Today we’d like to introduce you to Quanda Francis.

It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?

I have leveraged adversity and disadvantage to forge excellence and prosperity most of my adult life. I am a visionary, directly impacted leader, entrepreneur, accountant, data scientist, consultant, community organizer, youth advocate, politician, Ph.D. candidate, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sykes Capital Management. I earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a Master of Business Administration from Long Island University. I was named Global Women in Banking and Finance 2020 Global Community Development Honoree on the continent of Africa, and I received the 2021 Madam C.J. Walker Global Citizen Award. I am currently being recognized as 1 of 10 Most Inspiring Women in Business to watch.

I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?

My success has not come easily, however, I did not let my hardships define me. In fact, they have served to inspire me—. Thus, I live my life by the C.O.D.E, my code., which is an Acronym that stands for (Choices, Ownership, Determination and Empowerment). I want to quickly explain why I live my life by this acronym C.O.D.E. CHOICES – I truly believe that I am a product of my choices and I take OWNERSHIP of my actions. After experiencing being a teenage mother and leaving high school at 17-years old, I was determined to not be a victim of my circumstances. This Determination enabled me to overcome tremendous adversity. This determination has also served as a tool for encouragement as I push into spaces that were not created for me and a sense of Empowerment that gives me direction and purpose.

Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?

Sykes Capital Management is a strategically positioned company that specializes in education analytics, financial literacy, hyper-personalized consultancy services and business innovation. As a workforce development architect, creating replicable systems and infrastructure that will maximize the potential of all people, especially those who have been historically marginalized has been very important to me throughout my career. Workforce Development has become an integral part of everything I do. Our initiative, the Pledge, is the first of its kind. We intend to develop and offer 100,000 paid internships to youth from marginalized communities to ensure the next generation has the skills they need to contribute to a 21st century economy. In doing so, we intend to create replicable systems and the necessary infrastructure needed to maximize the potential of the next generation of leaders in every major city around the world. We also intend to revolutionize K-12 Education by utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify student learning styles and offer personalized education plans with the goal of improving educational outcomes.

What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?

Never give up! Inspiration can be derived from the challenges faced during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood; family and friends; accomplishments; and a desire to level the playing field. These challenges can ultimately help you become the “best” version of yourself. My advice to girls and women is to reject all notions, messages, and practices that undermine your ascension and “refuse to be your own naysayer, adversary, and enemy.” Show up for people and allow people to show up for you. Cultivate the right relationships with other professionals as networking is important and essential. It is never too early to start identifying prospective mentors and sponsors. There has been a tendency to view both mentors and sponsors interchangeably, but the role of a sponsor and the role of a mentor are uniquely different. A mentor is someone you can go to for advice and guidance and a sponsor is someone that will advocate for you to get opportunities when you are not in the room. Develop relationships with people you admire and if you do not have access to them, read about them.

Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?

Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose, I either win or I learn” and this is how I live my consciously embodied life. I have leveraged adversity and disadvantage to forge excellence as I strive to achieve prosperity most of my adult life. Success means making progress toward my goals and having the anatomy to live the life I want, which includes supporting who I want, loving who I want, earning what I want, being who I want to be and lastly, wearing what I want. KG ‘s House of Fashion is a designer that I am working with, and success means advocating for her and others when they are not in the room! Lastly, thinking about the incredible amount of pressure needed to form a diamond, approximately 725,000 pounds per square inch, this gem, Quanda Francis, that formed as a result of adversity is what success means to me.

What’s next for you?

I will not rule out another run for public office. I have a podcast and possible television show in the works, “Morning Tea with Quanda Francis”. I intend to be on the forefront of revolutionizing K-12 Education and workforce development. How do we prepare students to assume the challenges in a depressed economy? What should be the de-facto competencies (beyond standardized tests) students should possess that will ease their transition from high school to college? As a Workforce Development Architect, Workforce Development has become an integral part of everything I do. As previously stated, our initiative, the pledge is the first of its kind. We intend to develop and offer 100,000 paid internships to youth from marginalized communities to ensure the next generation has the skills they need to contribute to a 21st century economy. In doing so, we intend to create replicable systems and the necessary infrastructure needed to maximize the potential of the next generation of leaders in every major city around the world.

Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more.

Anyone interested in contacting me can send an email to info@sykes-cm.com or go to the website to review the services offered at www.Sykes-cm.com Sykes Capital Management. You want to know what I am wearing most of the time, check out www.kghof.com Follow me on social media platforms Twitter: Instagram: www.instagram.com/quanda_francis