Chantell Smith is a retired U.S. Army sergeant major, licensed minister, author and mentor whose life story moves from inner-city struggle to decades of service and leadership. Grounded in deep faith, Chantell’s work is about lifting others — especially women — into their full potential. We’re featuring her because her journey of resilience, compassion and unapologetic femininity speaks directly to our 5M+ Humans of Fuzia community that’s building more leaders, together.
Q: What inspires you to do this work?
Chantell: My faith is at the center of everything. From there it flows into wanting to help people grow — whether spiritually, professionally, or personally — so they can live into their best life.
Q: You’ve faced a lot of challenges — what stands out and how did you get through them?
Chantell: I grew up in inner-city Miami during very hard years and helped raise my baby sister from age 13 after our parents passed. Later, serving 22 years in the Army and deployments taught me toughness and compassion. Those early hardships and military life shaped me: they built resilience, but also the ability to lead from a place of understanding rather than bitterness.
Q: What’s your proudest milestone?
Chantell: My proudest moment is seeing the little sister I raised thrive — she graduated college, has a career, and a strong faith. Beyond promotions or degrees, her life is the proof that what I did mattered.
Q: Are you a solo entrepreneur or do you have a team?
Chantell: I’m not a one-woman show. In ministry I lead a team of about 17 people — and even when a title isn’t on paper, people will gravitate to those they feel care for them. Teamwork has been essential to everything I do.
Q: What’s your perspective on women in leadership today?
Chantell: Women have always been leaders — often at home first — and bring emotional intelligence and attention to detail that organizations need. We deserve more seats at the table; leadership is richer and more holistic when women are at the core.
Q: How do you handle imposter syndrome when it shows up?
Chantell: It has happened. When I’m made to feel less than, I go back to my faith and remember who I am and the unique gifts I bring. That internal reminder helps me move forward and accept recognition without shrinking.
Q: What message do you have for future women leaders and entrepreneurs?
Chantell: Show up with your whole self. Don’t shrink your femininity to fit someone else’s idea of a leader. Be unapologetically you — someone else will see it and be inspired.
Q: How do you define success?
Chantell: Success is discovering and operating in your God-given giftings — the work that brings you joy and allows you to help someone else. It’s not only about titles or money; it’s about using your gifts to make a difference in other people’s lives.
“Show up as your whole self — you can be feminine and fierce, and still be a strong leader.” — Chantell Smith
Connect with Chantell Smith:
LinkedIn : Chantell Smith, MABS, MBA | LinkedIn
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
