VIDEO: Watch Lesson on How to Set Global Goals for Your Business
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of The Digital Diplomat™
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Individuals interested in launching business that crosses country borders and for those pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors. Here’s information and tools to get started and scale. This is an opportunity to understand the global marketplace and how you can create your own lane.
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Whether virtually or in front of large audiences, book me to teach and speak about digital technology and entrepreneurship, job creation, lowering unemployment rates and more. From local to international speaking engagements, I provide nontraditional and innovative ways to activate all listeners.
For Globalists
Engage in projects and missions that impact people from around the world and make long-lasting changes. From addressing youth mobilization to women entrepreneurship in underserved communities, my business and international experiences bring value to any team.
AS SEEN IN
From the Desk
of The Digital Diplomat™
Are You a Producer or a Consumer? Read to Find Out!
Hey there, it’s W.E. DaCruz, from The Desk of The [...]
Transforming Economies Through Digitalization
My work to help launch digital businesses in global markets will create jobs and help lower unemployment rates, especially for the underserved. That’s my commitment.
I thought going to school and getting my degrees would lead me there, but funny enough it was not finding a job and ending up on government support that gave me the conviction I have today to do the work I longed for. This is because for first time, I’d walked in the shoes of the very people I desired to help.
Starting the VGC Group, a global digital tech consultancy, who designs and develops eCommerce platforms and custom mobile apps for entrepreneurs, companies and organizations, was the becoming of The Digital Diplomat. It was not until we had our first African-based business increase sales around the world by 500% did I understand the power of my name.
The vision is to promote economic development through digital technology. And this is what I intend to do. I welcome you to join me along the journey.
Signed ,
Watch Lessons
How to Set A Global Goal to Address
Anytime I speak to someone like yourself or encourage entrepreneurs to think globally, they always ask, “Where do I start? or How do I begin to think globally?” Don’t worry. I recorded a video to help address those questions and get you started right away!
Testimonials
An Inside Look
W.E. is one of those people you know will do incredible things. I worked with her in 2019 through ExporTech, a program designed to accelerate a company’s growth in global markets. From our first interaction, I knew that W.E. was a passionate and driven businesswoman. She was dedicated to the process. I have no doubt she will accomplish anything she sets her mind on!
Natalie Chmiko
Vice President, Int’l Trade at Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Working with W.E for the inaugural African Business Symposium at Michigan State University was fantastic. Her talk centered on supporting African entrepreneurs and it took the audience on a journey that allowed them to imagine themselves using African made products. This simple but powerful image inspired people to think critically about how they engage and support frontier markets.
Gigi Ngcobo
Michigan State University MasterCard Foundation Scholar
Instagram @wedacruz
Where does time go?
Some weeks feel fast and others feel slow. The month of July is almost over. I can hardly believe it. @domdidash and I celebrated 8 years of marriage on July 20th and 21st.
We spent most of our day completing @eatcruzburgers orders (in between me falling asleep randomly 😅). It's just the season that we are in. No fancy trip or event. Just focused. That's been our journey, always sacrificing and committed to delayed gratification for a greater reward in the future for our legacy.
Here's a new family photo. I actually spent time after consulting with my girl @thelifestylecurator planning a whole photoshoot. I booked a makeup artist, hair for Autumn Eve and I, photographer and found the perfect location Eastern Market Partnership. Then, we had a flood the day of the shoot. It was cancelled.
But, I was fine with it. You girl is honestly super tired 😭🤷🏾♀. However, I am big on capturing memories and couldn't imagine not having a maternity shoot for our princess. I quickly pivoted and my sister @l_biney gave me a contact who came to our house. I decided instead to do a lifestyle shoot at the house. Simple and authentic to our season. Just an ordinary family from the East Coast living in a midwest city with extraordinary dreams. I did my own makeup, found all the outfits for the family and wholaa, a beautiful family photo.
It's finally settling in that we are expanding and we will soon be a family of 5. Our baby girl will be born next month as well, almost to the date of our first born Autumn Eve. That means, it's been exactly 7 years since we entered into parenthood.
The number 7 often symbolizes completion or perfection. Genesis tells us that God created the heavens and the Earth in six days, and, upon completion, God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 1; 2:1-2).
We've completed one season and entering into our next level. Thank you for supporting our journey. You know who you are and we love you deeply. 📸 @jlaurenh32
Repost from @eatcruzburgers
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We're currently in the kitchen cooking up some patties to grill outside this weekend. But, we can hardly help ourselves. @Domdidash wanted to eat one right now so we’re using our oven grill.
