We caught up with the brilliant and insightful ADRIENNE FIGURES a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

ADRIENNE, appreciate you joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

My first client(s) came through social media, flyers, and word of mouth. I was hosting my first event in 2018, and I started contacting as many people that I knew. The turn out exceeded my expectations…lol

I hosted a vision board party for young girls within the community, and things began at that moment. I wanted girls to know they belonged, and I started finding creative ways for them to feel special. Diamonds in the rough is not only my business, but it’s my baby!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My story has a unique beginning. Lol.. At the age of 10 years old, my 5th grade teacher brought in one of her former students to speak to our class. She came in to encourage us and to inspire us to follow our dreams. No matter how small they were. I remember at that age saying “I want to be able to come back one day to encourage children to be who God has called them to be!” God has a way of bringing your dreams to the forefront. My 12th grade year, I found myself going into one of the local elementary schools and tutoring the students in Spanish.

Fast forward to 2008, my mother was in the hospital battling cancer, and I remember God telling me that I would one day mentor and coach young ladies within the community. At that time, I was very insecure and shy. I knew that was not the path I wanted to take. However in 2011, I started mentoring and tutoring in my former 5th grade teacher’s classroom as well. I knew then that’s where my business would begin to form. I began tutoring students within the whole school. The excitement of the children’s faces when they learned new things academically, inspired me to keep pushing because I didn’t know what was ahead of me.

In 2018, after running from my calling, I finally decided to pursue my passion, and that was building up young ladies within the community. My organization Diamonds in the Rough was formed to help girls build their confidence, self-esteem, and find their voices through the creative arts, expression, and faith. I was a young girl affected by childhood trauma, and I want to make sure that these young ladies that come into my path know who they are before society tries to tell them who they should be!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

This is a question that I’ve tried to avoid for many years, but I understand that it’s my truth and it’s why I’m called to do what I do. Between the ages of 12-14 years old, I was molested by someone close to me. It was in that moment I lost my voice. I became this young girl who would speak up for herself and became very insecure. My innocence was taken from me, and I didn’t understand why. After years of being promiscuous, I knew there was more to me and more God wanted to show me about my story.

I remember my Pastor at the time telling his story, and some things he’s also experienced. I remember being really inspired to no longer live in fear about what I’ve experienced. His story helped me to understand, that I no longer had to walk around in shame because I’m victorious over that situation. From that moment forward, I began seeing myself as a warrior because I was able to say, “I experienced that, but I’m also here to tell my story!”

From there, it helped me to look at some of my other past experiences, and appreciate that I have a story that can really help to inspire and encourage others. I’m no longer a victim but I’m victorious!!!

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I first started my business, we were meeting in person. Children are hands on. When the pandemic hit us in 2020, things changed for us all! I wasn’t sure how I was still going to make things work. I eventually created mentoring spaces through zoom. With the world around us constantly changing, I’m learning that pivoting in business will be a thing for us because the world around us is forever changing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.adriennefigures.com and www.diamondsintherough.me
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/adriennefigures, www.instagram.com/diamondsintherough256
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/adriennefigures, www.facebook.com/diamondsintherough256
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@adriennefigures5
• Other: You can also find my book on Amazon: Crown her Diamond, remembering you are a daughter of a King!

Image Credits
The Commas Agency