Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keana Almonte. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Keana, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

When it came to learning my craft, I would put myself in rooms with successful people in my industry to gain wisdom, criticism, and most importantly, the criteria. From there, I started organizing events to gain my portfolio, and build my network and community.

Most importantly, investing in your craft, sometimes means being waiting patiently for paid gigs and just take in building relationship because honestly, your network is in a investment overtime to where the success will come! God’s timing is everything!

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 Keana Almonte, I’m 28 years old and I’m an event curator in South Florida. I curate social networking events for brands and companies.I have a background in public relations for over 7 years. Also a background in marketing and branding for over 6 years. I been in the hospitality industry for over 6 years.

Working in PR, branding, social media management, to now project management correltes into one cohesive part of my job.

One thing I learned in the industry is not everyone is going to think the same as you, it is imporant to have a neutral perspective and be open minded with critic and viewpoints but also balance your decisions as well.

My reasoning to get into the event curating space because to have everyone around me to network and grow together. No matter what your position is in the productive space, everyones position is just as important. When people go to network, they go into that space with an intention to have the event or person make an impact on them. My recent success was an organization called EMpowerHER, it is a wellness, fitness event for women of all ages to come together and build their network. From vendors of local businesses, to a fitness and yoga session, it is a safe space for women to come together and build. Our objective in the future is to expand EmpowerHER and continue our events in different cities and make this a tour. Stay tuned for the next EmpowerHER Women’s Wellness event for 2024!

I am most proud of myself for taking inititive to stay consistent in the event curating space. I learned having a blockage with the other noise around you and honestly move in a pace with your flow when it comes to pursuing. We can be our own worst critic, put yourself in those rooms! The right genuine circle in your life will be there for you to support. I had the right group to introduce me to starting my career path and I am forever grateful.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I had a moment in my life where I was 21 year old and I left New York City in the middle of doing Public Relations for the fashion industry. I went back to South Florida to finish up my Bachelors Degree in Communications in Public Relations to extend further knowledge in my industry. Shifting to a new enviroment from a fast paced city like New York City to the suburbs of South Florida was a hard adjustment. I put myself in odd enviroments with people to where I wasn’t in the right mental space.

I learned how now people are being more mindful of being aware of your settings and mental space! Taking two steps back in order to take ten steps forward is critical sometimes!

I feel like I was still not a in a mature mindset at the time I was working in New York City anyways! Trust the process, I had to go through those up and downs to honestly keep me in a humble mindset to hustle for what you want.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As a creatives, yes we think fast on our feet when it comes to an artistic viewpoint and implementing ideas. Sometimes it’s benefial to consider a restart and a hideous once in a while. I learned as creatives, we use the right side of our brain which is where we also tune in to our emotional state. If we spiral too much and force our will being to create, we can get a blockage and result in no room for inspiration.

I think it’s healthy to hibernate when time is due so that way when your ready to get back into your creative space. Your most authentic work is the best yet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/definemystyle_
• Instagram: @definemystyle_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keana-almonte-a7831a112/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSj2XEN-pBxzeqnBLeCffxw/videos?app=desktop
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@definemystyle

Image Credits
@photosby ari @_visualkbj_