Today we’d like to introduce you to ShaElla Askew.
Hi ShaElla, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m from Birmingham, Alabama, and funny enough, I have not always been a social butterfly. I was actually really shy growing up. I was the type of person who somehow knew everybody but also felt like I knew nobody at the same time. I was everywhere, paying attention, watching how people connected, how groups formed, and how information moved.
Social connection always intrigued me, even before I had the confidence to fully participate in it myself.
I really became more comfortable talking to people through call center work. Having conversation after conversation with complete strangers forced me out of my shell and taught me how to listen, communicate clearly, read people, and adjust my approach depending on who was on the other end of the phone.
I have talked to someone stressed because they were struggling to pay a $20 T-Mobile bill, and I have talked to a billionaire who was annoyed that he even had to call in about a fraud alert on his American Express Black Card. Two completely different worlds, but both people deserved the same level of respect. I learned how to meet people where they were, understand what mattered to them in that moment, and communicate in language that made sense to them.
I did not realize it then, but that became one of the most important skills in my career.
From there, I found my way into communications and community engagement, particularly in education. I spent several years with New Schools for Alabama, where I worked with schools, families, founders, and communities across the state. That work taught me that communication is not just about putting information out. People have to understand it. They have to trust who it is coming from. And most importantly, they have to feel like they are actually part of the conversation.
While working full time, I was still taking on social media and communications projects on the side. That eventually transformed from Hashtag Consulting to Hashtag Consulting Pros. What started as social media management grew into something much bigger because I realized my clients did not really need someone to simply post for them. They needed someone to help them figure out what they were trying to say, who they needed to reach, how to build trust, and how to turn their work into stories people could connect with.
Today, I work as a communications and community engagement strategist with schools, nonprofits, founders, and other mission-driven organizations. I help organizations tell their stories, strengthen their visibility, engage their communities, and move people to action.
More recently, I also founded Can I Askew? Foundation, which focuses on helping families in under-resourced communities break economic and educational barriers through digital literacy, responsible AI education, and community-based learning.
When I look back, it is kind of funny that the shy girl who used to quietly study how everybody connected ended up building a career around connection.
But honestly, I think that is exactly why I do this work the way I do.
I listen. I notice things. I ask questions. And I have learned how to talk to people from very different backgrounds without making anyone feel like they are less important than the next person.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. A lot of the road has been me figuring things out while I was already moving.
One of the biggest struggles was building a business while still working full time. For years, I was doing communications and community engagement during the day, then coming home and working on client projects at night. There were plenty of 2 and 3 a.m. nights where I was writing strategy, creating content, answering emails, and trying to figure out how to grow something I had never seen anyone in my family build before.
I also had to learn that being good at the work and running a business are two completely different skill sets. I love strategy, storytelling, and connecting with people. Sales? Not my favorite. Pricing myself correctly, creating systems, managing cash flow, delegating, and learning when to say no have all been lessons I had to learn in real time.
There have also been moments when I felt underestimated or overlooked, especially as a Black woman doing communications and strategy work in spaces where people may initially see “social media” and not understand the level of strategy behind it. I have had to become more confident about explaining my value and letting my results speak for themselves.
And then there is life. I am a wife, a mom, a grandmother, a business owner, and usually involved in some community project at the same time. Learning that I cannot personally carry every part of everything has probably been one of my biggest lessons.
The road has not been smooth, but every difficult season has forced me to get clearer about who I am, what kind of work I want to do, and the kind of business I am trying to build. I am still learning, but I am much more intentional now about building something that can grow without requiring me to do absolutely everything myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hashtag Consulting Pros?
Hashtag Consulting Pros is a communications and community engagement consulting firm that helps schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations tell their story, build trust, and connect with the people they serve.
What we specialize in is the space between communication and community. A lot of organizations know what they do, but they struggle to explain it in a way that people actually understand, care about, and respond to. That is where I come in. I help clients with strategy, social media, storytelling, enrollment communications, websites, branding, community engagement, campaigns, and training.
What sets me apart is that I do not believe communication starts with posting. It starts with understanding people. I pay attention to how families think, what communities are concerned about, what questions are not being answered, and where trust may be missing. Then I build the strategy around that.
I am probably most proud of the fact that my work has produced real results. I have helped schools grow enrollment, strengthen their visibility, increase community participation, and tell stories that helped families feel more connected to the mission. I have also had the opportunity to work with founders who are literally building organizations from the ground up, and I love being able to help shape how those organizations show up in the world.
Brand-wise, I am also proud that Hashtag Consulting Pros feels like me. It is professional, but it is not stiff. It can be strategic and still have personality. We can talk data, enrollment, communications systems, or crisis strategy, and still make room for humor, culture, and real human connection.
I want readers to know that I am not just a social media manager. Social media is one tool. My work is really about helping organizations become clearer, more visible, and more connected to their communities.
At the end of the day, I want people to feel something when they interact with a brand. I want them to understand the mission, trust the organization, and know exactly how they can be part of it.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think one of the biggest mistakes organizations make is assuming people understand what they do just because the information is out there. They don’t always. People are busy. They are overwhelmed. They are trying to make decisions with limited time and sometimes limited access to information.
That is why I care so much about clear communication, community engagement, and making information feel human.
That same belief is also what led me to create Can I Askew? Foundation, which focuses on helping families in under-resourced communities break economic and educational barriers through digital literacy, responsible AI education, and community-based learning.
And through Hashtag Consulting Pros, I continue helping schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven leaders strengthen how they communicate, tell their story, and connect with their communities.
I am also opening a limited number of strategy sessions for leaders who know something is not connecting but need help figuring out where the gap is.
At the end of the day, whether I am working with an organization or a family, my goal is the same: make the information clearer, make the connection stronger, and help people move forward.
Pricing:
- Strategy Sessions: Starting at $100
- Social Media Management: Starting at $1000/month
- SEO-Optimized Websites: Starting at $2,000
- Workshops & Training: Starting at $750
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hashtagconsultingpros.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HashtagConsultingPros
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaellaaskew87/
