Page 14 - Tracy Anderson Magazine | Spring 2021 Issue

A RECLAIMING

OF WORDS

Meet the truly phenomenal Meena Harris.

“How do we love Meena Harris? Let us count the ways…” year I’m becoming more and more Phenomenally Meena.
From her early Phenomenal founder days and declarative I’m also a mother of two. My 8-year old daughter,
statements of “I’m an entrepreneur, b*tch” on graphic Penny, is excited to get her hands on your new
tees, to now social-media-savvy businesswoman, and book, Ambitious Girl. Penny’s favorite author is Ezra
constantly reinventing that “same vibe, different day” Jack Keats. Did you have a favorite author when you
energy—we are lifers. Harris has taken her upbringing were growing up?
surrounded by ambitious women and infused it with her I don’t recall having a favorite author, but I do remember
education to continuously adapt to where she can take specific books that really stuck with me. Although there
action, like with her most recent endeavor, Phenomenal were far fewer children’s books when I was growing
Productions—a full-service creative production house up that centered Black characters, my family made a
that produces videos, social content, design, and point of finding them and emphasizing powerful images
creative products for nonprofits, foundations, causes, and messages that centered communities of color and
and companies. She has found her lane swerving from multiculturalism.
a New York Times best-selling author to becoming an
Instagram viral hypewoman for every one of us, and I read in one of your interviews that according to
that’s after achieving her law degree. Did we mention that the School Library Journal, only 10 percent of the
she’s a mother and also niece to the first Madam Vice characters depicted in children books were Black,
President, Kamala Harris, on top of all that!? And yes, the 7 percent Asian, 5 percent Latinx, and 1 percent
immediate family is always inspiring her advocacy, which Native American. And that this was a big reason
she transforms from BTS magic to infuse her voice and why you wanted to start writing children’s books.
products out into the world. What advice would you give to others to encourage
them to change these unacceptable statistics? What
All this to say, we’re honored to share Tracy’s interview advice from all of your experience is the best way to
with Harris. Here, she provides deeper insight into her encourage young authors?
passion and drive, including the risk-and-reward dynamic In 2018, there were as many kids’ books with animals as
when it comes to forging paths in both life and career. main characters as there were books with Black, Asian,
Latinx, or Native American main characters combined.
You’ve truly turned potential into excellence That same year, only 21 percent of children’s books were
throughout your impressive career, being a mother written or illustrated by people of color. It’s outrageous.
of two, Harvard-trained lawyer, tech powerhouse, After learning that, I could hear my grandmother’s voice
founder and CEO of Phenomenal, a truly inspiring saying, “Well, what are you going to do about it?” So I
activist, and author. At what moments in your life wrote a book myself! If you see something in the world
have you felt the most “Phenomenally Meena”? that needs changing, or think something needs to be
I think that we’re most phenomenally ourselves when created, don’t be afraid to take that leap. You never know
we’re trusting our instincts and taking leaps, even if it feels where it will take you.
scary. For me, that has happened a few times in my life— Your mother’s story is one of great strength. I find
Courtesy Meena Harris Woman T-shirt back after the devastating 2016 election, as I get older I have started to sound a bit like my
turning rage into action by creating the first Phenomenal
mom. As you parent your two girls, what parts of
taking the risk of leaving my job in Silicon Valley to turn
your mom do you feel are most present in your
Phenomenal into a full-time endeavor, and giving birth to
parenting?
my two amazing daughters. I’ve always marched to the
Since the day they were born practically, my partner and
beat of my own drum, but I feel that with each passing

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