Today we’d like to introduce you to Darshay “Shay Willz” Williams.
Hi Shay, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been a creative person at heart, but over the years I realized I didn’t want to limit myself to just one path. My journey has been about building multiple brands and businesses that reflect different parts of who I am while also helping and inspiring others along the way.
I started by pursuing entrepreneurship and learning how to create opportunities for myself instead of waiting on them. One of my earliest businesses was Express Labs LLC, a mobile phlebotomy company I launched in 2019 focused on bringing convenience and care directly to patients. From there, I continued expanding into other industries including media, branding, content creation, and public adjusting.
Today, I’m the founder behind several brands and creative projects including Networking With Shay Willz, Boss Friend Collection, Empire Claims & Recovery Group, and Boss Friend Studios. Through these businesses, I provide services like website creation, videography, workshops, creative coaching, and public adjusting for property owners navigating insurance claims. I’ve also written books, created educational products, and developed original film and television concepts.
A big part of my story has been learning how to keep going even during seasons of uncertainty, growth, and reinvention. A lot of people see the finished product online, but behind the scenes there’s been a lot of sacrifice, learning, trial and error, and faith involved. I’ve had to teach myself many things, step outside of my comfort zone, and stay committed to my vision even when things didn’t happen overnight.
What motivates me most is inspiring others to believe that they don’t have to fit into one box. You can be creative, business-minded, ambitious, and still remain authentic to yourself. I want people to see that it’s possible to build something meaningful from your ideas, your story, and your passions if you’re willing to stay consistent and keep evolving.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think the challenges are a big part of what shaped me into the person and entrepreneur I am today.
One of the biggest struggles has been learning how to build multiple businesses and creative projects without always having a blueprint or a huge support system behind me. A lot of what I know came from self-education, trial and error, research, and simply being willing to figure things out as I went. There were moments where things felt overwhelming, especially trying to balance entrepreneurship, creativity, personal responsibilities, and financial pressure all at the same time.
Motherhood has also played a huge role in my journey. I’m a mother to two teenagers and a kindergartener, so balancing family life while pursuing my goals has required a lot of discipline, sacrifice, and time management. There were times I had to work on my dreams late at night, wake up early, or pour into my businesses while still making sure I was fully present for my children. Being a mother taught me resilience in a completely different way because no matter how tired or discouraged I felt, I still had people depending on me to keep going.
Another challenge has been staying confident in my vision during seasons where progress felt slow. Social media can make success look instant, but in reality, building something meaningful takes consistency, patience, sacrifice, and resilience. There were times I questioned myself, dealt with setbacks, or felt discouraged when things didn’t happen as quickly as I hoped. But I kept reminding myself that growth takes time.
I’ve also had to overcome the fear of stepping into new industries and wearing multiple hats. Whether it was launching a mobile phlebotomy business, becoming a public adjuster, creating workshops, writing books, or developing film projects, each new chapter required me to push past fear and trust myself enough to learn.
One thing I’ve learned through all of it is that obstacles don’t necessarily mean you’re on the wrong path. Sometimes they’re preparing you, teaching you discipline, or helping you grow into the next version of yourself. Looking back, even the difficult moments helped strengthen my mindset and made me more intentional about the work I do today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I do is rooted in creativity, entrepreneurship, and helping people bring their ideas to life. I’m the founder behind multiple brands and businesses including Networking With Shay Willz, Boss Friend Collection, Empire Claims & Recovery Group, Express Labs LLC, and Boss Friend Studios. My work spans across content creation, branding, videography, website creation, workshops, writing, film development, and public adjusting.
I specialize in helping people turn their passions, ideas, and visions into something tangible. Whether it’s through creative coaching, educational workshops, branding services, or storytelling through film and media, I enjoy creating things that inspire, educate, and empower others. I’ve also developed digital products, written books, and created workshops focused on content creation, self-publishing, and entrepreneurship.
As a creative, I’m especially passionate about storytelling. Through Boss Friend Studios, I’ve been developing original screenplay and television concepts that reflect emotion, suspense, culture, and real-life experiences. I love creating stories that feel authentic and relatable while also entertaining people.
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I’ve continued building, evolving, and pursuing my vision even while balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. Being able to continue growing multiple businesses and creative projects while still showing up for my children means a lot to me. I’m proud that my children are able to witness firsthand what persistence, creativity, and faith look like in real life.
I think what sets me apart is my willingness to step outside of the box and not limit myself to one lane. A lot of people feel pressured to choose one identity, but I’ve embraced being multifaceted. I’m equally passionate about business, creativity, storytelling, and helping others grow. I also try to remain authentic in everything I do. I don’t want to only show polished success — I want people to see the real journey behind building something from the ground up.
At the core of everything I create is the desire to inspire people to believe in themselves, take chances on their ideas, and understand that growth is possible even if your path looks different from everyone else’s.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is knowing that I’m growing into the best version of myself while also being able to inspire and provide for my family along the way.
As a mother, some of my happiest moments are simply spending quality time with my children and watching them grow into their own personalities. So, life is always full of different stages, personalities, lessons, and memories. No matter how busy entrepreneurship gets, those moments with my kids remind me why I work so hard in the first place.
I’m also happiest when I’m creating. Whether it’s developing a business idea, writing a screenplay, building a brand, creating content, helping someone bring their vision to life, or simply seeing one of my ideas come together, creativity gives me a sense of purpose. I love the feeling of starting with nothing but an idea and watching it slowly become real.
Another thing that brings me happiness is growth — not just financially or professionally, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I’ve learned that happiness for me isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, peace, purpose, and becoming more confident in who I am.
I also genuinely enjoy motivating and encouraging other people. A lot of what I create is rooted in wanting others to believe in themselves and understand that they’re capable of more than they think. If my journey, my transparency, or my work can inspire even one person to keep going or pursue their dreams, that means a lot to me.
At this stage in my life, happiness looks like balance — being present for my family, continuing to grow as a woman and entrepreneur, creating meaningful work, and building a life that aligns with who I truly am.
Pricing:
- Website creation services starting at $250
- Videography + editing packages starting at $50
- Digital products & educational content starting at $20
- Mobile phlebotomy services starting at $115
- Boss Friend Collection apparel starts at $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shaywillz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shay_willz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darshayshaywillzwilliams
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shay_willz
- Other: https://www.empireclaimsandrecoverygroup.com
