Today we’d like to introduce you to Nafeesa Abdul-Akbar.
Hi Nafeesa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my company Authentically Her, a brand of empowering t-shirts and hoodies designed for women, about ten years ago. At that time, I was coming out of an abusive relationship and my self esteem had taken a hit. I asked myself, what did I need to see or hear to get back to the woman I used to be? It was then, that I heard phrases like, “you are lovely,” “you are absolutely breathtaking,” “you are worthy.” I decided to put those phrases on t-shirts, because I knew that if I needed the messages, so did other women. As the company grew, it got more attention and in 2024, I was chosen to be featured on a T.V. show produced by M.T.V’s Wes Bergman, called The Blox. The show, a combination of “The Real World” and a bootcamp for entrepreneurs, taught me a lot about myself and my business. In 2025, I went on to work with several multi-millionaire coaches to learn and craft what I offer today, which is a mentorship for women entrepreneurs, called Opulent Endeavors Academy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has most definitely NOT been smooth! Life has thrown me just about every curve ball that exists. From divorce, to the death of a parent, to health issues that required multiple surgeries. There were even times when I wanted to give up. What kept me going was knowing that there are people depending on me—not only my children, but also my clients….even the ones who aren’t my clients or customers yet…because had I shut down, I would have been denying them something that may have helped them get through dark times. So, I kept going, even when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. That perseverance is what enabled me to make it through the bumps and bruises of my journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Opulent Endeavors is a one stop mentorship program for women who are ready to move from idea to enterprise. It guides aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs through the full transition—from mindset and identity, to business structure and strategy, to capital and execution. Inside the experience, women dissolve limiting beliefs, step into the identity of a CEO, build their business the right way, and position themselves to be fundable. I then walk them through the funding process and help them secure capital. By the time they complete the journey, they aren’t just starting a business—they’re leading one, with money in place and momentum behind them.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve been fortunate to learn from a few powerful mentors who shaped different layers of my journey. Ramel Newerls expanded my perspective on what was possible, helping me think beyond a single lane and see myself as a multifaceted entrepreneur with access to scale, acquisitions, and long-term wealth strategies.
Kenneth “Smitty the Goat” Smith gave me the practical framework to bring it all to life—how to be socially visible, how to lead from the front, and how to structure a real, results-driven program that truly serves clients. And through the Fund Your Freedom program with Ramel, Smitty, and Derek Boone, I learned how to properly structure a business, access funding, and begin thinking about real estate and asset-building. That experience was my first true introduction to wealth and financial freedom—it changed how I saw money, ownership, and what was possible for my life and my clients.
Working with Wes Bergman from MTV taught me how to present my business publicly and confidently in a larger arena—to own my voice, my story, and my presence on television.
In many ways, Ramel opened my eyes to what else I could do, Smitty gave me the skills to do it and present it publicly, Wes showed me how to stand in an arena I once thought was impossible for me, and Fund Your Freedom gave me the blueprint for turning vision into tangible wealth.
Pricing:
- Authentically Her T-Shirts/Hoodies: $25-$39.99
- Reset With Nafeesa: A Guided 7-Day Energetic Reset Workbook™ $29.99
- Opulent Endeavors Academy 6 Week Program $2499
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Authenticallyher.com
- Instagram: Instagram : @_theempress1115
- Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NafeesaUmmSulaiman
- Twitter: TikTok: @akbartheempress
- Youtube: Reset Journal: https://5148344688534.gumroad.com/l/ksiii
- Yelp: Opulent Endeavors Business In A Box: Start.opulentendeavors.com
- Soundcloud: Email: Nafeesaabdulakbar@gmail.com