What you think about the sizzling?? 😋
Pre-orders won’t be out until mid June which means you’ll have it in time for July 4th grilling! Yay!!
Make sure to place your order now. We’ll be fulfilling all pre-orders first before we fill orders after the pre-order period. Visit cruzburgers.com to place pre-order!
What are you doing this weekend? We wanna know! Tell us below.
#cruzburgers #memorialdayweekend #plantbased #meatless #beefless #mushrooms #madeindetroit #grillseason #healthiswealth
Repost from @shesoffscript
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What does it take to go from a recipe to a fully-fledged food product business? In the midst of a pandemic, @wedacruz and her husband launched a plant-based burger patty called @eatcruzburgers. In this episode, she shares her journey with growing the business so far.
We talk about the steps she took to start the business; how to find trusted partners; how to market and more.
In episode 137, you will learn about:
💡Where to start with a food-based business
💡How to brand, market, and sell your product from scratch
💡The two-pronged marketing strategy she uses for Cruz Burgers
💡How they are making Cruz Burgers a household name
💡How much money it takes to bring a product to market
⠀
Full episode *link in bio* Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or say "Alexa, play the She's Off Script podcast" 🙂
Repost from @eatcruzburgers
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We’re officially OPEN for pre-orders!
Use PREORDER5 shipping code to get $5 OFF shipping valid until May 31st or code CURBSIDE for Free Local Pickup at Eastern Market (Michigan Residents Only).
A big thank you to everyone who’s been supporting this new venture.
We have limited stock this time around so be sure to place your order ASAP! 🙌🏾🙏🏾
#meatless #cruzburgers #madeindetroit #plantbased #mushrooms #healthiswealth #flexitarian #meatalternative
L E G A C Y
#cruzburgers #madeindetroit #generationalimpact #parenthood #motherhood #mushroompatties #plantbased #meatless #impossiblefoods #beyondburger #beefless #healthiswealth
I I am Mother because they are Mother to me first.
Thank you to my birth mom Dr. Baaba Forson for choosing me to be your daughter. There is so much to say, but I’ll let my life and life’s work honor your life and the many sacrifices you’ve made for my sisters and I.
To my bonus mom Mrs. Ann-Marie Quansah. You’ve been with me for more than half of my life and have loved my sisters and I as yours from the start. We honor you for that.
To my amazing mother-in-love Ms. Elise DaCruz. What can a girl ask for in a mother-in-love? You’ve taught me so much about my prophetic gift and have led with such grace and anointing. The best is yet to come and I am here to help you manifest all your hearts desires.
To my bonus mother-in-love Ms. Giselle (not pictured), thank you for always thinking of me and the family. And for always welcoming us with open arms.
I love you all so much. Thank you for helping me to rise and shine. Blessed Mother’s Day!
The love I get to receive daily from my Heavenly Father and manifested through my earthly King and Prince. ♥️
It’s the same love we’ve put into our @eatcruzburgers. Not a shameful plug. Honestly. As you mature in life and this faith walk, today and on all holidays (daily), I use it as a time to reflect on how far God has brought us and all the many ways He’s manifested His love in our lives by entrusting us with visions like Cruz Burger.
Whether your out on a fancy date or home cleaning up, so much love to reflect on. Make sure to click link in bio and join our mailing list to find out when we hit the stores!
Blessed birthday to the only man I’m hungry for @domdidash. 🎉
I hope you’re still hungry; it’s going to be a FULL year. Let’s get it babe!
#therealbonnieandcycle #dinningwiththedacruz #cruzburgers #12yearsandcounting #marriagestory
Where do I begin.
It started around this time last year. The Lord called our family into a 21 days Daniel's Fast. Dominique Da'Cruz and I decided to continue the fast for an extended 9 months eating no meat.
During the fast, Naomi Cook and I took a trip to Kampala, Uganda and Lilongwe, Malawi on a 5-figure grant we received from MSU Alliance for African Partnership to teach digital tech and eCommerce to African-based entrepreneurs for Virtual Global Consultant Group. I began to struggle a bit on the fast while away from home but Naomi nudged that I sticked to it.
While in Malawi, I stumbled upon a chickpea meatball dish that I loved. I befriended the chef during our stay and made an unreasonable request for him to turn the dish into a chickpea burger patty and I loved it.
When I got home from the trip, I was excited to recreate the dish and share it with the family. While making it one day, I ran out of chickpea and decided to use mushrooms. Dominique Da'Cruz loved it so much he said, we should take it to market. And so the journey began at that moment. Just months into the pandemic, we had to make a lot of pivots concerning the future of our family ie. homeschooling our children, work life, etc.
