Bringing the Reverence Back to Black Womanhood
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MEET ZHATEYAH
Tailoring a Movement for God & Restoration
Zhateyah YisraEl is an economist, media founder, and cultural strategist building platforms at the intersection of storytelling, economic development, and social transformation. As the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of SISTAH Magazine, she leads a multimedia publication and community ecosystem dedicated to restoring narrative power, visibility, and economic opportunity for Black women.
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With a background in economics, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, Zhateyah’s work is rooted in reimagining traditional systems through an abundance-based framework—challenging scarcity-driven models that have historically limited marginalized communities. Her approach blends economic theory with real-world application, designing platforms that not only inform, but activate communities toward ownership, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
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Her expertise in marketing and branding has driven the development and scaling of startups, small businesses, and multi-sector organizations, with a focus on building cohesive identities, high-conversion campaigns, and infrastructure that supports long-term expansion. Through her company, Z Branding & Business Solutions, she has helped organizations clarify their vision, amplify their messaging, and achieve measurable growth across digital and physical markets.
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Beyond business, Zhateyah’s work extends into cultural journalism and social experimentation through initiatives like Our True Colors, a docuseries and media platform that explores identity, perception, and societal dynamics through real-world dialogue and behavioral insight. Her work bridges media and activism—using storytelling, data, and community engagement to address issues such as economic disparity, representation, social cohesion, and policy impact.
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At the core of her mission is a commitment to building infrastructure—not just content—that empowers individuals and communities to move from visibility to viability. Whether through editorial platforms, business ecosystems, or economic models, Zhateyah is focused on creating systems that cultivate collective advancement, innovation, and cultural preservation.
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THE ORIGINS OF SISTAHMAG
SISTAH Magazine was born out of the deeper mission behind Sistah, Reclaim Your Image! (SRYI)—a call to restore how women, especially Black women, see themselves in a world that profits from distortion.
I wrote SRYI to confront the misrepresentation of womanhood, challenge harmful cultural narratives, and guide women back to identity, discipline, and spiritual alignment. As the movement grew, it became clear that one book wasn’t enough—there needed to be a living, breathing platform where these conversations could expand, where stories could be reclaimed in real time, and where visibility could translate into power.
SISTAH Magazine became that platform: an extension of the movement, designed to restore narrative, build community, and create pathways for economic and cultural transformation.
SHOP THE COLLECTION
Experience, Impact & Infrastructure
A body of work rooted in building systems—not just stories. From media and branding to economic development and research, my experience spans creating platforms, scaling organizations, and designing solutions that drive measurable impact. Each role and project reflects a commitment to transforming visibility into power, and ideas into sustainable, real-world outcomes.
WRITTEN WORKS
LOCAL NEWS &
EVENT COVERAGE
“Stop Gentrification Through Ownership”: Inside a Powerful Conversation with Charlotte’s Black Developers
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​At a Charlotte forum, Bobby Drakeford, Todd Collins, and Shawn Kennedy broke down the real path to wealth: ownership. From $13K homes to 700+ affordable units, they showed how land and policy shape who benefits from growth. But one truth stood out—real estate remains white male-dominated, with few Black women at the table.
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SOCIAL COMMENTARY & OPINION
The God Complex: Power, Perspective, and the Fine Line Between Mercy and Destruction
From an aerial view, humanity shrinks—its chaos quieted by distance—but on the ground, every life feels urgent and irreplaceable. This tension reveals a deeper truth: perspective shapes how power is used. From divine narratives of destruction to everyday acts of indifference, what appears just from above can feel like devastation below. True wisdom lies in holding both views—recognizing our power while remembering our fragility.
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READ MORE →
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Colorism & Reverse-Colorism: The Feud Between the House and Field Nigga
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Centuries after slavery, the feud between the “house” and “field” still lingers in our DNA. Colorism and “reverse” colorism are not natural—they’re the offspring of a system built to divide. From the Willie Lynch blueprint to modern media, Black women of every shade have been pitted against one another. But healing begins when we see each other not as rivals, but as reflections under the same moon.
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INTELLECTUAL & RESEARCH
A Ouija Board in the Bible? Exploring the Uriym & Puuryim of the Israelite Priests
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What if the Bible contained rituals we’d call “witchcraft” today? From sacred stones to casting lots, the Uriym and Puuryim reveal a deeper, often ignored truth: spirituality in Scripture was interactive, symbolic, and powerful. This piece challenges modern fear-based narratives and invites readers to rethink faith, ritual, and their direct connection to God.
