear the this is the type
of person you want you want to work with and
your child. Do you hear the passion coming forth from Chantel?
Speaker 3 (26:39):
So that that is so huge.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
You know, Chantell, you made me think about a couple
of things. So, folks, Chantell's organization and power with words
you have a through line, Chantel with a different series
you have, so you have the college Prep which is
what because again the tools and resources up, so we're
talking about practical steps and aha moments and things you
(27:04):
can implement more immediately. Number one to give Chantell a call,
that would be that would be your first one. But
she's got College Prep series, Workforce Prep series, and Business
development series. Chantel, Can you talk about the advantage of
when you've got those three buckets, there's a natural overflow
(27:28):
or sequencing.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Because we've got people.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
There's college, there's trade school, there's internships, there's co ops,
there's I'm not going to go to either because I'm
pursuing entrepreneurship. So just talk about with all three of
your series, how you come into that these coaching conversations
and you're really able to address what any side of
(27:52):
the spectrum, from college to no college, the limited college
to building a business. Talk about that as with your
offerings and how you navigate those conversations when you're out
talking to people.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
Absolutely, it's all about knowing your audience for one, and
one of the things that I usually you know do
is I have an understanding of the audience that I'm
speaking to. Because when you talk about the different type
of series, is a different type of audience and you
have to know their my you know the audience. So
(28:31):
that's one of the things that I definitely say it
took time to understand who I who I will be
speaking to. So for for example, even though I work
from a we do to college prep series and we
work directly with high school students, my message is not
for my high school students, It's for the parent. That's
(28:54):
that's my audience. I speak to the parent, I speak
to the educator because they are working with the students.
So it really is helping the target audience, which is
the parents, the educators, the administrators, the coaches, all of
these people that are working with that student, with that teenager,
(29:17):
with that young adult, is really speaking to them. And
as I stated before, every child is different, every path
is different, so it really is taking time to understand
again that child. So from a practical standpoint, right, we
do a lot of assessments, you know, So it's a
lot of assessments right to really understand where people are
(29:43):
in that space of life. Now, when we talk about
the workforce prep, again, it's a different audience that we're
speaking to. For example, I may be talking to and
Plice hear my heart. I always say people do not
know what they don't know, right, And what came about
was when I was a program director for a company
(30:05):
and it was a student who had just graduated with
their bachelor's degree and very book smart, but the soft
training skills. She didn't have any interviewing skills. She showed
up to the interview literally coming from the gym, and
I had to yes, and I had to keep my composure,
(30:30):
yeah know, because I'm like, is this am I being punk?
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Now?
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Is this a prank? Because she was really serious. She
was like, oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. I didn't
have time to go home and change. I was just
leaving the gym, but I wanted to do the interview,
and that moment I realized, no, Santell, they don't know
what they don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
So that was where I'm like, Okay, we need to
educate and birth because this is a different generation that
is coming that's coming after us. So that is where
that workforce prep development our series came about. Now, going
back to the audience again, it is there's so many
(31:13):
pieces that to there I'm speaking to the undergraduate level.
I'm speaking to the person who's been out of the
workforce for years. I'm speaking to those people again in
the community that they are focusing on the workforce development
to bridge those gaps, and I'm talking about the employment gaps.
(31:35):
So again, it really is speaking to the audience on
who's going to need and benefit from those services that
we are providing, educating them, talking to them, and then
again from the business prep series, that's a whole another
audience that we are speaking to. I may be speaking
to a person who's worked thirty years in the workforce
(31:58):
and now they're trying to figure out I have all
this time, but I've never really figured out what my
purpose was. You turn your purpose into a business. And
that's the part where I'm like, wow, I realize that
I have a whole different audience there. Or I may
be talking to a young person right that is like, hey,
the school thing is not for me, but I have
(32:19):
an idea that I need someone to help me develop
into that. So that's the part where I say it again,
it really is understanding who I'm speaking to on the
other end, whether again it's face to face or we're
doing a workshop, or you know, I'm having a phone conversation,
but I get at the heart of the person and
(32:39):
I start to understand, Okay, where is this person in
their life, in their season, because again we are so
you know, I for myself, and I have to understand
I have siblings and I share this. I have siblings,
we grew up in the same circumstances, same household, but
we are three different people with three different persons that
(33:00):
follow three different paths, right, And that's the place where
I'm like, everybody's pathway, everyone's journey in your life is different,
and this is the part I feel like God is
given to me as a gift to be able to
discern how do you help that person where they are
in that particular season of their life. So again, if
(33:22):
it is going to college, let me help you navigate
through that process by giving you the tools, the knowledge,
the information. If it is a student that is new
to the workforce, or a person that say, hey, I've
decided to take a couple of years because I wanted
to raise my children, or you know, I'm not you know,
(33:44):
I've been out the workforce for years and I change industries.
