Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Ellis-Glasper.
Hi Sheila, 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?
Everything that has happened in my career has built on the last chapter, even when I didn’t realize it at the time.
I started as a journalism student at Kansas State University and quickly fell in love with storytelling. I worked my way through the student newspaper and eventually became the first Black editor-in-chief in its history. That experience taught me something that still drives me today: stories have power, and when people don’t see themselves represented, opportunities are missed.
After graduating, I worked as a reporter and had opportunities to write for national publications and work with organizations like the Associated Press. I loved journalism, but after becoming a wife and mother, I started asking different questions about the life I wanted to build. I wanted more control over my time, more flexibility for my family, and the ability to create something of my own.
Entrepreneurship started at my son’s crib side.
I launched a handmade jewelry business called Precious Heart Designs while caring for my newborn son. I didn’t have a business degree or a roadmap. I was learning entrepreneurship one day at a time, taking product photos, posting on social media, and figuring things out as I went. What started as a small creative outlet became my training ground for everything that came next.
Along the way, I realized that the skills I developed as a journalist—storytelling, communication, and understanding audiences—were incredibly valuable to businesses and organizations. That realization led me to launch SEG Media Collective, where I help organizations and entrepreneurs clarify their message, build their brand, and connect with the audiences they are meant to serve.
But the deeper I got into entrepreneurship, the more I recognized that many people, especially underrepresented entrepreneurs, weren’t lacking talent or ideas. They were lacking access, opportunity, and resources.
That realization led me to found Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills. What began as a response to a community need has grown into a movement focused on creating pathways to ownership, visibility, and wealth-building for entrepreneurs. Today, that work includes advocating for access to capital, supporting business owners, and helping create opportunities that can impact generations.
When I look back, there isn’t a straight line connecting journalism, entrepreneurship, branding, nonprofit leadership, and public speaking. But there is a common thread: helping people find their voice, own their story, and create opportunities that change lives.
Today, I get to do that work every day as a branding strategist, speaker, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader. Whether I’m helping a business refine its message, speaking to a room full of future leaders, or working on initiatives that strengthen communities, my goal is the same—to leave things better than I found them and create opportunities for others to succeed.
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?
One of my biggest challenges came after becoming a mother. I was working as a reporter, covering demanding beats and working long hours, while also navigating postpartum depression. At the time, people weren’t talking openly about mental health the way they do now. I had to learn that it’s okay to not be okay—but it’s also important to do the work to heal and move forward.
That season forced me to re-evaluate what I wanted my life to look like. I knew I wanted more flexibility, more ownership of my future, and more time with my family. The decision to leave a traditional career path and pursue entrepreneurship was exciting, but it was also scary. I didn’t go to business school. I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs. Much of what I know today came from trial and error, making mistakes, asking questions, and being willing to keep going when things didn’t work out the first time.
Another challenge has been building things that didn’t already exist. Whether it was becoming the first Black editor-in-chief of my college newspaper, launching my business, or founding Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, I’ve often found myself in rooms where there wasn’t a clear roadmap. There were moments when I had to create opportunities instead of waiting for them to appear.
I’ve also learned that growth requires redefining success. Early in my entrepreneurial journey, I spent too much time comparing myself to other businesses and other people’s timelines. Eventually, I realized that success isn’t about building what someone else has built—it’s about creating something that aligns with your values, your purpose, and the impact you want to make.
My struggles have taught me resilience, empathy and to lean on my faith. Sometimes things happen and you have to just look up and say “That was only you God! Thank you!” Overcoming my struggles (and trust me there are levels to struggles and I still deal with challenges) helped me to know how to help someone else in the same situation. My struggles are not just for me. They helped me to become an adaptive leader and to become a resource.
Today, when I work with entrepreneurs and organizations, I understand what it feels like to navigate uncertainty, take risks, and build something bigger than yourself. Those experiences have shaped both the leader and the person I am today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I wear a few different hats, but at the core of everything I do is helping people and organizations turn their story into opportunity.
