Recognized as part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California and the Cali-Baja region.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
What began as a vision to normalize what success looks like for Black women has evolved into a disciplined, self-funded collective advancing economic power, strategic investment, and community impact. Through shared leadership and aligned purpose, Women of Southeast is building not just visibility, but a system designed to last.
SAN DIEGO, Calif.
By midday, the shift was undeniable.
The aisles were fuller. Conversations were louder. Transactions were happening faster than usual. A steady flow of customers moved through the store, not randomly, but with intention.
Some came in groups. Others arrived already knowing why they were there.
Support.
Visibility.
Presence.
“Pull up. Bring a friend. Let’s show up for our own.”
That was the call.
And people answered.
This was Mob the Block, a collective activation led by Women of Southeast, and in that moment, it wasn’t just an event. It was proof.
Proof that when people move together, impact multiplies.
Proof that visibility can drive revenue.
Proof that community can be activated, not just talked about.
“When vision aligns with trust and strategy, communities rise, voices strengthen, and impact multiplies.”
The Realization That Sparked a Collective
Before the momentum, before the structure, before the public impact, there was a shared realization.
In a city filled with talent and ambition, something still felt missing. Professional Black women were building, leading, and succeeding, but not always in ways that were consistently visible or accessible to the next generation watching.
That gap mattered.
Because what people see shapes what they believe is possible.
Women of Southeast was created to close that gap, not individually, but collectively.
“Women of Southeast was not created by chance, it was built with purpose.”
Founded in 2022, the organization began with a simple but intentional mission: to show young Black women what professional Black women look like in real life. Not as exceptions, but as examples. Not as distant figures, but as something real, present, and attainable.
But as the group came together, that vision evolved.
Representation became collaboration.
Collaboration became alignment.
And alignment became structure.
A Collective Built on Trust, Not Convenience
Women of Southeast did not form randomly.
Seven women came together based on trust, respect, integrity, and real relationships, each bringing professional experience, perspective, and a shared commitment to building something meaningful.
This was never about proximity for visibility.
It was about alignment for impact.
Within the collective, leadership is shared, but each member brings a distinct role that strengthens the whole.
Shatia, as founder and president, helps guide the vision and structure, drawing from a professional background in mortgage technology and financial systems.
Brikia Cephus, serving as vice president, contributes both educational leadership and wellness-centered entrepreneurship through her work as a professor and business owner.
Tyneshia McCauley, treasurer, brings financial discipline through her role as an escrow manager, grounding the group’s investment strategy in real-world financial experience.
Maisha Mahone, administrator, supports operational coordination through her leadership in insurance operations, helping translate ideas into execution.
Maieshia Martin, operations and compliance officer, ensures accountability and structure through her expertise in legal-adjacent processes and compliance.
Aisha Davis, marketing director, leads visibility and outreach, bridging corporate expertise with entrepreneurial perspective to expand the organization’s reach.
Dr. Lagina Scott, community liaison, connects the work to broader systems of care, bringing a medical and community-centered lens to the collective’s impact.
Each member leads within her lane.
Together, they lead as one.
“Seven professional women came together not just to form an organization, but to build a legacy.”
From Collective Vision to Collective Economics
One of the defining decisions the group made early on was to invest in themselves.
Not wait.
Not depend.
Build.
By pooling their own financial resources, Women of Southeast created a shared investment structure focused on financial growth, wealth building, and generational legacy.
That choice established more than capital.
It created accountability.
It created ownership.
It created trust.
But the collective made another defining decision.
They chose not to build quietly.
They chose visibility.
Mob the Block: A Collective in Motion
The energy inside the store wasn’t accidental.
It was coordinated.
Mob the Block, Mob the Business became the organization’s way of translating strategy into action, organizing community members to intentionally support Black-owned businesses through concentrated spending.
The concept is simple.
The execution is powerful.
When people show up together, the outcome changes.
Revenue increases.
Visibility expands.