How do I navigate this, right, So it really is
discerning that person that you're speaking to. How do I
communicate effectively and how do I provide the services and
resources to them that's going to meet their needs? And
again to that business person. That business person could be
(34:06):
someone who has worked in you know, and I've used
to live in Northern Virginia around government workers and the
you know, military. How do I help that person shift
from that mindset of being a federal government worker. So
now saying, hey, I want to start this business or
I want to start this nonprofit, but I have no
idea where to begin. And that's where we come in
(34:29):
to help provide those resources and help to help provide
those tools and navigate them through those particular processes. So
it really is deserning. Again that's a gift from God.
I don't take any credit because I'm you know, really
descerning where is that person in their life? And then,
of course, as I stated, practical tools, right, we use assessments,
(34:51):
We use those things to help them and help provide
those strategic plans for them to get them to that
next level in their life.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Listen, I could talk to Chantel a whole three hours,
but folks, so we're talking practical steps. Number One, you
need to contact Chantel. Number two, take the assessments, because
we assess for success. I have another that's a shout
out Tracy if you're listening. That's her quote, a really
(35:21):
awesome friend of mine. She always says that we assess
for success.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
So contact Chantell and then.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Assess for success and then reset expectations, folks. So that
that's what I'm I'm picking up from Chantell and a Shannon.
We have to let Chantal good. Like I said, we're
gonna have to bring her back for a part clearly
a part two. Like I was like, Man, I want
to get into this and this and this, So we're
we're definitely gonna and folks.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Plus there's just so.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Much to navigate, yes, in that space. Uh so we'll
have all of Chantell's information in the show notes for sure.
But Chantell, I would say, you know, we're in the
back half of the year, We're in September at the
what would you say a couple of things, What are
you excited about as we come into the back end
(36:15):
of the year, the Q four And then secondly, with
all the gems.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
You've dropped, how do people get in touch with you.
So what are you excited about? And then how can
people reach you?
Speaker 4 (36:27):
Sure, sure, I am excited about that. Our team, we're
launching an informational session actually starting next Wednesday. So it's
going to be August of twenty seven, the beginning from
six to six thirty and then following that is going
to be every other Wednesday, And I can also share
that information on how you can join. But that informational
(36:51):
session is a thirty minute period where we set time
aside free people can come in ask your questions. We're
going to drop a little nugget on different topics, especially
again regarding FASTPA and the shifts and the climate and
where we are and asking specific questions. So that is
going to be a space and a platform for families
(37:11):
and students and educators or whoever it is that want
to learn more. That's a space for you to come
in to learn to ask your questions again August of
twenty seven, and then following that is going to be
every other Wednesday. How you can reach me. We're on
all social media platforms, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, even TikTok. Now listen,
(37:36):
I'm I'm a little older. I don't do the thing
God like that. But I have my interns. I'm like, hey,
you guys can do that, you know so. But again
we're on all social media platforms and again you can
find us at Empower with Words. Our website is Empowerwithwords
dot com, so that's www dot Empower with Words dot
(38:01):
and I would I'm gonna encourage you to share, to
share as much resources as you can. Subscribe, like share
our posts, and definitely come in during the informational sessions.
We did not put the link online for security and
privacy purposes, but if you want information, please reach out
to us either at college Prep at empowerwith Words dot com,
(38:26):
or you can again send us a message on social
media platforms and definitely learn again how you can help
navigate your students, even you as a parent, navigate through
these processes in life. So thank you chasing so much
for the opportunity to be here. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
I think that's a great way to end up. Help navigate,
be a navigator for your child or your mentee, or
that young person that you see, whether they're taking a
gap year, they're going to school, their graduating and trying
to figure out what's next, or maybe they're still young,
they've worked a few years. Like wherever you find yourself.
(39:07):
We all know or know people that know these types
of individuals. I encourage you. Chantell is the person you
need to talk to you again. Her website, email contact
info will be in the show notes, Fortified lifepodcast dot com,
jercoforce dot com, slash podcast, so you will know how
to get in touch with Chantell.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Shanto.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
It definitely will be back. It's like the Marvel movies
they say such and such will return. It's very clear, folks,
Shantell will return to the Fortified Life podcast. So we'll
figure out schedule, encolendar because this whole college planning, career, playing,
this whole deal, things are changing so fast, so we
(39:52):
would love to have you back on the show.
Speaker 4 (39:54):
Shanta, thank you, Thank you so much, Jason, I appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Thank you for sure.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Well, folks, that's all we have time for here on
the Fortified Life Podcast. Make sure you like, share, and subscribe.
We have our YouTube channel at the Fortified Life and
then on your podcast platform of choice, the Fortified Life Podcast, Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio.
