Meet Ra’eesah Brown | Financial Strategist & Fitness Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ra’eesah Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ra’eesah, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
As a business owner who has been feverishly working on cultivating a solid foundation to build upon, I am often brought back to a quote a former mentor of mine shared with me years ago which is “short term sacrifice, for long term gain”. When you’re building your business from the ground up and turning your thoughts into written plans and your plans become action steps, you’ll find in entrepreneurship that the equilibrium of life is rather off kilter.

There will be long nights and worked weekends. There will be missed family and social occasions because of the time dedication required for birthing your business and feeding the fire that keeps the engine of your train moving down the tracks. There is plenty that seems to come up for sacrifice in the pursuit of the long term gain.

For me, this affirmation is a reminder that this start-up phase won’t last forever and there are things in the law of attraction that I will have to give up in order to go up the rungs of success. The long term gain of time and resource freedom is worth the short term sacrifice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In 2023, I launched two businesses after finding myself laid off from a large corporation for the second time ever in 20+ years of working. I told myself after the lay-off that this would be my final time finding myself in a position where I was reliant on the success of a corporation to dictate my seat in their office and rendering me out of luck and financially scrambling to recover.

Already a fitness enthusiast and passionate about health and wellness, I launched Gawd Body. Gawd is an acronym for getting aligned with discipline. Our body is a temple. We only get this one life and how we treat our body is indicative of the quality of life we live. Gawd Body is a self-paced fitness program and I offer in-person and virtual coaching as well.

On the heels of launching Gawd Body, I became a registered tax preparer and bookkeeper! Three years ago, I attended a conference that opened my eyes to a wealth of knowledge that became a springboard for my desire to financially educate and empower my community to understand how their money works, how taxes are used to make the world go round, and leave a lasting impression on the way in which the average American files his and her taxes. I wanted to educate people on how to ensure that taxes worked for them during filing season and remove the dread and lack of financial literacy that most commonly resulted in negative opinions during preparation time. And thus, InnovateHer Financial was created. I help the average w-2 holder, students, and business owners file their taxes and understand how to better organize their finances so that each year filing with me or having their books balanced, works in their greatest favor. I’m all about teaching my clients the right financial plays so that maximize their returns, the following year!

My businesses represent two quadrants I am most passionate about: Fitness and Finances. I have the best of both worlds where I am dedicated to the financial well-being and empowerment of my clients as well as fortifying the mind, body, and temples of my clients from a health perspective. I am a purveyor of financial and physical fitness.

I want the world to know that even in the midst of chaos, crumble, and confusion, the dismantling of one world is actually fertile ground for change and the creation of a new world. In you, is the ability to be more and do more as many of us haven’t even tapped into half of what we are capable of. I came through relocation, divorce, 90 days of unemployment and still ended 2023 as a business owner and operator times two! You can do anything with God!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a nature girlie so I love to take friends and family on trails and nature preserves to get active. Lake Norman State Park is a definite stomping ground for me. I love water and so the views here are serene and the trail is fun to hike. I love checking out the Mint Museum. Their exhibits are ever changing and I adore art and culture scenes.

As a foodie, I take all guests to the Dandelion Market. Their food is divine and I’ve never had a lackluster experience there. I am super snobbish about Ramen but found a place called Futo Buta that I adore. The fusions and their takes on Ramen is incredible. District 57 is a cool place to grab drinks and people watch.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All praise is due to Allah who guides me and governs my existence. There is no better knower of yesterday, today, or tomorrow than my Creator and I am humbly grateful for all He has stored within me and brought me through. The gifts and talents that I possess were placed in me because of Him so I give my first thanks to God!

My co-creator is second in line to be shouted out because she was divinely assigned to be my Earth angel guardian. My mother Bernadette Knox is the sweetest soul I’ve ever known and has been such a pillar in my life through every stage I’ve walked. She has been a fierce protector, a soft landing, a listening ear, and has supported me better than my back bone ever could with the endless measures she has gone to ensure my security and well-being. She drives my pursuit to achieve grand success in everything I do with hopes to pay her back for how she has always lifted me up.

And to my soul tribe, I am forever grateful for my friends and extended family. I have meet some incredibly nourishing souls that I know only God could orchestrate their arrivals in my life. I have the purest and most fortifying friendships and sisterhoods a woman could ever ask for and I am eternally grateful for all of their contributes to my growth and safety!

Instagram: thegawdbody and innovateher.financial

Image Credits
photo credit: Alyson Amos