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

Hi Kemerlin, thanks for joining us today. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business?

I am going to tell a story of what lead me here today.. at first it may seem like what does this have to do with that?? But the sequence of events, although years lapsed in-between., all leads to my today. I hope you enjoy the story as much as i enjoy telling it. Over 10 years ago, I was fired from my 9 to 5.. I was a resolution specialist–Putting out fires, preventing fires, and developing new policies and procedures whereby my team could continue to grow and develop as vital members. With all that said; I had a direct manager, who was chum chum with the higher ups. She was the type of leader who wasn’t knowledgable in her role, which made her more defensive and micromanaging in nature. Long story short .. as a result of personal dislike of my authority, relationship with my team, and inability to intimidate me, I was let go. I went from a 9-5 to home with unemployment.. what was a girl to do?

During my time at my former job, I pursued and completed a Masters of Public Administration… Pause. I feel like I should tell you that I have an undergrad degree in English Literature. Either way during those times, now that I look at it,I was investing for a rainy day. Also while I was completing my Masters, I developed a social media presence on instagram. I didn’t take it seriously ..reach was organic and people saw you and determined if they resonated with what they saw, simple. As opposed to today; first you must be seen. Ha!

However, I started to have an affinity to Branding. But more so Personal Branding. As a creative I also worked on a few projects here and there, adding my sense of detail and style to the conversation. Long Story short, with the culmination of my degrees, work experience, desire to connect others with opportunity, I opened what I called a One-Stop shop for those building a personal brand. I named it The RICH Kliqué.Through consultation and development of infrastructure, I was able to give advisement on building a personal brand. See I had this belief, and still do, that you authentically can be a “brand”. I somewhat wish there was another name other than brand because it sounds so impersonal, crafted, .. but that is industry. However, I made sure my clients treated their brands authentically and not to compartmentalize who they are. Find a balance to just be who you are fully. I was preaching’ be the content before it became a norm. Man, I wish I knew what I had!

Anyways, after sometime on smaller projects, I got my first big client ever…. I was excited. I was affirmed. You know.. after being fired, taking time off to just breathe, digging deep and looking at all my skills and experience, here we are. A client… that believed in my abilities and was willing to pay the price.. my price. Well that is how it started. How it ended was horrific… Let me preface this to say; I take the responsibility on how things ended. Why? Firstly, I was standing in my skills and not my strength. I didn’t stay in my place. I didn’t lead.. mainly due to the fact that I wasn’t leaning into my leadership. I was resisting it, and for that resistance, I paid for it. So what happened? The client came with their idea and desires to build this personal brand that resembled who they really were. I was all in because hey that’s my thing. Let’s go! However, what I failed to do was let the red flags register. I was too focused on trying to make the business work, I omitted and dismissed those red flags. Ok, I got you… what were the red flags? This client only wanted me to be a robot. Kind of do what I want.. they weren’t committed to the trust or the willingness to be taught. So during the whole project, I found myself dealing with all kinds of resistance. Of course I remained professional.. but I took an emotional beating. I also jumped in and became creative director in some instances… Lesson time: I am very talented with a lot of skills; however, if you don’t know when to use these skills and how to leverage them, and how to harness your abilities into a flow, you will be like I was during this time in my life. Doing everything yet doing nothing effectively. But let me get to the drama… Because this client was not committed to the process, nor willing to listen to my advisement, she started to resent me and my input.

When I would be on-site for a photoshoot and gave input on how she could better position herself for the shot, you could feel the displeasure radiating from her body. In fact, I have a picture of myself showing her how to move because one of my cameramen was snapping behind the scenes shots… In this picture, if looks could kill… my dear readers, I would be gone. With all that said; here I was putting my skills to the test. But somewhere along the lines, I took a step back from being a leader. And that step back caused me to operate out of a place of trying to prove myself, instead of as I love to say now living in my Authentic Gold.

Needless to say.. the client left hating me; not the work.. ME! I seriously can laugh about it now. I seriously can take accountability for my part. I wasn’t clear on all that I had. And because I wasn’t clear, I made poor choices. I choose the wrong client. Though I would learn many lessons in between that client and where I am now as a clarity coach, the biggest lesson I learned was lean into.. do not resist my leadership. Do not hide it. I did more damage to myself by hiding it.