Make sure you follow, subscribe to the podcast, and leave
(40:22):
a positive review.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
If the show has.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Blessed you, you know how we leave things. Folks, as
we close out the show, don't compartmentalize your faith in
the marketplace, and remember, from the boardroom to the bathroom,
God is with you. We'll see you next time on
the Fortified Life Podcast.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Thank you for listening to the Fortified Life Podcast. You
can catch us live on Wednesdays at eight thirty pm
Eastern Time and on demand. Check out Fortified lifepodcast dot
com for more details. So learn how to live out
your faith in the marketplace. Grab a copy of Jason
Davis's book Fortified, Being Rooted in God's Plan for work
(41:03):
in Business, Available on Amazon
Welcome to the Fortified Life Podcast, where we learn how
to develop a dependency on Jesus in the marketplace. From
the boardroom to the bathroom. God is with you. Here's
our host, author, speaker, teacher, encourager, spiritue, coach, and my husband.
It's the man they call mister forty five Jason Davis.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Hey, what's going on everybody? Welcome back to another episode
of the Fortified Life podcast where we are passionate about
developing a dependency on Jesus in the marketplace. I'm your host,
Jason Davis aka mister Fortify. Every week we have the
opportunity to bring on authors, speakers, coaches, CEOs, leaders of
(00:59):
non prophets who are also passionate about putting God back
in business and folks, like I say all the time,
it is no different this week. And I'm very excited
because folks, I've said this before, there's just certain people
you meet and it feels like you've known them.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
For a while.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And that's just because of being brothers and sisters in Christ. But,
ladies and Jele, our guest today on the Fortified Life
Podcast is she intel Knock. She's a transformational servant leader
with a powerful passion for educating, uplifting, and advocating for others.
She's a visionary with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and she
(01:41):
is committed to breaking systemic barriers and standing in the
gap for those whose voices often go unheard. She's the
founder and CEO of Empower with Words Educational Services. Chante
leads a mission driven organization offering educational training and support programs.
(02:02):
She equips individuals for college readiness, workforce development, and entrepreneurial growth.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the Fortified Life podcast.
Shantell no Chantel.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Thank you Jason so much. It's such a pleasure and
honor to actually be here. You know, God is it's
strategic on how he orders orders steps. So I'm so
glad that my steps were ordered where we cross paths,
and as you stated before, it's an instant connection, especially
when we are of like minds and believers, so kindred spirits.
(02:37):
So thank you again for just the opportunity to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Thank you absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you on
the show. Now, folks, this is This episode is part
of our Tools and Resources series where we deep dive
on things both personally or professionally and or both that
you can me imediately start applying in your life or business.
(03:03):
And so with Chantell's expertise, Listen up.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Parents, listen.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
You know, we have a lot of entrepreneurs and corporate
folks that come on here as well, and I love
our nonprofit episodes today, Listen up parents, College career planning,
how do we navigate going to school?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
All of that.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
We're going to get into that and what Chantell's organization does. Chantel,
if you will, let's maybe take I remember back in school,
remember those current events we had to do Chantell.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Almost everybody remembered.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
There's some version of that if you had to do
a high level snapshot Chantel. Obviously, education is in a
completely different space than like when you and I were
in school, and I don't even feel like I'm super
old and it's like whoa. Everything has changed.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
It's quite a bit. So if you had to do.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
A shortened State of the Union on education in college,
what are you seeing out there as you're working with
parents and kids applying for school? You know, how to
pay for school? What is twenty twenty five? What's the
current market look like?
Speaker 4 (04:22):
One of the things that I would say that now
is the time, and that now may be different from
for everyone because we are in different spaces of our
life right there are so many different transitions and changes.
So I'm always going to say now is the time
to prepare because the way that even public schools and
(04:46):
now the public universities, the way that things are shifting,
you have no idea what's something well, what is going
to take place next year? So I always tell people
prepare now, even and if your student is in the
fifth grade, prepare now. Come up with that plan, that
(05:06):
strategic plan, because the way that things are constantly shifting,
we have no idea what's going to be ahead of
us in the next five year, years, the next ten years.
Because of the constant and again I don't want to
get political, but the constant political climate of where we
are right now. The time is now to prepare because again,
(05:29):
there are so many things that are shifting, especially with FASTPA,
and you know how that you know how it impacts
not only high school students but current undergraduate students, current
graduate students, So how does that impact students, How does
it impact the family as a whole. So it really
(05:50):
is understanding just being informed on a consistent basis regarding
the changes and the shifts that are taking place. So
that's what I just encourage people. I encourage all families
to prepare now again, your now is different. So that
is just one of the things that I would say,
(06:11):
because there's a constant shift that's taking place.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, folks, you heard, you heard the the edict. Now
is the time, Chantal, you brought up FAFSA. So and
again we're not getting political, but it is a reality
of funding mechanisms. So if you look at the shifting landscape,
so government based student loans versus private institutions.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
So Chantell speaking.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Of doing it now, you know human beings are creatures
of habit and also Chantell, you know this. When there's
kind of too much on the table, humans have a
tendency to freeze and not do anything. What has the
conversation been with parents and students of okay, all right,
there might be funding lost from the government in terms
(07:02):
of student loans because we get college is also expensive.
