Host Meredith Lowry sits down with Shunqetta Cunningham, the powerhouse behind Kharis Consulting and the Over a Cup Initiative, to discuss the true meaning of power, the necessity of building community for women entrepreneurs, and her mission to elevate the economic landscape of Arkansas.

Meredith: I am so excited today to have my friend Shunqetta Cunningham with us on the podcast to talk about all the things you're doing.

Shunqetta: Kharis Consulting started exclusively as a grant writer after leaving our local municipality. My family was growing—by then, I had three of the now five kids. Grant writing turned into full consulting for nonprofits a little over 13 years ago.

Shunqetta: Connection sometimes doesn't equate to currency in business. My first client was pro bono; they received a $40,000 grant, but they did not contract with me afterward because they expected free help. Eventually, I had to rise to the level of service where I knew nonprofit does not mean "no profit".

Shunqetta: In business, "help" insinuates what that is—help—but "providing consultation" or "facilitation" reduces that question. In Northeast Arkansas, I have been able to flourish as a solopreneur, but it has not been easy.

Shunqetta: You have to create community. I have had to come to Little Rock or Fayetteville just to get a different mindset of what it is to run a business outside of my passion. I am blessed to have a supportive husband who encourages my creativity. My children see this example; if I am going to leverage influence for everyone else, I am going to first start at home.

Shunqetta: The Over a Cup Initiative (OAC) is an intentional networking connection space for Black women entrepreneurs in Northeast Arkansas. We affectionately call one another "sister bosses". I started it in 2018 so people could ask questions about business terminology—profit, loss, capital—without feeling intimidated.

Shunqetta: Three years ago, FORGE Community Loan Fund took a chance on us to launch the LEAP Academy (Leveraging Expertise to Accelerate Profit), an incubator for women. We have graduated nearly 30 women from the program. We use terms we understand culturally—"where does the money reside"—to make the process less intimidating.

Shunqetta: It has never been as much about race as it is about economics. Dr. King’s message of reconciliation wasn't the catalyst for anger; the threat came when economic justice started to be at the forefront. Arkansas industries must work together because technology and AI are changing every facet of this nation.

Shunqetta: I have a book out called When I Awake, I Decree. It is a 366-day devotional to help people reframe their conversations with positivity no matter what is going on in the world. My faith tells me that my voice matters too.

Shunqetta: I self-published, and it prompted me to release a resource guide for nonprofits called Get Off The Ask. It empowers organizations to ask for what they need, whether that is fundraising, grants, or volunteers.

Shunqetta: As Arkansans, we should be tired of leading from the bottom in socioeconomic status, health, and infant mortality. We are at a point where we are going to burst into change.

Shunqetta: You can find me on social media under Shunqetta Cunningham or Kharis Group Consulting (K-H-A-R-I-S). We also have an Over a Cup page. We meet monthly on Saturdays for women entrepreneurs. It is a space for access to information and connection where we say, "Hey, you got this, sister boss".