Today we’d like to introduce you to Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel.
Hi Xaulanda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am Xaulanda. In the simplicity of that introduction. My first name lies in the essence and diversity of who I am and my story. I am often challenged with the “Who are you?” question as it typically comes with unspoken expectations. To sum up, the multidimensional elements of a human being like it is a 30-second elevator pitch accompanied by a laundry list of titles regarding what we do or the roles we play vs. who we are. Like a kaleidoscope of shifting shapes and colors, my name and story’s uniqueness, and distinct quality served as the seed from which my self-identity was nurtured by those in my life and molded by my experiences from the outside looking in. I’m a woman serving various roles as a mother, family member, friend, colleague, leader, entrepreneur, and soon-to-be Ph.D., among others, and I am still BEcoming. On the inside, I am an explorer and thinker, introspective and reflective in how I process the world. I am infused with a curiosity about those I interact with and continuously seeking to understand myself better, people, and life. Ultimately, my story is still evolving, and I hope it will fan the flames of deeper self-exploration for others to peel back the layers of who they are and the life they are living – beyond expectations, labels, and the masks we wear.
The Start:
Xaulanda (pronounced Sha-Landa) is an island girl born and raised in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI) as an only child for 16 years to a Mom that is a teacher and a Dad who is an artist. They firmly planted their parenting style at the intersection of creativity, community, a love of learning, our heritage, and survival skills. Their love of exploring, on-island and abroad, landed us in Denmark and New York for a few years during my childhood creating formative experiences of how I viewed those different than me, diverse cultures, the world, and myself. When my sister, Khnuma, came around, she lovingly disrupted the status quo of our lives, challenging us and those around her to see life differently. As an older sister came the expectations of setting a good example and looking after my little sister – a responsibility I gladly took on. Growing up in the Caribbean, with glimpses of the possibilities beyond the island’s shores, is where I learned to wear the masks of expectations (i.e., “Only Child” to “Big Sis”) that planted me firmly within my village but also served as a springboard for me to step out into the world.
Stepping Out:
With the love and support of my family and Crucian community, it gave me the courage to come out of my shell and try new things, which at that time taught me 3 essential lessons in life:
1. You are your culture, and your culture is you.
2. You never know how a single decision can forever change the trajectory of your life.
3. Step out of your comfort zone. It is where your greatest opportunities lie.
The mask of “Cultural Ambassador” will be one that created both expected and unexpected paths that I would travel in my life journey. For example, very much an introvert, the single decision to participate in a pageant led me to claim the crown and reign as Miss St. Croix from 1994-1995. I learned to wear the mask of “The Queen,” which liberated and constricted me simultaneously. Becoming a cultural ambassador beyond the shore of my beloved island set the stage for me to earn the 1st Runner Up at the Jaycee’s Caribbean Queen Show, where I met a man, got married, and moved to Antigua, WI, and had my daughter, Xauskya. Fast forward 27 years later, a more self-aware and confident version of myself seized the opportunity to serve as the face for the U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism poster for the 2020-2021 Crucian Christmas Festival – tapping into my love of creativity, community, and culture.
The Roads Most and Least Travelled:
True to my love of learning and following the road expected of me, I pursued B.A. in Business Administration and an MBA in Healthcare Administration. As I worked my way up the career ladder within the healthcare field, I served in various roles at the executive level, responsible for multiple divisions, including but not limited to, Materials Management, Strategic Planning & Marketing, Support Services, Regulatory Affairs, Communications & Community Connectivity, etc. The familiarity of growing and excelling both academically and professionally within my Crucian (people from St. Croix) community laid a solid foundation for me to again venture beyond my comfort zone when the opportunity arose to travel a road less traveled – from the Caribbean to Minnesota.
