We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sharon Smith-Akinsanaya. Check out our conversation below.
Sharon , so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think a lot of people are struggling with not knowing what questions to ask and being afraid to admit that they don’t know.
We live in a world that rewards having answers, but in my experience, knowing what to ask is often more important than having the answer. You don’t have to be the expert in everything. You’re not expected to know it all. But when you ask thoughtful questions, it shows that you’re genuinely trying to understand before you make a decision.
Asking good questions reduces the chances of getting it wrong. It builds trust. And it keeps you from making assumptions that can cost you relationships, money, and opportunities.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Sharon Smith-Akinsanya. I’m the CEO of the Rae Mackenzie Group, the founder of the People of Color Career Fair, and the producer of Celebrating the Sistas. At the core of everything I do is one thing: helping leaders and organizations build deeper, more authentic relationships with the fastest-growing talent and consumer markets in Minnesota and across America.
My work is rooted in the belief that proximity changes everything. You can’t fully understand people you’re never in relationship with. You can’t reach talent or consumers you’re not in the same rooms with. And no amount of training, books, or strategy decks can replace what you learn when you consistently show up in spaces with people who don’t look like you, live like you, or move through the world the way you do.
What makes my approach different is that I work directly with C-suite executives and senior leaders. That’s the secret sauce. When you influence people at the highest decision-making levels, leaders who sometimes shape cultures and employ tens of thousands of people, you dramatically increase the impact you can have.
When a CEO unlocks the power of proximity, expands their networks, and truly understands diverse talent and consumer markets, it strengthens their leadership.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks bonds between people is a lack of proximity.
We get tired. We get busy. We work long hours. And before we know it, we start opting out. You know, skipping the gala, missing the networking event, declining the birthday party, staying home instead of showing up. It feels harmless in the moment, but over time, distance replaces connection.
What restores bonds is choosing proximity, even when it’s inconvenient.
Every single time I push myself to leave my house and be in community, I walk away with something valuable. Proximity keeps relationships alive.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me perseverance in a way success never could. Success can make you believe things will always work out because they usually have. Suffering teaches you that bad times will come, and more importantly, that they will pass.
When you’ve been through real loss, real failure, you develop a mental fortitude that you can’t get any other way.
As a parent, you learn early that failure is often the thing that makes you stronger, not success. The same is true in entrepreneurship. When you’re building something on your own, there will be moments when quitting feels easier than continuing. Suffering teaches you how to keep going anyway.
Suffering teaches you to trust yourself when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. That kind of strength is essential if you want to build something that lasts.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that thoughtfulness really matters to me.
We’re living in a world that’s becoming more about me, me, me, and thoughtfulness feels like it’s becoming harder to find. But to me, it’s everything. Remembering someone’s birthday. Paying attention to their emotional cues. Asking how they’re really doing and meaning it. Knowing when someone’s parent is sick, when they’re going through a hard season, or when they need support, and showing up without being asked.
Those details matter. They’re part of someone’s fabric. They’re how people feel seen and valued.
Success, titles, and accomplishments are important, but relationships are built on care and attention. Thoughtfulness is how I show people that they matter, and that’s something I don’t take lightly.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
They’d miss my expertise, first and foremost.
They’d miss having someone in their corner who is always thinking about how they’re positioned in the marketplace, who has their best interests at heart, and who they can ask any question, knowing they’ll get an honest, direct answer, whether it’s what they want to hear or not. That level of trust, built over years, isn’t easily replaceable.
Many of my customers have told me that I make it easier to talk about topics that often feel scary or intimidating for executives, policymakers, and community leaders. I simplify things. I take the fear out of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.raemackenziegroup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonsmith.akinsanya/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonsmithakinsanya/
Image Credits
Rae Mackenzie Group
