Daily Inspiration: Meet Sade Young

Sade, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Well, I grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota, and to be honest, I thought more about partying than I did about my future. I was much more focused on the ‘right now’ as a teen while everyone else in my class had a five-year plan. That was okay with me though because I was too busy having “fun” and “living my best life”. I do remember though, my high school teachers being so frustrated with me because they saw this potential that I didn’t see for myself. I was bright, bubbly and full of life. I was (and still am) a very self-aware person and I knew this, but I didn’t know where that would even take me.

To be candid, I was so behind on everything that I graduated high school a little later than my peers, but I graduated. While everyone was at college, I worked part-time jobs, lived at home and I put a lot of focus on a guy and less on myself. That ended (thank GOD) and I finally started thinking about what I wanted, but I figured I should play the career field first. I figured if I work in entry-level positions, I’ll learn more about the industries that I could potentially grow in.

I worked as a teller at a bank – not for me. I worked the front desk at a mental health clinic – definitely not for me. I worked as an office assistant at a law firm – that 100% wasn’t for me. However, during my time at the law firm, I had the epiphany that I was looking for. I learned that I wanted to work in social media. Now, if you would have asked me any follow-up questions about that epiphany, I would have been like “I don’t know, I think I’d be good at it” and not be able to thoroughly explain why. I just knew that I would be. I knew I was creative, I knew I could create content that people will like. I just knew it was what I needed to be doing.

When I want something, I fixate on it. I don’t need anyone to understand it, I understand it and that is all that matters. I researched what kind of degree was needed for a future social media guru and I immediately enrolled in school at Minneapolis Community and Technical College to obtain my Associate’s degree with an emphasis in communications.

I sucked at school as a teen, but as a 25-year old I enjoyed it – I loved that for me. #Growth

I worked full-time, part-time, and just rocked my classes, but I wanted more. At this point, I was thirsty to get my hands on everything. I wanted to be involved in everything. I made connections and I was willing to work for free on ANYTHING to get hands-on experience in this world. I connected with influencers, media, random people who were involved with something that sounded cool to me. I wanted to know everyone…do EVERYTHING. I read articles, subscribed to marketing newsletters, found random courses online, literally did whatever I could to understand the industry I wanted to break into.

I was working the front desk at a creative agency my last semester of school – 2019 I believe? For a final project in a freelancing class that I took, I connected with Golnaz Yamoutpour, founder of eat drink dish mpls. She and I instantly clicked and she invited me to work with her as an intern. As a long-time follower, self-proclaimed foodie and student, this was everything that I wanted – to work with someone who is an expert at everything I wanted to know.

I managed the eat drink dish mpls account for a while. I learned from Golnaz and I saw how she would come up with ideas and create strategies – it was so cool and inspiring. She taught me so much and included me in everything. This was the first time that I felt that I could do anything that I wanted. The first time I felt confident in myself – that if I just pay attention, I can have more and be more than I thought I could.

I attended foodie events, met really interesting people in media and content creators, and ate a bunch of bomb food. Aside from my love of food, I learned through my time with eat drink dish that my passion was to support local businesses, people and just involve myself in the community in some way. I didn’t have passions before this, so it was refreshing to finally have that. Something that fills my cup!

Through the connections and hard work, I now work with both Visit Saint Paul and Fashion Week Minnesota as their Social Media Manager. I still work with eat drink dish as well. I work in my three favorite areas – food, fashion and community. Ultimately, I’m doing what I love – passionately connecting people

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Um, I wouldn’t say smooth. Getting to do exactly what you want is pretty unreal to me though. So unreal, to this day I battle serious imposter syndrome. Sometimes, I am working and I’ll stop and be like, ‘What am I doing here?’ or ‘Why do they like me?’ or even “I went to community college while everyone else has a Bachelors.”. I always associated the people who have a top-notch education get everything that they want. My confidence fades in and out sometimes. I battle anxiety so I know that is the culprit for all of the dark thoughts that I have about myself. Sometimes I feel as though my younger self who lacks confidence and who doesn’t care is still at the forefront while my adult self who cares so much is fighting with that part of me.

I’ve met people along the way who have really torn me down, made me feel disposable, stupid, and unheard. As a Black woman in Minnesota trying to break through a competitive, white-dominated field, it gets really hard and draining. I’ve been in situations where I was blatantly being blamed for everything, I felt left out, or that I didn’t just simply didn’t belong where I was. I’ve seen demeanors change when I would have to speak. I don’t want to be too specific, but those situations caused me to almost revert back to doing work I didn’t want to do anymore because they made me feel that that was where I was supposed to be.

I never had a hard time finding the work I wanted, but finding somewhere that I belong with good leadership was the most challenging.

ANYWAY, I’ll let myself be defeated for literally a second, but somehow, someway, I pick myself back up and I keep it moving. One thing that I do know, is not all work environments and people are the same. If I keep an open mind and an open heart, I’ll end up where I belong.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Social Media Manager, content writer, strategist, storyteller and connector. I try to dip my toes in anything.

Currently, I work with Visit Saint Paul and my role is dedicated to telling the story of the city and all of the amazing people, businesses and events within.

My work with eat drink dish has lightened, but I am still involved with various projects as well as creating content and attending foodie-related events and previews on behalf of eat drink dish!

Lately, I’ve been working with Sarah Edwards and the Fashion Week MN team on their new mission of sharing the love of local Minnesota fashion year-round. I connected with Sarah over the past year and we connected instantly.

Lastly, I am a supporter of literally anyone. I use my little platform to be my authentic self and to connect people to everything and anyone in my orbit. I LOVE to highlight local brands and businesses. I am so proud of the work that I do, and my story of how I got to do it.

I think I am a prime example of someone who found themselves and what they love in an unconventional way. I kind of paved my own path and I get to be myself and show people who I am along the way.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is something really simple.

A huge portion of my huge extended family lives in a small town in Illinois My parents and siblings would visit all the time. All of us cousins were really, really close. We would spend holidays or just long weekends in Quincy on the river. One summer, we went to visit during 4th of the July weekend. The weather was beautiful and the vibes were just *chef’s kiss*. I was really young at the time, probably like 11 or 12, maybe younger. This weekend visiting, my dad rented a sleek Mitsubishi Spider convertible. If you don’t know me, I love adventures and being spontaneous. My dad piled myself, my sister, and a few of my cousins in the car to cross the Mississippi river to get the “good” fireworks in Missouri. It wasn’t the drive there, or even BUYING the fireworks that made this my favorite memory, but it was the drive back. The sun was setting, the top was down, the air was warm and we crossed the bridge over the river back to Quincy. My dad listens to all of the music we do, so he’s probably banging the Nellyville album and we are all singing and dancing in the car. I still hear the wind in my ears and feel it on my face and hair. Moments like that really stick out to me – where everyone is happy and unbothered.

Contact Info:

• Email: sadeyoung.mn@gmail.com, sade@fashionweekmn.com syoung@visitsaintpaul.com, sade.eatdrinkdishmpls@gmail.com
• Instagram: @sadeyoungmn
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sadeyoungmpls