Topics

• Entrepreneurship
• HVAC Careers
• Online Business Management
• Maternity Leave and EEOC

[00:00:00] Episode Excerpt

[00:00:22] Podcast Introduction

[00:00:59] Episode Introduction

[00:01:23] Guest Introduction

[00:03:39] Engineering Career

[00:05:15] Walking Slower

[00:09:21] Raising Voices

[00:13:04] Leticia’s Audacity

[00:15:36] Pregnancy

[00:19:50] Disbelief

[00:23:58] The Last Straw

[00:31:05] Happy and Shining

[00:38:01] Benefits

[00:39:32] In the Works

[00:41:58] Find Dia Online

[00:43:59] Final Question

[00:46:54] Closing

Season 1, Episode 4

In Choosing Her Hustle today, we hear from Jordonna Dia Colley, a certified online business manager and founder of Diagurl.com, where she offers online business consulting and management. She works with female entrepreneurs to create systems and processes to create elevated client experiences and business reputations. Dia lives outside of Detroit, and she worked as an engineer for a Detroit-based refinery for 12 years. As one of two Black women in her department, she was passed on promotions, accused of not caring about the business, refused benefit compensation for taking maternity leave. She was terminated from her position for taking her benefit leave, to which her manager said she was lucky to have insurance. The termination in 2019 kickstarted her entrepreneurial spirit.

Dia shares the losses of family members since 2020. She gave birth to her daughter as the world was realizing the dangers of COVID. She continues to fight for what is right under the guidance of her trade union in Michigan. While she doesn’t miss the intense schedule of 14-hour shifts back-to-back, she learned lessons from her job that she now uses with her business. 

Dia discusses her religious beliefs, and she wishes everyone in the world could take an accurate look at the bible to get to know our creator accurately. Her faith shapes who she is, how she speaks, and how she treats others.  

Dia’s top advice: Release the chains that keep you at a toxic work environment, such as benefits and insurance. You can get insurance as a business owner. You can pay your bills and realize how to create a steady income stream. 

What’s next for Jordonna Dia Colley? First, she is being the best mother to her daughter and wife to her husband. Second, she is scheduled to speak at the Vision Slayers conference. Lastly, she is building an email list to build her community of like-minded women. 

To join the conversation, share your biggest takeaways from this podcast on Instagram. Let’s step into our power!

Thank you for listening to Choosing Her Hustle. If you've enjoyed this episode, be sure to press the subscribe button. If you want to join in the conversation, follow me on Instagram @ChoosingHerHustlePodcast, where I'll be going live every Thursday to dig a little deeper into this week's episode. Bring your questions and comments and join our amazing community. If you want to support us, share, share, share, and make sure to leave us a rating and review.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Visit Dia’s company website, Diagurl.com

Connect with her on Instagram at DiaGurl_VirtualServices

Find Dia on Facebook at Jordonna Dia Colley

Connect with Dia on LinkedIn at Jordonna Dia Colley

SEE ALSO:

International Association of Online Business Managers

She Devil, a 1989 movie starring Meryl Streep and Roseanne Barr

Fun Fact:

Dia has no fear of heights as she climbed 75 feet in the air to check and turn valves at the steel refinery.

Words of wisdom:

“I’m tired of White people telling me how to make money. I'm tired of White people telling me how to leave my job.”

“We already practice restraint because we know how we're perceived… With that restraint, they still find a reason to have a problem.”

“White people are not the only ones that are fed up with the nine-to-five, but they are more courageous than us about choosing their hustle and making it work for themselves.”

“I would not allow them to speak disrespectful to me… They knew I wasn't scared to speak up.”

“It's your business, you treat it like a business, and you reap the rewards of a business.”

“Something better is coming on the horizon. It's all in the Bible, God's kingdom.”

“There's no need to go through that mental anguish anymore.”

Stop dreaming of freedom and make a solid plan to leave your day job by watching the 5 Things You Need Before You Leave Your 9-5 video series 

This episode is sponsored by SheHUB.tv

SheHUB

Let’s connect

Choosing Her Hustle 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Email: [email protected]