Fast forward 2022.. after a break from coaching. Yes I took a break.. with being let go, that unaligned client, and a tragic death in my family, I ran from my authentic gold. I started influencing. I was good.. and I am still an influencer. But it was not my. strength. After many talks with God, tears, and getting a coach of my own.. I am here now a Clarity coach helping women-preneurs get unstuck, gain clarity, find their authentic gold, and create a purpose driven business.

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

My name is Kemerlin Richards.. I go by Kemerlin Rich on all platforms; except Linkedin full name status.. Kemerlin Richards. I am a Liberian Woman with a diverse ethic background. My mother is Southern/Sioux. My Papa Is West African. I grew up in the South, and finished my teenage years in New York. Growing up .. I played sports–volleyball, track, basketball. I have lots of bruises from climbing trees and going on scavenger hunts. I used to watch figure skating. Never asked for dolls.. I have no idea why that is significant. But somehow it feels significant. I like simple things, personal moments.. I watch more old tv than new.

With that said; I will give you some shows.. no laughs. Designing Women, Murphy Brown, Who’s the Boss, and Martin of course. As far as movies–I really like Old Hollywood movies… but to name a few Imitation of Life, Beaches, Steel Magnolias (old one),marvel films mainly Xmen Transformers. I love the show Bizzare Foods, Chopped, etc… I use home decor, classical music, etc to enhance my aesthetic eye and ability to tell stories .. it’s the stories we connect to.

I got into my industry in a series of steps… one I was born for it, education (school and life), natural skills and ability, along with my natural position in the lives of everyone I encountered both professionally and personally. all of that together screamed COACH. Screams woman of impact …

The services I provide is coaching, public speaking, training, and community building within impact driven organizations. My 1:1 coaching is focused on solving the problem of knowing impact.

I help female entrepreneurs discover & develop their impact. Through the processes of clarity (clarity of purpose, clarity of plan, clarity of responsibility, which effects both ends of the spectrum,… professional and personal life. My goal is to help women-preneurs create movements to get their ideas and or initiatives in-front of millions. I am really passionate about helping high value female entrepreneurs fine their authentic gold and step fully into their impact and create the purpose driven business & life they desire. These purpose driven businesses looks like the impact that is uniquely assigned to each of us.

I am most proud that I didn’t give up. I see things unfolding for me.. I see how I had to really go through the process. I am proud I took no shortcuts. Even though I can see moments I held myself back. I went through those moments to help walk others out of it. So i’m grateful. What I sell to my clients is access, gain, and opportunity… that is the world you open to yourself when you get clear. I am not a coach that believes in cliche gimmicks. I believe in process and I believe in results. If you’re willing to let me help you through your process.. you will have the results. No limits.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I can most definitely share a time of pivoting .. I just did a big pivot. So in my prior story, I shared how I was a personal brand consultant some years ago. With the experience with that client, I took a break.. during that break I stepped away from leading/coaching, and focused primarily on influencing… I was doing a good job. Getting brand collaborations.. but inwardly I wasn’t completely happy. I love style, but I didn’t want to talk about it everyday. I didn’t want to have conversations centered around how I looked all the time.

So, I went on a quest to see what I was missing.. First I had to acknowledge that I wanted more. But what was that more? How does it look for me? I knew I had all these skills, I wrote blogs that talked about everything else but fashion.. so funny. And through my own process of clarity, I acknowledged that I stepped back from who I was authentically. So in the midst of an audience that expected style primarily from me, I pivoted and got back to coaching. I risked this audience not being interested, I witnessed lower engagement, but guess what, I am thriving!! I get to have the conversations that feed me.. I get to see hope come back for that entrepreneur that knows they have more. My business has grown so much in a short time all because I got clear and got in my place.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

My most effective strategy besides social media is finding a way to have real connections.. the more conversations I have, the more opportunity comes from that… As a coach, my clients have to trust me to help them come out of patterns, teach them how to trust their impact, and start a purpose driven business. I have to see them fail and be vulnerable. I have to help walk them through their personal pitfalls, so relationship and true connection must be there. Conversation gives me that entry to say; hey you can trust me. Besides marketing with the correct language specific to my target audience; conversation is the connection!

Contact Info:

• Website: kemerlinrich.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kemerlinrich
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/Kemerlin Richards
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/kemerlinrich

Image Credits
MKR Shoots- STUDIO SHOTS MAC STILLS (DINNER /COMMUNITY PHOTOS) AUTHENTIC GOLD–KEMERLIN RICH