How Shana Digital is Driving Change For Creative Entrepreneurs and GenZ in the Digital Age.
Shana Sanders, professionally known as Shana Digital is a modern changemaker and strategist.
For many years, Shana Digital has been working in the background as a creative and innovative entrepreneur. She began her career in college co-founding the University of Cincinnati’s first internet radio station, BearCast. That made her the first female general manager, leaving a legacy for students of color at a PWI.
BearCast was the beginning of Shana’s extensive media career. She runs a marketing and branding studio, Bold Creative Brand, under Consequence Media Group, where she serves as CEO. Bold Creative Brand supports notable brands and educational institutions like O. Magazine, L’oreal,National Black MBA Association, Radio One, Era of the Engineer, Utopian Academy For The Arts Charter School Network, and more. She has established herself as a thought leader, and changemaker leading the way for other women of color.
Sanders is also the Founder of We Create Tech, WCT is a non-profit organization that helps to close the gap in the digital divide for black and brown children in underrepresented communities. This organization was founded during Sanders work on the Era of the Engineer project, where she solicited opportunities for Young Guru ( Rapper Jay Z’s Music Engineer ) in the area of thought leadership.
Behind Sanders diverse resume ranging from education, tech, music production, and branding is a tireless work ethic and commitment to helping everyone she meets in some kind of way, large or small. While GenZ is her current focus, it is not unrealistic to see Shana lending advice to developing and seasoned entrepreneurs that may just need to refresh their ideology about digital technology and its processes.
“My personal mission is to help the creative entrepreneur, and educate GenZ with the tools to succeed personally and professionally. Breaking cycles and closing the digital divide is a passion for me. As an educator, I see so many talented black and brown students that need that extra push to go do something great. To learn something new, and make it adapt to their individual and unique styles.” Sanders said.
Sanders’ development of We Create Tech is giving her an opportunity to do that work on a larger scale. So far, WCT has one event under its belt where high school students had an opportunity to indulge in one part of the curriculum being developed for a 2023 formal launch. The students gathered from ages 14-17 to learn how to code and make beats at the same time.
“It was a great opportunity, and the students were able to make their own unique beats and learn Javascript coding basics at the same time. Keep in mind prior to this short three hour session the students had no music production or coding experience. Upon leaving the event, they had their own original sound recording with the foundation of Javascript, seeded in their thoughts.” Sanders said.
Research is really at the forefront of developing We Create Tech, and the more Sanders searches for information, the more she uncovers the disparities.During the Covid-19 Pandemic a study from the University of Missouri found a lack of digital resources exacerbated Black families’ frustration with virtual learning early on in the pandemic, the onset of which hit right as Black families were already facing additional stress over the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and others. Sanders, who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio with limited resources, understands the need for change, and the frustration in these households. These findings present an opportunity for a meaningful shift, and she is honored to act as a catalyst for change.
Shana has a track record for excellence. She has built long lasting relationships. She has this advice for those seeking to make change in their communities and abroad:
BE Authentic BE You, Your Story is Connected to Impact.
“When I started my career, I never thought that anyone would look up to me, or think I was super inspiring, I was really just doing me, and that my friends is the true magic. Authenticity.”
Social media: @shanadigital
Website: shanadigital.com
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