Hello, I'm Tonoa Manuel, Founder, Curator, and Lead Strategist at SIYG Consulting Firm... I'm a native of Denver, Colorado, currently residing in Aurora, Colorado with my family, but infused with a little Midwest swing. I lived in Colorado the first 15 years of my life and now the past six. 13 years of my life I spent in St. Louis, Missouri, and I were definitely molded by hustle, determination, and will! The impact of what I saw as a child, and the environment in which I was associated with, allowed me to quickly see disparity and lack of equality. I understood that I was not the only one who dealt with the struggles of self-esteem and self-love, I saw that something needed to be done and opportunity could be provided for all those that wanted and needed. I began working on myself in order to pour back into the communities that made me who I am and what I wanted to become. With over 10 years of experience in Project Management & Risk Mitigation, in both the private and non-profit sector, I've taken the things that I've learned over time and built the foundation of SIYG. I hold a Masters in Criminal Justice, combined with a B.S. in Project Management Administration. I've designed workshops for organizations geared towards professional development, sharpening of social & emotional skills, and assisted organizations in understanding their strategic framework and operations.

Having the privilege to work with organizations like the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, AYA Foundation, MBSK Colorado, Mentor Colorado, Black Business Initiative, Crowley Foundation, and CU Boulder, to name a few, has allowed me the opportunity to create a space where accessibility and sustainability of my community remains priority. SIYG Consulting Firm had the opportunity to showcase how society can bridge the gap with our differences to elevate and grow to the next level, with a Community Mapping Experience at TEDXMileHigh: Humankind in June 2019, and now sits on the Exhibits Board. Her proudest moment was being selected to facilitate a workshop called, "Merging Intersections: How Understanding Identity Strengthens Match Relationships," at the 2020 National Mentoring Summit in Washington, DC. She is also a staunch community advocate and supporter of small businesses and community! Tonoa has had the privilege of working with organizations across the country as well as in the UK. She has recently completed the Urban Leadership of Colorado Leadership Connect, a 10-month leadership program for leaders of colors. She finished her fellowship at the top of the class being honored with the Distinguished Graduate Award which is voted on amongst fellow cohort members as well as the Richard Lewis Rising Star Award for Leadership and Excellence. Tonoa has recently been pre-selected for her Doctoral Degree in Global Leadership and is looking forward to beginning that journey in fall of 2023, after completing a certification from the Global Design Thinking Academy in Amsterdam in June of 2023.