Hi! I'm Sade, but everyone calls me Meka. I'm 38 years old and live in Georgia with my partner and our six cats.
I'm a career changer, this is actually my third career, and when I look back, one thing has been consistent through every chapter of my life: I love helping people learn. Whether I was teaching, coaching, training, or leading teams, I've always been drawn to building skills and helping others reach their potential.

My first career was in the beauty industry, where I specialized in cosmetic tattooing, microblading, and microshading. As my skills grew, I naturally found myself training new artists. I've always believed that if I'm going to learn something, I want to become skilled enough to eventually teach it to someone else. Earlier in my career, I also earned my TESOL certification and spent a summer teaching English to Italian students ages 8–12 through a study abroad program. That experience reinforced how much I enjoy breaking complex ideas into something that feels approachable and empowering.

After that, I spent 13 years in the insurance industry, primarily in leadership, instructional design, corporate training, and performance development. Since 2016, much of my work has focused on creating training programs, coaching employees, and improving team performance. I often served as a subject matter expert because I naturally noticed patterns in performance and behavior and enjoyed designing strategies to help people and teams succeed.

I've always been fascinated by psychology, human behavior, science, and creativity. Looking back now, I realize I've been analyzing behavior and motivating people long before I knew behavior analysis was an actual field. Behavior analysis also feels personal to me. My mother has worked as a social worker and therapist supporting individuals with developmental disabilities for more than 35 years, and my aunt works in the field as well. Growing up, I often accompanied my mom to day programs, group homes, and community outings. Those experiences gave me an early appreciation for the importance of dignity, individualized support, and meeting people where they are. As someone who is also neurodivergent, I personally appreciate the many different ways people learn, communicate, and experience the world. That perspective continues to shape how I approach learning and supporting others.

Even after completing my MBA, I felt like something was missing. During my undergraduate studies, I had explored several helping professions, including occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavior analysis. I knew I wanted work that combined science, problem-solving, teaching, and meaningful impact while allowing me to use the leadership and training skills I'd spent years developing. That search ultimately led me to Applied Behavior Analysis. I began my journey toward becoming a BCBA in May, and I've completely immersed myself in learning everything I can. My goal is not only to become an effective behavior analyst, but also a compassionate leader, mentor, and educator who helps build both clients and future professionals.