Meet Shardia Wickham (O’Connor), the powerhouse founder of Shades of Reality, a media platform that goes beyond labels, race, or status to focus on mindset, purpose, and authentic leadership. Rooted in her own lived experience as a third-generation Windrush descendant in the UK, Shardia has made it her mission to challenge limiting cultural narratives, empower individuals to rise above victim mentalities, and inspire purpose-led leadership across communities and organizations.
At Humans of Fuzia, we are proud to feature Shardia because her story embodies resilience, courage, and a refusal to be boxed in. Her work resonates with our 5M+ community across 35+ countries by reminding us that true empowerment begins not with labels, but with values, purpose, and self-awareness.
Q: Shardia, could you tell us what inspired you to create Shades of Reality?
I grew up as a third-generation Windrush descendant in the UK, where cultural disadvantages and generational trauma shaped much of my community’s experience. But I always questioned the norms I saw around me. Too often, I noticed a victim narrative—I’m like this because of slavery, racism, poor education. While these issues are real, we also need to ask: how have we enabled this? How have we failed to heal?
For me, it’s not about race—it’s about mindset and culture. I didn’t want to be seen just as a “Black woman doing something.” I wanted to be known as an empowered human being who broke out of boxes, defied stereotypes, and created a platform where truth, leadership, and purpose take center stage. That’s what Shades of Reality is all about: exploring different people’s realities without putting them into categories.
Q: Who is your target audience?
I don’t box people in. My audience is anyone who wants to lead with purpose and values—whether that’s business leaders, innovators, creatives, healthcare professionals, or sports figures. What matters is not status, but who you are and why you do what you do.
Q: What does Shades of Reality look like in practice?
Right now, I host podcasts and feature interviews on my website, and I’m building out SOR TV on YouTube to dive deeper into conversations about leadership, culture, and development. I also extend this work into my fashion brand, Thawada Boutique, which is more than clothing—it’s about consulting on how we show up in the world. Clothes are energy, and how we present ourselves reflects our values and leadership.
Q: You’ve said you’re very intentional about where you show up. Why is that important to you?
Because visibility for the sake of visibility doesn’t interest me. I’m not here for the limelight or social media validation. I don’t need to post a picture feeding a homeless person to prove I’ve done good. It’s about energy, intention, and spirit.
I want to be seen by the right people—the ones ready to create a more empathetic, resilient, purpose-driven world. My aim isn’t recognition; it’s impact.
Q: What are your aspirations for the future?
By 2025–2026, I want to build a more global client base and partner with organizations to deliver workshops, toolkits, and programs on leadership, purpose, and cultural development. I’ve laid the foundations; now I’m focusing on monetizing intentionally, so my work can sustain itself while making a larger impact.
Q: What challenges have you faced along the way?
One of my biggest challenges is finding the right people to collaborate with. Too many people are motivated only by money, not purpose or values. I believe poverty is more of a mindset than a material state. I’ve seen people with little material wealth live rich, fulfilling lives, and people with mansions live in emptiness.
Another challenge has been building my digital infrastructure—my website, AI systems, lead generation. Because that’s not my expertise, I’ve struggled to find partners who align with my vision without trying to reshape it into something else.
Q: What message would you like to leave with our readers?
My message is simple:
“Turn your pain into purpose, your voice into vision, and build platforms that make truth louder than silence.”
Connect with Shardia Wickham
You can connect with Shardia on https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadesofreality/
✨ Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
