Sisterhood Spotlight

We are thrilled to feature you this Women & Girls Wellness Month. Can you tell us a little bit about your overall health journey and the challenges you have overcome?

My overall health journey has been a long road of learning, growing and being my best self. I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 2007, and in 2009 it became stage four terminal breast cancer. The cancer had metastasized. Doctors gave me three months to live. I was too embarrassed to speak about my cancer the first time, but the second time I had to make a choice: To get busy living or dying.

I chose to live, so I went on a journey of healing. I changed my diet, started to exercise daily, I had a meditation regiment and I did affirmations and manifestations daily. I decided to really thrive. I went to chemo on a faux fur, red pumps and red lipstick. I was going to dress up daily and show up. I was going to live. I asked myself a bigger question. What is the big cancer that’s holding me back from greatness? It was fear. I was not going to let fear hold me back. It was affecting my mental health, anxiety, doubt and depression. So I wrote a book: URAWARRIOR: 365 Ways to Challenge You to a Better Life. I started to challenge myself daily, and that was the day I thought about birthing my mental health app, URAWarrior.

You’re a two-time breast cancer survivor. What would you like to share with Virginia women and girls from your experience battling breast cancer?

I want to share to love yourself. Don’t let social media define you or define how you look and feel. You are special. Stop comparing yourself to other people. We kill our spirit as beautiful girls and women by being defined by what other people think. Be proud of who you are. Be happy about your accomplishments. Believe in yourself. And never, ever, ever give up. Own your power because you are a warrior!

What resources helped you along the way that you would recommend to other Virginia women?

I read a lot of magazines and books. I read Women’s Health. I went to Susan G. Komen’s resources page. I read InStyle Magazine. I wrote my book URAWARRIOR: 365 Ways to Challenge You to a Better Life. I read the Bible. I read and did everything positive to put my mind into a positive space. I read nothing but self-help books to change my attitude and mindset.

What did you learn about mental health through your experience?

I learned that “it’s okay to not be okay.” I learned that so many women and young girls are going through grief, loss, depression, anxiety, doubt and addiction. I learned that so many people struggle with mental health and are too embarrassed to speak up and stand up about it for backlash, and it’s time to start the movement to help “remove the stigma.” That’s why I created www.Urawarrior.com for a safe space to share, learn, motivate and get empowered.

Mental health is real, and childhood trauma is real. Killings and crime are up. The world needs to heal and get better, but we as leaders must do the work in helping make it possible.

You just started a new app on mental wellness! What led to this venture, what resources does the app provide and how can people access it?

What led to this app was that I was looking for a safe space that was positive and uplifting online. I knew the world needed a space where young people could share and not feel shamed. I wanted a community of support and hope. And so I built one. I self-funded this app by myself because my brother and my mother are no longer here, and this is a tribute to them – Bernice and Jerro are my warriors. To learn more, visit www.Urawarrior.com.

About Bershan Shaw

Fourteen years ago, Bershan Shaw was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and given 3 months to live. Now, 14 years later, Bershan is disease-free and has committed her life to empowering women, men, executives, entrepreneurs, politicians and global leaders to find their inner warrior in their career and life and to ‘Step into their Greatness.’ She has appeared on countless TV shows and networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, OWN, News Talk Live, Good Day NY, Fox, Arise, TVOne, News 11 and more.

Nicknamed “The Warrior Coach,” Bershan is a sought-after international motivational speaker, business coach, women’s advocate and author and uses her leadership skills to bring a no-nonsense approach to motivate others. Bershan founded Warrior Training International (WTI) to help individuals and corporations reach their full potential. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bershan realized there was a need for a community to speak, support and empower each other by using their phones. People were depressed, stressed and tired, so she decided to birth a mental health app called URAWarrior, “where UR not alone & you don’t have to suffer in silence.” URAWarrior will provide four pillars to heal the individual: personal development, self-improvement, motivation and support.

Bershan is an industry pioneer in transformational coaching, executive leadership training and diversity & inclusion implementation. She and her team coach execs in technology, consumer products, emotional intelligence and unconscious bias.

Most recently, she can be seen on the Real Housewives of NYC as a Life Coach. Bershan has garnered numerous awards, including the 2017 Woman Whole Life Achievement Award, Business & Leadership of Excellence from Woman Economic Forum and the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award for National and Community Service from the President of the United States. She is a graduate of New York University with a Master’s degree in journalism and business and also earned a certificate there in leadership and executive coaching.