Sabreen Shabazz-Straker is the quintessential embodiment of the American Dream. At the pinnacle of her corporate career, Shabazz-Straker left the comfortable confines of her high-stakes, well-paying job to pursue her dreams of giving back to her community by becoming a teacher.
While working in education, the Howard University graduate also began pursuing her passion for writing. This year, the independent businesswoman and newly minted author, who writes under the pen name Sabreen S., is slated to publish Teacher Tales Trilogy — an erotic saga loosely based on the highly publicized 2011 Atlanta Public Schools test cheating scandal — through her company, Threepeat Teach Productions LLC, which works in publishing, theater and film.
As a Black woman, what do you consider your superpower to be?
My superpower would have to be cultivating the skill of patience. My parents named me Sabreen, meaning “striving for patience,” and I’ve been searching for it ever since. Now, at the age of 40, I have found that having patience is the key to success. Along with vision and consistency, you can reach every goal set forth.
What key skills or qualities makes you unique as an African American female leader?
The most important skill that African American female leaders need is to cultivate a team that will follow you. … You must first find the strengths in your team by building them. Leadership stands on building a foundation in which the whole team can grow. As the leader, you make sure that you are worthy of leading by making the foundation solid and nurturing.
Why is it important for women of color to lead or work in decision-making capacities?
Women of color must lead and work in leadership and decision-making roles because we do this so naturally and efficiently every day. As a woman of color, you are the pathway to all larger decisions because you have always been the foundation to society’s progress. You find ways to make a dollar out of 15 cents, and on a larger scale, all communities, countries and companies are vying to do the same.
What are three success habits you implement in your daily routine to maintain your success, sanity and peace of mind?
1. Make a to-do list and check off as I go. I feel accomplished and elated by what I accomplish in just a day.
2. Mine the lists for anything that I can do in five minutes and get it done right away. … I accomplish many things in five minutes.
3. Marry yourself to your vision, and stick it through. I can deviate from the actions but never the plan.
As a successful woman in business, what is your greatest or proudest achievement?
I am married with a child and stepchildren. I love to incorporate my family in my writings, my productions and my business. It’s challenging but also rewarding.
How can our readers keep up with you?
Facebook: Follow Sabreen Shabazz-Straker
Instagram: @sabreens99ways
Twitter: @sabreens99
