Meet Shayla Unik | Certified HR Professional, Entrepreneur, Author and MotivateHER

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shayla Unik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shayla, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I honestly didn’t think about my business being an official “business” until I attended a networking event at The Craft Cafe Detroit. I shared my story of homelessness to climbing the corporate ladder. I honest, wanted to know and learn how to share my story with others on different platforms. At the time, all I wanted to do was share my story and encourage other people not to give up on their dreams and goals. It was the women in attendance at the event who poured into me and encouraged me to brand myself. They encouraged me to use the same tools that helped me during my transition to help others. It was at that moment at that event, Unik I Am was created. I figured, if I’m genuinely sharing my story and empowering other, I want them to remember not only me, but I want them to remember “we all have a story, but your story is what makes you Unik”. My birth name is Shayla Unik (first and middle name), but Unik I Am is a reminder that we are ALL Unik!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Certified HR Professional, Motivational Speaker and Entrepreneur, Shayla Unik was previously the Director of Human Resources at a minority owned Architect firm for 8 years before officially launching Unik I Am, LLC and Unik HR Solutions, LLC. In 2012, being a single mom and wanting to provide a better life for her six-year-old daughter, she moved back to Alabama in hopes of starting a new life in the South. Through a few dead-end jobs, experiencing homelessness for six months, a failed marriage, and a newborn son, she decided to move back to Detroit in search of support from her family and a better way of life.

Through her education, exceptional customer service skills and desire to be a provider and great example to her children, she focused on finding a career. Shayla’s previous role as Director of Human Resources involved all functionalities of HR, but she is most proud of her efforts in introducing young African Americans to the field of Architecture. In January 2019, Shalya became an HR Certified professional through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), holding an internationally recognized credential in human resources. This earned her the promotion of becoming the youngest African American female to hold the Director of Human Resources seat at the architecture firm. During this time, Shayla saved the company over $90,000.00 in audit fines, won several UIA mediation cases, single handedly restructured the onboarded and offboarded process, developed and implemented the COVID- 19 work from home program, coordinated successful leadership trainings and much more. In April 2019, Shayla earned her first publicized awarded from Michigan’s Corp! Magazine as one of Michigan’s Most Valuable Millennials for her hard work, dedication and contribution to her Human Resources responsibilities and initiatives. That same year, Shayla was also nominated for Crain’s Detroit 40 under 40 and accepted into Crain’s Leadership Academy; Cohort 5. Several awards, magazine publishing, grant awards and more have been added to her list of accomplishments.

April 2019, Shayla launched her brand Unik I Am to help support and uplift single moms, young ladies and women. Shayla reminds women to not allow bad decisions and mistakes of the past define nor confine them. She does this through motivational speaking, sharing her story of how she went from a homeless single mother to Director of HR on various platforms and selling Unik I Am accessories. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, laws and COVID information were constantly changing so using her social media platform Shayla began using her knowledge to help small business owners navigate the changes, Shayla also began helping individuals with resume enhancements to gain confidence in their career. This allowed Shayla to gain the confidence to step into her own light again and create, Unik HR Solutions, LLC. Shayla Unik has presented as a guest at many women empowerment events and local vendor events. Through trials and tribulations, Shayla has experienced many accomplishments. “Because…everyone has a story, but your story is what makes you Unik!”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit Detroit for a week there would probably be little sleeping involved. There is so much to see and do in the city, a week would not be enough time to see EVERYTHING. We would visit Rosa’s in Rosedale Park for some coffee. We would make sure we stopped to eat at Sister Roll’s in Allen Park for lunch, get pampered by Star the Nail Artist, and facials at Skinphorea. We would end the night with drinks, good food and a good vibe at Good Vibes Lounge. My friend and I would capture selfies and fun photos along the riverwalk and throughout downtown Detroit. On the days we wanted to relax in the house, we would order food from J. Cotton’s Trap Kitch or have Jamel Hightower of Hightower’s Catering stop by to cater a privet dining experience. Detroit has so much to offer and so many amazing things to see. We would make sure we supported all local businesses in everything we did because the city is rapidly growing the revitalization will be breathtaking throughout the week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people I can name who have supported and encouraged me along the journey of entrepreneurship. However, I always share and will forever shout out Candice Meeks, the owner of The Craft Cafe Detroit. Candice and I have been friends since 9th grade. She has witnessed many of the bad decisions and mistakes of my past. However, she was the hostess of the network event I attended that poured into and encouraged me to start my brand. Had it not been for that event, I can’t say that there would be a Unik I Am brand.

Since growing my business, there have been organizations that I’ve partnered with and programs that I’ve attended to help structure and develop my business and self. Prosper Us Detroit, U of M 313 Marketing program, BUILD Institue, MDBBA and many more. However, joining the Wealth Investher Network in 2022, has tremendously impacted my business, and personal life. The Wealth Investher Network (W.I.N.) is a network of women who are in business and seeking to partner, pour into, and support other women in business. The number of resources, support, encouragement and drive that comes from the network is unmatched. The women help each other to think about life and business strategically but most important remind us that we are not alone. Through community engagement, workshops, meetups and retreats, you discover your “why?” and learn how to deliver it to your customers and clients. Joining W.I.N. has been the best decision and opportunity to grow and expand the Unik I Am brand.

Website: www.linktr.ee/unikiam

Instagram: unik_i_am2 and unik_hr_solutions

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/shayla-unik

Facebook: Unik I Am

Other: TikTok: @shayla_unik

Image Credits
Michelle Collins Kory Davis