We were lucky to catch up with KENNETTE J. BURGESSS, MBA recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, KENNETTE J. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

Good day, wow these are some great questions and I could have chosen them all to answer , however since it’s Mother’s Day and a year since my father’s passing, I think it’s time to focus on parents influence in my life.

My parents were /are amazing! They may not have been able to salvage their relationship, however, they were able to do something many co-parents can’t do, get along for the betterment of their child. This was to the point that many people to my father’s death, thought that my mom and dad were still together. This is because they were always together getting along at my events, school functions, business endeavors ,etc. But this is not the main thing as an entrepreneur that I believe that has impacted my life, the main thing they did right was allowed me from a young child to be a self-thinker, problem solver, and not spoiled (work hard, chores) ie responsibility . These skills are what fuel me today as an intern, worker, manager and now entrepreneur. I was a very rebellious child and still adult, but in a good way. I dont follow the crowd, and do things my way. My parents both did this great, whenever a decision had to be made, or corrective behavior, they never forced me or told me what to do (for the most part where it matters), instead, they painted the full picture, gave me the scenarios, possible consequences, etc and allowed me to make a decision. They new that if they merely told me to do something, I may have did the opposite but by encouraging me to listen, think, problem solve, see into my future with the decisions I make as a child , they matured me in so many ways to be more responsible, a child entrepreneur, financially astute, and a real leader.

KENNETTE J., before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My bio here https://www.getwithfocus.com/who-we-are.php

how you got into your industry ? I was born to be in business coming from an entrepreneurial family, and I was a born marketer having to help my family with their businesses from young from creating their logos, business cards and giving advice on signage. Many don’t know, but my parents are both naturally gifted marketers, they never went to school for it, but they have the brilliance to know how to be successful in this industry for their singing groups, church functions and family charity efforts. They nurtured my business and marketing schools by encouraging me to do internships, volunteer work, and work for all my family enterprises.

what you think sets you apart from others? While there are many marketing consultants, business coaches, designers etc, I believe what sets me apart is the following: 1. strategy, i put strategy behind everything 2) detail oriented, my clients must take me into a deep-dive of their business so I can fully help them succeed 3) personality: very customer focused, friendly but yet very direct, i keep consultations 100% letting clients know the real deal about being an entrepreneur. Last thing 4) I put God behind my business!

What are you most proud of? I am excited to be one of the first full time female entrepreneurs in my family, both sides. I have many entrepreneurs in my family, but I am the only one that is full -time. That may not seem as a big deal, but when you grow up as a female only seeing males run businesses full time, and women do hustles or do full-time only for a few years and go back to 9-5 jobs, it’s not encouraging. Yes, I knew I was going to always be an entrepreneur, and have been since elementary school. However, part time vs full time hits differently.
I am also proud that i was able to go full time during the height of the covid pandemic when many businesses were failing, people losing their jobs and the world was in disaster mode. I teach my clients, the same principles I taught myself to be successful in their first years and to grow their business or for seasoned clients launch new products/services locally/globally.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

As a marketer/designer, I had been designing for my clients, my clients encouraged me to launch a clothing design branch and with confirmation from God, I did just that. My clothing brand is Distinct Apparel. I knew how to design, but launching a clothing line was a whole learning curve. Learning the difference between fabrics cotton vs polyester, vinyl vs sublimation printing, finding reliable manufacturers etc. I launched strictly with the POD business model, then expanded to source manufacturers to create products with me. I hated the vendor sourcing part, I made some bad decisions and got ripped off from some. You live and your learn. Vendors is an ongoing process for product businesses like mine, it never ends because issues arise, businesses close down, demand increases, pandemics happen etc. Having contracts, sticking to countries you are familiar with live or have presence is ideal. Partnerships are about trust, so building trust takes time. Diversify vendors always, never put all your eggs in one basket!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I am a global virtual marketer, two key markets are Bermuda and North Carolina, USA. In both markets, my many awards won, my school affiliations, networking and making headline news helped me build my reputation within the markets. In Bermuda also, my family reputation as good reliable business people gives me an edge.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.getwithfocus.com/who-we-are.php
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mydistinctapparel/ and https://www.instagram.com/getwithfocus
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyDistinctApparel and https://www.facebook.com/getwithfocus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennettejburgess/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/71908325
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5WEmqpKbw4&lc=UgxKyRw3wC2KVPolylZ4AaABAg