I’m Brooke Gladden—a human capital consultant and small business owner with a decade (and some change) of experience in contract and freelance work. Over the years, I built a career in creative production and diversity hiring initiatives for companies like Amazon, Citigroup, and Ketchum. I’ve also co-managed more than $4.6 million in federal staffing contracts for agencies like the USDA and FAA.

Outside of consulting, I own The Real Bourbon Street—a hospitality venture in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. It promotes tourism by celebrating culture and bourbon through a collection of short-term rentals along the Bourbon Trail.

I earned my bachelor’s degree from Howard University and hold a graduate diploma from the University of Oxford. These days, I’m a proud wife and mom of two, with work in Washington, DC, and New York City, and a business based in Kentucky. I value introspection, real connection, and the occasional nudge from the esoteric side of life.

This site is a space to share what lights me up and how I live and to (hopefully) build a sense of community along the way.

My babies, Nola and Tut, are my audience and inspiration.