Today we’d like to introduce you to ShaRhonda Wingo.
ShaRhonda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Mississippi and received both my undergraduate and graduate education there. After becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I started my career as a travel SLP and worked in several states before eventually landing in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jacksonville wasn’t where I originally planned to end up, but after a difficult work experience and then living through the COVID era, it became home.
I actually started Growing Wings Therapy in 2021, but at that point it was just paperwork. I filed the LLC, got an EIN, opened a business bank account, and that was it. I was still working full-time and wasn’t actively building my business.
As I continued working in the schools, I became increasingly frustrated by the lack of support and some of the barriers that prevented me from always doing what I felt was best for children and families. Eventually, I reached a point where I knew I couldn’t keep doing it, so I quit.
I didn’t have clients, contracts, or a detailed business plan. I had a business name, a belief that there was a better way to serve families, and a willingness to figure things out as I went. So that’s exactly what I did.
Today, Growing Wings Therapy serves children and families throughout Northeast Florida through private therapy, daycare collaborations, and school contracts. More recently, I launched STEPP, a fitness community focused on movement and connection. What started as a love for step aerobics has grown into a community where people can challenge themselves, build confidence, and find a sense of belonging.
Looking back, almost nothing has gone exactly according to plan, but I’ve learned that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you get started. Sometimes you just have to move and figure it out as you go.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was the transition from employee to business owner. As an employee, there is usually a roadmap and someone to guide you through all of the processes. As a business owner, you become responsible for all of it.
I was trying to build everything from the ground up while still managing everyday life. The paycheck disappeared, but the bills never did.
A lot of my time was spent trying to figure out what I didn’t know. I attended networking events, built relationships, researched constantly, and invested in courses to learn the skills we weren’t taught in graduate school, like insurance billing and contracting with schools.
One of my first contract opportunities came through Early Steps. It wasn’t the highest-paying work, but it allowed me to continue serving families while creating income and building relationships with other professionals in related fields.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Growing Wings Therapy?
Growing Wings Therapy is a pediatric speech therapy practice that serves children starting at 18 months old. We specialize in early intervention, autism spectrum disorders, speech sound disorders, AAC, and helping late talkers develop functional communication skills.
One of the things that sets us apart is our commitment to helping families better understand how to support their children. We want parents to feel empowered, informed, and confident in the role they play in their child’s communication journey.
We believe in having honest conversations, even when they’re difficult, because our goal is always to do what is best for the child. Many parents come to us focused on the words their child is not saying yet. One of the first things we do is help them recognize the ways their child is already communicating and build from there.
What I am most proud of is the impact. Some of the most rewarding moments have come from simple text messages from parents sharing milestones they weren’t sure would happen. I still remember receiving a video from a parent showing her child saying “mama” for the first time. Moments like that are why I do this work.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I didn’t grow up around entrepreneurs, so a lot of what I’ve learned has come from intentionally seeking out people and experiences that could help me grow.
One of the biggest influences on my journey has been ET the Hip Hop Preacher and the Secret to Success Podcast. I’ve listened to them for years, and they have challenged me to think differently about discipline, ownership, and what’s possible.
I’ve also invested heavily in coaching, conferences, and professional development opportunities. Participating in the Jax Bridges entrepreneurial cohort was a valuable experience, and more recently I attended a business coaching intensive that pushed me to think bigger about leadership, growth, and the future of my businesses.
Some of my greatest growth has also come from being in rooms with other business owners who challenge me, share their experiences, and help me see things from a different perspective.
Faith has also become a bigger part of my life recently and continues to influence how I approach both business and personal decisions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://growingwingstherapy.com
- Instagram: @swingo_Lingo
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/swingo1
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swingolingo
- Other: IG @GrowingWingsTherapy