How are you navigating that conversation about around paying for
school and a mentor of mindset it this way, Everything's
not always about know or the negative, but it is
about shifting So how do we redirect the conversation even
(07:24):
where we're seeing funding be pulled, especially in the student
for loan, which we'll get in the student that's like
a whole other deal what we'll call all of it,
because we know that you know, you have the money
to pay or you have student loans, you have scholarships
and grants, which we will get to that in a second, folks,
because we want to talk about the difference between scholarships
(07:46):
and grants because perhaps now more than ever, that may
be a lot of the pivot away from student loans.
So what how do you navigate the financial aid conversation
and light of what's happening in government politically.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Sure, Honestly, the way that I like to do is
it really is an individualized conversation because everyone is in
a different space in their life. I have had conversations
with married couples, I have had conversations with separated families,
divorced families, and every situation is unique, and it really is.
(08:27):
So it is a multifaceted conversation, and there's so many
factors that play and into those conversations. So the first
thing it really is understanding what is the parent's expectation,
because a parent could have an expectation for their child
where that child may not be able to meet that
(08:48):
expectation because there and we talked about this before, my
expectation and my direction of going in a certain path
with education might make might be different than you know,
my child, my niece, my nephew, and really exploring One
of the things that I challenge families to do is
(09:09):
explore your options. What is your plan? What is that
student's plan? Do you have a strategic financial plan? Does
that child have a plan when it comes to their career?
And those are the conversations that we really have to
have because when we really dissect okay, let's get down
(09:30):
to roots, and let's get down to those specific goals.
Now we can kind of put something in place, and
I'm talking about a strategic plan so we can help
navigate those transitions that may occur. For example, I have
a good friend, I love her dearly, dearly. She followed
the traditional path of a four year university, etc. However,
(09:55):
we've had this real conversation in regards to the expectation
that she has for her son, and I had to
have a conversation and say, Okay, your child is I mean,
he's a great academic student, he's an athlete, but does
he have the habits and the mindset to go to
a four year university as you expect him to have. No,
(10:18):
he does not look at his behavior patterns, look at
some of the things that he's talking and he's speaking right,
So it really is exploring those conversations and getting uncomfortable,
I'm gonna say it like this, gettingcomfortable and really looking
at Okay, let's look at his options. Right, does it
matter that he needs to go to a four year university? Right?
(10:41):
Because we want to dissect what is his personal goals?
Where does he see himself? And then where is he
at right now in this moment in time. Does he
have the mindset? Does he have the motivation to do
those things? Because it always what I always tell parents
is that you don't want to set your child up
for failure or if their mind hasn't shifted before they
(11:02):
even got to that next place. So it really is
a multifaceted conversation of where is that parent, what is
the expectation of that parent, and then really dissecting where
that child is mentally, emotionally, academically, you know, do that
child understand the financial plan of making that decision. And
(11:24):
those are the different difficult conversations that I help facilitate
with certain parents. And going back to this is individualized,
which is why I love my coaching program because I
can really really tail it the conversation based upon again
the need of that particular family.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
I like what you said, Chancea. I feel like in
these current days, these present days we're living in a
lot of people are having to reset expectations and a
lot of areas. This one kind of hits home because
it's dealing with children and college and you're talking about
career planning and livelihood and in some cases skills, talents,
(12:08):
purpose and calling uh and so I what I hear
you saying is a lot of what guides that directionally
are Maybe there's uh, maybe there's level headed expectations and
in some cases maybe there's a gap of like hey,
maybe we're thinking here the child's here, the child's here,
(12:30):
and the parent is here and uh so. So for example,
I'm again not to promote schools, but you know, I'm
an alumni of Georgia Tech, the Georgia Institute of Technology,
and in terms of the state of Georgia. I mean,
it's always ranked from an ROI perspective, But like if
(12:51):
I were thinking about a kid today, like instead of
just oh, you need to go to Georgia Tech, because
I did you know Tech is ranked very high and
engineering and in many things. But to hear what I
hear of the expectation is, you know when we have
conversation around, well, mommy and daddy are an alumni. Okay,
what's the what's the cost of attendance? Yes, this school
(13:14):
is known for this. Do I see myself realistically finding
a career here here? So I'm just I'm putting piecing
that together as you're saying that expectations shape a lot
of a lot of that convoss.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
I couldn't agree with you more.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Yes, it is, and it's a very complex. Uh, it's
a very very complex conversations. I'm gonna say plural conversations
because again it really is. For one, you have to
and this is the perspective in the direction of me,
you have to build a relationship with the person first.
