A Special Chat with:
Kiara Benschop, Realtor
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Have you faced adversities while beginning your company? If so, how did you overcome them?
While starting out as a Realtor I noticed during open houses I would meet a diverse group of potential clients, But only few wanted to work with me during the home buying process. It didn’t take me much time to realize some people choose to work with a Realtor that looks like them. It was disheartening to learn but, it gave me the fuel to not just sell house but to educate the African American community about homeownership, the ended to end process of buying a home and the benefits investing in real estate. I found that a lot of times our community is misinformed or just don’t have access to the tools and resources to get started. What is your favorite part of what you do? What is the hardest part about what you do? I love educating the community and potential clients about homeownership, building generational wealth, and real estate investing. It’s fulfilling to know that I am doing my part in helping the bride the economic gap within our community. My goal is to inform and connect people so they can have the knowledge, tools and resources to get started. Most times we are our own worst enemy, we either think we know it all or just don’t know where to start or whom to connect with. The hardest part about what I do is having to deal with blatant discrimination I sometimes experience. Whether it’s to me directly with client leads choosing not to work with me because of my race, or fellow agents being rude and unprofessional because I am a young black woman, or having my clients getting lowballed on appraisals due to their race it will always be tough. But I think what matters is how I deal and process with each situation. I never let anyone or any person take me out of character and continue on my journey of educating and bridging the economic gap as best as I can. Looking for you dream home?
Contact Kiara Today! |
Tell us about a woman you look up to and why?
My mother has always been my first role model and someone I’ve looked up to. My entire life I watched her persevere through adverse situations with style and grace. She made being a single mother of three young ladies look easy. She strived to provide a better life for us than she had growing up. She made sacrifices to go back to school, build her career in the corporate sector, and still found a way to make sure we had opportunities to pursue our own dreams and travel at a young age. Her goal was to have a healthy balance of being a mom and friend to us and I think she has done an amazing job raising my two sisters and I. What advice would you give to a woman who is considering starting her own business? To any woman thinking of starting her own business I say go for it! There is nothing better than following your passion and forging a path of your own. Make a plan, set your goals and slay them into action. I also suggest building a tribe of people to keep you motivated and that can be resources to your business or help connect you with them when needed. Just know you can do this and its to okay to ask for help! |
A Special Chat with:
Khalia Deborah, business Coach
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Have you faced adversities while beginning your company? If so, how did you overcome them?
To be completely honest, the difficulties that I faced were the ones that I put in my own way. I was trying to do too much at the same time. I was not investing enough time into mastering my niche, but instead spending way too much time trying to be everyone else. I was mimicking other coaches I saw on social media and following everyone else's strategies but my own. I was given the skills and my purpose for a reason that only I possessed. The day I stopped following everyone else's rules and just tapped into my own authenticity, I began to knock down barriers in my way. Also, being a mother and businesswoman, I felt that I needed to be able to do everything on my own. I was burning myself out and my clients were not getting the best out of me. My family was also getting a sub-par version of me and that was not what I envisioned for my life. As a woman sometimes I feel I need to do everything for everyone, but I do not need to be a superwoman all the time. I started to delegate and hire others so that I could free up more time for myself, my family and more space for me to show up better for my clients. |
What is your favorite part of what you do? What is the hardest part about what you do?
My favorite part of what I do is standing back and watching my clients step into their purpose and ultimately step into a greater version of themselves! It is one of the best things to watch from afar! One of the hardest parts of my job is to let go and let my clients experience some things on their own. Sometimes I want to handhold, but at some point, the coach has to let go and let the client thrive on their own :)
Tell us about a woman you look up to and why?
A black woman in my history that has inspired me is my own mother. Growing up I got the chance to watch my mother raise her children as a single mother and run multiple businesses. She created a life for her children that she did not always have growing up. Watching her run her business, acquire multiple degrees and even become a landlord through many obstacles made me realize that I can pretty much do whatever I set out to do. Even when obstacles present themselves, there is not much that can actually stop you. She has a ministry now in which she created a space to spiritually serve other women. Her heart to serve inspired me to make sure that with the work I do, I need to serve first!
What advice would you give to a woman who is considering starting her own business?
Believe in what you can do before letting the advice of others dictate how you run your business. Trust your skills and trust what God has laid on your life
My favorite part of what I do is standing back and watching my clients step into their purpose and ultimately step into a greater version of themselves! It is one of the best things to watch from afar! One of the hardest parts of my job is to let go and let my clients experience some things on their own. Sometimes I want to handhold, but at some point, the coach has to let go and let the client thrive on their own :)
Tell us about a woman you look up to and why?
A black woman in my history that has inspired me is my own mother. Growing up I got the chance to watch my mother raise her children as a single mother and run multiple businesses. She created a life for her children that she did not always have growing up. Watching her run her business, acquire multiple degrees and even become a landlord through many obstacles made me realize that I can pretty much do whatever I set out to do. Even when obstacles present themselves, there is not much that can actually stop you. She has a ministry now in which she created a space to spiritually serve other women. Her heart to serve inspired me to make sure that with the work I do, I need to serve first!
What advice would you give to a woman who is considering starting her own business?
Believe in what you can do before letting the advice of others dictate how you run your business. Trust your skills and trust what God has laid on your life
Change the trajectory of your life today!