Dr. Shamara L. Byrd
Visionary
Living a life of peace, purpose, and prosperity is what drives the attitude and actions of Dr. Shamara L. Byrd.
Dr. Byrd is no stranger to poverty and pain. She has weathered some stormy seasons and overcame some unfavorable conditions as a young girl born into poverty and raised in the projects by a single mother. By the grace of God, Dr. Byrd persevered through seasons homelessness, loss, molestation, and separation anxiety. As a result, she was left to overcome shame, anger, low self-esteem, feelings of abandonment, rejection, a longing to be loved by a man.
Dr. Byrd understood that receiving an education would be the keys to unlock the doors to her future. She graduated from Miami Edison Senior High School. She received her formal education from The Florida State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work four months pregnant. Though the road was not easy, she would later earn her Master of Social Work, an Educational Specialist and finally, a Doctorate in Ministry with a concentration in Christian Counseling. Dr. Byrd has over 27 years of experience as a K-12 teacher, school social worker, school administrator, and adjunct college professor.
Although she obtained several degrees and was advancing in her career, unfortunately, due to no interventions to address her childhood and young adult wounds, Dr. Byrd was merely existing as a single mother who was Broken from the trials of life, Blind to the power of God, Bound to the strongholds of the enemy, and at times Bankrupt in her faith. As a result of growing up without a healthy relationship with her father, Dr. Byrd stayed in unhealthy relationships, disrespecting herself, and compromising her beliefs and values.
Through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Dr. Byrd’s stormy season has changed. She has been transformed from a rough around the edges girl, into a radiant diamond that shines bright in the glory of God. She lives her faith out loud daily as a confident, courageous, and Christ-Centered woman of God. She actively serves a Minister at her church, Exciting Faith Alive, regularly visits Hernando County’s women’s prison, and serves her community as a member of the Black Advisory Council to the Sheriff’s Office of Hillsborough County.
Dr. Byrd firmly believes that the love of God, hope, faith and determination are the keys to living a life of peace, purpose, and prosperity. She is passionate about fulfilling her divine purpose of using her pain as the prescription for breakthrough and healing of women who are struggling to achieve the desired level of success personally, professionally, or spiritually. Dr. Byrd uses her education, life experiences, spiritual gifts, and the word of God to Educate women on who they are in Christ, Encourage women to love their imperfect selves through a perfect savior, and Equip women with biblical principles and strategies as they work to identify, confront, and conquer self-defeating thoughts and behaviors that are preventing them from charting a new path in life and achieving the desired level of success personally, professionally, or spiritually. As vehicles to reach women, Dr. Byrd founded D.I.V.A. Coaching Academy and Byrd’s Nest Outreach, Inc.
Standing on the strength of her testimony of being transformed from Rough to Radiant, Dr. Byrd’s message is “We are God’s diamonds in the rough. We are not an accident. We were created on purpose, for a purpose, but we must be processed to fulfill that purpose. Although the process is often painful, it is purposeful”. In the face of adversity and uncertainty, her motto is “trust God’s track record when we can’t trace His steps”. Dr. Byrd is a member of the lovely ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is the proud mother of one beautiful daughter and soror, ShaRen C. Wray, BSN, RN.