(13:51):
But you also again you you understand who you're speaking to.
You'd have to know your audience, and then you ask
God to guide those conversation stations in a way that
it's received because some conversations you may have to repeat yourself,
or you may have to change the way and the
method in which you communicate those things, because there are
(14:13):
so many again, pieces to making those decisions. As you stated,
there's so much I mean, I mean, we again live
in a forever changing world and climax and culture, and honestly,
a lot of these kids there are not dealing with
some of the things that we did, you know, dealt
with twenty years ago. There's a lot of decision making
(14:35):
that comes into place. And of course, you know again,
I feel like there's so many different faces of conversations
that we can get into. But even like with inflation,
I mean, school is expensive, and I'm transparent that I
went to a four year university, I went to graduate school.
But I always tell students, what's your purpose of going
to school? If it's going to party or going to
(14:57):
figure out your life, that's not the good decision to make.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
You know.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
So those are those up from up front conversations that
we have so we can get down to the root
of why you're doing what you're doing and what you
want out of life. Versus what the parents want out
of life, right, because again that there's a there's a
there's a shift, you know, on the way that we
operate as culture.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Well, Chantell, you just gave me a download. So, folks,
as you're listening, there's different gaps in this conversation, and
Chantel kicked off. The first one is the expectation gap.
That's huge. Another one I heard is the financial gap. Uh,
and then I kind of call it directional or missional gap.
(15:45):
So these are these are wonderful and this is where folks,
you want to check out Chantell and are coaching because
it sounds like we're talking about the chasms that exist,
but if we can close them, say hey we can,
let's let's remove.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
That as of expectation.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Well, I went here, I went to a four year
I did this pathway maybe different, which gets to the
missional part with that child, what is their personality, what
is their giftings, what are their skill sets? And parents
being able to help come alongside them in partnership, and
then the financial gap, like hey it it sounds really cool.
(16:22):
Pipe dream to go again. I'm just throwing this out here.
We're in Georgia. I don't know I'd love to go
to the University of Oregon. Well, if you're gonna go
all the way across the country, you're paying out of
state tuition. So okay, let's reverse engineer it. That is
because you're out of state, and I'm just I don't
(16:42):
know what Oregon is. So folks just walk with me
for a sec. Let's say it was fifty grand a year,
but you're out of state, so you're not paying what
the kids and the families are paying in state.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
You're out of state.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
So if it's fifty grand a year, two hundred k
for the total cost of at ten TAR and it's like, Okay,
where are we getting two hundred k from? And which
means now we're back to okay, do we have the money?
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Yes or no?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Then now we're in the student the funding category, which
is where I'd love to go next, Chantell. So we've
got once now the financial gap. We have the money
or we don't. So then now we're in all right,
we're in student loan territory or scholarship or grant territory.
(17:34):
What's that conversation been? Like Chantel with and there may
be more options. So I'm just saying a lot of times,
maybe you might have only been exposed to one.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
It's like, oh, you know what, I'm just going to.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Take loans, and you hadn't really explored scholarships and grants.
I mean, chantel, I don't know the statue. You know
it better than I do. I hear about unused scholarship
and grant money every single year, and I know there's
a student loan crisis. So I'm not taking anything away
from that, But how are you educating people on the
(18:08):
financial gap with the options available.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I'm going to go back to what you stated. There
is so much information, right, it could be information overload.
There is so much information that a lot of families
are and I just had this conversation regarding the myths
that a lot of parents are hearing when it comes
(18:34):
to scholarships and grants and all of those things. There's
scholarships there that are for the students and it's and
I always tell people they're right there in the local community.
You don't have to go far. And that's the beauty
of it because it's so much information. But I think
(18:58):
so many times a lot of people are just overwhelm
that they don't have the I'm going to say like
the focal point to say, you know what, let me
just start in my backyard, let me have the strategic
plan to say this is where I'm starting and this,
And that's kind of our strategy where we look at
things from a micro level versus a macro level, especially
(19:20):
when we are helping those students with the scholarship research process.
And I tell parents, there are so many nonprofits, so
many churches that are extending their deadlines because not enough
people are applying or one or two students are applying, right,
so the money is there. It really is looking at
(19:43):
and I'm not I can't tell all my strategies there,
but it really is looking at those key key things
that benefit the parents and the students. But it's it's guidance, right,
And that's the part where one of our mission is
to help navigate those things. We want to navigate those
(20:04):
the information overload. Scholarships are there in the community. I'm
on the state level, on the national level, the scholarships,
the resources are there. Sometimes a lot of people just
do not know where to begin or how to begin,
and that's where we want to come in to really
(20:24):
support and help individuals navigate those overwhelming feelings and help
them actually provide the strategic plan on Okay, this is
where you are, this is beneficial for your family, this
is how we're going to move through this process. And again,
everybody's situation is different. And that's the beauty of the
(20:44):
individual coaching program because we individualize that process for that student,
for that family to help them navigate those resources that
are right there in their backyard. And when it comes
to you know, and I'm gonna say like this with
grants and so forth, and especially on the state level,
I mean that money is decreasing slowly but surely. And
(21:08):
this is why I encourage individuals to really come up
with that plan. You know, do you have a savings
do you have a five twenty nine plan?
