Hi! I’m Rosetta. Thank you for being here 
In 2010, I created Happy Black Woman as a personal blog to document my journey of going natural and becoming self-employed. Today, it has grown into a supportive online community that encourages women to live their ideal lives. Here, we have positive, affirming conversations about personal development, self-care, relationships, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, travel and what it means to be free. You’ll also find inspirational quotes, informative articles and thought-provoking questions to support you in your journey.
Why I’m here
I absolutely love helping other people succeed. (I also love bourbon and cupcakes.) I’m what you might call an “extreme encourager.” I believe in infinite possibility: the idea that you can have absolutely anything you want in every area of your life. Deep down? I’m really just a poet on a passionate journey to fulfill my true purpose and help others do the same.
From humble beginnings…
Originally from the Midwest, I grew up in the public housing projects right outside of Cleveland, Ohio, where I was raised by a single mom and a very protective grandmother. My father was a drug dealer who died before he had the chance to teach me how to ride a bike. My family was so poor that every year, a woman from a local nonprofit would come and take me shopping for school clothes because my mother could not afford to.
To a career in the nonprofit world…
I was fortunate in that I was able to attend good schools and benefit from many kind teachers, special enrichment programs, and the Girl Scouts (I was a Brownie!). As a result, I became the first person in my family to graduate from college. Yet, I always knew that I needed to do something to help people who weren’t so lucky. Otherwise, what the hell was I here for? That feeling is what led me to volunteer at local afterschool programs as a reading tutor for kids living in poor neighborhoods during all four years of college. It was philanthropy that had provided me an enhanced education as a child. It was the community that had come to our aid when we couldn’t make ends meet. Somebody did it for me, and I wanted to help someone else. That’s how I got introduced to the nonprofit world and I’ve wanted to commit my life to helping people ever since.
My major turning point…
Fueled by a passion for social change, I worked in the nonprofit community for over eight years as a fundraiser before I made a MAJOR turning point in my life. I realized that raising money for good causes was great, but my TRUE purpose was in leadership development – helping others figure out their own personal mission and create real impact in their careers. So, in 2010, I founded Thurman Consulting, an education company that provides personal and professional development to empower a new generation of leaders to change the world. That’s right, I quit my full-time nonprofit job (as well as my expensive PhD program!) all in one fell swoop and decided to start my OWN consulting business. My grandmother thought I was crazy. Hell, for a while there, I thought I was crazy!
But guess what? In my first year of working for myself, I earned the same salary I was making in my previous full-time job.
Join me for the next chapter!
My new story begins with YOU. I invite you to join me as I explore what it really means to be a Happy Black Woman. For me, it’s the ongoing journey to be successful, happy and whole in every area of your life. As a writer, speaker, trainer and coach, I firmly believe in the power of personal development to transform people’s lives.
But enough about me . . . I wanna get to know you! Sign up below to join my mailing list so we can stay in touch
