We recently had the chance to connect with DeeLeww and have shared our conversation below.
DeeLeww, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: When was the last time you felt true joy?
I feel joy often, but one of the most unorthodox times I experienced it was when I got fired from my job. Now, I’m not saying losing a job is something to celebrate—but I have to be honest. In that moment, I felt light, free, and relieved, and I realized just how much stress I had been carrying. I had been struggling with imposter feelings, and the truth was, I was an imposter—doing work that didn’t align with my innate gifts.
What stands out most about that day is that I woke up and asked God to take full jurisdiction over every aspect of my life. Just a few hours later, I was let go. Even though I didn’t know what was next, and yes, there was fear, I couldn’t help but feel joy—because I knew this was God moving on my behalf.
So yes, that is a moment that stands out to me as true joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I first became globally known as the Harlem Globetrotters’ first female DJ and as an author—two identities that shaped me and taught me the power of creative expression. But as I evolve, I realize I am not just one thing. At my core, I am an artist here to create solutions that make this realm better.
My inner work is learning to live with a calm nervous system. My outer work is building experiences and tools that help others access that same calm. The latest expression of this was curating an event for Burna Boy—an experience where I wore every hat and discovered how much I thrive when fully immersed in the creative process.
For me, this is just the beginning. Each project, whether music, writing, tech, or community-building, is part of a larger mission: designing pathways for people to feel, connect, and live with greater ease.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I don’t remember who I was before the world told me who I was supposed to be. The programming begins immediately, and it goes into overdrive once you start school. After 17 years of conditioning in school—reinforced by media and culture—I couldn’t recall my true self.
Eventually, I reached a breaking point. I felt like an imposter, and I had to accept it was because I was one—living someone else’s script. In that realization, I started doing the opposite of everything I had been taught. It led me through depression, but I kept going. I went beyond the depression, down to the root.
And at the root, I discovered me. Since then, I’ve been becoming and discovering—learning to be who I was always meant to be. From me, to me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Man, I almost give up every day. I’d be lying if I said I wake up every day inspired and excited about being an entrepreneur. Some days I wish I could just have a job that tells me my hours, lays out what I need to do, pays me well, and lets me clock out without another thought until the next day.
But every time I’ve worked those kinds of jobs, I either lose my soul or get fired. So I’ve accepted this path. Trust me—it isn’t easy. But it’s mine.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie is perception is reality.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people say, “I can do it because she did.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deeleww.com
- Instagram: deeleww