Speaker 1 (21:18):
You know?
Speaker 4 (21:18):
I mean, what what plan do you have in place
for your child? And I'm always I'm always transparent. Please
do not push your child. Please don't take our student
loans unless you have to. And that is a very
serious conversation that I have with parents. Your child is
not going to be behind if they don't go directly
(21:41):
to the school of your dreams or the school of
their dreams, because that is the gap that we see
often times, and I'm gonna be transparent. I had a
student that I'm originally from Virginia. I had a student
that I was working with in Virginia. He wanted to
go to Morehouse, Okay, and we had a conversation, and
(22:05):
again there's accountability that also comes into play, where hey,
we're here to support you, We're here to help you navigate.
But there is a part of it where the student
have to put their work and they have to do
the work to get those things. And honestly, the student
didn't put forth the effort with getting the scholarships that
they needed. So their playing was I'm going to take
(22:27):
out loans, I'm going to go to the college that
i want to go to. And unfortunately, due to the
financial strain, he had to return home back to Virginia.
So you left Georgia to go back to Virginia. And
now he's just like, well, I don't know exactly what
to do now because I'm lost.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
So those are again where I'm going to go back
and say, set your child up for success. And this
is really having those adult conversations about like you said,
those gaps, Okay, this is our financial plan. I want
you to be realistic about the school that you want
(23:06):
to go go to. I'm very visual because there are
people that they have to see it, So I'm very visual.
So sometimes I may develop kind of a spreadsheet for
a student and we're working here in our sessions, and
I say, Okay, these are your top five schools that
you want to go to. This is the tuition, this
(23:27):
is the room and board, this is you know, and
we're literally laying those things out so they can see.
And I'm like, this is what you have already. Now
if you want to go to that school, tell me
your plan. How are we going to get that? How
are we going to get the funds that you need?
Do your parents have it? Are you working? Let's look
(23:47):
at your scholarships? And these are the real conversations, because
again the reality sets in to say, wow, I see
it in front of my face. I know this is
what I'm reaching for. Do I have the plan? And
am actually working the plan in place? And these again
the conversations that we have to have to close those
(24:08):
educational and financial gaps that we see within our families
and so forth, and and ultimately we want to set
that family up for success and Honestly, I know people
that are in their forties still trying to pay back
student loans because again, they went to school to figure
it out. And I'm gonna I tell people, please, do
(24:29):
not go to school to figure it out. No, no,
not at all. And it's okay to take a gap year.
You have to know your student. Okay, let me put
that disclaimer. Know your student, and it's okay to take
a gap year. And it's okay to take time to say,
you know what, I'm not, I'm uncertain, I don't know,
I'm I'm not sure. That's okay. But this is why
(24:51):
I just did a presentation with a parent group in
DC about again the journey starting now even and that
child is an elementary level. You want to expose them
at that age so by the time they get to
their senior year, they're not again trying to figure out
(25:11):
or at that space of I don't know, because you
have provided them the opportunities, You have developed those those skills,
those habits, that mindset, the behavior pattern where whatever path
they do decide to choose, now they have the independence,
right and the boldness and the tenacity to say, you
(25:32):
know what, this is the path that I want to
go after I may not be certain exactly on how
to get there, but I know the steps that I
need to take or I am going to go and
pursue the mentorship, the guidance and so forth. But I
always tell parents college or career planning does not start
in high school. It starts it starts as young as possible,
(25:54):
because again, you are building that mindset, and it's all
about the mind said, and it's all about exposure, opportunities
and really developing those specific skills that you want your
child to have. And so that that's that's that's the
conversation that I typically have with my parents. I'm like, Okay,
(26:15):
I'm listening. I hear you, but let's let me let
me give you your words back to you in a
different way so we can see things on a different perspective.
So yeah, so yes, so good.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
You know, folks, you hear the this is the type
of person you want you want to work with and
your child. Do you hear the passion coming forth from Chantel?
