Photo Credits: Gerd Altmann from Pexels
This series is all about diverse entrepreneurship, but Jelly Social has a different and broader definition of diversity, one that highlights the uniqueness of individuals. To us, there are two forms of diversity to us: inherit diversity (age, gender, race) and acquired diversity (education, knowledge, skills, experience, values). Using inherited and acquired diversity can help us to realize all the different ways we are diverse. This week, we are talking to expert Kimesha Walters on her journey as a diverse entrepreneur!
What makes Kimesha Diverse?
As a diverse entrepreneur, shed some light on yourself, the work you’re doing and maybe some of the things that make you diverse!
I’m a strong, driven, and, powerful black woman and that’s something I remind myself of every single day! I’m Jamaican, raised from humble beginnings in rural Jamaica. Professionally, I have a background in journalism and have been in the communication field for over a decade. I was recently elected president of the Clarendon college alumni association here in Toronto, which means I’m leading the charge for my alumni association to give back to my high school in Jamaica. I love to travel and adventure because I feel one of the most amazing ways to learn about people and cultures is to immerse yourself into different countries and contexts which gives you an appreciation for what is beyond your tiny world. I even have a clock in my room that says “adventure awaits” which reminds me to give the very best that I can, extending even into my business by integrating communication to help my clients find their paradise. I have so many big visions for expanding what I do across the Caribbean, Canada, possibly North America as well because I’m passionate about giving back to my community! I see where the black community and audiences can really use the support and that drive to really push us forward.
Obstacles on her Journey
Thinking back on your journey to becoming the person that you are today, what would you say was the biggest obstacle to overcome? Could be a professional obstacle, a personal obstacle, a mental obstacle, an emotional obstacle.
There were quite a few things that I had to overcome but I would say one of the main things is just to remember that life is not meant to be lived in a comfort zone. I’ve excelled from an early age so when I got into school in Jamaica, we were more advanced in some ways that gave me an advantage when I got to Canada at around 8 years old. I was reading all these words and remember the teacher saying that I need to slow down and say the words individually since other students were struggling. One of the things that drew me into communications was when one of my teachers took the stories I wrote in class and read them to the class and to other teachers, so I knew if I read and wrote well then people are sharing it. I got similar feedback in high school which lead me to journalism, and subsequently the communication field but all of this taught me to step out of my comfort zone. If I did not step out of my comfort zone at each level, then I would not be where I am today! The only way to advance is to step out of that comfort zone which I did when I came to Canada about 3 years ago, which is hard to believe since I’ve done so much while continuing to step out of my comfort zone. I must remind myself every step of the way I am ready to play bigger because it’s not where life ends and there is so much more to be accomplished. I have a vision board with so many things that I haven’t picked up which excites me since life is an adventure and I’m going for it.
Tools to Stay Motivated
When it comes to your work, are there any helpful tools, techniques, or resources that you think might be helpful for that?
When I travel around, even here in Canada, I see people that are not motivated and are not doing anything. I don’t know where to credit it to, maybe that early journey I referred where I saw the benefits and beauty of having advanced knowledge of growing of learning. It has paid off time and time again along my journey so I don’t know if there will be a day that I could just give up and not do anything because it is innate to me, so I try to ride it out any rut I find myself in. Regardless, it comes back to that passion of wanting to do something bigger and move forward is fuelled by the content I consume. I remember Bob Proctor mentioning cybernetics during his talks; an airplane is a cybernetic mechanism so when it takes off, the pilots could realistically go to the back of the plane and sit down to chat and have a meal since the plane is automatic. If anything happens like the plane getting bumped off course, automatically it will come back on course because of the cybernetic mechanisms we set up. I like to believe I have that same type of mechanism inside of me because regardless of what is happening around me, I will always come back to be motivated and driven because it is at the core of who I am. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Kimesha's Advice: Be True to Yourself
As if you were to have a conversation with your younger self, what type of advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to be more confident and to own everything that you are. Even though I’ve excelled, there were many times in my life where I felt like I’ve dimmed my life for other people. When I was about to move to Canada, a friend of mine sent me a video about stepping out and owning who you are. The speaker in the video mentioned that a teacher said to them that they should not speak in front of people or can’t do it, yet the speaker went on to have so many best-selling books! I watched the video a few more because it still resonated with me since I remember teachers making similar types of comments about my writing to put me down, but I rose above that. That video also connected me to other people, which had another lady that said a memorable quote that I follow to this day: don’t give your life for someone, give them shades and have them deal with it. Over the last year, I feel that I’ve adopted this narrative of “I won’t stop what I am doing just because you don’t like it” which is incredibly empowering and helps keep me going.
Speaker's Specifics
Kimesha Walters is a Public Relations expert that has created an impressive portfolio from working with big names while managing her own brand. She is a go-to for all things PR and Influencer Marketing! See how she can help your brand tell its story by visiting her website.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and personal Instagram, or check in with business Instagram to get insight into what she is doing!
