Cheers — Dominique Sensabaugh

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anais Nin

A dynamic businesswoman, a devoted wife, and a loving mother, Maria Shianette Tolbert is the epitome of strength, grace, and grit. Known to me and so many others as Shia, she is our superwoman in the flesh.

I admire a plethora of strong women -some for their commitment to pursuing their careers, others for their ability to thrive in the home as a wife and mother, and many for their dedication to making a positive difference in their respective communities. Shia represents this powerhouse trifecta, equally excelling in all three of these areas, yet she still can slay and inspire women around her to be their best selves. Shia allows her God-given light to shine and unapologetically vibrates on a higher level.

This San Diego native, with her chic yet functional style, is always on the go. From 5 am, crushing a kickboxing class at Rockbox Fitness (hence her banging body), dropping off her babies in the carpool line, successfully running two of the hottest fitness studios in Charlotte, her journey to this boss babe femprenuer is inspiring.

In early 2018, Shia started her workout regimen as a member at Rockbox. Fast forward to 2021; she is now a multi-owner of one of the hottest workout facilities in the county.

Becoming a business owner has many hurdles in itself. Still, Shia's dedication to physical fitness and wellbeing is what gave her the courage to become the co-owner of both Rockbox Blakeney and Rockbox Southpark, all during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May of 2020, during the height of quarantine, when many of us were binge-watching Netflix, overindulging in Uber eats, and sleeping in, Shia was busy working out every single day and keeping her mind focused on owning her gym. Of course, entrepreneurs understand that navigating the unpredictable trials of opening a new business, which in itself invites a daily dose of storms in your life, is difficult, let alone without a pandemic creating chaos. But her faith and persistence are a testament to who Shia is as a leader; when she sets her mind to bring something to fruition, she works relentlessly to fulfill her goals. This quality is her superpower. She is driven and determined and will give anything to see those around her win.

I am a firm believer that iron sharpens iron, and Shia and her husband, NFL Legend Mike Tolbert, make a dynamic team. It is refreshing to see a young couple being a prolific role model for others amongst managing their personal and professional roles. With their three beautiful children, Shia and Mike are intentional about raising well-rounded, mannerable, and driven children. Her passion as an entrepreneur spills over into serving in her marriage and excelling as a mom.

Without further ado, I introduce to you my dear friend, sister, and boss babe businesswoman, Maria Shianette Tolbert.

DOM: Do you have a motto or mantra you live by? MOMivational MOMtra or AffirMOMtion.

Shia: "Be still" from Psalms 46:10. I have this tattooed on my arm as a great reminder to myself when I feel overwhelmed or anxious. Having three kids and running around the place between preschool, dance, basketball, and soccer practices. I sometimes need to slow down, breathe, pray, and be still.

DOM: Who has inspired you to be courageous?

Shia: My mother. She lost both her parents in the same year, right before she gave birth to me. I look at her and think, "Wow, I have no clue how she did it all." I have always hoped to be half the mother she is to my brother and me. Now that I have my children, I experience how much of an amazing grandmother she is to my babies, which is so special to me. She has always shown me great strength to smile and give myself some grace even in the most difficult of times.

DOM: How do you maintain your identity? With parenting and work/goals, etc.

Shia: I have always turned to fitness to keep my body not only healthy and fit but for my mental health as well. Exercise is a vital part of my everyday routine, juggling between kids, our business, hectic school and sports schedules, etc. I find that when I start my day with even just a quick workout, I feel more energized, productive, and not as guilty if I want to indulge in something sweet, ha! I also love to have a night out with other girlfriends and moms who need a day or night off to just recharge- whether it's a spa day to get mani-pedis, massages, or just getting together for dinner and drinks.

DOM: If you had one superpower, what would it be?

Shia: I've always said I wish I had the power to teleport. I'd love to be able to teleport to different places in the snap of a finger. I'm always trying to find a way to make it to every kids' event, practice, or game, especially when they coincide with one another. Unfortunately, that isn't always possible, so my gracious husband and I divide and conquer who goes to what.

DOM: What does it mean to leave a legacy?

Shia: To me, leaving a legacy is beyond just going an X amount of money. I feel like many people focus too much on that, don't get me wrong, wealth and how we create it, use it, and how much of it we leave plays a critical part in leaving your legacy. However, our values will ultimately shape our legacy, as they define who we are as people. Instilling those values in our children help guide my husband and me in our decisions in every aspect of our lives. We want to be remembered as people who lived beyond ourselves, giving back to others and making an impact on their lives. "The legacy you leave is the life you lead."

SPEED Round

DOM: Biggie or Tupac?

Shia: I'm a west coast girl, so Tupac all the way

DOM: What gangsta rap song do you sing in the shower?

Shia: Keep ya head up or California Love by Tupac

DOM: Favorite power ranger?

Shia: Yellow ranger

DOM: Fill in the blank: Beyoncé is...

Shia: BFF Dominique Sensabaugh, haha no, but Beyoncé is the Queen B of entertainment for real.