Shauntae E. Lewis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Shauntae E., thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m being called to expand without apology. For years, I operated from a place of calculated caution; wanting every next step to make sense, to be safe, to fit within the limits of what others could understand. Now, I’m being led to step fully into the unknown: to trust the voice inside me that says, “This is bigger than you. Go anyway!”
What once scared me wasn’t failure; it was visibility. It was the thought of outgrowing spaces, releasing certain expectations, and daring to lead in a way that demands both courage and surrender. But growth doesn’t happen in comfort. So, I’m saying yes to writing the book I once put off, to building platforms that amplify others’ stories, and to walking in rooms where I used to feel “not ready.”
This season, my calling feels less like a whisper and more like a declaration: it’s time to rise, to build, and to embody everything I’ve prepared for.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, VoyageMIA readers! I’m Shauntae E. Lewis, Air Force veteran, certified grant writer, business success coach, and founder/CEO of Grant Life Consulting, LLC.
My journey into grant writing and business consulting began from both necessity and vision. While working in nonprofit and community spaces, I observed a critical barrier: under-resourced organizations and entrepreneurs often couldn’t access skilled grant writers, especially ones who understood their communities, challenges, and stories. At the same time, I’d heard far too many “you don’t belong” whispers: doubts fueled by others, by systems, by internal fear. But I also believed that stories deserve to be told, missions deserve funding, and leadership should reflect every facet of our diverse fabric.
At Grant Life Consulting, we provide full-spectrum grant services: proposal writing, program & budget design, grant management, compliance, and training geared especially toward minority-led, faith-based, nonprofit, and mission-driven organizations. We also serve emerging entrepreneurs, equipping them to build sustainable, fundable businesses. What sets us apart is that we operate from a place of empathy and lived experience. I’m not an external contractor who just “does the writing” – I partner deeply, ask the tough questions, help clients clarify vision, and build internal capacity for long-term growth.
As a veteran- and woman-owned firm, our identity underscores our mission: service, integrity, and persistence. The discipline and sense of purpose I developed in the U.S. Air Force guide our approach to client partnership – rooted in structure, accountability, and commitment. I also bring over two decades of experience in organizational leadership, program development, marketing, training, and strategic growth.
Beyond the contracts and deliverables, I see Grant Life Consulting as a bridge, helping organizations secure funding, but also helping them see their own capacity, their own narrative worth, and their potential to scale impact. Right now, I’m focused on expanding our training and coaching arm, particularly for entrepreneurs and small nonprofits who want to internalize grant writing skills. I’m also working on a new mentorship initiative for veteran and underserved business owners, helping them navigate legacy building, funding, and sustainable growth.
If there’s one thing I hope readers take away, it’s that no matter how many times you’ve been told “you’re not enough” or discouraged from stepping forward, your story, your mission, and your voice are needed. If you have a vision, I’d love to help you translate it into possibility and opportunity.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A major turning point for me was rediscovering my self-worth. For a long time, I measured my value by how much I could achieve, how many people I could help, and how productive I could be. I was constantly in motion – serving, building, giving – but rarely pausing to ask if I was whole in the process. Eventually, life forced me to slow down. And in that stillness, I realized that I had been showing up for everyone but myself.
That moment changed everything. I started to understand that self-worth isn’t something you earn through hard work or success; it’s something you own simply because you exist. Once I embraced that truth, I stopped moving from a place of proving and started leading from a place of peace and authenticity.
Now, when I work with clients through Grant Life Consulting, I carry that lesson with me. Whether I’m helping a nonprofit tell its story or guiding an entrepreneur toward clarity, I remind them that their vision only grows when they believe in their own value. Rediscovering my self-worth helped me see the world differently; it helped me see people with more grace, more compassion, and more belief in what’s possible when we finally recognize our own power.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me what success could never show me, how to truly see myself. Success has a way of amplifying what’s working, but suffering reveals what’s real. It strips away the titles, the expectations, and the need for approval until all that’s left is the core of who you are.
Through my hardest seasons, I learned the value of stillness, grace, and humility. I learned that healing isn’t weakness, it’s work. And that strength isn’t about how much you can carry; it’s about knowing when to set things down. Suffering taught me empathy on a level I couldn’t have reached through accomplishment alone. It taught me to listen differently; to myself, to others, and to the quiet voice that reminds me why I started in the first place.
Those lessons transformed how I lead today. They remind me that purpose isn’t polished, it’s personal. Every setback, every painful chapter has made me more grounded, more intentional, and more committed to helping others rise through their own challenges.
Success builds confidence, but suffering builds character. And that combination is what gives everything I do meaning.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what matters most to me is purpose—living, leading, and loving with intention. They’d tell you I care deeply about seeing people win, not just in business but in life. I’m passionate about helping others rediscover their strength, walk in their calling, and build something that outlasts them.
They’d also say I value authenticity. I’m not interested in surface-level connections or chasing trends. I believe in real conversations, real growth, and real transformation. Whether I’m mentoring a client, coaching a veteran, or having dinner with friends, I want the people around me to feel seen, supported, and reminded of their own power.
And above all, they’d say that faith, family, and impact are my foundation. Those three guide every decision I make. My faith keeps me grounded, my family keeps me motivated, and my mission to help others rise from challenge to purpose keeps me moving forward no matter what.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I reminded them of their power: that I helped them believe they could rise again, no matter what tried to break them. I want my story to be one of faith, resilience, and impact, a story that says, “She didn’t just build businesses; she built people.”
I hope they talk about how I turned my pain into purpose and used every lesson, every setback, as fuel to serve others. That I led with heart, lived with integrity, and poured into others the same hope that once pulled me through.
But more than anything, I want my story to spark action. I want it to inspire others to stop waiting for the “right time” and start creating the life and legacy they were born to live. Because the truth is, we all have a calling and the world is waiting for us to answer it.
So if my name is ever mentioned, I hope it’s in the context of movement, of someone deciding to take their next brave step because they realized, like I did, that they were never meant to stay down. Rise anyway. Build anyway. Believe anyway.
If this message speaks to you and you’re ready to take that next step, whether it’s building your nonprofit, securing funding, or redefining your purpose, let’s connect. You can visit www.grantlifeconsulting.org or reach out directly via email at info@grantlifeconsulting.org. Let’s rise together and build something that lasts..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grantlifeconsulting.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grantlifeconsulting/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauntae-e-lewis-cgw%C2%AE-clc%C2%AE-chc%C2%AE-142a94a7/
- Twitter: https://x.com/BestGrantGurus
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantlifeconsulting/
Image Credits
Photo credit given to the Wounded Warrior Project of Tampa for the group photos.
