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

Kamri, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

When I started my business, it was just me. I began KRSmoothies in 2018 when I was 14 years old. I was young, I didn’t know all the ins and outs of the business. I went through a program, the Y.E.S. program, with Our Dream Foundation, where they taught me what business was about and paid me to do so. I thought that since I knew the information, I could put on all of the hats. However, I realized that I just don’t have the capacity. One person can NOT do it all. Prior to 2022, KRSmoothies was all about getting smoothies to the people, but I realized that the people are my focus, not just their reaction to the smoothie. I want people’s lives to be impacted by KRSmoothies, and in order to do so and combine my passions, I filed KRSmoothies as a non-profit where youth ages 8 to 12 could learn about entrepreneurship from a hands-on perspective and through mentorship. This model will impact Baltimore’s youth and show them what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. Right now, my team still is just me, but I want a team. I want to inquire my team members naturally. Nothing needs to feel forced, but I have to believe and see the burning passion in them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Kamri Moses. My friends and family call me Kam or Kam Gotti. I’m a 19-year-old community advocate from the West Side of Baltimore. I normally just drop the Maryland, lol. I’m a proud graduate of Western High School and a sophomore Psychology major at thee Spelman College. I’m also the most proud of being the creator of KRSmoothies, Inc.

Since I was young, I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship before I even knew what it was. I went trick or treating and then bagged up my candy and sold it at school the next day. I learned how to crochet from Ms.Renee Brown in my elementary school’s after-school program and began selling crocheted purses at school. I started stuffing my book bag with snacks because my mom, Melvina Warren, would always get a lot and sold those at school. I always just found creative ways to engage my peers until I began making smoothies as a hobby. I began calling it a business once I went through the Y.E.S. Program directed by Dr.Johnny Graham. I began taking KRSmoothies seriously. One day, I met Ms.Joni Holifield, the creator of HeartSmilesMD, at one of the events for the program. She supported my business, and I connected with her. I still was quite shy, but I just kept seeing the work that she was doing for the city. It made me want to step out my shell. Once I finally got the courage and didn’t just want to be the smoothie girl anymore, I began to go to Thriving Thursday at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, which was essentially a leadership bootcamp. Ever since then, I’ve been passionate about community and youth leadership. Ms.Joni is so non-traditional and extraordinary. She expresses leadership differently than anyone I ever met, and she puts youth in spaces that we otherwise wouldn’t be. I’ve been able to present at national conferences, conduct trainings, mentor, and travel all thanks to the promise she made to Baltimore City’s youth. If you want to do better, HeartSmilesMD will give you the opportunity to do so. It’s inspiring.

Considering this part of my history, KRSmoothies, Inc. is a non-profit dedicated to teaching youth, ages 8-12, to learn about entrepreneurship from a hands-on perspective and by being mentored by older youth, ages 16-24. I wish that when I was younger that I could be taught my peers. It probably would’ve influenced me to lean in more to what they were saying. I hope that by teaching these youth how to make a KRSmoothie and how to conduct themselves professionally that they bloom into successful adults that are resilient to what this world has to offer them. I hope to build lifetime connections with them. I want them to break generational curses. If you know any young girls that may be interested in my program, direct message (@krsmoothies) or email ([email protected]) me. If you’re passionate about youth and community, and you’re a youth yourself, especially an entrepreneur, reach out to me. I would love to connect.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Having a solid personal brand helped me build my reputation within my market. People often say there’s a divide between personal and professional, but you can’t get one without the other. People know about KRSmoothies because of Kam and Kam because of KRSmoothies. You have to express your love and passion for what you do. It attracts people to you. All the work that you do should be cohesive and have a flow. All of my work is dedicated to youth and the community. That is a part of my brand. Ask yourself, “Does my work say what I want it to about who I am and what I stand for?” if not, change what you’re doing!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me is my previous clients. When you do the work, and you do it well, people will have no problem sharing that with other people. You may not be reaching a vast audience, but it will begin to make a difference when you make a significant impact on people’s lives. Eventually, you’ll get to where you want to be. Look at your glass as half full instead of half empty.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @krsmoothies @kameraareadyy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamrimoses
• Other: https://americanhealth.jhu.edu/2022-bloomberg-american-health-summit

Image Credits
Joni Holifield