Meet Tasha Branham

I met Tasha through an email. I posted a photo on our Instagram to start the search for “Captivating Women of 2016”. Tasha, boldly sent her email. I instantly was in awe and captivated by her. You’ll read her story and learn what she does. She’s amazing, talented, and her own girl boss. We are excited to share Tasha with you! Everyone, please meet Tasha Branham.

Question: Where do you live & how old are you?
Answer: I am 35 years old and I live in Columbus, Ohio.

Q: What do you do for a living?
A: I am the CEO of Naturally Smitten (@naturallysmitten) which is a line of natural products that I developed. We are currently in select Walmart stores nationwide. Our products can also be found abroad in France, the UK, and Australia. I am also the Co-Founder of The Grapevine Box (@thegrapevinebox). The Grapevine Box is a monthly subscription service that introduces new and emerging brands to consumers. I am also a consultant for businesses and ministries. I work as a brand strategist in helping companies implement social media efforts to speak to and attract their target audience.

Q: What three words describe you?
A: Encourager. Creative. Worshipper.

Q: Give us a day in the life of Tasha.
A: My day starts at 6am. I have two sons and I make sure that they are up and ready for school. Once the boys are gone for the day, I use my initial alone time for prayer, worship and intercession. It helps me to set the tone for my day. Being a CEO and having so many things going at once, my days can be rather unpredictable. I find that if I enter His presence early, He can carry me through my day.

After prayer time, I make my to-do list. This list helps me to stay on task. As a creative, its easy to allow your creative mode to drive your day, and before you know it, you didn’t make it to any other task on your to-do list because you spent too much time in creative land!

My to-do list is followed with responding to emails, sending emails, checking our social media, planning posts for the day, and any order fulfillment. I also devote a lot of time in conducting research and brand analysis for some of the brands I work with. I also live for meetings! I have meetings and conference calls every day of the week. Sometimes, I’ll have meetings that run all day or they’ll be scheduled back, to back, to back.

Once my boys are home from school, I have to put the mom and wife hat back on while I simultaneously work. As a CEO, your work never really ends. It may just slightly pause until you have to pick it back up.

My evenings are typically jam packed as well. I will schedule in family time with my husband and kids as much as we can. My husband and I are also Co-Pastors of Advance Church Columbus. During the evening is typically when I will schedule in mentorship time with women that I am mentoring. Our church has a discipleship model and my husband and I spend time throughout our week conducting one on one time with some of the members of our church.

Q: What is the favorite part of your job(s)?
A: My favorite part of my job is inspiring others. God has blessed me in a way that has given me the opportunity to inspire other people to chase after God and to pursue the dreams/desires He’s given them. That is the thing I am most passionate about. I absolutely love to encourage women to pursue their passions.

Q: Do you ever feel disqualified?
A: Absolutely! When I share with people my journey to Walmart, I always tell them about how we made it on shelf with absolutely no money. It was a faith walk from the very beginning. Since then, I’ve had to believe God even more. Walmart wasn’t the end! Its been a huge test for me and people have often looked up to me as one that has great faith. I actually have struggled with fear and doubt often. I’m always encouraging others in their faith when my faith wavers. It’s easy for me to allow my bouts with fear to make me feel like I am disqualified to receive God’s blessings and to be an inspiration to others when I don’t have it all together!

Q: What is the biggest thing you’ve learned on your journey?
A: I learned that if we place limitations on God, that it limits Him moving in your life. I used to dream but I dreamt small. The things I prayed about and asked God for were small in comparison to His purpose for my life. When I would pray concerning the desires of my heart, He would move. I would get a new job or a new opportunity, etc but I wasn’t fulfilled. I began to seek Him to learn more about what His plans were for my life. Once He began to speak, I was able to see just how great His desires were for me. So…I began to dream a little bigger. And a little bigger. And a little bigger. I had to learn that there is no-thing that is too hard for the One who created the earth and the heavens in six days. Who else can compare to that? No one! I began to allow Him to woo me in my relationship with Him. I became hopelessly lovestruck and now, there’s nothing I won’t do for Him. I took God out of the neat little box I had placed Him in and I am now living my dream as they unfold on by one. I am so fulfilled knowing that I am doing His work and that I am positively impacting the lives of others!

Q: Favorite verse?
A: Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Q: What makes a Captivating Woman?
A: I believe a Captivating Woman is a woman that has the ability to impact and positively change the lives of other women. Her life is one to be inspired by. Her relationship with God is a source of encouragement. She is modest, caring, and walking in God’s unwavering love. A Captivating Woman displays the fruit of God’s Spirit in every area of her life.

Q: Favorite story in the Bible?
A: I enjoy most of the Old Testament! It’s so hard to choose. I’d say that my favorite read is when the Children of Israel were delivered from their captors in Egypt and lead into their promised land. There are so many life lessons throughout their journey!

Q: Who are some Captivating Women in your life that we need to know about?
A: My friend Lena. I love Lena. I really do. She is so creative and such an inspiration! If you met her, you’d love her just as much as I do! She is the Founder of Farmhouse Frocks (@farmhousefrocks) and to me, she’s a walking model of faith!