In just a few short months, we've developed the concept for a 100% meat-free burger patty that's almost ready to hit the market. From totally renovating our kitchen this summer to branding to building the wireframes of the forthcoming site to securing initial grocery stores, we're just waiting on our MI inspection approval.
We invite you to join our journey to healthier eating as a family. Visit www.cruzburgers.com to learn of the official launch coming soon! #plantbased #detroitmade #blackowned #dacruzfamily #cruzburgers
The picture is blurry. But the vision is clear: God’s love.
I applaud all the families that were organized enough to choose outfits in advance and schedule professional shots.
Us on the other hand, my mother bought the children’s outfits on Christmas Eve. The parentals found matching pieces on Christmas Day in our closets.🤷🏾♀️😅
I told my mother to take a photo and this is what we got. 🤦🏾♀️🤣
We just Keep Calm and DaCruz on ...
Blessed Christmas!
If you can relate, just put a ❤️ below. I probably won’t have this post up for long but I just wanted to let someone know that it’s okay.
Beauty, gratefulness, love and joy is in the eyes of the beholder. To me, this photo is picture perfect because I know what we’ve been through and out as a family and still smile because of God’s love.
A professional photo can’t capture that, only our hearts.
Hi there!
Welcome to my page! I figured, I might as well re introduce myself so that we can become better acquainted.
My name is W.E. Da’Cruz. You know, like W.E. B. Dubois. Not “WE”. It’s exactly as you see, the initials, W.E. And yes, please do give me both my periods when writing it out. 👀Details are everything. 🤷🏾♀️
My friends and family call me Ekua, Kua or Kukua. Others, Wendy or W.E.
Depending on how you refer to me tells me a lot about where and how we met.
2nd oldest of 5 girls. Born in Jersey, raised in Ghana as a child for a bit, but back to Jersey most of my life. Now, I’m currently residing in Detroit with my husband of 7 years @domdidash (but together for more than a decade 🤯☺️), two children Autumn Eve and Geody and our dog, Baylis.
After completing both my masters degrees in 2015, all while getting married and having my first child, I couldn’t find a job and ended up on government support, unemployed. My husband connected me with Naomi. There’s details to that story but in essence I went from her assistant to business partner and cofounder @thevgcgroup. We’ve been in business 4 years now and have traveled around the world speaking, mainly across Africa.
Most recently, my husband and I launched a family venture in the midst of quarantine @eatcruzburgers. Originally called Angel Burger. It’s a plant-based burger patty were in the process of taking to market. Visit CruzBurgers.com to join mailing list and hear of the launch first!
Dom and I are full time entrepreneurs now, teaching our children the ropes. We got into real estate last year after purchasing our first multi family unit of more than 4,000 square ft. Currently, renovating. We’re learning that game too but all while launching a food product.
Yup, we know. A lot.😅 Say, no more ...
Check out my last two IGTV lives to hear details about where we are in the process. I’m inviting you to follow the journey. Our hope is to activate you to create the life you desire too. It’s all about living at the level of your consciousness and never your circumstances. Do quote me when you use that phrase. 😘🙏🏾
Here are some photos from the last few months. Tell me more about you below 👇🏾.
We launched a plant-based burger while in #quarantine. 🤷🏾♀️
We’re bringing all the meat lovers, vegetarians, pescatarians and vegans together at one table.
Hubby aka Chef @domdidash with the grill tonight. 🤯
Full video of his prep and outcome @eatcruzburgers! (Give me a few minutes to post it, enjoying my dinner 😅☺️)
#familybusiness #dinningwiththedacruz #plantbased #detroit #vegan #veggie #blackowned
Swipe LEFT to see final hair cut. This is G at 3! #haircutbydaddy #newlook #3 #beforeandafter
This day is inscribed in my soul forever. Way to emotional with gratitude for a long caption.
But, this pregnancy. This delivery. What it did to my entire consciousness and being. I will always be indebted to you ☀️.
Your name is so fitting. Literally pronounced G-O-D.
You’re a constant reminder that G-O-D is with me, us, our family.
My first ☀️, Geody. Thanks for being my light.
I love you so much. I love you so much ☀️.
Blessed 3rd birthday! 🎉
I’m pregnant.
I’m really pregnant. That’s all I was thinking about in this photo. This #tbt photo was taken three years ago this time; I can hardly believe it.
October is such a powerful month spiritually. My spiritual father @archbishop_jordan has been teaching us about it on his conference calls daily; open to the public so I encourage you to join. He does a much better job breaking down the depth of this than I ever can.
