Deneen L. Garrett is a visionary coach, speaker, and podcast host dedicated to empowering women of color to live their dream lives—today, not someday. After an impactful corporate career in Diversity and Inclusion, Deneen turned her focus toward creating safe, inspiring spaces for women to grow, dream, and lead with authenticity. Through her five-year-old podcast and a newly built online community for Black women aged 50 and above, she continues to uplift and guide others toward purpose-driven living. Her journey is a beautiful reminder of how courage, clarity, and timing can align to create lasting impact—something the Humans of Fuzia community deeply resonates with.
Q: What inspired you to start your journey of empowering women of color?
Deneen: It all started with a challenge. During my corporate career in Diversity and Inclusion, I realized the absence of representation—particularly Black women and women of color—at key events. In 2016, I proposed and ran a panel focused on LGBTQ+ women of color and allies, which continued for three years. After the third panel, someone asked, “What’s next?” and that’s when the idea of a podcast was born. In 2020, I launched it, and it has now celebrated over five years of inspiring conversations. Over time, this evolved into coaching and building an online community for Black women 50+ to live their dream lives.
Q: What challenges did you face while building your new community?
Deneen: Honestly, I’ve been fortunate not to face many challenges this time. The platform I’m using is very community-driven, and people have been incredibly generous with their support. Plus, tools like ChatGPT have been instrumental in helping me set up and streamline the process. What could’ve been a challenge became an opportunity to learn and innovate through the right resources.
Q: Are you currently running this project solo, or do you have a team?
Deneen: Right now, I am a solopreneur. But that’s about to change! I’ve already started collaborating with a former colleague who’s just retired and was looking for something meaningful to do. She’s joining me on this journey. So while I’m solo today, I definitely see this evolving into a team-led mission soon.
Q: What has been your proudest milestone so far?
Deneen: Discovering the perfect platform that allowed me to bring all my work—my podcast, writing, speaking, and coaching—under one umbrella. For years, these were scattered in different directions. When I found this solution, it felt like everything clicked. It wasn’t procrastination; it was timing. That “aha” moment was huge for me. Since then, I’ve trademarked the concept and received so much positive feedback from my network. It truly affirmed that I’m on the right path.
Q: What’s your take on women in leadership today?
Deneen: Women get things done. We see that time and again. When women step into leadership, they bring transformation. My goal is to empower more women to start living their dream lives—not to wait until retirement. Success isn’t about reaching a finish line; it’s about finding what brings you joy and purpose right now. I want women to own their worth, speak up, and lead with confidence—because when we do, we change everything around us.
Q: How do you define success—personally and professionally?
Deneen: Success, for me, means living my dream life—and allowing it to evolve. Right now, that includes travel, art, and meaningful experiences. But I also see success in growth and connection—opening my life to new relationships and deeper joy. With my community, I envision the first 20 women experiencing transformation, reframing how they see themselves, and embracing joy, wealth, and self-empowerment. Long term, I want this to become a global sisterhood for women 50+ to connect, thrive, and live their best lives.
“Success isn’t about waiting for the perfect time—it’s about creating it. Start living your dream life today, whatever that looks like for you.” — Deneen L. Garrett
Connect with Deneen:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deneenlgarrett
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