Through SEG Media Collective, I help businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs build brands that are visible, credible, and positioned for growth. We specialize in branding, social media strategy, content development, training, and strategic communications. While many people think branding is just logos and colors, I help clients understand that branding is really about trust, reputation, and how people experience your organization.
My background in journalism gives me a unique perspective. Before I was a branding strategist, I was a storyteller. I learned how to identify the stories that matter, communicate them effectively, and connect with audiences. Today, I use those same skills to help organizations clarify their message, strengthen their visibility, and create meaningful engagement that leads to real results.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just help people get attention—I help them build influence and leverage that visibility into opportunities. Whether it’s attracting customers, securing funding, building community support, or establishing thought leadership, the goal is always to help clients move from being overlooked to being recognized and remembered.
That approach extends beyond traditional branding work. Through my leadership with Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, I advocate for resources, access to capital, and opportunities that help entrepreneurs grow and build wealth in their communities. I’m also currently leading brand strategy and visibility efforts for the Yuma Street Cultural Center, helping shape the narrative and community engagement strategy behind a transformational project that includes a $2.5 million capital campaign. For me, branding isn’t just about promotion—it’s about preserving stories, creating connection, and building momentum around initiatives that can impact generations.
What I’m most proud of is that our work creates lasting impact. We’ve helped organizations expand their reach, entrepreneurs gain confidence in their brand, businesses increase visibility, and communities build stronger support systems for economic growth. We’ve worked with everyone from startups to Fortune 100 companies, but what matters most to me is helping people see the value they bring and giving them the tools to communicate that value effectively.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know, it’s that your story is one of your greatest assets. When you learn how to communicate it strategically, it can open doors, create opportunities, attract resources, and help you build the kind of impact and legacy you want to leave behind.
What were you like growing up?
Most people are surprised when I tell them this, but I was actually painfully shy growing up.
I know what it’s like to be overlooked. I wasn’t the loudest person in the room, and I wasn’t always the first person people noticed. In many ways, that experience shaped who I became. When you’re quiet, you spend a lot of time observing. You pay attention to people, their stories, and the things that often go unnoticed.
I was also the big sister to my younger sister, which came with its own sense of responsibility. Looking back, I think being the oldest naturally developed some of the leadership instincts that continue to serve me today. I often felt protective of the people around me and wanted to make sure everyone felt included and supported.
I spent a lot of time with both of my grandmothers, who had a tremendous influence on my life. One was deeply involved in church and community service. I was often by her side as she served through ministries that visited the sick and shut-in and people who were incarcerated. Watching her serve taught me the importance of compassion, dignity, and showing up for people who are often overlooked.
My other grandmother immigrated from the Philippines when I was five years old and came to live with our family. Having her in our home gave me a front-row seat to the immigrant experience and exposed me to a different culture, perspective, and way of seeing the world. I watched her navigate life in a new country while remaining deeply connected to her roots. Looking back, I think that experience helped shape my appreciation for diversity, community, and the power of perseverance.
I’ve always been curious and creative. I loved writing, reading, and storytelling. But alongside that creativity was a growing awareness of people, their experiences, and the barriers they often face. Between my own experience of being shy, the responsibility of being a big sister, and the lessons I learned from my grandmothers, I developed a deep appreciation for the importance of making people feel seen, valued, and heard.
I learned hard work and commitment from my parents whom I watched work long days to provide for my sister and I. They also taught me the importance of education. They would always say “Education is something no one can take a way from you.”
As I got older, I realized I didn’t want to just create opportunities for myself—I wanted to help create opportunities for others. Whether it was becoming the first Black editor-in-chief of my college newspaper, founding organizations, helping entrepreneurs build their brands, or advocating for economic empowerment, a lot of my work has been rooted in making sure people don’t feel invisible.
Ironically, the girl who was once afraid to speak up now makes a living speaking, teaching, and helping others find their voice. Looking back, I can see how those early experiences—being the quiet observer, learning responsibility as a big sister, and being influenced by two remarkable grandmothers—prepared me for the work I do today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sheilaellisglasper.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheilaeglasper/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheilaellis.rt
