February is a time to honor Black History Month and celebrate the remarkable Black women making an impact in the Lake Norman area. One of those women is Sydney Bassard, MSP, CCC-SLP, the owner of The Listening SLP, PLLC. Sydney is a speech-language pathologist whose passion for accessibility, mentorship, and community has driven her to create meaningful change in the lives of families and professionals alike. Here, she shares her journey in her own words.
Empowering Voices
by: Sydney Bassard, MSP, CCC-SLP
When I started my career as a speech-language pathologist in outpatient pediatrics, I loved working with children and their families. But one thing always troubled me—so many parents didn’t have access to the information they needed to make the best decisions for their child’s care. Resources were out there, but they weren’t always easy to find or understand. I knew I wanted to change that.
That’s how The Listening SLP was born. I started my business with a simple mission: to make information accessible for families and professionals without gatekeeping valuable knowledge. I created easy-to-understand graphics and resources so parents could feel empowered, not overwhelmed. What started as an educational platform has grown into so much more. Now, we provide direct services to families, allowing us to have an even deeper impact on the local community. Every time someone reaches out to thank me for a resource or tell me how our services have helped their child, I’m reminded why I do this work.
Of course, the road hasn’t always been easy. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve faced challenges along the way. One of the toughest was navigating a failed business relationship with someone I once considered a mentor. It was emotionally difficult, and for a while, I questioned my ability to move forward. But those hard moments taught me valuable lessons about trust, resilience, and the importance of surrounding myself with people who truly support my vision.
People love to talk about success, but rarely do we hear about the struggles behind the scenes. The truth is, failure and setbacks are part of the journey. What matters is how we rise from them. Learning to embrace my challenges and share my story authentically has been freeing—and I hope it inspires others to do the same.
Now, one of my biggest passions is supporting other women, especially fellow business owners. I’ve been fortunate to have women in my life who have championed and encouraged me, and I believe in paying that forward. I firmly believe that collaboration and resource-sharing take us further than competition ever will. If we work together, we can create a stronger, more supportive community for all women.
If I could leave one message with those reading this, it would be this: follow your heart, even when the path feels uncertain. Trust yourself, surround yourself with people who uplift you, and don’t be afraid to take up space. Your story—every challenge, every victory—matters.
Want to share your story? Email [email protected] to be considered for our guest blogger series!
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