Minnesota was a time of starting over, rediscovering who I was and how to navigate a culture different than any I had experienced before. As a Black, Crucian woman of Caribbean roots in leadership, I often found myself as the minority with the expectation to do more, be more, and with the weight of representation that is often placed upon those that find themselves in spaces where they are ‘The Only One or ‘Only a Few.’ Minnesota (particularly the cultural expression known as Minnesota Nice) was both intriguing and debilitating as it further created an experience of ‘otherness’ while simultaneously embracing me by people from different cultures in ways I had not experienced before. The mask of “Confidence & Excellence” was required to survive organizational cultures that did not always understand the diversity and the multicultural dimensions of the human experience at work, especially for those like me. At the same time, I could remove my masks and show my authenticity within my trusted circle of girlfriends. My girlfriends lifted me, cheered me on, made me feel at home during that time, and continue to do so today as my lifelong sisters. The duality of otherness and acceptance based on who I was, how others experienced me, and the opportunity to grow in ways I could have never imagined are blessings that I will always treasure from my time in Minnesota.
The Sunshine of Possibilities:
My cumulative experiences in various communities, work environments, and diverse people unknowingly took me back to Florida and the USVI. The sunshine of possibilities led me to pursue my Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology, complemented by my passions for culture, consulting, organizational development, and entrepreneurship. My Ph.D. dissertation predicts work passion by analyzing organizational, job, and relationship characteristics, mindfulness, motivation, and diversity climate as experienced by middle healthcare managers who self-identify as people of color. This was ideal as when I moved to Orlando, FL, I joined my dear friend, colleague, and CEO/President Sami Haiman-Marrero of Urbander as a consultant with her minority-business, woman-owned marketing company specializing in multicultural strategy. A few years later, with the full support of Sami and my network of trusted entrepreneurs, my daughter and I founded The XauSky Group, LLC. A boutique firm that partners with small and medium-sized businesses struggling to re-spark their passion for their work and the humans they work with. As an entrepreneur, I enjoy helping individuals, groups, and organizations find and fuel their passion by providing organizational development, consulting, and training offerings to create high-performance teams where people are passionate about coming to work every day. At the same time, entrepreneurship is a journey of risks and rewards. It offers me the flexibility of time, space, and controlling my destiny by working remotely, selecting the types of projects I work on, and using my passions to build a legacy for generations to come while serving my beloved communities.
From Island Girl to International Interests:
Who I am and my story does not end here; the multidimensional human being that is ME is becoming, and my multicultural story is evolving. Like a kaleidoscope of shifting shapes and diverse colors, the places I go, the people I engage with, and the life experiences expand who I am. My passion-filled story will take this island girl to explore my international interests. Stay tuned!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any time you try something new or step out of your comfort zone, it is rarely a smooth road, but the growth and the unexpected blessing you gain from the journey are worth it. The trials and tribulations I experienced when pursuing my career in leadership involved tremendous sacrifices, such as time spent working and time lost that I could have spent with my daughter. As a Black, Caribbean woman in leadership, it was challenging on many levels and spanning the diversity spectrum from microaggressions to outright threats to my livelihood. From the outside looking in, people may have perceived my ascend to leadership as ‘Xaulanda, you have arrived.’ However, when you break through the barriers, particularly in work environments that are not diverse and inclusive, there may be accomplishments and accolades, but the wounds and dis-ease that you experience not only impact you but those close to you for years after that. For example, from a professional perspective, no one tells you that you’re left bleeding once you break through the glass ceiling. I am blessed to have my family and village that is steadfast in their support of me. So, even though others were trying to confine me into a box for their comfort, I channel my focus and energy on pursuing my passions in different ways. The blessings of those struggles are that I now have those lived experiences to draw on when I serve my clients, collaborate with other entrepreneurs, speak on podcasts about DEI opportunities, and serve the diverse communities I’m connected with. What may first be viewed as a struggle is often a blessing in disguise, fine-tuning your passions, preparing you for greater opportunities, and diversifying ways to serve others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Creating Clarity, Confidence, & Calm to the Chaos of Life & Work.
We partner with small and medium-sized businesses in providing clarity of their strategic direction, nurturing the confidence to take meaningful action and ensure calm during the chaos of running their businesses, engaging their team at work, and taking an inclusive approach to life. We do this by helping leaders understand the diversity within their teams, providing training through a cultural lens, and developing action plans that leverage team members’ passion while taking the organization where it needs to be. Through our consulting services in organizational assessments, team development, branding, and communication strategies, as well as tailored and culturally focused training, we help our clients plan purposefully, implement intentionally, live creatively, and work passionately.
