We recently connected with Kimia Kalbasi and have shared our conversation below.
Kimia, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Ambitious, bubbly, and charismatic are the ABCs that describe me in a quintessential nutshell. I was born in LA, raised in OC, attended UCSB, and have worked and lived in SF and NYC. Today, I’m primarily based in SoCal while working remotely bopping around traveling from time to time, whether for work-related campaigns and projects or on a leisurely cadence to reunite with friends, family, and loved ones.
I am an independent marketing consultant. I also run a micro-influencer brand on IG called Kimia’s Kravings, your ultimate go-to guide for where to eat, drink, and play in style intertwined with puns and positivity while working with a plethora of lifestyle brands on sponsored content and major campaigns. I consult on all things social media, from robust strategy to end-to-end execution, as well as run influencer marketing programs, for a multitude of brands and organizations to help drive growth and revenue through creative content, compelling copy, and cultivating communities.
I’m intentional with the companies I choose to work with because it’s crucial for me to not only connect on a professional level with the founders and their teams but also resonate with the product or service they offer and align on values, and the mission on a personal level as well. I wholeheartedly and deeply care about the work I do and although it may not be conventionally deemed as saving lives, I do find a personal meaningful purpose in my work. So it’s important for me to feel enticed about upcoming projects and work I take on.
With that said, what sets me apart from others is the fact that my approach is led through empathy. I sit in a very unique position as I wear 3 different lenses. Firstly, as a young professional and female millennial, I am a part of the core demographic and interest groups that many of these companies target. Secondly, I’ve built and led influencer and social programs from the ground up on the brand side. Lastly and most importantly, as an influencer myself, I hone in on the experience on the other side having had dealt with every unique scenario when it comes to connecting with brands, from gift seedings, dealing with the legalities and nuances negotiating sponsorships and contracts to the creative elements of campaign briefs, managing key stakeholder relationships, measuring the success of a partnership, and everything in between that goes on behind-the-scenes in this scope of work, that nobody sees because all they see is the final published content.
With that said, I’m most proud of and excited about the interconnected relationships I’ve cultivated since day 1 that have helped paved the way to where I am today. I’ve learned that the world is eerily tiny in that you really never know who you will reconnect with, cross paths with, as there are endless full circle moments when it comes to expanding my circle and community, especially when you’re immersed in a niche industry. Those full circle moments are the most magical and special to me because we’re all connected, that is my most favorite part about it and they never cease to fascinate me. It goes beyond the surface-level glitzy and glamorous aspects and accolades that have gone into the past 7 years and counting. It’s all about the stories swapped, the connections created, and the bonds formed that ultimately make the most fulfilling lifelong impact and biggest accomplishments of all. I’ve been an avid networker for as long as I can remember and quite frankly, it still never gets old to this very day. You never know who you will meet next and what a profound difference you can make in one another’s life in ways you’d never begin to imagine. It starts with seeding a relationship.
Throughout my career, I’ve learned to leverage my network and intertwine my personal hobbies & interests into my full-time livelihood. It’s been the last thing from easy because it all looks so fun and effortless, but I’ve accepted and embraced the challenges along the journey that I face to this day. Let’s be real, none of us have it truly figured out. Needless to say, there have been countless sweat, tears, thankfully no blood, and breakdowns and breakthroughs but can’t deny the fact that it helped build the foundation of my mental fortitude. Remaining resilient has been my guiding force to keep me going no matter how tough the going gets. There are infinite up’s, downs, and diagonal directions that go into this nature of work – from facing numerous rejections for projects, proposals falling through after weeks or months of discussions, to the inconsistencies and unknowns of it all. I’m highlighting the not-so-fun parts because none of it is talked about enough yet we’re all blinded by the aesthetic facade of this digital world we reside in. Even to some extent we’re aware of the highlight reel that social media is but there is still so much yet to be openly discussed, let’s open up the floodgates. My favorite quote is, “It takes 10 years to create an overnight success,” that’s because we’re bombarded by spick and shiny, sparkling success stories but we forget to realize that there was so much going on that led to that point that none of the viewers or audience is wary or cognizant of.
I’ve learned to accept things when they don’t go according to plan and not to be so rigid or black and white with my perspective; I can only control the controllables – my actions, setting boundaries, how I respond, and how I consciously spend my time are what are in my full control. In full candor, I’ll admit I’ve always steered on the side of positivity and optimism when it comes to the kind of mentality I adopt. Even though life isn’t always dandy like candy filled with rainbows and butterflies, I like to act like it is and it helps me, personally. I’ll admit I tend to wear rose-colored glasses. Some call it delusional, I call it dreaming 🙂
Kimia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Ambitious, bubbly, and charismatic are the ABCs that describe me in a quintessential nutshell. I was born in LA, raised in OC, attended UCSB, and have worked and lived in SF and NYC. Today, I’m primarily based in SoCal while working remotely bopping around traveling from time to time, whether for work-related campaigns and projects or on a leisurely cadence to reunite with friends, family, and loved ones.
