Welcome back to Spotlight Hustle, where we celebrate Black women who redefine leadership through compassion, courage, and conviction.
Today, we’re celebrating Gessie Belizaire — creative entrepreneur, certified life and relationship coach, and founder of This Life I Live in Truth and GB Consulting Group.
From Port-au-Prince to the DMV, Gessie’s story is one of deep purpose and divine alignment — a journey guided by faith, shaped by community, and sustained by a belief that healing and hustle can coexist.
Roots and Radiance
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised between Rhode Island and the DC–Maryland–Virginia area, Gessie’s childhood was full of laughter, love, and community.
“I remember summer nights blowing Bazooka gum, belly laughing with friends, and racing home before the streetlights came on,” she says. “Those moments shaped my joy and gratitude.”
The women who raised her — mothers, aunties, and elders — were brown-skinned pillars of wisdom. They taught her that womanhood was not just about survival, but about shine. “They showed me what compassion, discipline, and grace look like — even when life wasn’t easy,” she reflects.
A Divine Wake-Up Call
For Gessie, ambition didn’t come from pressure — it came from a divine directive.
“I remember the exact night,” she recalls. “During my sophomore year of college, I had a dream — and in it, God told me I wasn’t doing enough. That I needed to hustle more.”
That dream became a turning point. From that moment on, Gessie started walking in purpose, not fear.
Answering the Call (Literally)
Gessie’s career began with what she calls a “divine coincidence.” Fresh out of college and low on cash, she answered a babysitting ad. What seemed like a side gig turned into a life-changing opportunity.
After caring for a conference organizer’s child, she volunteered at the event and was assigned to the press room. Her natural leadership caught the attention of a DC representative, who offered to introduce her to professional networks once she started graduate school.
That moment marked the start of a career rooted in social justice, empowerment, and advocacy for Black and Brown communities.
Over the years, Gessie has worked at the intersection of nonprofit, corporate, and community sectors — creating pathways for inclusion, women’s empowerment, and accessibility.
Building Purpose from the Inside Out
In 2019, Gessie founded her business, GB Consulting Group, from a simple conviction: people were existing, not living.
She wanted to help people find alignment — in purpose, partnership, and personal growth.
Through her work as a life and relationship coach, she helps clients uncover what’s blocking them from becoming who they were meant to be. Her events and mixers have sparked three marriages (and counting), but more importantly, they’ve helped countless people build meaningful, purpose-driven lives.
“My purpose is to remind people that they’re not here to let life happen to them,” she says. “They’re here to live it — in truth.”
Faith in the Fire
Behind the polished success, Gessie has weathered her share of storms.
The hardest one? Learning to co-parent after separation.
“It’s not easy,” she admits. “Sharing a child with someone you’re no longer with is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But we figure it out because our child deserves that.”
Her faith is what carries her through. “It’s not my job to decide when my story ends,” she says. “That’s God’s decision.”
Through heartbreak and healing, she’s learned that setbacks aren’t failures — they’re redirections. “I used to see disappointment as loss,” she reflects. “Now, I see it as preparation.”
Living by Ubuntu
One of Gessie’s greatest strengths is her belief in Ubuntu — “I am because we are.”
“It means that our humanity is bound together,” she explains. “When we’re in community, we can hold others and allow ourselves to be held.”
That philosophy flows through every part of her work — from her coaching sessions to her Partnership to Prosperity Seed Grant, which supports small Black-owned businesses across the DMV.
For Gessie, representation isn’t just visual — it’s spiritual. “It’s the mirror that reflects possibility. It’s seeing someone with your story, your skin tone, your rhythm — and realizing, ‘I belong here too.’”
A Day in the Life
A typical day for Gessie begins with morning prayer, praise, and worship. Then meditation, movement, and intention-setting.
Her schedule blends creativity and care — meetings, coaching sessions, rest, reflection, and family time. “Balance is a myth,” she says. “What matters is knowing what needs your priority today.”
Her three must-haves?
- Calendar – because structure creates freedom.
- Phone timer – because discipline is self-respect.
- Daily planner – because intention without action is just imagination.
Wisdom from Gessie
To her younger self:
Slow down. Be present. Stand ten toes down.
On success:
You don’t have to work around the clock. Hustle has seasons — but rest is routine.
To women in business:
Ask for what you deserve without apology. And if you can’t ask, create it yourself.
Why We Love Gessie’s Story
- She’s teaching us that faith and strategy belong in the same sentence.
- Her work builds community from the inside out.
- She’s not just talking about living in truth — she’s modeling it.
Looking Ahead
When asked what’s next, Gessie smiles. “Whatever God has for me,” she says. “Use me, Lord.”
But her impact is already clear. Through her Partnership to Prosperity Seed Grant, she’s helping small businesses across the DMV stay rooted and rise strong.
Gessie Belizaire’s story is a reminder that purpose doesn’t start when life is perfect — it starts when you decide to live it in truth.
Rapid Fire Round (Fun + Real)
- Coffee or tea? Tea all day!
- Morning person or night owl? Night owl — that’s when the magic flows.
- One word for this season? Spring.
- Podcast you love? This Life I Live in Truth (shameless plug — and deservedly so).
- Mantra: “This life I live in truth.”
- Favorite physical activity: Calisthenics workouts.
- Discipline hack: Do what I say I’m going to do.
Join the Movement
The conversations didn’t end at the Summit. They’re shaping the future, and you’re part of it.
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