We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Zakiya Renae recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Zakiya, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Imagine having a Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, being a dissertation away from having a Doctorate of Education in Leadership Studies with a focus in Organizational Development & Management and Adult Learning, having written and published three books, worked for several nonprofits as a Program Coordinator and a Program Director and being in-between jobs, tirelessly submitting application after application after application, having interview after interview and being told, “We decided to go in a different direction…” or “We just feel like the other person is a better fit…” and given absolutely no explanation as to what you can improve on or why the other person is a better fit even when you inquire and simply ask for advice in moving forward in your job search. Then, after 13 months landing a role, as a Program Director making barely $30,000/year and leadership is so poorly executed that you’re expected to do your job without the resources, without the support, while working in a hostile environment and in the middle of a pandemic. Here I am with a degree in Leadership and working under circumstances on the short-end of the stick. These were my circumstances from early 2019 to early 2022; and in 2022 making the hard decision to resign from my role as a Program Director after presenting to the board the voids I had experienced, and providing actionable insights and given no assistance and even punished for calling out the lack of leadership–my search had re-initiated for a leadership role–and after another eleven full months of board and committee interviews, I had finally had enough. It was time to fully occupy my role as a Business Owner and Entrepreneur, and fully embody the Leadership Development Strategist & Business Consultant that I knew I was purposed to be.
Having repeatedly experienced poor and/or non-existent leadership–having watched the pandemic unfold and observed the destruction and havoc that the pandemic wreaked on Small Businesses, especially in the minority community–I knew the information and resources that I had could help Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs esp., but also assist leadership in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. As somewhat of a career-student, I know first-hand that schools and the business management, business psychology, even leadership development programs don’t overtly teach actual real world application–they don’t teach the person how to bring the human element into the workspace. They teach statistics, they teach constructs, they teach operational models but what they don’t teach is how human communication, situational awareness, one’s moral compass affects instituting said constructs and logistical models and how improper application can and inevitably will lead to operational disruption.
20% of new businesses don’t make it beyond the first two years, 45% of new businesses fail during the first five years–but it’s not due to capital or lack of, it’s not due to poor product or services–most of these failures occur due to poor leadership and/or a lack of business operational knowledge. Given that I not only had personal extensive experience on the short side of leadership, and was then in the process of completing a professional leadership degree and additionally had a background creating programs and designing educational tools, I realized that the skillset I housed was and is not only unique but that it could be packaged to solve a problem that is so prevalent to the everyday Small Business Owner, Entrepreneur and aspiring nonprofit/corporate executive. In both nonprofit and corporate, people get so caught up with the phenomenon of “experience” —but, how beneficial is 10 years of “management” if that 10 years equates to low employee engagement, high turnover, and poor consumer reviews? So, yes, my business, Boutique Business Solutions not only identified a market void; but creates a feasible solution; and that solution is a holistic approach to leadership development that not only addresses the necessary operational knowledge–be it strategy and logistics, mission and vision, employee engagement, compliance and sustainability; but also, addresses the development of the person via self-awareness, emotional IQ, self-efficacy and other developmental voids that are apparent in leadership in all organizations and at all levels.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Of course! Again, my name is Dr. Zakiya Renae, and although I am a Leadership Development Strategist, Business Consultant and Published Author, I’ve had anything but a traditional path to being a Leadership Development Strategist and trusted Business Consultant. Graduating from the University of Cincinnati, with my BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice in 2010 during one of the most economically depressing periods of the US’s history, I originally believed that I would land a 9-5 working in the public sector. However, struggling to find traditional work, my life journey led me down a more unorthodox path. Under the moniker ‘Kiya Renae’, I worked in the entertainment industry with features in music videos and large publications including the once glamorized and world renowned KING Magazine. Still navigating the dynamics of the entertainment industry while seeking my ultimate purpose, I enrolled back in school in 2011, attending Northern Kentucky University, and completing my Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology in 2015.
Still struggling to find “my place” and grasp my footing in the corporate world and non-profit sector, under the moniker ‘Kiya Renae’, I wrote and self-published three books–’Through Her Own Eyes: This Is Only The Beginning’, ‘It’s OK To Be Broken: Highs, Lows, and Happy Mediums’ and ‘UnRefined: Still Learning, Still Growing. The Journey To Self-Love’. Each of these releases contains poetry, pros and verses that speak to the journey of experience, becoming more self-aware and choosing ‘you’ in a world that doesn’t favor individuality. However, it was my unorthodox path that led me to living in my purpose.
I believe I bring a unique personal history, academic background and professional experience to the world of Leadership and Organizational Development. As I have bumped shoulders with people from all walks of life, and taken the round-about-way to the business landscape, the unbiased insight and perspective that I have to offer is invaluable.
