We recently connected with KETRINA MITCHELL and have shared our conversation below.

KETRINA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

The educational system today needs to change and become less unidirectional. The youth of today need to be taught more tangible, real life skills. I am an advocate for higher education, however, they must be taught to choose a field you can actually work in, make a living wage from and be happy with. Our youth should be taught to choose a career, that if they don’t get paid, they would still get up every day giving 100% to to get the job done. Start teaching entrepreneurship, finance and budgeting and mental health awareness in elementary school-not wait until high school. I was raised under the belief system if you graduate high school and graduate college you will live a succesful life, but nothing in life goes that smoothly, right? When “real life” happenned and I faced challenges of living independently of my parents I had no financial literacy. I didn’t know how to actively pursue employment and what type of employment to look for and accept. There was no plan B. Youth today need to know how to explore and utilitize options in life, and how to be prepared to live in the real world.

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

I started my organization in 2009 with my late husband Coach Dwynell Mitchell. It started as an idea in the kitchen for kids basketball camps, to a full service six-figure business. I solve the problem of providing a safe place for children to participate in enrichment programs.. I am proud to have lasted over a decade with not one pause or closure. True blessing. I now am a certified life and business coach and an author and can help people to get on their own path of entrepreneurship. I have grown my social media to over 10k followers in two years and have a consistent audience. What sets my organization apart from others is that I am actively involved and I frequently poll my customers so I can provide needed services. We truly embrace a family atmosphere, not just a typical business model.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

To raise the capital needed to obtain my facility, I took 10k from 401k and hosted a summer youth basketball camp to raise 5k in 10 weeks. During that time it was extreme sacrifice, no entertainment, eating out or spending additional money. 15k was needed as a downpayment, after that was done, with no savings, things that were needed for the facility was purchased over time.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

To effectively manage a team and maintain high morale, you must lead with respect and honesty. If they are doing something wrong tell them, but always lead with your appreciation of them and what they do right. Create a team atomosphere, not that you are above them, but you need them by your side to get the job done and to meet goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ibeatall.org
• Instagram: ibeatall44
• Facebook: ibeatallinc/ketrina hood mitchell
• Linkedin: ibeatall
• Twitter: ibeatall44
• Youtube: i beat alll inc.
• Yelp: i beat all inc.

Image Credits
@yophotoz