An Inspired Chat with Eldonna Lewis Fernandez of Irvine and Long Beach

We recently had the chance to connect with Eldonna Lewis Fernandez and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Eldonna, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is most important. Intelligence or energy without integrity can be seriously misguided. I am a retired Air Force Veteran and Integrity First is one of the 3 core values of the Air Force and I live by that – doing the right thing even when no one is looking. It’s the foundation everything is launched from in my life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As aa result of our empowering women and educating children programs in Kenya, we help women and children in extreme poverty in Kenya. For the women we help them by teaching them entrepreneurial and leadership skills and to sell their products with dignity. For the kids we sponsor their school fees for high school, college, university or trade school so they can have opportunities and achieve their goals and dreams.

Bio:
Eldonna Lewis Fernandez is a retired Air Force Veteran with a 23-year career as a contract specialist in the Air Force and 20+ years in the defense industry as a Contracts Administrator/Negotiator. She has negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of domestic and international contracts.
Eldonna founded Baskets and Beads Kenya in 2018, which is a micro enterprise incubator that helps women in extreme poverty in Kenya eradicate poverty through developing businesses including fair trade products sold here in the US.

Eldonna has authored two books: Think Like A Negotiator and GoPINK Rules of Engagement. She is a Toastmasters International Accredited Speaker and speaks internationally on the topics of negotiation, self-leadership and the nonprofit work with the women in Kenya.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a result of growing up with 2 abusive alcoholic parents, I believed I was less than and that I would never accomplish anything. My mother constantly put me down.

Based on results (23 year air force career, professional speaker, published author, philanthropist, that proves to be untrue)

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I stopped hiding my pain from myself and realized I was the problem and the solution at that same time. Once I realized I was the solution I did the work to heal and now able to share the steps I took to heal from the trauma I experienced as a child from abusive alcoholic parents and other traumatic experiences as an adult

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes the public version and behind the scenes person are the same. Since I’m a speaker the public me is a more powerful presence.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
During my prayer time in the morning

Contact Info:

• Website: https://BasketsandBeadsKenya.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basketsandbeadskenya/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eldonna/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EldonnaBNB
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@basketsandbeadskenya1344

Image Credits
All other than the one of me speaking credit Dennis E Keyombe https://www.instagram.com/dennisekeyombe/