I believe a person’s story should show growth and ascension, not paint a picture of perfection; and I believe my unique story shows just that!
Having received my Doctorate in Education in Leadership Studies, with a focus in Organizational Development and Management and Adult Learning from Xavier University, and resigning from my role as a Program Manager and specializing in developing curriculum for elementary and junior high students who were behind on the learning curve, I am the single Founder, Owner, Strategist and Consultant of Boutique Business Solutions.
I believe my purpose is to “Be a Bridge” by assisting, helping and/or contributing to the personal and professional development of people through tools, research, training and my own experiences utilizing a holistic leadership and business development model. The materials and services offered by Boutique Business Solutions are not only an assist to the Small Business Owner, but also provide those in both corporate/non-profit executive and/or leadership roles with the developmental tools to operate strategically, optimally and with longevity.
Boutique Business Solutions prioritizes the development of people, believing that people are at the heart of every brand–when you develop the people, you develop the brand. Boutique Business Solutions, virtual introductory Leadership Development Course Series–’Unlock The Leader Within’ is a highly demanded service and has assisted many Small Business Owners in finding their true Leader-Identity and solidifying their ‘WHY’. It is my belief that each “leader’s” success lies within their own unique abilities–most people just need direction in leveraging those abilities for optimal outcomes. Boutique Business Solutions also offers a more advanced course series, entitled ‘Ready To Lead’ which focuses on the operations models and strategies and tailoring them to your business model. Additionally, Boutique Business Solutions offers Operational Development Services and lastly, Business Planning Services.
When you develop the person, you inevitably develop the brand; however, most people need those developmental areas funneled and/or targeted, and that is where Boutique Business Solutions steps in, to bridge that gap in operational knowledge and/or developmental voids.
As an extension of Boutique Business Solution, my first publication as Dr. Zakiya Renae, ‘365 Days of Leadership’ debuts March 24th on AMAZON Books with expanded distribution, and it was curated with the intention of providing those who are intentional about developing their leader-identity with a go-to guide, that isn’t intimidating in introducing business models and core competencies to the reader and to our “future leaders”. One page each day for 365 days, and I guarantee you’ll development your leadership capacity in unimaginable ways!
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
As I stated before, when I started my business I actually wasn’t working, I was in between jobs and in the middle of submitting applications and interviewing, I felt like this seed was planted and maybe this was the seed that I was supposed to water. At some point, when the world is telling you “No”, you have to tell yourself “Yes.” A few months after everything was solidified, as far as official documentation regarding my brand, I ended up getting the job as a Program Director, developing curriculum for students behind on the learning curve, and using that income, literally, every little bit that I could put towards my business, that’s what I did. There was nothing easy about this process. I’ve tried grants and small loans and I’ve been denied over and over whether it was because of a lack of capital, not meeting the income requirements, not having enough credit history; it’s definitely been a hustle–lots and lots of grunt work. But what I will say, is when you are truly passionate about something, whether it be an idea, a service a brand–you are willing to put in the work with what you have, you’re willing to sacrifice your time and your energy, you’re willing to get your hands dirty without the pay or the payoff.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I think a lesson that I’ve had to unlearn is that life is supposed to go a “certain way.” Being raised in America, we are sold this dream–that if we do certain things, those things will yield certain results–go to school, go to high school, go to college–these accolades set you up for your professional life and that professional life will yield you a livable working wage and acquire you a certain lifestyle–it’s just not true. You can do every single thing you’re supposed to do, you can check every single box, and still get to the end of the road and your outcomes do not align with what the blueprint insinuated. I did the work, I achieved the “titles” and accomplishments, and $150,000 in school debt later, the most I was offered to work for a large existing nonprofit was $30,000 and under conditions and circumstances that nobody should have to work under.
But here’s the takeaway–I know I was created for something greater; and I’ve realized that what I took away that was most valuable is the discipline that school instilled, the ability to work through the grunt work or my work ethic; the knowledge that I’ve gained, my desire to grow and evolve spiritually, mentally and emotionally; that change is the only thing that is constant; the resilience I’ve built from repeatedly being let down and repeatedly being told “No.” I realized that I had to learn to tell myself “Yes” and in telling myself “Yes” I found that the best lesson is what you get from the journey–not what you gain from the outcomes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boutiquebusinesssolutions.com/
- Instagram: @Dr.KiyaRenae
- Twitter: @KiyaRenae
Image Credits
Images: Yohan Hameed of YH Images Photography Makeup: Desiree’ Wright of Colored Wright