Potential clients and collaborators seek us out because not only are they trying to connect, understand and engage with people of color, but particularly those that are from or have ties to the islands. Living and working in the USVI, Antigua, Florida, Minnesota, and other states provide a unique multicultural perspective. And the experience is often not understood or considered when business owners and leaders are trying to better engage with the team members, customers, strategic partners, and the communities they serve. What sets us apart, particularly with our collaboration with Girlfriendism Business, is our understanding of the cultures of the U.S., the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), and the Caribbean diaspora. Visit https://www.girlfriendism.com/
Additionally, as a passion project, founder Xaulanda co-hosts The Entrepreneur’s Trip by X.T.C. with Tristian Jones of Trission Productions and Chris Majocha of UdoU Productions. The video/podcast aims to get to the heart and real-life experiences of diverse entrepreneurs, particularly those with U.S., Caribbean, and the Virgin Islands connections. As entrepreneurs, if you don’t like the course of your trip, you can always change it, but the essence of the entrepreneur begins and ends with who they are as human beings. For more information, check out https://www.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
Yes, as a Ph.D. candidate, active LinkedIn user, seeker of great content, and storyteller, there are many books, podcasts, blogs, and other resources that I tap into. But here are three (3) great resources that I go to frequently and some I’ve been a contributor:
1. THE FORUM ON WORKPLACE INCLUSION (Augsburg University, Minnesota)
Engaging People. | Advancing Ideas. | Igniting Change.
The Forum on Workplace Inclusion – or The Forum for short – expands mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets necessary for true workplace inclusion through their events and programs, media platform, and flagship event – the annual conference.
My colleagues and I have had the distinct pleasure of being guests on two podcasts with The Forum:
Podcast Ep. 69: HOW TO BE AN ALLY WHILE ALSO BEING MARGINALIZED
https://
In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Dr. Theodora Philip (TAP Consultants, LLC) and Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel (The XauSky Group) explore being an ally as Black Caribbean women. Through storytelling, they share strategies to advocate and promote equity at work and in society.
PODCAST EP. 84: COURAGEOUSLY HACK INTO YOUR DEI OPPORTUNITIES
https://
In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel (The XauSky Group) and Patrick Meniboon, “The Courage Hacker,” anchor the conversation at the intersection of research, storytelling, and application where one uses agency on three levels – self, proxy, and organizational – to strengthen vital diversity leadership skills and nurture inclusive workspaces.
2. ‘I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY” podcast by Urbander (Florida)
Bringing diverse subject matter experts are unafraid and unapologetic about sharing their perspectives regarding issues that impact our lives. From entrepreneurs to professionals within all levels of organizations and across industries, this podcast allows them to speak up. This podcast is for you if you’re tired of canned answers and want to hear real people cut through the B.S. and talk about real issues.
I recently was a guest on Episode #137: “I Have SOMETHING To Say” with special guest Xaulanda Simmonds Emmanuel
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
Persistence, determination, and passion for what you do can push you across the finish line. In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TON SAY, my dear sister Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel, Chief Passion Seeker and Co-Founder of XauSky Group, shares the angst and rewards of pursuing audacious career goals – all at once within a span of a few years! As an Industrial/Organizational Psychology Ph.D. Candidate researching the prediction of work passion and entrepreneur with over 25+ years in leadership, business administration, and consulting, Xaulanda has experienced it all – from assuming a C-level role to relocating to accept a new and exciting job opportunity.
3. THE WINTERS GROUP, Global Diversity and Inclusion Consulting
Over the years, The Winters Group has produced several resources rich with data, analysis, and DEI recommendations. See their collection of books and other resources at https://www.wintersgroup.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.xausky.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/
xaulandasimmondsemmanuel/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb_vGkllfFrDG0KL1XT_S3w
- Other: https://www.theentrepreneurstrip.com/
Image Credits
Feature: Cherise Richards Photography (https://www.cheriserichardsphotography.com/) Xauskya & Xaulanda: Landen Connor Photography https://www.linkedin.com/in/landenconner/
