We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Kim McNair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Kim, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?
My parents were hard working people. They taught me how to stay focused and if I worked hard and I could have anything I want. My father was a entrepreneur he owned his own mechanic shop with two other technicians in the shop. Through him I learn customer service working long hours and how to manage your time. When my parents divorced I went to live with my grandmother (NANA) she’s called. She showed me how to be a lady (black woman) and how I should act and carry herself like a lady. she said in school they portray the average woman in books and magazines, but not a confident black woman.
What my parents did right? Was making sure I knew I had options and to become the best at whatever I chose to do in life.
Dr. Kim, 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?
Kim McNair Productions is an upscale event planning and production company under the directions of Dr. Kim McNair, Executive Event Planner, we work with corporations, small to med size businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations,
I started Kim McNair Productions by producing my own events, I invested in myself and I needed people to see what I could do. Once people started coming and seeing the quality and professionalism of KMP they ask me if I could produce their events and the doors started opening.
It was trial and error because we want to give a clients what they want, but sometimes its not realistic, or we can suggest something far more better than what they imagined. It comes down to budget and timing.
We always look to save our clients money and workout deals to benefit their bottom line. Its important to know you brand and your value. one specialty with KMP we offer our services A’ la ‘cart. We can produce, manage, handle the front of the house, promote, and so much more.
My other brand is BWEP-Business Women Empowerment Project, Inc. nonprofit organization for women and girls. Our mission is to empower business women with access to resources that explore and expand their business products, services, and brands through a network of knowledgeable and successful achievers. Our vision is to empower women in business with quarterly masterclasses on how to run a business, obtain finance, and get certified; empowerment sessions on marketing, branding, and host an annual Women on the MOVE summit.
In 2020 we expanded to serve girls in the community with our leadership academy for high school girls ONLY ages 14-18. This program is for girls that may not have a clear pathway or direction on where and/or what they want to do after graduating high school.
The training/mentoring sessions help to develop skills for leadership, entrepreneurship, life skills and financial literacy and technology. Our girls are introduced to industry experts that can mentor and guide them to their next level of success. We have a winter and summer session and at the end of the year the current high school graduate that are heading to college, military, trade school get scholarship money to help them further their dreams.
We are proud to announce we currently have four (4) young ladies in college, and two (2) Class of 2022 graduates heading to college in the fall who have completed our program. (Two (2) at an HBCU).
One thing I’m always excited to share is my Annual Women on the MOVE Summit. This year will be our ninth annual summit and we are at a new location, the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, GA. September 15th. It’s a one day conference that has always been themed CollabHERate, Connect and Create.
The Women on the Move Summit is an opportunity to inspire and empower women, by providing a forum to discuss and address the systemic issues facing women today, while pedagogy and encouraging female leaders at all levels. It’s not just a conference, it’s an experience you share with women you can relate to in business.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had to pivot quite a few times in my life and career, once after divorce and relocating to Orlando, Fl. from the NYC/NJ area. This change in my career was from being in front of the camera to being behind the camera directing and producing. When I decided to move to Atlanta, GA it was a pivotal moment it felt like starting from the beginning, but with some extra skill sets. I had to maintain through the stock market and housing crash in 2008-09 in a new state and city. It was very frightening and that’s when I grew stronger in my faith.
GOD kept me through that and I realized He was keeping all along. Every journey I experienced in my life was orchestrated by Him, it took me to get to that point to actual see things differently. So after that all my moves are with faith and perseverance. I started to grow as a business woman and rebuilt my brand in the correct way. See once I understood my purpose and what GOD put me on this earth to do, I understood my assignment.
It was no longer about me and what I could get or gain anymore, it was about HIM and being obedient trusting and believing in the gifts and talents GOD gave me. They were already there however I was not using them in the correct way. Once I made the PIVOT! Things began to start showing up, doors were opening that NO man could shut. I was on a GOD assignment moving toward greatness. That’s what I’m known as the “Woman on the MOVE”.
I’m a servant leader, loyal, authentic, unapologetic and a black woman. Five(5) strong attributes that GOD has blessed me with. So when the pandemic came I had to shift gears and pull on my faith in GOD to get me through and he did, I’m still standings my businesses are thriving and its all because of HIM.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
I might have said this before I started with $500. and a dream. I invested in myself with boots on the ground. I did grassroot marketing flyers, networking my butt off and making sure I was connecting with the right people in my community. ( community leaders, elected officials, decisions makers, etc.)
I used the money I made from my first event to flip into the next one and if I made any money I used it to better my processes and systems which was more marketing. Remember I was new to Orlando no one knew who I was so I had to make myself known.
My skillset was sales and marketing as a model from age 14yrs old. I had to market myself and sell the clothes I wore on the runway and I had to sell the look and market the brands I was wearing. Got it! Gifts and Talents
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mcnairproductions.com | www.bwepinc.org
- Instagram: @kim.mcnair.productions \ @bwepinc
- Facebook: @kmpllc
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/drkimmcnair
- Twitter: iamkimmcnair
Image Credits
Joi Stokes Photography