Embracing Love, Life, and Community: Lita Hooper-Simanga’s Journey to Empowerment and Social Impact
In a world where the hustle is prioritized over experiences, Lita Hooper-Simanga stands as a beacon of inspiration to live life as it is meant to be led. As an educator, coach, mother, and caretaker, her journey with the Legacy Leadership Cohort highlights the importance of loving the work you do and fully embracing all that life has to offer while still making a meaningful impact on the world around you.
On A Mission to Prioritize the Experiences of Black Women
"What motivated you to join the Legacy Leadership Cohort?" we asked Lita. Her response was rooted in a desire to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to a community that prioritizes black women's experiences and aspirations. "I wanted to be a part of an organization that prioritized black women's experiences and aspirations," Lita shared. "The Cohort provided an opportunity to meet other black women whose journeys into entrepreneurship could inspire me, but I also saw an opportunity to contribute and impact others."
The Legacy Leadership Cohort’s curriculum exceeded Lita's expectations, covering everything from business formation to marketing, and even legal and business jargon. "I learned about every aspect of leadership from forming a business to marketing products and services to understanding legal and business jargon," she said. However, the most significant takeaway for Lita was the self-awareness she gained as a founder, recognizing her strengths and areas for improvement.
“…The most important aspect of the curriculum and program was learning about strengths and opportunities for improvement as a founder.”
Participation within these spaces have profoundly impacted Lita's leadership approach. "I'm less afraid of taking chances now that I've completed the program," she admitted. This newfound confidence has not only attracted new clients and expanded her professional network but also led to a promotion in her professional career. Lita attributes this success to the authentic leadership skills she honed during the program, which have empowered her to take risks and embrace uncertainty.
Q. How has the Cohort experience prompted personal reflections on how we inherit wisdom from past generations and pass this knowledge on to future leaders?
From childhood to adulthood, Legacy Leadership has prompted Lita to reflect on the legacy of black women entrepreneurs in her life. "Although these women were not formally trained or owned real estate or business licenses, they provided excellent service and trusted products," she reminisced. Their hard work and diligence became her inspiration throughout the program, with her personal participation in the cohort reminding her of the women within her community serving as early role models for the entrepreneur Lita is continually striving to become. Her advice to the next generation of change-makers is to learn from these unsung heroes: "Take time to ask questions and observe the black women who are paving the way. There's so much to learn that can't be found in school or social media. You have access to some of the most brilliant, capable leaders you can imagine."
“Their [ role models ] hard work and diligence became the soundtrack to my work this year as I moved through the program, always considering how black women's work is the foundation of this country's prosperity…”
Q. How has your idea of self-care evolved after joining the Collective? What does it mean to validate expressions of joy in building a foundation for your work-life balance?
One of the most significant revelations for Lita was the importance of self-care. The "summer of care" component of the program allowed her to focus on her personal needs and desires. "As someone who always puts others first, I used this time to connect to my personal needs and desires," she explained. Within the Collective, Lita maximized her experience by putting in the work to reflect on the topics that were discussed in the Cohort’s weekly meetings, challenging herself despite feeling nervous or uncomfortable about some of the subject matter. Lita's journey to self-care involved self-reflection, intentional fun, and guilt-free indulgences in long-postponed activities.
“Validating expressions of joy while building a work-life foundation can look like a lot of things--but for me, it was a lot of self-reflection, intentional fun, and guilt-free indulgences in things I had put off for years.”
The spirit of sistering and mutual aid was palpable throughout Lita's experience with Legacy Leadership. She cherished the spontaneous, supportive conversations with fellow cohort members at the Lola, a local female-owned co-working space in Atlanta. "These moments provided the right mix of laughter, support, and empathy as we grew closer through our shared experiences," she recalled. This sense of collective responsibility and mutual aid has become a cornerstone of her current work and business endeavors.
The holistic and inclusive program design of Legacy Leadership has equipped Lita to tackle industry-specific challenges with a fresh perspective. "I really enjoyed the focus on community and vulnerability that's included in the program," she said. This approach has influenced her projects with clients, fostering a sense of community and openness that drives success.