Community strengthens.
Their first activation, centered on a Black-owned beauty supply store, reflected both cultural relevance and economic importance. The effort was later recognized by The Voice & Viewpoint, but the deeper impact was already clear.
The model worked.
More Than Economics: A Commitment to Community
While economic empowerment is central, Women of Southeast operates with a broader understanding of impact.
Because building wealth is only one part of building community.
Through its annual Single Father Initiative, the collective provides a selected single father with a $250 gift card during the Christmas season, recognizing the responsibility, presence, and commitment of fathers supporting their families.
“We support businesses, and we support families.”
That philosophy reflects the organization’s deeper values.
Support is intentional.
Impact is directed.
Community is included.
Growing With Intention
As the collective continues to grow, so do the demands.
Women of Southeast is now navigating the realities of expansion, seeking sustainable funding, sponsorships, grant opportunities, and increased visibility while maintaining the structure and accountability that define its model.
What makes this phase different is how it began.
This was built internally.
Seven women.
Shared investment.
Shared commitment.
That foundation shapes how the collective approaches growth, carefully, intentionally, and with alignment at the center.
What Comes Next
The next chapter is not about becoming something new.
It is about expanding what already works.
Scaling Mob the Block.
Strengthening community initiatives.
Developing educational programming around financial literacy and investment.
Building partnerships that align with the mission.
Increasing visibility without compromising identity.
Not growth for recognition.
Growth for impact.
Connect, Partner, or Support the Work
Women of Southeast continues to grow as a collective rooted in intention, structure, and long-term impact. Like many grassroots economic empowerment organizations, the next phase of expansion brings both opportunity and challenge.
As the collective scales its work across San Diego, California, it is navigating the realities of growth, seeking to expand its reach while maintaining the accountability, discipline, and alignment that define its foundation.
Current priorities include:
- accessing larger funding streams and grant opportunities
- securing consistent sponsorship partnerships
- expanding marketing reach and platform visibility
- scaling programs while preserving structure and operational integrity
The work is already in motion. The impact is already visible. But sustainable growth requires strategic support. Women of Southeast is actively seeking aligned partnerships, sponsorships, and grant funding to strengthen and expand its initiatives, including:
- growing Mob the Block economic activation events that directly support Black-owned businesses
- increasing funding for the annual Single Father Initiative
- developing structured educational programming focused on financial literacy and investment
- expanding platform visibility through media and strategic collaborations
- building sustainable funding models that support long-term impact
The collective is intentional about how it grows, and equally intentional about who it grows with.
Those interested in supporting, collaborating, or learning more are encouraged to connect directly:
Email
Admin@womenofsoutheastsd.com
Instagram
WomenofSoutheast_SD
Facebook
Women of Southeast
Why This Collective Matters Now
In San Diego, California, where leadership is often framed individually, Women of Southeast offers a different model.
One based in shared ownership.
Shared responsibility.
Shared success.
It demonstrates what becomes possible when:
Visibility becomes strategy
Strategy becomes structure
Structure becomes action
And action becomes impact
But more importantly, it makes that process visible.
Because for the next generation watching. That visibility is not just inspiration.
It is permission.
“Women of Southeast was not created by chance, it was built with purpose.”
This recognition is part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
About the San Diego Standouts Series
The San Diego Standouts Series from San Diego Weekly highlights individuals whose leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and service are helping shape the future of San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
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Profiles featured in the San Diego Standouts Series are selected by the San Diego Weekly editorial team to highlight individuals whose leadership and service are helping shape San Diego and the Cali-Baja region. The Editor’s Choice is for individuals whose impact on San Diego and the broader region is undeniable: the founders redefining industries, the advocates transforming communities, and the visionaries building what comes next. Past and current considerations include civic leaders, nonprofit founders, tech entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, and cultural icons across the San Diego and Cali-Baja region. These editorial recognitions are independent features and honors, there is no fee required to be selected.
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