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

Imani , appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I have to give all the credit to God because without His guidance, none of this would have been possible. To be honest, entrepreneurship was never part of my plan. My dream was to climb the corporate ladder, but then COVID hit, and everything changed. My journey into entrepreneurship began with network marketing. It was incredibly rewarding and opened my eyes to the potential I had to offer. With a wealth of corporate experience, I decided to start my own virtual assistant company.

Launching my virtual assistant company wasn’t as easy as I imagined. While I had the expertise, finding my ideal clients was a challenge. It took time, but once I identified my target audience, everything clicked into place. It took nearly a year and a half to achieve consistent weekly sales, but the effort paid off.

Now, my business is evolving in an exciting new direction. I’m leveraging my educational and professional background to offer more comprehensive services as a business operations manager, focusing on the crucial “back-office” functions, in addition offering project management, social media management, and general administrative support. This is thrilling for me because back-office operations are not only my expertise—they’re my passion!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Before anything else, I’m a devoted wife and mother. My passion for learning and playing musical instruments fills my free time with joy. Despite juggling multiple roles and running various businesses, one constant drives me: the desire to uplift others. Every venture I’ve embarked on stems from my innate gifts and a deep commitment to making a positive impact.

Brown Girls of Tomorrow, a nonprofit I founded, mentors middle and high school girls, focusing on leadership, mental health awareness, community outreach, and preparing for college, trade schools, or entrepreneurship. Our mission is to create a nurturing community where girls from underserved areas can thrive as leaders, form strong sisterhood bonds, and actively uplift their neighborhoods through outreach.

Unleashing Her Purpose coaching empowers women to break free from their constraints and embrace their true potential. We offer one-on-one coaching, group sessions, a supportive mom group, journals, and more, all designed to help women unleash their inner strength and purpose.

Peterkin Consulting & Co. assists business owners in achieving a harmonious work-life balance. We provide comprehensive services, including general administrative support, project management, operations management, and social media management, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on what they love most about their businesses.

What sets me apart in each of these industries is that my work isn’t just a hobby—it’s my passion and my life’s calling.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Absolutely, I love sharing this story because it truly shows how unpredictable life can be. On May 10th, 2022, I suffered a stroke. Never in a million years did I think this could happen to me at just 25 years old, but it did. This was during the peak of success for Peterkin Consulting & Co. and Brown Girls of Tomorrow. I had to watch both slowly decline because I didn’t have a plan or system in place to keep them running without me.

Despite my extensive education and professional training, I failed to apply the very principles I knew so well. Recovering from the stroke, compounded by other health complications, was a long journey. It took me a year to regain my business momentum.

This experience underscored the critical importance of having robust systems and contingency plans. In business, you must always be prepared for the unexpected. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to not only free up time for business owners but also to ensure their businesses are structured to thrive independently. My goal is to safeguard their ventures so they can continue operating smoothly, no matter what life throws their way.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I say this all the time because it’s absolutely true: the key to building a powerful social media presence is to be unapologetically YOU. There’s no one else in the world with your unique perspective, voice, and style. Embrace your individuality and let it shine. Authenticity is your greatest asset, and when you showcase the real you, it resonates deeply with your audience. They connect with your genuine self, your passions, and your story.

So, forget about imitating others or following trends that don’t align with who you are. The magic happens when you boldly and confidently bring your true self to the forefront—because no one else can do you better than YOU!

Additionally, consistency is crucial. Show up regularly online, whether it’s through posting, going live, or engaging with your followers. Consistent interaction keeps you in the minds of your audience and builds a loyal community around your authentic self. By being true to who you are and maintaining a steady presence, you create a dynamic and captivating social media experience that stands out in the digital world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.browngirlsoftomorrow.org , https://linktr.ee/Peterkinconsultingco, https://linktr.ee/uhpcoaching
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browngirlsoftomorrow, https://www.instagram.com/peterkinconsulting, https://www.instagram.com/uhpcoaching
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterkinConsulting, https://www.facebook.com/browngirlsoftomorrow, https://www.facebook.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imanipeterkin