Speaker 3 (26:39):
So that that is so huge.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
You know, Chantell, you made me think about a couple
of things. So, folks, Chantell's organization and power with words
you have a through line, Chantel with a different series
you have, so you have the college Prep which is
what because again the tools and resources up, so we're
talking about practical steps and aha moments and things you
(27:04):
can implement more immediately. Number one to give Chantell a call,
that would be that would be your first one. But
she's got College Prep series, Workforce Prep series, and Business
development series. Chantel, Can you talk about the advantage of
when you've got those three buckets, there's a natural overflow
(27:28):
or sequencing.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Because we've got people.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
There's college, there's trade school, there's internships, there's co ops,
there's I'm not going to go to either because I'm
pursuing entrepreneurship. So just talk about with all three of
your series, how you come into that these coaching conversations
and you're really able to address what any side of
(27:52):
the spectrum, from college to no college, the limited college
to building a business. Talk about that as with your
offerings and how you navigate those conversations when you're out
talking to people.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
Absolutely, it's all about knowing your audience for one, and
one of the things that I usually you know do
is I have an understanding of the audience that I'm
speaking to. Because when you talk about the different type
of series, is a different type of audience and you
have to know their my you know the audience. So
(28:31):
that's one of the things that I definitely say it
took time to understand who I who I will be
speaking to. So for for example, even though I work
from a we do to college prep series and we
work directly with high school students, my message is not
for my high school students, It's for the parent. That's
(28:54):
that's my audience. I speak to the parent, I speak
to the educator because they are working with the students.
So it really is helping the target audience, which is
the parents, the educators, the administrators, the coaches, all of
these people that are working with that student, with that teenager,
(29:17):
with that young adult, is really speaking to them. And
as I stated before, every child is different, every path
is different, so it really is taking time to understand
again that child. So from a practical standpoint, right, we
do a lot of assessments, you know, So it's a
lot of assessments right to really understand where people are
(29:43):
in that space of life. Now, when we talk about
the workforce prep, again, it's a different audience that we're
speaking to. For example, I may be talking to and
Plice hear my heart. I always say people do not
know what they don't know, right, And what came about
was when I was a program director for a company
(30:05):
and it was a student who had just graduated with
their bachelor's degree and very book smart, but the soft
training skills. She didn't have any interviewing skills. She showed
up to the interview literally coming from the gym, and
I had to yes, and I had to keep my composure,
(30:30):
yeah know, because I'm like, is this am I being punk?
Speaker 1 (30:32):
Now?
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Is this a prank? Because she was really serious. She
was like, oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. I didn't
have time to go home and change. I was just
leaving the gym, but I wanted to do the interview,
and that moment I realized, no, Santell, they don't know
what they don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
So that was where I'm like, Okay, we need to
educate and birth because this is a different generation that
is coming that's coming after us. So that is where
that workforce prep development our series came about. Now, going
back to the audience again, it is there's so many
(31:13):
pieces that to there I'm speaking to the undergraduate level.
I'm speaking to the person who's been out of the
workforce for years. I'm speaking to those people again in
the community that they are focusing on the workforce development
to bridge those gaps, and I'm talking about the employment gaps.
(31:35):
So again, it really is speaking to the audience on
who's going to need and benefit from those services that
we are providing, educating them, talking to them, and then
again from the business prep series, that's a whole another
audience that we are speaking to. I may be speaking
to a person who's worked thirty years in the workforce
(31:58):
and now they're trying to figure out I have all
this time, but I've never really figured out what my
purpose was. You turn your purpose into a business. And
that's the part where I'm like, wow, I realize that
I have a whole different audience there. Or I may
be talking to a young person right that is like, hey,
the school thing is not for me, but I have
(32:19):
an idea that I need someone to help me develop
into that. So that's the part where I say it again,
it really is understanding who I'm speaking to on the
other end, whether again it's face to face or we're
doing a workshop, or you know, I'm having a phone conversation,
but I get at the heart of the person and
(32:39):
I start to understand, Okay, where is this person in
their life, in their season, because again we are so
you know, I for myself, and I have to understand
I have siblings and I share this. I have siblings,
we grew up in the same circumstances, same household, but
we are three different people with three different persons that
(33:00):
follow three different paths, right, And that's the place where
I'm like, everybody's pathway, everyone's journey in your life is different,
and this is the part I feel like God is
given to me as a gift to be able to
discern how do you help that person where they are
in that particular season of their life. So again, if
(33:22):
it is going to college, let me help you navigate
through that process by giving you the tools, the knowledge,
the information. If it is a student that is new
to the workforce, or a person that say, hey, I've
decided to take a couple of years because I wanted
to raise my children, or you know, I'm not you know,
(33:44):
I've been out the workforce for years and I change industries.
How do I navigate this, right, So it really is
discerning that person that you're speaking to. How do I
communicate effectively and how do I provide the services and
resources to them that's going to meet their needs? And
again to that business person. That business person could be
(34:06):
someone who has worked in you know, and I've used
to live in Northern Virginia around government workers and the
you know, military. How do I help that person shift
from that mindset of being a federal government worker. So
now saying, hey, I want to start this business or
I want to start this nonprofit, but I have no
idea where to begin. And that's where we come in
(34:29):
to help provide those resources and help to help provide
those tools and navigate them through those particular processes. So
it really is deserning. Again that's a gift from God.
