From Challenging Beginnings to Inspiring Success: An Interview with FCM’s CEO, Celina Shands

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From Challenging Beginnings to Inspiring Success: An Interview with FCM’s CEO, Celina Shands

In a recent episode of The Success Chronicles, host Chip Baker sat down with FCM’s Founder and CEO, Celina Shands. Celina’s journey from a tumultuous childhood to becoming a successful entrepreneur and advocate for underserved populations is nothing short of inspiring. In this interview, Chip and Celina explored her background, her path to success, and her mission to create positive change in the world.

Celina Shands hails from the deep south of North Carolina, where she faced the challenges of growing up in a family plagued by alcoholism, just like 10.5% of all U.S. children ages 17 and younger. In such an environment, trust and support were hard to come by. Fortunately, Celina found a constant source of support in her older sister, who not only ensured her basic needs but also instilled in her the belief that she could achieve anything. Celina’s sister became her first mentor, teaching her the value of determination and hard work. Studies show the power of mentorship for youths are vast, including increased graduation rates, healthier relationships and lifestyle choices, higher college enrollment rates, and a decreased likelihood of drug and alcohol use (Benefits of Mentoring for Young People).

To channel the anxiety and negativity from her home life into something positive, Celina turned to sports. She played a variety of sports, from softball and volleyball to basketball and track and field. Sports taught her valuable life lessons, including the importance of collaboration and competition. Celina acknowledges her coaches, teammates, and friends as pivotal people who played a significant role in her life.

In 1984, Celina embarked on a journey to San Francisco, leaving behind her small southern hometown. With just $50 to her name, a credit card, and a new car payment, she faced fear and uncertainty. But this leap of faith led her to a new world. She pursued a master’s degree in sports medicine and started her first company, “Life at Its Peak,” which focused on integrating sports medicine into medical practices. However, evolving insurance laws led her to reinvent herself.

Celina’s journey eventually led her to San Diego, where she worked as a marketing director for the San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. During this time, she became involved with workforce development, a term that was new to her but resonated with her personal experiences. Workforce development is a system that helps youth and job seekers find their career paths through education and training. Recognizing the importance of this mission, Celina embraced it wholeheartedly.

Motivated to make a difference, Celina founded Full Capacity Marketing. This organization focuses on helping workforce and education-related organizations build their brands within their communities, especially those serving underserved populations. The goal is to make these organizations more visible and accessible, enabling individuals to access education and training opportunities that can change their lives.

Celina’s journey has shaped her definition of success. While early success was driven by survival and financial stability, it has since evolved into finding work with a mission that inspires positive change. She measures success by the positive impact her work has on individuals and communities, particularly those who are underserved and underrepresented.

Celina shares an inspiring story from one of the adult education schools Full Capacity Marketing works with. A homeless student who couldn’t afford a laptop to complete assignments received support from her instructor and a tech company. She not only earned her high school diploma equivalency but also went on to secure a job earning $66,000 a year. This story showcases the life-changing potential of workforce and education programs.

Celina Shands’ journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, mentorship, and a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others. Her work with Full Capacity Marketing is helping underserved populations access education and training, creating inspiring success stories along the way. Celina’s definition of success goes beyond personal achievement; it’s about making a difference in the world, one person at a time.