We recently connected with Kimisha King and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kimisha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
In 2017 I attended a business conference and the speaker inspired me to jump and take a chance on me. I immediately decided to start an Instagram page named Queensmindset and encourage women. My intention at the time was to have a motivational page where I could become an inspiration for women. Never did I think that it would become so much more. I took a risk on myself and placed my fears aside. I began hosting live sessions on Instagram for women to be impacted, then it later turned into YouTube videos and TV series, then workshops, summits, conferences, podcasts, books magazines and an entire organisation!
This by all means was a risk because I had no idea that it would be possible for me, an island girl who grew up in humble beginnings that I could impact millions. Every day I chose to believe that I deserved greater and every day I pursued more. I became an international speaker through my passion for helping women win. I had to fight fear, comparison, anxiety and insecurities to become the woman I was called to be it was a risk! Many persons didn’t believe in my vision and there was always a struggle for funding programs and projects, the stacks were raised against me but I decided that no matter what I was not going to stop like I did before.
Yes, I stopped in 2018 i did nothing with my vision for an entire year because my dreams were shattered when I attempted to partner with an empowerment speaker. When I reached out she tore me apart and questioned if I was ready and serious about what I was doing. I looked up to her so hearing those words I began to question myself. Am I really ready, do I have what it takes to succeed and become the impact I know I am called to be? I couldn’t respond so I stopped I doubted myself I became afraid that I would fail who I am to motivate others when my world is filled with dysfunction and I am struggling to make ends meet (in other words “poor”).
In 2019 I decided I would take the risk for real this time and I dedicated my time and energy to empowering women and reinventing. I decided that I was going to win at all costs and it didn’t matter what I had to endure I was going to do it for real this time. So I encountered many No’s, setbacks, and rebukes but I persevered and kept going. Now I am in a place where I can see a return on my investments the risk was worth it. Choosing me and wanting better was a risk but I defied all odds! I did not allow my circumstances and where I grew up to determine if I would win. I took the risk and I won!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Who is Kimisha King?
Kimisha King has built a reputation through her volunteerism; this exceptional Barbadian dedicates her life and resources to ensuring that women and youth are equipped with the strategies to reach their goals. She has been featured by over 500+ media houses throughout the USA and in Nigeria. She holds a degree in labor and employment relations, law, and Government political studies. Kimisha has also achieved a Level 4 Caribbean Vocational Qualification in Assessment for Management. She is a certified Internal Verifier for National and Caribbean Vocational Qualifications. She’s an Author, Publisher, Podcaster, international speaker, content creator, certified master trainer, certified international life purpose coach, visionary strategist, and entrepreneur. Her primary focus is helping women between the ages of 16-60. Kimisha is also the Founder and CEO of Queensmindset. Through her platform, women are taught how to redesign their lives with her framework reimagine your reality ™.
What does Kimisha bring to the table?
As the CEO and founder of Queensmindset. I help women birth their visions and walk in their purpose. Our programs help to provide guidance in navigating the client’s dreams, goals, and focus. In our presentations, we challenge women to think bigger and we give them a road map of how they can achieve more. My powertalks allow our listeners to acknowledge that they need help and we provide a blueprint to get them to the desired life they want to have.
What is Queensmindset about?
Queensmindset is a Women’s empowerment organization created to help women birth their visions and walk in their purpose. The CEO and Founder of this organisation is Kimisha King. The organisation focuses on impacting women of colour across all socio-economic backgrounds within Barbados the wider Caribbean and International. Queensmindset is known for hosting various empowering events such as the following:
• Workshops
• Seminars
• Conferences
• Summits
• One on one coaching
• Group Coaching
• Bootcamps
• Programs
• Podcast
• Training
The target audience for Queensmindset is women between the ages of 16- 60 years young. This target
audience is broken down into the following areas:
• Youth 16-25
• Young Adults 26-40
• Seniors 41-60
Who is our ideal woman?
Women who want help in achieving more
Women who are stuck and need direction in navigating their goals
Women who feel like their destinies are delayed
Women who need encouragement to create the life they want for themselves
Women who want to learn the art of visualization
Women who are ready to be healed
What are you most proud about?
Queensmindset started in 2017 as a motivational page on Instagram now we have developed and produced two books “Journey to Thirty The Naked Truth, I Am You, and 7 Dates of Intimacy: A Guide to Rediscovering You”. We have created a program for youth entitled “Live your truth” This program focuses on low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, and peer pressure catered to adolescents. It is built around the book “Journey to Thirty The Naked Truth, I am You”. The program was created in 2021 and has reached five (5) secondary schools impacting four hundred (400) students across Barbados thus far. Our books are also featured on Amazon, within Cloister Bookstores Barbados, and the Haringey Library, London UK across their nine (9) locations.