I don't take any credit because I'm you know, really
descerning where is that person in their life? And then,
of course, as I stated, practical tools, right, we use assessments,
(34:51):
We use those things to help them and help provide
those strategic plans for them to get them to that
next level in their life.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Listen, I could talk to Chantel a whole three hours,
but folks, so we're talking practical steps. Number One, you
need to contact Chantel. Number two, take the assessments, because
we assess for success. I have another that's a shout
out Tracy if you're listening. That's her quote, a really
(35:21):
awesome friend of mine. She always says that we assess
for success.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
So contact Chantell and then.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Assess for success and then reset expectations, folks. So that
that's what I'm I'm picking up from Chantell and a Shannon.
We have to let Chantal good. Like I said, we're
gonna have to bring her back for a part clearly
a part two. Like I was like, Man, I want
to get into this and this and this, So we're
we're definitely gonna and folks.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Plus there's just so.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Much to navigate, yes, in that space. Uh so we'll
have all of Chantell's information in the show notes for sure.
But Chantell, I would say, you know, we're in the
back half of the year, We're in September at the
what would you say a couple of things, What are
you excited about as we come into the back end
(36:15):
of the year, the Q four And then secondly, with
all the gems.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
You've dropped, how do people get in touch with you.
So what are you excited about? And then how can
people reach you?
Speaker 4 (36:27):
Sure, sure, I am excited about that. Our team, we're
launching an informational session actually starting next Wednesday. So it's
going to be August of twenty seven, the beginning from
six to six thirty and then following that is going
to be every other Wednesday, And I can also share
that information on how you can join. But that informational
(36:51):
session is a thirty minute period where we set time
aside free people can come in ask your questions. We're
going to drop a little nugget on different topics, especially
again regarding FASTPA and the shifts and the climate and
where we are and asking specific questions. So that is
going to be a space and a platform for families
(37:11):
and students and educators or whoever it is that want
to learn more. That's a space for you to come
in to learn to ask your questions again August of
twenty seven, and then following that is going to be
every other Wednesday. How you can reach me. We're on
all social media platforms, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, even TikTok. Now listen,
(37:36):
I'm I'm a little older. I don't do the thing
God like that. But I have my interns. I'm like, hey,
you guys can do that, you know so. But again
we're on all social media platforms and again you can
find us at Empower with Words. Our website is Empowerwithwords
dot com, so that's www dot Empower with Words dot
(38:01):
and I would I'm gonna encourage you to share, to
share as much resources as you can. Subscribe, like share
our posts, and definitely come in during the informational sessions.
We did not put the link online for security and
privacy purposes, but if you want information, please reach out
to us either at college Prep at empowerwith Words dot com,
(38:26):
or you can again send us a message on social
media platforms and definitely learn again how you can help
navigate your students, even you as a parent, navigate through
these processes in life. So thank you chasing so much
for the opportunity to be here. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
I think that's a great way to end up. Help navigate,
be a navigator for your child or your mentee, or
that young person that you see, whether they're taking a
gap year, they're going to school, their graduating and trying
to figure out what's next, or maybe they're still young,
they've worked a few years. Like wherever you find yourself.
(39:07):
We all know or know people that know these types
of individuals. I encourage you. Chantell is the person you
need to talk to you again. Her website, email contact
info will be in the show notes, Fortified lifepodcast dot com,
jercoforce dot com, slash podcast, so you will know how
to get in touch with Chantell.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Shanto.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
It definitely will be back. It's like the Marvel movies
they say such and such will return. It's very clear, folks,
Shantell will return to the Fortified Life podcast. So we'll
figure out schedule, encolendar because this whole college planning, career, playing,
this whole deal, things are changing so fast, so we
(39:52):
would love to have you back on the show.
Speaker 4 (39:54):
Shanta, thank you, Thank you so much, Jason, I appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
Thank you for sure.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Well, folks, that's all we have time for here on
the Fortified Life Podcast. Make sure you like, share, and subscribe.
We have our YouTube channel at the Fortified Life and
then on your podcast platform of choice, the Fortified Life Podcast, Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio.
Make sure you follow, subscribe to the podcast, and leave
(40:22):
a positive review.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
If the show has.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Blessed you, you know how we leave things. Folks, as
we close out the show, don't compartmentalize your faith in
the marketplace, and remember, from the boardroom to the bathroom,
God is with you. We'll see you next time on
the Fortified Life Podcast.
Speaker 1 (40:43):
Thank you for listening to the Fortified Life Podcast. You
can catch us live on Wednesdays at eight thirty pm
Eastern Time and on demand. Check out Fortified lifepodcast dot
com for more details. So learn how to live out
your faith in the marketplace. Grab a copy of Jason
Davis's book Fortified, Being Rooted in God's Plan for work
(41:03):
in Business, Available on Amazon
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