Siobhan Sudberry
Here her thoughts on overcoming self doubt, the importance of defining your own path, creating a life of freedom + fulfillment. And who’d she feature on her R&B album!
Siobhan Sudberry is a community cultivator, keynote interviewer, and podcast host passionate about showing women how to grow and flourish from the inside out. Full of heart + grit, this brave spirit stays offering up her gems to the world about what is means to be free + fulfilled.
I met Siobhan at the top of 2020 while attending a women’s empowerment conference in Florida. Since then, she’s been a constant source of inspiration + support in my life. Our conversations always leave me better. Our tv and movie critiques should be revered by Hollywood. Our laughs are always full. Our love is always genuine.
Hope you enjoy this virtual dose of her light + brilliance.
Tell us about your work and brand.
I describe my brand as community building and making an impact in this world from a positive space.
My purpose is to be a light and empower others to be free. And that starts with me showing up for myself and doing my own inner work. From there, I share what I’m learning with the women who are following my work and journey.
After you’ve done all your work, which can be exhausting and hard, what is your motivation to then do the extra work of packaging and sharing it with others?
Because I wish someone would have told me these things when I was trying to find my way. There were so many times that I felt alone and like there was something wrong with me. If I can help more women feel like that less often, I want to.
And I have always been the type of person to share good info. If I come across something amazing, I have to share it. Whether it’s about food, coffee, a magazine article, or a book. If it’s good, I can’t keep it to myself. My tendency to do that just naturally shows up in my work.
When I make a new discovery, I want to shout it from the mountain tops. If it freed me in some way, I believe it can free others. And that’s always what I want.
“Anybody following my work gets the cliff notes of what I’ve learned and discovered.”
Do you feel a personal sense of responsibility to help other women experience success?
Yes, that’s another reason I share and give so much of myself to my community.
I have found that the more I talk about what’s important to me, the more it creates space and opens up other women to make new discoveries for themselves. And those new discoveries can serve as a direct path to success, whatever that might be for them.
Anybody following my work gets the cliff notes of what I’ve learned and discovered. They get the value and benefits of the lessons without the labor. They way I see it, me doing my work gives those coming behind me an advantage. An advantage that if taken, will help them go further and get there faster.
What is one thing you had to unlearn as you moved towards a life with more freedom + fulfillment?
The biggest thing I had to unlearn was that I’m not doing anything wrong.
When I first started, I looked to everybody else for the how’s of how to build my business. I was using everybody else as a template and nothing was sticking in the way that it is now. I was doing it wrong in the sense that I was trying to follow someone else’s example or path. The most important thing that I know now is that it must be done my way.
Another thing I had to learn was self-trust. In the beginning, my confidence was low and I needed a lot of external validation. I have since learned how to trust myself and make my own decisions with confidence and clarity.
Would that be your advice to someone coming behind you that wants to build an impactful business or platform?
Yes, I think we need to listen to our inner voice more – our intuition. For most of us, there’s so much noise that we can’t even hear our inner voice. So, you move along a path that is not your own.
Now that I have removed so much of the noise in my life, I can hear my inner voice clearly. The answers come to me. The solutions + strategies come to me. Trusting my intuition and being able to manifest the things that I want has been a game changer for me in an extremely powerful way.
How has your success impacted the way you see yourself?
I feel more capable. And I’m convinced more than ever that I can accomplish the vision I see for myself. The BeFree Project is my plan A, B, C. I have no backup. This is it for me.
I know what the vision is for my life and my company. And I have more faith + clarity than ever before about my ability to see it through to the end.
What is your deepest desire for your life?
To leave an impression that inspires change and action for everyone that encounters me or my work.
I want your life to be different because of being in contact with me. I want my legacy to be that people experience my light long after they leave my presence.
What keeps you going when fear and self-doubt creep in?
Knowing the end goal. My belief in the power of my purpose always keeps me moving forward. I know my work is bigger than me. I know I have been chosen for this.
And then sometimes I try to understand what’s behind the fear I’m feeling and deal with the underlying issue. But most of the time, I do it afraid.
If all your wildest dreams come true, what will your life look like in 5 years?
Listen!! (insert hand clap) I’m on a private jet headed somewhere with all my people living our best lives.
In 5 years, I will have my own talk show. I will be traveling around the world for work and play. Getting paid top dollar to be a keynote interviewer and author. Interviewing celebrities as well as everyday women.
In 5 years, I’m a multi-millionaire with a beach house and my first BeFree Spot. I will also be investing in the dreams of young women that need financial support.
If I gave you a microphone and the undivided attention of the entire world for 30 seconds, what would you say?
I would say that you are enough just the way that you are. Don’t allow other people tell you how you’re suppose to show up in the world. Doing the work is not easy but it’s worth it. Keep going no matter what. Surround yourself with people who are positive, like-minded, vibrating on the same wavelength. So, when you feel like you can’t go on, you will have people there to lift you up.
You have to keep going so you can see how your story is going to unfold.
Alright Siobhan, this has been great! One last question. I have a thing for gangsta rap, so I always like to ask this question. If you were a R&B singer + had to pick 3 rappers (dead or alive) to be featured on your album, who would you choose?
Oh wow, I love this question! Let’s see, I’d have to say Tupac, Big Sean, and Drake.
make it quick
Celebrity style crush
Tracy Ellis Ross
Something you have an unpopular opinion about
People really love Brandy but I’m not a huge fan.
Tattoos? If so, how many?
Yes, I have 5.
Coffee order from Starbucks
Medicine ball.
Someone you admire and why?
Oprah. I have been following her work for years and years. To know how she grew up and what’s she built, it shows me that it’s possible. Her story makes me believe I can do it too and that my dreams are possible for me.
Image Credit: MTKPhotography
siobhan’s top 6 book picks
have someone you would like to see interviewed?
Her Unfolding is about celebrating the success and stories of the women we know + love. If you know someone you think should be featured (even if it’s you) email me here so we can chat.