Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Watkins

Hi Victoria, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

Today, I’m a lawyer, investor, tea curator, and author. I probably only planned to be half of those. I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for almost as long as I can remember–though the type changed here and there. I loved writing, especially poetry in junior high, so I could have figured I might be an author, but investor and tea curator were not on my radar. Thank God for dream jobs you never dreamt! While at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I studied Consumer Economics & Finance, excitedly awaiting law school. At the time, I wanted to be a transactions lawyer–interesting, because I’m there after an appreciated detour in government. When I got to law school, as many lawyers know, the 1L was tough! I wondered if I’d done the right thing. This was after my Dad tried to convince me to major purely in finance in undergrad. Sigh.

Once I took Property Law and got to learn about intellectual property, I was hooked. I started taking everything from Business Law, to Theater Law, Trademarks & Copyrights, Law and the Mass Media, etc. with a plan to be a fashion lawyer–a niche which was emerging at the time and really getting the attention it deserved. I was working full-time at Kraft Foods during law school, so I was able to get great corporate experience during the day, and my legal education in the evening. I received my acceptance letter to law school and my offer letter from Kraft on the same day, so there was no way this wasn’t the answer for the next step in my life.

Following law school, I continued in the fashion law space, speaking on panels, advising designers, and launching the B.A.F.F.LE.D. Blog (Business Advice, Fashion Facts, Law & Entertainment Domain). I also started working in government in a State Representative’s office. It was a great experience and led me to work for the Illinois House Democrats on their legal team. I had no plans to be in government, but there I was. I enjoyed drafting and counseling on the legislation which would–or maybe wouldn’t–become the law of my home State. It was invigorating and completely changed the trajectory of my career. I then went to work for the City of Chicago in the Mayor’s Office–the opportunity of a lifetime. I was so proud and thankful to work on behalf of the City I love and the people making it marvelous. I served as Legislative Counsel, Deputy Director over State Government Affairs, and then, Senior Advisor. I reflect so fondly on this time in my life. When it was time to leave the City, I knew starting Joy & Magic and promoting Little Valarie & Her Big World of Options was a must. I thought I’d do civic engagement consulting along with it, but got a great opportunity to be Chief of Staff to the Founder, Co-CEO, CIO and Chairman at Ariel Investments. Funny enough, my Dad encouraging me to major in finance was coming back to my mind. I thought I wanted to get into entrepreneurship right then, but I remember my Mom telling me how amazing and life-changing the role at Ariel could be. She was so right. I worked there for 4 years, learned so much, and realize now, working for the Founder was even more of a lesson in entrepreneurship than I realized while I was there. It was in starting Inrichmint I found many of the things I saw him do from that role come into play for me. At Inrichmint, we find unique and meaningful opportunities for investors to place capital in private businesses, with returns, integrity, and inclusion as our guiding principles.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

For the most part the road has been smooth when I look at it from a big picture perspective. I know I am greatly blessed to have the path, community and network I do. My relationship with God is central to this. It’s always worked out for me, even when the moments or times were tough, unexpected, or very much unlike what I preferred to experience at the time. I never planned to work in government. I wanted to be a fashion/creative industry lawyer, remember? But working in government changed the trajectory of my career and my life. Some of my best friends have come from that work, and I know things I would have never dreamed. I came away with remarkable mentors and life experiences I treasure and still find joy in–and laugh about! I didn’t want to go deeply into finance because I was clearly misguided about what law school was about, especially the first year. But not only did I get to dive into finance from a municipal lens, but also at an asset management firm. I had no thought I’d start a financial consulting practice, though entrepreneurship had been in the back of my mind for a while. I fought it initially as an option to leave government, and even at the start of my time at Ariel. What’s great about how things have worked out so far is that I get to still work with creatives, working as counsel and consulting them on IP and investing issues. The investing part I didn’t have years ago! Now, I get a little extra excited when fashion/beauty/sports companies come across our deal flow. I get to be near government as a pop-up advisor (lol!), and I see how paths may take wild or weird turns, but still take us to where our hearts will be.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Inrichmint?

Inrichmint is a private investment deal sourcing consultancy, helping investors find fitting opportunities to place capital. We invest with integrity and inclusion, not only looking, obviously for business to generate returns for our clients, but also growth, or “enrichment” of their networks. We’re looking to enrich them both financially and personally. We focus our work on high net worth individuals, families, and current and retired professional athletes looking to make investments of interest, generate returns, and grow generational wealth. We find the deals, do all of the diligence to be sure the opportunities are ideal to pursue, and create connections for both financial and sweat equity to activate. It’s such a fulfilling role; hearing and learning about Founders is exciting, and opening up great opportunities for investment for clients is beyond rewarding.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?

My relationship with God makes me happy. My family makes me happy. They’re my original and constant source of love and laughter. Loud laughs will always happen when we’re together. My friends make me happy. They’re my second source of love and laughter, and absolutely the family I’ve chosen–although the un-chosen one is great, too! Helping others makes me happy; it warms my heart. I’m happy growing and promoting Inrichmint, teaching people more about the ins and outs of private investing which they hadn’t been exposed to before. I’m happy drinking and selling Joy & Magic Tea and getting Little Valarie ready for book #2!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://inrichmint.com
• Instagram: @inrichmint_invests @victorianroyalty @joyandmagic_tea @littlevalariebigworld
• Twitter: @vdub_esq
• Other: https://joyandmagictea.com https://littlevalariebigworld.com https://adeptesq.substack.com/