Local StoriesSeptember 15, 2025

An Inspired Chat with Ms. Shanelle Burton

Local Stories

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ms. Shanelle Burton . Check out our conversation below.

Shanelle , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with slow mornings and giving myself time to process the task and events of the day. I’m trying to incorporate a morning routine as I’m still working on figuring that out but incorporating slower mornings has helped me organize my recent busy days.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As a native of Nashville. I grew up in Metro Nashville Public Housing my entire life from birth to adulthood in two of the most impoverished, high crime and active gang violence communities in South Nashville “Tony Sudekum Apartments” and in my adolescent years in “Cheatham Place Apartments” located in North Nashville near present-day Germantown and the Buchanan District. I have a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, and a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Business. Im passionate about giving back to my Nashville community. As a woman of FAITH include and reference God in all that I do, for nothing that I’ve ver accomplished would ever be possible without Him. In my spare time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My late father Deacon Ronnell Burton. He taught me the most about work and he’s the reason I have the work ethic I do today along with my grandmother (my dad’s mom) who always tried to help anyone or any organization in need I definitely get my caring heart and good-will from her . My Father, always worked a minimum of two jobs my entire life as he worked to take care of my 4 siblings and I. In my observation of his work ethic as a child, I quickly matured and realized that he would miss many afterschool events and performances due to his work schedule but he always expressed and explained why he was missing it and that’s one of the biggest things I appreciated about him. I definitely grew up a daddy’s girl and in my eyes he could do no wrong. If he could physically be present, he was there and if he couldn’t luckily for him he had a twin brother (my uncle Donnell) that he would ask to show up in his place and majority of the time my uncle showed up confusing people as they mistakenly thought he was my dad lol. I’m forever Grateful to my family and village for their presence when my father or parents couldn’t be there.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
As I mentioned in our previous interview in 2021 upon graduation from Nashville School of the Arts Magnet High School in 2008, I enrolled into Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee as a Freshman. Upon successfully completing my freshman year, I decided to transfer to Tennessee State University my sophomore year to be back closer to my grandmother that was getting older in age to assist her. So ultimately when I returned back to Nashville I would move back into my home with my mom in Cheatham Place Apartments (Public Housing). The summer of my transfer back home to TSU, my grandmother suddenly passed away, and the community and environment that I lived in was filled with on going gang violence. As I tried to remain focused on the ultimate goal of completing my degree and beginning my sophomore year at TSU the sudden event of my grandmother passing as well as the environmental factors of my community made me want to give and I almost did. Until I realized that my only way out of poverty at that time was attaining my degree so I continued to push forward.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think one of the biggest lies is the perception that new realtors have upon entering the industry is that this is a lifestyle industry, filled with luxury, social media post driving clientele and the facade that the job of being a realtor is easy as long as you dress well, talk, network and build relationships and can sell. All of these things are short of what this career path really entails.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Purpose, my ultimate purpose would remain as I operate in purpose alone based upon what God wants me to do and who he has personally assigned for me to assist and or even aside from professional relationships. My personal relationships would attest to my purpose driven lifestyle.

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