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Curse or Bless God? Examining the Words of Job's Wife.
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What if Job’s wife was never telling him to curse God—but to bless Him? This piece reexamines the Hebrew translation of her infamous words, uncovering how mistranslation and bias may have shaped her legacy. Through deeper study, her voice emerges not as evil, but as a human response to unimaginable suffering—challenging how we interpret Scripture and women within it.
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EXPERIENCE
BRAND DIRECTOR
Z Branding & Business Solutions​
I lead branding, marketing, and infrastructure development for startups and scaling organizations,
with a focus on driving economic growth for underrepresented communities.
Through strategic campaigns and system design, I’ve helped generate over $400K in client revenue, produced 1.3M+ media plays, and built digital ecosystems generating $20K+ annually, transforming brands from visibility gaps into scalable, revenue-generating entities.
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FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SISTAHMAGAZINE​
I founded SISTAH Magazine as a multimedia platform and community ecosystem designed to restore narrative power, visibility, and economic opportunity for Black women. Through editorial storytelling, strategic partnerships, and scalable media infrastructure, I’ve grown a platform reaching 6.5K+ subscribers and distributed across 100+ cultural hubs, positioning SISTAH as both a publication and a pipeline for cultural influence and economic empowerment.
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EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR
The KOE Foundation ​
I led operational strategy, branding, and partnership development to remove systemic barriers within marginalized communities. By redesigning infrastructure and campaigns, I increased donor engagement by 230%, generated $4K+ in donations within 3 months, and built marketing systems that produced 15K+ leads and 700+ members, strengthening both reach and sustainability.
SENIOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR
MARSH MCLENNAN/MERCER
I optimized internal workflows and branding systems for enterprise-level clients, improving operational efficiency and delivery performance. My contributions supported a 99% on-time delivery rate and enhanced cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring high-quality execution across multiple client accounts and large-scale service initiatives.
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AUTHOR
SISTAH, RECLAIM YOUR IMAGE!
I created SRYI as both a literary and social movement to challenge harmful narratives and guide women toward identity, discipline, and spiritual alignment. Through books, social experiments, and workshops, I’ve cultivated a platform that not only educates but transforms—producing measurable shifts in self-perception and community dialogue among Black women.
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FOUNDER
AHRS​​
I designed and launched a fully digital national food pantry to address food insecurity through accessible, tech-enabled systems. By building an end-to-end infrastructure for claims, case management, and direct aid, I created a scalable model that increased community engagement and expanded access to essential resources nationwide.
DATA RESEARCH ANALYST
NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY​
I analyzed large-scale data from the Global Terrorism Database, developing a logistic regression model with 88.4% accuracy to predict successful and unsuccessful attacks. My work translated complex data into actionable insights, culminating in a formal presentation to NSA officials—demonstrating both technical rigor and strategic analytical thinking.
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SALES CONSULTANT
BOVANTI COSMETICS
I led client-facing sales strategy for a growing beauty brand, focusing on customer acquisition, retention, and revenue growth through personalized consultations and brand storytelling. By aligning product education with client needs and enhancing the in-store and digital experience, I contributed to increased sales performance, stronger customer loyalty, and a more refined, results-driven sales approach.
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1 hr
Price Negotiable
EDUCATION
2016 - 2020
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina A&T State University
Developed a strong foundation in econometrics, economic modeling, and the analysis of social dynamics shaping economic outcomes. My studies trained me to think beyond surface-level data—exploring how policy, behavior, and systemic structures influence markets, communities, and long-term growth. This academic grounding now informs my work in designing real-world economic frameworks that prioritize equity, sustainability, and collective advancement.
What's Next?
Advancing My Academic Career
I intend to pursue a Master’s in Public History to deepen my ability to research, preserve, and interpret the narratives that shape our collective understanding of culture, economics, and identity. This next step will strengthen my work by equipping me with the tools to connect historical context with present-day systems—ensuring that the stories and data informing my platforms are both rigorous and transformative.
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Long-term, I plan to earn a Ph.D. in Economics with a focus on African American Studies, where I will develop an econometric model that examines the qualitative and quantitative costs of reparations. My goal is to create a framework that goes beyond surface-level calculations—one that accounts for generational wealth gaps, social and psychological impacts, lost opportunities, and systemic barriers. Through this work, I aim to contribute to a more precise, fair, and equitable approach to understanding and addressing reparative justice.
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