Turning passion into purpose is a journey many embark on, but few truly master. Sharmon Lebby, founder of Blessed Designs Consulting, has built her career around guiding nonprofit leaders and purpose-driven businesses toward sustainable impact. With a background spanning ethical fashion, creative ventures, and nonprofit leadership, she has blended strategy and vision to help others turn their missions into thriving organizations. Her expertise in collaboration, leadership, and resource-building makes her a trusted consultant in the field, and her journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and community-centered success.
From Creative Entrepreneur to Nonprofit Consultant
Sharmon has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, launching ventures in ethical fashion, jewelry-making, photography, and blogging. However, her turning point came when she founded a nonprofit and served as its board president. That experience opened her eyes to the challenges of building something sustainable and impactful. When organizations and founders kept coming to her for advice, she realized her ability to provide practical, actionable guidance was a valuable service. This realization led her to fully commit to Blessed Designs Consulting, where she now helps nonprofits and mission-driven businesses navigate growth, strategy, and long-term success.
One of her most defining moments came when she saw a client, a small grassroots nonprofit, struggle to gain traction. After implementing her guidance on collaboration and sustainability, the organization doubled its funding within a year and expanded its outreach programs. Seeing this transformation reinforced her belief that clear strategy and the right partnerships can make a lasting impact.
Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship
One of Sharmon’s biggest hurdles in transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship was the fear of financial instability. Leaving a steady paycheck behind is never easy, and she wrestled with doubts about whether she could consistently generate income. At one point, she found herself struggling with whether to take another job for financial security or to trust in her ability to build something meaningful. However, she pushed through by focusing on building strong client relationships and delivering real results. Over time, a steady stream of referrals reassured her that her expertise was in demand. Today, she continues to put systems in place to ensure financial stability while scaling her business.
Leadership Shaped by Experience
Sharmon’s leadership philosophy is a blend of creativity, strategy, and mission-driven action. Running an ethical clothing brand taught her the importance of balancing creativity with financial sustainability, while her nonprofit experience showed her how to build impactful organizations on limited resources. She learned to lead with empathy, flexibility, and a focus on long-term impact, lessons she now passes on to her clients.
Redefining Collaboration in the Nonprofit Sector
What sets Blessed Designs Consulting apart is Sharmon’s belief that nonprofits and mission-driven businesses should see each other as partners, not competitors. Too often, organizations focus on securing their own funding and recognition rather than exploring opportunities for collaboration. She challenges this mindset, teaching her clients that true impact is maximized when organizations work together, share resources, and uplift one another.
This perspective comes from her own journey as a nonprofit leader, where she witnessed firsthand how collaboration could lead to sustainable success. Instead of constantly reinventing the wheel, she encourages organizations to leverage their unique strengths while aligning with others who complement their mission. One of her proudest moments was helping two small nonprofits merge resources, leading to a 30% reduction in overhead costs and an expanded reach in the communities they serve. By shifting from a competitive to a collective mindset, she helps organizations create greater, lasting impact.
Navigating Business as a Black Woman Entrepreneur
As a Black woman in business, Sharmon has faced unique challenges, including having her advice overlooked in favor of others. Time and time again, she has watched clients take recommendations more seriously when coming from men or white women, even when she had given the same guidance. One particularly frustrating instance occurred when she spent weeks advising a client, only for them to implement the same strategy when it was later suggested by someone else. Instead of becoming discouraged, she redirected her focus—seeking support from Black women entrepreneurs who understood her journey.
This experience solidified her commitment to investing in Black-owned businesses and service providers, ensuring that resources and opportunities circulate within her community. She knows firsthand how difficult it is for people of the global majority to receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve, and she actively works to change that by uplifting others.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
To young Black women looking to enter the world of entrepreneurship, Sharmon offers this advice: “Trust yourself, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. It’s okay not to have everything figured out from the start—what matters is your ability to adapt and keep moving forward. Never think you know it all—keep learning, keep growing, and stay open to new ideas.”
She also emphasizes the importance of seeking the right guidance and resources. While advice is plentiful, finding applicable, actionable steps can be a challenge. This is one of the reasons she started consulting—to fill in the gaps and provide organizations with the support they truly need.
The Future of Blessed Designs Consulting
Over the next five years, Sharmon envisions Blessed Designs Consulting growing into a premier resource for nonprofit founders and purpose-driven businesses. She is expanding her offerings to include digital courses, books, and toolkits designed to help organizations at every stage of development.
Beyond consulting, Sharmon is working on launching a media platform dedicated to advocating for nonprofits, shedding light on the policies and systemic issues that create the need for nonprofit work in the first place. Through this platform, she hopes to amplify the voices of mission-driven leaders, provide educational resources, and inspire the next generation of change-makers.
A Legacy of Empowerment and Impact
Sharmon Lebby’s work is about more than just business—it’s about creating a culture of collaboration, sustainability, and lasting impact. Through Blessed Designs Consulting, she is not only helping businesses and nonprofits grow, but she is also reshaping the way organizations view success. Her mission is clear: to build stronger communities by empowering those who serve them.
As she expands her consulting services and prepares to launch a media platform, one thing is certain: Sharmon Lebby is shaping the future of nonprofit leadership and purpose-driven business. Her journey proves that collaboration, strategy, and vision can drive sustainable impact, ensuring that mission-driven organizations have the tools they need to thrive, not just survive.
Contact Sharmon Lebby
First name: Sharmon Lebby
Email: sharmonlebby@gmail.com
Company name: Blessed Designs Consulting
Website: https://www.blesseddesignsco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blesseddesignsco/
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