You see, although we’ve been taught that October is the 10 month of the year; it actually means the eighth month and the number 8 represents wealth, new life, and prosperity to name a few. It’s not by chance they call this season, these months the harvest season.
In spite of the havoc that’s going on all around us from social injustices to a global health pandemic, when and if we dig deep into the depths of the spirit, we’re actually in a harvest season. And while everyone wants the harvest it’s actually the most spiritually and physically intense time of the year.
I’m encouraging you to fight past the “labor pains” - literally and birth that baby growing inside of you. We’re all laboring to rise above the challenges in the land, but the only way to get past the pain is to keep pushing.
Ask any woman who’s birth; we know. We defeat the odds of carrying and birthing babies physically so we can encourage you to do it mentally, emotionally, and spiritually too.
It’s time to harvest. If it’s learning a new skill, brushing up on an old, or just being part of a network that can move you forward into purpose, do it. When it comes to business, that’s what we do at #VGCU @thevgcgroup. We’re happy to lend a hand. DM us. Otherwise, just know everything you see me doing is about getting what’s divinely mine.
I’m going to Dubai.
Virtually…😭😩
The reality hit again after I read through the details of the letter. If not for #COVID19, @naomijordancook and I would be on another flight across the world doing what we do @thevgcgroup.
Prior to the pandemic, it seemed like every 90 days, we were packing our bags and off on another adventure, navigating terrains in global business that was foreign for young, black women in technology.
How do we know this? We very rarely crossed paths with other young, black women in technology operating a private sector business in other countries.
While this particular invite didn’t require us to book flights and hotel stays, it did provide the opportunity to build relationships and engage in high-level conversations about global business. It’s the first invitation from the United Arab of Emirates, but it sure isn’t the last.
People ask Naomi and I all the time, “What do you do?” It used to kind of bother us, but then her and I got clear that both of us do a horrible job at sharing our processes and our journey’s. We’re committed to changing that this time around because we know a lot of people depend on us to help them to get to their next level.
But, to answer your question, Naomi and I through @thevgcgroup build businesses online for entrepreneurs, companies and orgs through eCommerce sites and mobile apps. We’re all about helping people build the kind of businesses that generate them wealth and impact people around the world.
Two major lessons we’ve learned on our journey (and there is more) is that:
1. There is nothing to find in life. Everything is a creation.
2. Your consciousness is the first form of currency.
That’s why we launched VGC University to help educate global entrepreneurs around the world. Swipe left to watch video to learn more about how to get involved.
#thevgcgroup #thedigitaldiplomat #exports #ecommerce #diplomacy #covid19 #dubai #ups #womenintech #travel #entrpreneurship
Field trip Fridays; Detroit Historical Museum.
If you’re wondering where I’ve been; me too.
Most days seem like a whirlwind. Re-engineering my life to center around my children’s new homeschooling lifestyle hasn’t been the easiest.
But, in an introspective way, it’s everything my husband and I have always asked for.
We used to pray to God for the kind of life that would allow us to travel the world for business and leisure with our children. And, that’s exactly what God has given us. We just didn’t know it would look like #homeschooling in a #pandemic. 🥴
Nonetheless, we’re getting the hang of it. Although we are prepping to hire a private educator to lead the studies during a bigger chunk of the day, figuring it out - together - has been rewarding.
Learning a lot about myself, my husband and especially my children. People say I make it all look easy. Those kind of comments used to get under my skin because it’s far from easy. It’s just resilience.
But, at the same time, I’m very aware that I do a horrible job at sharing the details of the story. I promise to do better. Until then, I just finished dishing lunch. I need them to take a nap so I can get some peace of mind 😩🤷🏾♀️. I said we’re getting the hang of it. But, I still need my space. 🥴
#homeschooling #detroitliving #momof2 #mompreneur #thedigitaldiplomat
Whew.
How God has been challenging my boldness in this season.
He asked, “Where is your discipleship?”
That rocked me to my core.
He said, “I’ve poured so much into you for years. Are you doing the same?”
I swear I had a list of all these things I thought I’ve done and people I’ve touched to qualify as a good response to answer God.
But, He gave me that silent stare. Like, “Daughter! If you don’t ..”
I got clear He’s been requiring more of me because He keeps giving to me in overflow.
This next season of my life is to release an overflow of information and teaching.
I’m a thought-leader.
It’s time to start acting like because people’s lives depend on me to show up fully.
Whether on the stage like it this in Accra, Ghana or on my upcoming LIVE streams starting October 2020. Thanks for rocking with me in this journey to Becoming The Digital Diplomat.
