“The Purpose Driven D.I.V.A.” 

Shalena D.I.V.A. Broaster is an anti-bullying expert, certified life coach, speaker and the author of “Fire Your Friends: A Woman’s Guide to Becoming Her Own Best Friend.” She has shown thousands of women and girls how to discover, invest, value and appreciate their God-given gifts and talents.

CHILDHOOD

Shalena D.I.V.A.  grew up in a rough neighborhood in South Philadelphia where young men were senselessly murdered, including her oldest brother. She saw first-hand how drugs can destroy communities and families, especially her own. At the age of 4, she witnessed her father try to kill her mother one night while fueled on drugs. After years of IV drug use, her father became infected with HIV and eventually lost his battle with AIDS.

Throughout most of her childhood, her stepfather sold drugs  which always put her family directly into harm’s way. At the age of 12, Shalena D.I.V.A. was held at gun point as a rival drug gang kidnapped  her stepfather. Eventually her stepfather was taken down by Federal agents and sent to prison. This shattered her family life.

EDUCATION

In spite of the lack of positive role models in her life, Shalena D.I.V.A. found the courage to hold onto her dream of attending college. She was accepted to the University of Pennsylvania and awarded the Philadelphia Mayor’s Scholarship—a fully funded, four -year scholarship. However, she attended Duke University instead where she was awarded The McGaughey Higgins Scholarship, also a four-year scholarship. She ultimately earned a degree in Political Science and graduated from Duke University in 2001.

CAREER 

Upon graduating from Duke University, Shalena D.I.V.A. worked for a Fortune 500 company until March of 2006. She left to pursue empowerment work–her true passion! Shalena D.I.V.A. now lives her life passionately as an anti-bullying expert, motivational speaker, author and certified life coach. She conducts empowerment workshops through programs like Passion Academy and D.I.V.A. Academy, empowerment programs for women and girls.