Meet Shaun Morris | Host at Incredible Women of Color Community

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shaun Morris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shaun, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
About a year ago, I was working as a sales agent for a Fortune 50 company. I became successful in the role and was eventually promoted to a mentorship position within my department. As a mentor, my goal was to teach new hires how to sell and help them avoid many of the pitfalls I faced when I first started. Things were going well.

Then one day, I woke up and realized that this (mentoring, walking alongside people, helping them accomplish their goals, and overcoming their internal limitations) was the work I was meant to do every day for the rest of my life.

During that time, many of the people I mentored were women of color. I saw firsthand the barriers they were up against. The gaps between where they were and where they wanted to be. These women were ambitious, fast learners, and destined for success, but I knew they needed real support. So, I stepped in to help fill those gaps as best I could.

When my mentorship role ended, I looked for opportunities that aligned with my passion for leadership and growth. That’s when I came across the John Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. This opportunity allowed me to launch a business as a speaker, coach, and leadership trainer.

As I prayed about who my audience should be, I believed God told me that 100,000 women of color need to find their voice. At first, I thought it was a great idea, but with my background, I didn’t think I was the best fit for that assignment. So, I waited, expecting to hear something else. But nothing else came. And that’s when I knew… this was my calling.

I’ve embraced this mission fully: to equip women of color to find their voice as they level up in life by reclaiming their identity, confidence, leadership, and value so they can transform the way they show up in the world. I now do this through Incredible Women of Color (IWoC), a community where I walk women through a year-long process that helps them reach their full potential.

By this time next year, the women in my program will look back and barely recognize the person they used to be.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
One thing we all know is that coaching is a growing industry, but it also comes with a lot of skepticism. Is coaching even real? If it is, how do I find the right coach? And how can I be sure they’ll get me results?

These are the questions everyone is asking, including me at one point.

Here’s what makes me different: I’ve been where my audience is now.

I’ve been at rock bottom. I’ve faced financial loss. I’ve lost a car, a place to stay, and opportunities I thought would change my life. And I figured out how to bounce back. But not in the way I expected.

I used to think success was all about talent or sheer hard work. But what ultimately set me apart was mindset, taking the right actions, getting intentional about my life, focusing on what I could control, and committing to daily improvement.

This is exactly what I teach through a system I created called the By This Time Next Year Challenge. It’s a structured, proven transformation process that helps women move from where they are now to a place beyond what they ever imagined… by this time next year.

I’m incredibly proud of this system because it’s not just theory, it’s my life. I’ve lived it. I’ve walked through failure, embarrassment, and the long climb back up. I’ve struggled to figure out the software, the community-building, and the systems needed to bring this vision to life. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Because anyone can offer quick fixes. Anyone can promise short-term results. But real transformation happens over time, through relationships, accountability, and the right mindset shifts. That’s the kind of impact I’m here for.

I’ve had to overcome my own limiting beliefs and the doubts of others. Some people don’t see me as a coach. Maybe I don’t fit their definition of success. Maybe they’re not in a season of growth, so they don’t understand what I do. And that’s okay. They’re not my audience.

I’m here for the woman who knows she’s ready for more. The ambitious woman of color who’s stepping into a new space but isn’t sure she can pull it off.

I’m here for her. To remind her that she can do it. That the women who came before her are no better than her. That she belongs here.

And with my help, along with an entire community of women thinking, acting, and believing in their next level, she won’t have to do it alone.

We’ll do it together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Gosh, if my best friend was in town and I had to have a week-long itinerary, we’d definitely go out to eat at least once or twice at a place called Eggs Up Grill in Gastonia. They’ve got some of the best breakfast food I’ve had in a while. I like to get the omelet with three eggs, avocado on top, and salsa. It’s real good. I think it’s called a Southwestern omelet or something like that.

I’d also take my best friend to the gun range. There are a couple of places I’d probably go: Point Blank in Matthews and Blackstone near Uptown Charlotte. Point Blank is a lot more affordable, a lot more close-knit, and a lot more intimate. They don’t really bother you, and you can pay one fee and shoot all day, no problem.

I’d also like to hike Crowders Mountain. I became a big-time hiker in 2024. On average last year, I hit the mountain at least once a month, sometimes multiple times a month, and even multiple times in a weekend. We’d climb the steepest part of the mountain and go up the stairs at least once or twice. It’s a great view from up top, and I highly recommend it to anybody.

I’d also end up at some type of networking event, whether it be Dinner and Dance with my buddy Jay, who puts on a lot of meetups, or a Live2Lead event with Maxwell Leadership. Live2Lead is like a half-day leadership conference for any group, team, or organization that wants to get their members aligned and thinking on a higher level at the same time.

Or maybe I’d keep it simple and go to a volunteer event. Every week or every other week, I try to volunteer with an organization in the city for a few hours. Not just to give back, but to fill my own tank in the process. Maybe I’d feed the homeless, give away clothes, or put on kids’ activities. Knock on doors, pass out toiletries, pray for families. Whatever they say they need, just give them some encouragement.

And honestly, it usually changes me more than it does anybody I come in contact with.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I could shout out. People who have helped me get to where I am today and continue to support me on this journey. A few names that come to mind:

The John Maxwell Leadership Certified Team—for mentoring me, pouring into me, and helping me breathe life into my new business.

Mighty Networks—the platform I’m using to host a thriving community for women of color.

Print School—a self-paced program that’s equipping me to develop a paper product designed to enhance my community members’ journey as they walk through a year of transformation.

Leah Ponds—for recommending me for this interview and for her top-tier videography skills, which have been instrumental in helping me bring my ideas to life. In my opinion, her work is second to none.

I’m deeply grateful for each of you. Thank you!

Website: https://About.me/shaunjmorris

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