We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karla Alvarez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karla below.

Karla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I started my business after volunteering to co-ordinate and cohost a small business summit for our local NCNW section (National Council of Negro Women) in 2019. Pulling together this event was a lot of work. We had a very small committee of four women determined to make a difference. None of us were event planners. We all had very time-consuming day jobs, needy families and our budget was miniscule. But we were focused. We created a schedule and a plan and diligently walked through every step. We communicated on the regular and searched within our community for local female entrepreneurs, business owners, and women working in the local government offices willing to collaborate with us. The 2019 All Women Matter Small Business Summit was a huge success. We had over 100 participants and 15 speakers. The most interesting part is that all of the phenomenal and hard-working women that I interviewed during the preparation for the event were so busy grinding, taking care of their families and performing at their day jobs that they really never took the time to look around and see that they had sisters around them from which they could receive guidance and help. In fact, most of them didn’t even think to take some time out to connect and network. They were missing out on a vital component that can make or break a small business. – Networking!

I am an engineer and construction project manager. I work in a 90% male dominated field where I see that men have no problem networking on the fly. Business deals and relationship building are second nature to males. In that moment, I realized that effortless networking was the missing piece in the female entrepreneurial equation. This is how the idea for SASS, Sisters Always Strive to Succeed was formed. SASS makes networking easier by hosting and supporting business and social events for female entrepreneurs and by female entrepreneurs. Women interact with each other differently than men. Providing curated experiences where women entrepreneurs and business owners are comfortable and engaged allows them to naturally and authentically connect.

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 name is Karla Alvarez. I am civil engineer and construction project with a passion for helping and empowering female entrepreneurs. I have spent the past 30 years honing my Project Management skills for notable private and public clients in NJ and NY. I am a master at following up and following through, and holding my teams focused on completing the task before them. I have chosen to now use these superpowers and skills to support and promote female entrepreneurs in their business ventures.

SASS, Sisters Always Strives to Succeed is in the business of making networking easier, because we recognize that this valuable assess is often lacking in the female entrepreneur’s arsenal. At SASS, our mission is to help female entrepreneurs build strong, authentic and meaningful business relationships with female business owners and entrepreneurs while encouraging them to grow their businesses through successful collaborations. SASS provides a platform for members to meet and connect during curated events such as business ed. workshops, creative activities and community outreach. These types of settings allow networking to be less forced, and effortless. Women connect best when they are in their element, are relaxed, having fun and feel safe.

Connection through collaboration is the life blood of SASS. Each event hosted by SASS centers around three main pillars: Inform, Empower and Connect. There are four levels of membership within SASS. SASS Friend in which you receive notices about our curated events. SASS Sister where you not only receive notices, but also newsletters and are included in the SASS Member Network, which gives access Members only activities, such as an elegant Soiree, Coaching Mentorship programs and PM services. The SASS Squad expands SASS Sister privileges with financial perks, and a matchmaking program which helps members connect and form their own personal advisory board of directors. Lastly, the SASS Boss membership level tops it all with personal coaching and a SASS Retreat.

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

Around 1996, my husband and I bought a restaurant in a busy part of city because he was a very good cook (west African cuisine) and there was a large population of unmarried male immigrants in this area. The space was run down, but the location and proximity to the clients was perfect. The owners wanted to start fresh elsewhere and wanted to sell as is, Neither of us had run this type of business before, but we were young and adventurous. We gathered our savings, borrowed from family and our retirement fund, and signed the paperwork. We were ready to start cooking.

Big mistake. We didn’t do any research about the existing business. We ended up having to fight against being liable for local violations and penalties. Apparently, the previous owners were in arears and had never even officially registered with the local authorities. It took us a lot of time, money and paperwork to set the records straight. After we got that sorted out, we then had to learn how to manage the local cons that insisted that they clean our windows and open our gates, etc. We were even pressured to use a local and special awning installer. It was no wonder that the former owners wanted out. By the time we finally had the rhythm of this neighborhood set, a slew of apartment based eateries had opened up nearby which cut our customer base in half.

If we had done our due diligence and really investigated how the business was run, we would have had a better chance of making bigger success of it.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

So far, my most effective strategy for growing my clients so far has been to do exactly what I am trying to get my clients to do., purposeful networking. My ideal client is a female entrepreneur or business owner between 0 to 10 years in business that is burning the candle both ends, needs help, wants to talk to likeminded individuals but doesn’t know where to look. I go to vendor shows, seminars, volunteer opportunities. I go where small businesses serve and I talk and listen mindfully for how we can collaborate on an experience for other female entrepreneurs. Most of my clients come from making connections.

I am always willing to learn about any other ways to grow membership and still keep the connecting authentic.

Contact Info:

• Website: sassintheknow.net
• Instagram: @sassintheknow
• Facebook: @sassintheknow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sass-intheknow