Anna Nyakana, creator of the Niyah Zuri series, joins Shannon Allen on this episode grownwoman for an empowering conversation about identity, resilience, and rewriting your story through purpose. Born in Germany to Ugandan and Moldovan parents, Anna shares how her family came to America with two suitcases and a dream… and how struggle shaped her calling.
From classical music to publishing rejection letters to building a children’s media empire, Anna reveals how she turned pain into power. She unpacks the meaning of “Niyah Zuri” (“beautiful purpose” in Swahili), the fight for authentic representation in children’s books, and why she walked away from major publishers who wanted to whitewash her characters. Anna speaks candidly about racism, colorism, immigrant identity, and the mindset that helped her build a best-selling book series, animated film, curriculum, and global impact from scratch. If you’ve ever questioned your voice, your worth, or whether your story matters, this segment is for you. Anna is the walking proof that nothing is impossible when you live for your purpose.