5 Ways Chana Ginelle Ewing Is Reclaiming 2020

Chana Ginelle Ewing isn’t canceling anything. The author, marketeer, and Founder & CEO of GEENIE sees 2020 as an opportunity, not an obstacle. “I want us to stop saying [that 2020 is cancelled],” she told Kayla Lawrence during #undividedATTENTION. “I think it’s unhelpful — it’s almost fighting all of the messages, that 2020, is trying to tell us. We don’t want to fight 2020. You’ve already shown us that you can win. The energy of this year shows we’re no match for it.” She advised founders to find out what they can learn from this year’s turbulence. “What are the lessons I need to take here? From a personal, political, business perspective. How can I apply that in my life,” she advised founders to ask themselves.

“That’s where I want us to get to as a society,” she added. Find out 5 ways Ginelle Ewing is reclaiming this year below.

She’s Embracing Stillness

Founders often associate resets with accomplishments but Ginelle Ewing has learned to reject that mindset. “You don’t have to earn rest, you don’t have to resist rest. You just have to lay yourself down. That’s been my biggest lesson,” she said.

“2020 has taught me: I have what I need,” she continued. Another lesson she learned was that she needed to lift herself up regularly.

“I need to affirm myself,” she recognized during her time in social isolation. “A lot of times you feel like you’re constantly being monitored and evaluated in some way. We’ve all felt that — that you just can’t win. What’s helped me is getting right with myself — getting in a better relationship with myself,” she admitted.

“What I’m extremely grateful for is the slowing down. In the slowing down, I have become my own best friend — I am my own biggest cheerleader.”

She’s Clear About Her Mission

Ginelle Ewing has known where her company was going from the very beginning. When starting out she didn’t focus on an industry she focused on intentions. “We weren’t in the free product game, we were in the game of advancing Black owned businesses,” she said. “That is how we landed on the beauty marketplace.”

“What I feel, what I think, and what I am investing in — that’s aligned in my mission. That’s what drives my personal mission. If you’re thinking about change, one way is voting, another is protesting. The other piece is how are you spending your time, and how are you spending your money,” she said.

She prides herself on, “Giving consumers the opportunity to align themselves on what they believe.”

“It was always about going bigger — how do we build a real scalable platform,” she added.

She’s Stepping Into Her Power

As think piece after think piece rolls out about what will happen to Black businesses when allies have abandoned their commitment, Ginelle Ewing isn’t preoccupied with the scenario.

“People are concerned that white folks will get tired, but I am not concerned because it’s already been done. It’s about our awakening — how we are seeing ourselves and how we are rising in this moment,” she said.

“This moment is a long time coming, right? What’s interesting about this moment is that Black, Indegnous, and POC creators are really having a moment — a huge sales moment, a high visibility moment — we’re really stepping into our power. This is a lifelong pursuit of social justice.”

“Obviously there are some deep, structural problems in this country, and globally. But we do need to spend time working on ourselves,” she said.

She believes part of self work includes putting yourself out there, when you have the privilege to do so.

“For people of color, it’s important to see that — go all in. Do whatever you need to do to feel safe, secure, and comfortable. Other than having your basic needs covered, go all in — get that raise, go get that board seat, get that investment for your business, get in the press, partner with other folks of color. It is your time. Go all in.”

She’s Having Honest Dialogues About Realistic Change

Ginelle Ewing knows how to get to the heart of things.

“For white folks, what does allyship really mean? Is it action or is it performance. Does it feel good for a fleeting moment or does it feel good on a regular basis,” she asked.

“If you’re in this and see injustice and inequity, you will constantly be in a space where you feel purposeful, that you’re doing things that move our society forward,” she asserted. “I encourage white folks to lean in, to have uncomfortable conversations.”

For those who are unsure what actions to take after the talking is through she recommends finding a unique way to make a difference. “There are different activities for different folks, but do whatever that you feel will be useful,” she said.

She’s Relying On Community

Ginelle Ewing turned to her group chat to provide her fellowship at the height of COVID-19’s constraints.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, I was so fearful. Will I get sick? Will other people that I love get sick? Part of the reservations was getting myself to the place where I could be ready for anything — spiritually, emotionally — that I could launch this business,” she admitted before revealing her strategy for facing her anxieties.

“What I did was immerse myself in community. Having that community grounding, a community of entrepreneurs, we call it a BizWellness group. We’ve been going strong since the top of April, and talking about our businesses,” she said.

“Having community has helped push my business forward.”

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