About Us

Our Mission

To equip teen girls and women with the confidence, self-esteem, and life skills they need to thrive—through innovative social-emotional learning, trauma-informed support, and career readiness programming.

Our Vision

Chin Up! You Got This! is building a global movement where every teen girl and woman—regardless of zip code, past, or circumstance—can rise with confidence, courage, and purpose.

Our Purpose

 Is to strengthen confidence, emotional well-being, and career readiness in teen girls and women—equipping them with the skills and support needed to succeed in school, work, and life.


January 17, 2015

Walk This Way

Walk This Way Movement

Shakila Stewart founded Walk This Way Movement, Inc. with the mission of empowering women to conquer their fears, overcome obstacles, and build confidence through the art of walking in heels.

walk this way ladies
birth of CUYGT

August 1, 2016

Chin Up! You Got this!

The Birth of Chin Up! You Got This!

Shakila recognized the need for teen girls to hear the same message she was sharing with women about building confidence and self – esteem to pursue their dreams. She started Chin Up! You Got This! Confidence Training Workshop for youth and women, offering tools to conquer fears without the need for heels.

September 27, 2017

Expansion to Los Angeles

Expansion to Los Angeles

After seeing the success of both Walk This Way Movement, Inc. and Chin Up! You Got This! in Chicago, Shakila made the bold decision to expand the programs to Los Angeles. Her first LA Walk This Way Movement workshop was held with the Los Angeles Business Source. Chin Up! You Got This! secured its first contract with Magnolia Science Academy 3, marking its entry into the LA education scene.

ladies in black w heels

August 5, 2019

Book Launch and Continued Growth

Book Launch and Continued Growth

Shakila expanded her message further by publishing her first book, Chin Up! You Got This! followed by Walk This Way into Self-Worth, Your Dreams, and Your Purpose. Between 2019 and 2023, she held book signings and workshops at various Barnes & Noble locations, Schools and Corporate America continuing to spread her empowering message to a wider audience.

April 24, 2024

Southwest Los Angeles College

Impact at Southwest Los Angeles College

While at Southwest Los Angeles College, a young girl shared a deeply personal story with Shakila: her mother had been murdered, and seeing the words, “Chin Up! You Got This!” on display gave her the hope she needed to keep going. This moment, along with the feedback from 15 other college girls expressing their need for positivity, convinced Shakila that her workshop needed to be at Southwest Los Angeles College. Despite not hearing back from staff, Shakila put together a fitness program to raise funds for bringing the workshop to the college.

June 26, 2024

Nonprofit Organization

Official CA Nonprofit Status

The success and encouragement from the women who participated in the program led Shakila to take the next step: establishing Chin Up! You Got This! as a nonprofit organization. Chin Up! You Got This! Inc. officially became a California nonprofit organization, publishing Chin Up! You Got This! Workbook dedicating it to the young girl who found hope in the words ‘Chin Up! You Got This!’ after her mother’s tragic passing.


Shakila Stewart

Founder | CEO

    Meet Our Founder

Shakila Stewart is an Executive Leadership Coach, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and the Founder and Executive Director of Chin Up! You Got This!™, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping girls, women, and families build confidence, leadership, and purpose.

For more than 15 years, Shakila has partnered with schools, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and correctional education programs to equip individuals with the confidence and leadership skills needed to thrive in school, the workplace, and life. Under her leadership, Chin Up! You Got This!™ has empowered more than 8,000 women, girls, and families through mentoring, leadership development, workshops, and coaching. Today, the organization’s digital confidence curriculum, Pathway to Empowerment™, is available through correctional education programs in facilities across all 50 states, expanding access to life-changing confidence and leadership education nationwide.

A first-generation college graduate, Shakila earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from Northern Illinois University, where she studied storytelling, directing, and performance. After training at the John Robert Powers School of Modeling and Acting, she began her career as a nationally recognized commercial print model before discovering her true calling as a Musical Theatre Director and Arts Educator in Chicago Public Schools.

While teaching, Shakila recognized that many young people were not held back by a lack of ability—they were held back by a lack of confidence and a limited belief in their own potential. Determined to change that, she created The SCREAM Project, encouraging students to find their voice and advocate for themselves. In 2015, she founded the Walk This Way Movement, a leadership initiative built on the belief that leadership is a legacy—equipping women to lead with confidence while mentoring and investing in the next generation of leaders.

In 2017, Shakila relocated from Chicago to Los Angeles to expand her impact nationally. That vision became Chin Up! You Got This!™, an organization founded on one simple belief: confidence is not a personality trait—it is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and strengthened.

Today, Shakila continues to partner with schools, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and community leaders to help individuals discover their worth, develop the confidence to lead, and create lasting change in their families, workplaces, and communities.

Her work has been featured on ABC’s Windy City LiveThe Steve Harvey ShowThe Kelly Clarkson Show, and Black Enterprise. She has been recognized as a Woman of Impact by the City of Long Beach and was featured on the cover of Women of Impact Magazine.

Chin Up. Shoulders Back. Happy Face. You Got This!™

    Tanasia Hairl is a dedicated wife, mother of three, and a seasoned professional in the Medicaid field. With a decade of experience at Centene, she has been instrumental in providing essential services to foster children. Beyond her professional endeavors, Tanasia is a passionate entrepreneur and community leader.

    As the founder of Humble Bee & Co., she aims to inspire and uplift individuals through her business. Tanasia is also the driving force behind the prayer group she started called Prayer Confetti, a quarterly prayer group that brings together women in her community for spiritual connection and support.

    DaNietra Hall is a multifaceted creative director, event curator, wealth cultivator, and entrepreneur. As the host of two empowering podcasts, Prosperity of PINK and PINK SocieTea, she creates spaces for conversations centered on purpose, empowerment, and prosperity. 

    A proud wife and mother of two, DaNietra thrives in curating experiences and platforms that inspire growth and connection, blending her expertise in business, creativity, and wealth building.  

    Kristen Kain is a loving daughter of God, wife and mother. She has educated and encouraged children for over 20+ years. Her dedication to the next generation, problem solving and team building has led her into many entrepreneurial endeavors but most importantly to powerful wins for building the next generation through several companies and programs.

Kristen has trained and professionally worked in the performing arts for years and has a heart full of excitement to pass on her experience and knowledge.