I am an independent marketing consultant. I also run a micro-influencer brand on IG called Kimia’s Kravings, your ultimate go-to guide for where to eat, drink, and play in style intertwined with puns and positivity while working with a plethora of lifestyle brands on sponsored content and major campaigns. I consult on all things social media, from robust strategy to end-to-end execution, as well as run influencer marketing programs, for a multitude of brands and organizations to help drive growth and revenue through creative content, compelling copy, and cultivating communities.
I’m intentional with the companies I choose to work with because it’s crucial for me to not only connect on a professional level with the founders and their teams but also resonate with the product or service they offer and align on values, and the mission on a personal level as well. I wholeheartedly and deeply care about the work I do and although it may not be conventionally deemed as saving lives, I do find a personal meaningful purpose in my work. So it’s important for me to feel enticed about upcoming projects and work I take on.
With that said, what sets me apart from others is the fact that my approach is led through empathy. I sit in a very unique position as I wear 3 different lenses. Firstly, as a young professional and female millennial, I am a part of the core demographic and interest groups that many of these companies target. Secondly, I’ve built and led influencer and social programs from the ground up on the brand side. Lastly and most importantly, as an influencer myself, I hone in on the experience on the other side having had dealt with every unique scenario when it comes to connecting with brands, from gift seedings, dealing with the legalities and nuances negotiating sponsorships and contracts to the creative elements of campaign briefs, managing key stakeholder relationships, measuring the success of a partnership, and everything in between that goes on behind-the-scenes in this scope of work, that nobody sees because all they see is the final published content.
With that said, I’m most proud of and excited about the interconnected relationships I’ve cultivated since day 1 that have helped paved the way to where I am today. I’ve learned that the world is eerily tiny in that you really never know who you will reconnect with, cross paths with, as there are endless full circle moments when it comes to expanding my circle and community, especially when you’re immersed in a niche industry. Those full circle moments are the most magical and special to me because we’re all connected, that is my most favorite part about it and they never cease to fascinate me. It goes beyond the surface-level glitzy and glamorous aspects and accolades that have gone into the past 7 years and counting. It’s all about the stories swapped, the connections created, and the bonds formed that ultimately make the most fulfilling lifelong impact and biggest accomplishments of all. I’ve been an avid networker for as long as I can remember and quite frankly, it still never gets old to this very day. You never know who you will meet next and what a profound difference you can make in one another’s life in ways you’d never begin to imagine. It starts with seeding a relationship.
Throughout my career, I’ve learned to leverage my network and intertwine my personal hobbies & interests into my full-time livelihood. It’s been the last thing from easy because it all looks so fun and effortless, but I’ve accepted and embraced the challenges along the journey that I face to this day. Let’s be real, none of us have it truly figured out. Needless to say, there have been countless sweat, tears, thankfully no blood, and breakdowns and breakthroughs but can’t deny the fact that it helped build the foundation of my mental fortitude. Remaining resilient has been my guiding force to keep me going no matter how tough the going gets. There are infinite up’s, downs, and diagonal directions that go into this nature of work – from facing numerous rejections for projects, proposals falling through after weeks or months of discussions, to the inconsistencies and unknowns of it all. I’m highlighting the not-so-fun parts because none of it is talked about enough yet we’re all blinded by the aesthetic facade of this digital world we reside in. Even to some extent we’re aware of the highlight reel that social media is but there is still so much yet to be openly discussed, let’s open up the floodgates. My favorite quote is, “It takes 10 years to create an overnight success,” that’s because we’re bombarded by spick and shiny, sparkling success stories but we forget to realize that there was so much going on that led to that point that none of the viewers or audience is wary or cognizant of.
I’ve learned to accept things when they don’t go according to plan and not to be so rigid or black and white with my perspective; I can only control the controllables – my actions, setting boundaries, how I respond, and how I consciously spend my time are what are in my full control. In full candor, I’ll admit I’ve always steered on the side of positivity and optimism when it comes to the kind of mentality I adopt. Even though life isn’t always dandy like candy filled with rainbows and butterflies, I like to act like it is and it helps me, personally. I’ll admit I tend to wear rose-colored glasses. Some call it delusional, I call it dreaming 🙂
Any advice for managing a team?
Never underpower the power of consistency: No matter how tough the going gets, don’t stop. I can’t emphasize this enough. There have been countless times I wanted to drop everything I was doing and would question it. Stick to a sequence and roll it with it as long as you can. There is no such thing as overnight success. My favorite quote goes something like this – “It takes 10 years to create an overnight success” and it couldn’t be more accurate. Funny enough, everything that I am currently experiencing is precisely what I had wished upon 10 years ago and so much more and it’s still only the beginning.
