The Need To Shift!

Black women are navigating perimenopause and menopause, often without the resources or support they need. Studies show Black women experience menopause almost a year earlier and with longer-lasting, more severe symptoms than White women. Yet, despite this, only about 7% of women ages 45–51 ever receive a documented diagnosis, leaving many to struggle in silence.

Nia Sip & Shift Experiences exists to change that. We create safe spaces where purpose meets celebration, offering women the chance to learn, share, and heal together. By partnering with local businesses, we curate group wellness activities—like tea tastings, movement, or relaxation practices—combined with guided conversations led by fellow women and trusted medical professionals. This approach ensures women not only feel seen and supported, but also leave with tools, knowledge, and community to confidently navigate life’s transitions.

Rooted in Intentional Sisterhood + Wellness + Traditional Support

  • Nia

    purpose (from Swahili & Kwanzaa principle), grounding it in culture, intention, and meaning.

  • Sip

    something social, intimate, and nourishing (tea, wine, mocktails). Creates a ritual of slowing down.

  • Shift

    transformation, minset change, life transition especially midlife/menopause as a purposeful evolution.

Meet the Chief Curator

Melissa Tarpley is a seasoned marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in customer engagement and product industries. As a Black mom navigating corporate spaces, she has expertly transferred her hospitality marketing and business management
skills into empowering her community.

Melissa’s background spans roles at prestigious 4 and 5-star hotels, as a podcaster, and as a meeting and event planner for a Fortune 1000 company. She currently serves as a Community Program Manager at Evanta, a Gartner company, where she helps C-Level Executives build relationships and engage in thought leadership.

Her dedication to community extends beyond her corporate career. She is an active member of the Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, and serves on the board of Lambda Upsilon Sigma Charitable and Educational Foundation, which supports scholarships for the Collin County Community.

A mother and wife, Melissa balances her corporate work with her family life, raising her son and advocating for Black motherhood. She co-hosted “Mahogany Momology,” a podcast addressing the unique experiences of Black mothers, and holds a Bachelor’s in Hospitality and Tourism from San Diego State University and a Master’s in Management from National University.