Let's Talk Growth

Know Your Why: Lessons From Senator Shevrin Jones at LegacyCon 2025

Author: Desiree Whitehead

There are certain rooms you walk into and immediately feel the shift. Not because the lighting is dramatic or the stage looks like a TED Talk, but because the people in the room carry something real. Something lived. Something communal. LegacyCon 2025 opened with that exact energy. And for me, the moment that grounded the entire experience was Senator Shevrin Jones stepping on stage and delivering the line that settled deep in the room.

“Know your why and don’t let anyone sway you.”

At first listen, it sounds simple. Almost too simple. But sitting there surrounded by entrepreneurs, creatives, policy leaders, educators, and founders showing up for themselves, it hit like a reminder I did not realize I needed. And judging by the stillness across the room, the frozen pens, and the slow nods, I know I was not the only one who felt it.

Because knowing your why is not a motivational phrase.
It is alignment.
It is identity.
It is clear.
It is the anchor that stops you from drifting when life starts pulling you in every possible direction.

And the second half of the statement tells the truth most people ignore.
Not letting anyone sway you costs something.
It demands courage.
It requires self trust.

LegacyCon did not ease into the weekend. It set the tone. And Senator Jones, Dr. Jacqueline Hill, Gail Nelson and Kerry-Ann Royes delivered a message that felt less like a keynote and more like sitting with family who refuse to let you shrink.

The Room Carried a Sense of Responsibility

The session was moderated by Rodney Jacobs, but the heart of the conversation came from three leaders who spoke from lived experience, not theory.

Senator Shevrin Jones stood in a truth shaped by service, identity, and conviction. His presence made it clear that leadership is more than a title. It is a responsibility that requires constant self awareness and the courage to remain rooted in who you are.

Dr. Jacqueline Hill reminded the room of the legacy of Black institutions. She spoke about the unseen leadership required to support students, families, and communities. Her words carried the weight of someone who understands the long-term impact of education and cultural commitment.

Gail Nelson brought a steady calm. He spoke about service, humility, and influence that does not need to announce itself. His leadership style made you lean in rather than wait for applause.

Together, they created a conversation that was vulnerable, grounded, and honest. It was not dressed up or rehearsed. It was real.

Legacy Is Built Through Intentionality

While listening to them, I kept thinking about how often people chase outcomes without ever defining intention. Especially in entrepreneurship. Especially in creative fields. Especially in leadership roles where expectations pile up quickly.

People chase visibility but do not know what they want to be known for.
They chase money but have not defined their mission.
They chase opportunities but do not know which ones actually align with their direction.
They chase applause but have not clarified who they are trying to impact.

And at the center of it all is a truth the panel brought front and center.
Legacy is not built by accident.
Legacy is built through intentionality.

Knowing your why becomes your compass.
Not knowing it becomes a fast track to confusion, burnout, or becoming a version of yourself that does not feel like home.

For Black professionals, the message hits even harder. We are swayed constantly. By expectations. By narratives. By pressure. By bias. By systems. By the invisible weight of representation.

Staying centered in your why is not motivational. It is necessary.

Purpose Has a Posture

One thing that stood out was the posture of the panel. Not physically, although nonverbal communication was a theme throughout LegacyCon, but in how they carried their purpose.

Purpose comes with presence.

Senator Jones stands with courage because he knows who he serves.

Dr. Hill stands with clarity because she understands the deep impact of her work.

Gail Nelson stands with humility because he knows influence does not require noise.

Watching them reminded me of something I tell clients constantly.

  • You cannot market well if you do not know yourself
  • You cannot lead well if you do not trust yourself.
  • You cannot connect well if you are not grounded in your why.

In business, brand strategy, and leadership, your why shapes everything. It informs your storytelling, your decisions, your partnerships, your boundaries, and your impact.

The Message Behind the Message

The most powerful part of the session was not the quote. It was the courage behind it. The willingness to acknowledge a truth many leaders avoid.

You will be questioned.
You will be doubted.
You will be misunderstood.
You will be told who you should be.
You will be guided away from your calling by people who mean well.
You will be underestimated before you are respected.

And even then, you cannot let anyone sway you.

Purpose requires clarity.
Clarity requires courage.
Courage requires grounding.

And grounding requires knowing your why.

What I Took With Me

I left that session thinking about my own reasons. Why I built Howl Marketing. Why I chose clarity and connection as the foundation of my work. Why I care so much about community, representation, and the narratives that shape how people see themselves.

Anyone can build a business. Not everyone builds a business rooted in purpose. That takes honesty. It takes reflection. It takes hours of sitting with yourself until you can name the real reason behind the work you do.

My why has always been tied to creating pathways for people who look like me. To help founders and leaders communicate with depth and intention. To make sure our stories are told with accuracy and respect. To push against the belief that marketing is about surface work. It is not. It is about truth.

Walking into LegacyCon this year was not about networking or checking a box. It was about alignment. And this session grounded me before I even realized how much I needed grounding.

Being in the Room Matters

If you were not in the room, here is what I want you to know.

LegacyCon did not start with hype (even though the DJ was showing out!).

It started with grounding.
It did not start with strategy. It started with purpose.
It did not start with tools. It started with truth.

That truth sat with everyone there.
In the hallway conversations.
In the quiet moments of reflection.
In the way people straightened their backs when Senator Jones spoke.
In the emotional undercurrent that reminded us all that we were not just there to learn. We were there to evolve.

This Is Only the Beginning

“Know your why and don’t let anyone sway you.”

I have repeated it to myself more times than I expected. Not as a quote to post. Not as a mantra for motivation. But as a compass for where I am going and why I am doing this work.

LegacyCon did not just give me insight. It gave me clarity.
It gave me confirmation.
It gave me stillness.
It reminded me that purpose is the line between movement and momentum.

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