Control the controllables. Can’t get upset over something you can’t control so focus on the things that you can control and give it your all. Can’t control the outcome of exterior variables whether that be people or circumstances, so all you can truly control is how you respond (notice how I didn’t say react) to your surroundings and situations. Once you engrain this into your head, your perception will change for the better. You will stress less about the little nuances and focus on what really matters.
Attitude is everything. Your attitude is your catalyst for how you handle situations no matter how good or bad – whatever perspective you may hold will invariably have an effect in your performance and the way you handle rejection. Of course, life happens and even when you wake up with the biggest smile on your face and by the end of the day, everything goes wrong, then how you decide to go about that circumstance is what’s the most telling Even before any difficulty happens, a person’s mindset must be able to possess a certain level of positivity and realism. Although nobody can ever have absolute control in what occurs throughout their life, the attitude and approach they choose in handling life’s obstacles is fully within control.
Stay resilient – You’re going to get knocked down and defeated countless times but you’re truly so much stronger than you think. It’s up to you perceive those moments of defeat in a positive light. Keep your eyes on the gold and keep going. You will keep having second thoughts or want to give up because that’s always the easier route but if you want it, you will do whatever it takes to get it.
Focus on your own journey – It’s so easy to get consumed by other people’s lives, especially in this day and age with social media. It’s inevitable to compare ourselves and our lives to others but people need to remember that social media is merely a facade. For me personally, it’s strictly business and what I make my livelihood from. We are all on our own path and timeline. Whether it’s with careers, relationships, finances, etc we’re all on our own course and as for everyone else, praise others as your endure on your own journey :)
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
At 15, I created my own e-commerce website called K. Gift Baskets and then started a nutrition blog called NutriNerd back in ‘08 (#TBT OG blogger days) and started a little greeting card biz with my sister where she wrote heartwarming poems inside and I drew the artwork on the outside. I’ve always had that go-getter, entrepreneurial spirit instilled within me for as long as I can remember. Above all, in a quinnessential nutshell, I loved creating and I especially loved playing by my own rules. I knew what my interests were (I also was well aware of my weaknesses), and I had a vision of what I wanted my life to look like but I didn’t know how to get there. That was the exciting part of it all. I had always loved storytelling, documenting, and sharing experiences, and opening my world to the rest of the world. When social media emerged, I was hooked. Funny enough, ever since I was a little kid, my dream job was to be a journalist. I loved being in the know and keeping up with current events. Instead of watching Nick Jr, I’d watch the news with my parents. I found it so fascinating how the journalists would tell the stories and I loved knowing what was going on locally or around the world. As I got older, I felt the pressure of figuring out what I wanted to do with my life career wise. I had embarked on a variety of internships and jobs before entering college and during college as well and I was constantly networking everywhere I went. It didn’t matter where I was, I would leverage my story and share it with whoever I met. Longest story short, after college, I took a corporate job and halfway through it, I began to freelance for an online food and travel site (which funnily happened through my networking where everything surfaced full circle but that’s a whole other story in itself). Since I was always documenting what I was up to and my adventures whether it was hanging out with friends or checking out new restaurants in the city, I was consistently uploading my experiences and this was way before “influencers” were even a thing. My interests organically aligned with today’s social media space. One day a friend reached out to me and said, “Kimia, I’m so surprised you never started a food blog! You go to the best places to eat.” That’s when the light bulb moment happened — I rebranded my social media from my first name and last name and specialized it to be more specialized niche and I still actually have the notes in my phone where I was brainstorming quirky names to rebrand myself 0 “Hungry Heart,” “Feels for Feels,” the list goes on and on. It was actually my cousin Parisa who came up with “Kimia’s Kravings” and she told me that when I grow, the term “Kravings” will still align beyond food, and boy oh boy, was she right. My rebranding occurred 2 years ago from this time around and I can’t begin to explain the endless opportunities this journey has brought for me and as much as it has brought on, I’m extremely humbled grateful for all of the incredible, mind-blowing, indescribably experiences, endeavors, lessons, and people this has brought into my life, and so excited for what’s yet to come. It’s funny because it all started as a hobby initially and now it’s a part of my livelihood. I still pinch myself to this day and quite frankly, it never gets old. This journey has blown my mind – this started as a fun hobby and the fact that this is my livelihood, I’m still wrapping my head around it and I couldn’t feel more grateful the opportunities that have come with this entire experience. I had built content for the fun of it because I’ve always genuinely enjoyed it but now it’s a mix of pitching myself, getting reached out, and also working with my agent to lock in deals, sponsorships, and meaningful partnerships. Above all, I’ve learned that putting yourself out there and networking nonstop and sharing your story with others is the catalyst and comes in handy in my next story as well
Contact Info:
- Website: KimiaKalbasi.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/KimiasKravings
- Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/KimiaKalbasi
Image Credits
@AlisonRaePhotography Getty Images