Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to India Barnes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi India, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later
If I could go back in time, I would not have started my business sooner as I wasn’t ready. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that God aligns our steps. If I had started sooner, I would have probably given up because running a business is complex and challenging, and I wasn’t aware of my calling at the time, so it would’ve been no reason to keep going.
I officially started my business on November 25, 2020, but I had the idea months prior. Before starting my business, I had many short-lived but meaningful careers. These careers increased my skillset and even pushed me into what I am doing today. For example, during my last job, one of my coworkers asked me, as we were doing our workplace complaining, “Have you ever thought about being a teacher?” After we talked more about teaching, she helped me realize I should’ve been a teacher all along, something I had wanted to do since childhood but always found excuses not to pursue. Fast forward a few months later, I quit and pursued my master’s in education. During my first week in the teaching program, I knew I finally found my passion and calling on earth to teach in some aspect. The following year the pandemic hit, and I was still pursuing my degree. I remember one of my relatives asked me if I could tutor her children online, and that is where I got the idea of being a freelance tutor. However, I am a future-oriented, big-picture woman, so I started thinking grander. I remember I had received tutoring on a platform similar to mine. I also had been talking to some of the teachers in my program about supplemental income, so I thought I would create an online-only tutoring platform that connects students with tutors in any subject matter, so I did just that.
I have since rebranded and changed the model of my business. We now connect students with certified teachers to assist with homework, provide test strategies, and increase students’ motivation.
India, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is India. My grandmother partially raised me in Detroit, MI. I am formally and informally educated. I graduated from the University of Michigan – Dearborn with a B.A. in Behavioral Science in 2016. In May of 2021, I finished my M.A. in Elementary Education from Mercer University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA consistently. I am currently studying to receive an Ed.S in Instructional Technology to enhance my skillset as the CEO of Online K12 Tutors. I am a 4th-grade teacher in a metro Atlanta school.
As the CEO of Online K12 Tutors, I am brains and muscle. I wear many hats in my organization. I currently manage human resources, sales, recruiting, marketing, and more. The problem we solve for our clients is providing them the opportunity to increase their knowledge through 1:1 instruction by certified educators beyond the classroom, which puts many restraints on the learning experience.
I am most proud of my resilience and ability to keep going despite the complexity of my vision. Additionally, I am proud of how much knowledge and skills I have acquired on my journey as a CEO.
Any advice for managing a team?
When managing a team, you must remain humble and lead with integrity. So many managers think to lead is to be bossy or controlling, but a true leader knows being people focused is more beneficial. My advice is to consider the people, take their advice, and let them offer input. It’s not all about you, and it never should be. The manager should be at the bottom of the pyramid, and the people at the top.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I learned that everything would not happen as soon as you execute it and that building a brand takes mistakes, failures, and time. However, these mistakes and failures gave me a better brand identity. My mistakes made me step back, reflect on my business practices, and ultimately enhance them. These lessons have helped me experience significant personal and business growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onlinek12tutors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlinek12tutors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onlinek12tutor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/OnlineK12Tutors
Image Credits
Canva, Shuttestock