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

Hi Sha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting a non-profit organization was something I never imagined doing. For many creative and compassionate people we often fill a need where it exists. That’s what I did. After hearing a story of a 10 year-old girl who was married off to a 55 year old man in Kenya for the price of one cow and $40.00 cash, my heart responded. I had to act. Something needed to be done. I couldn’t sit in my comfortable Los Angeles abode knowing little girls in Kenya were being deprived of their basic human rights. This revelation not only inspired me to do something because I wanted to, but simply because I had no other choice. Growing up as a kid in California I dreamed of being an actress or a congresswoman, Most of us have dreams of accomplishing a certain goal, profession or practicing a particular vocation. My goals changed when I learned of innocent children who were oppressed. The world became much bigger than myself. My dreams transformed into a movement that could offer freedom to scores of children. i wanted it more than anything. The idea of starting I Can Fly International outweighed my previous goals. My business is not your average business. You don’t go to school for it. When I started educating and rescuing girls in Kenya I fell in love with the notion of saving lives. It was exhilarating knowing one less child would be become a victim of forced marriage, female genital mutilation and human trafficking.

What should our readers know about your business?
The non-profit organization is called I Can Fly International. Being a leader is tough. Its one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. People often admire leadership positions from afar not knowing what it takes to make a business successful. Some of the lessons I’ve learned help me daily. Teamwork is the most important ingredient in any successful business. Never thinking I know it all is key. Being open to learning inspires growth. Operating with ethics and responsibility builds trust for those in your inner circle. I want people to remember our organization as a movement they can believe in. that delivers results in the lives of the people we serve.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would first take a friend to the top of the Culver City Stairs to overlook the city of Los Angeles, A quick stop at Natalee’s Thai Food would be the next stop for a bite to eat. A walk on the Santa Monica pier would be the perfect place to hang out and enjoy the ocean breeze.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes out to Nikole Lim of Freely In Hope.

Website: http://icanflyinternational.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icanflyinternational/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/icanflyorg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICanFlyInternational

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