The Power of Connection: How a Wrong Number Led to a Meeting with the First Lady

Drag artist Priyanka meets with Arya Ali, First Lady of Guyana

Sometimes, the most impactful moments happen by accident. Last year, in January 2024, I accidentally dialed Joel Simpson, the Executive Director of SASOD Guyana. What started as an impromptu conversation quickly turned into something much bigger.

Joel has an incredible network, and by the time we finished our call, we had the foundation for an event that would far exceed our expectations. By December 2024, the event had sold out, and Priyanka—an international drag artist and longtime friend I knew from my work at Drag Academy—was making headlines across the country. She appeared on every major TV channel, sharing her story and amplifying the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Guyana.

The momentum kept building. Our work caught the attention of Arya Ali, the First Lady of Guyana, and we had the opportunity to meet with her. This meeting was a testament to the power of influence—how the right connections, strategic action, and a bit of serendipity can create ripple effects beyond what we ever imagined.

This experience reinforced a vital lesson: we all have influence, and when leveraged effectively, it can drive real change. Whether you’re an individual, a business, or a nonprofit, your networks and relationships hold the potential to create lasting impact.

That’s why we created the Sphere of Influence workshop—to help organizations like yours identify and harness their power to drive meaningful change.

Are you ready to equip your team with the tools to maximize their influence? Let’s start the conversation. Contact us today to bring the Sphere of Influence workshop to your organization and start making an impact.