Queensmindset also published its first magazine “I am Woman Bold and Fearless” in 2022 highlighting women in business, ministry, entertainment, and education on March 8 in celebration of Women’s International Day. The first issue has reached one hundred and ninety-three thousand (193K) viewers across the globe. This year (2023) we expanded our reach and our magazine which was published on May 14, 2023, has now reached over 20 Million viewers and is seen on airlines, cruiseships, hotels, and institutions across the globe.
We have graced the doors of the following countries:
• Nigeria
• Kenya
• Zambia
• Ghana
• Canada
• USA
• United Kingdom
• Asia
• Jamaica
• St. Lucia
• Trinidad
• Bahamas
• Barbados
Our television series on YouTube: Battered bruised not broken
This is a talk show which started in 2021, highlights women from across the globe and helps them to tell their stories of various adversities they have encountered and how they have overcome. The stories of these women have tremendously impacted women throughout the Caribbean, USA, UK, Africa, Portugal, Canada, and India. In the year 2022, because of such an overwhelming response, we decided to have a Ladies’ buffet brunch featured around the theme. The focus of the brunch is to liberate and impact the lives of women by dealing with the underlying wounds of pain women are carrying. The word battered means something that has been damaged. We have too many women who are walking around broken because of their past experiences and they are stuck in life with no one to help them. Our assignment is to activate the healing process and resuscitate a revival that helps them to own who they are and what they are carrying.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In 2012 I was accepted into a university, very unsure of how I would make my school fees I prayed for a job or an opportunity to come, and thank God it did. I was blessed with the opportunity to work in the office of Student Affairs at the same university I was about to attend. While working in that office I overheard one of the employees speaking with a student about an opportunity to study abroad through what they call the student exchange program. Immediately my ears were pricked to the walls as I listened to her explain the details. Right away I became intrigued and wanted to learn more so I queried further details and found out that I would qualify to be a part of the program after I completed one year in university and my grades were 3.0 or higher.
Attaining such high grades in my first year was not an easy task for me, there was one-course “Statistics” Boy did I hate it because I was never that good with numbers and everything being taught in the class just seemed like it was going over my head. I was prepared to do whatever it took to pass this class so I decided to take lessons however, I didn’t have the money to go to lessons and I remember one day I told my uncle I was struggling with the class and he said he will assist with my lesson fees I was so excited. I took those lessons every Saturday and I would meet with my friends in study rooms throughout the week and I would attempt to teach them what I had learnt which was also helping me to understand. Eventually, I passed the class and my grades were scoring over the accepted rate. Now my next task was to apply to a university in Canada, the USA, or the UK, this was a task because I could not decide which university I wanted to attend so I sent multiple applications but many responded by informing me that they had reached their quota of students.
At this point, I could have given up but I decided to go back to the coordinator and query whether there were any other schools I might have missed. Guess what there was one more school I never considered so I decided to give it a try this was my last option. In a few months, I got an email and they accepted my application but there was one challenge students were expected to apply for scholarships through Caricom scholarships, there was no guarantee that you could be accepted because several students were applying and there was a very rigid criterion to to meet to be accepted. Some of my friends who had signed up with me gave up and decided to walk away for it was becoming too much. I decided that I was going to stay and fight for my dream to go to Canada and study.
Instead of waiting for a response I took matters into my own hands and I started to sell snacks at school and in my neighborhood, I contacted companies seeking sponsorship but got many No’s. I hosted events such as a BBQ, a concert, and a dollar drive. I was still short of funds to make this dream a reality, then I decided to check in with the Student Affairs office and get an update on my application for the scholarship and was informed that an error was made on the documents the coordinator submitted, she submitted for one semester but I applied to the university for one year. At this moment I could have used my energy to be upset with the coordinator but I refused to accept defeat I decided that I would raise the additional monies. I just need to contact more people and have them buy into my vision. At every point, I was fought not even my pastor at the time believed that I needed to go I remember him suggesting to me that I should take a loan and cover the expenses. I couldn’t afford to take a loan my parents were swimming in debt and I was not about to place this burden on them it was my dream and I trusted in God who is the supplier of everything so I decided that I would. I spent more time in prayer for direction and I got up every day and perused the university’s website I saw myself there I changed my language when anyone asked how things were going they were going great and everything was on track.
Now it’s time to make your first downpayment for the housing but I didn’t receive word from the sponsorship application so I took the funds that I made from the sales I got and I made the payment. At that moment it was scary because I didn’t receive word that I was accepted for the scholarship. I needed to apply for the student permit but the acceptance letter didn’t come on time and in my mind I should have broken down in tears or just given up but I continued to press on. The date was quickly approaching when I had to travel and yet still no email from the university about my scholarship. I had told everyone I was leaving in two weeks and nothing from university. My mother planned a surprise going away party for me but I didn’t even have a ticket to travel and no one knew everyone celebrated me like it was a done deal and guess what I celebrated too because it was I wasn’t sure how but I believed that God was going to show up for me. The next few days I decided to take a risk of faith I took some of the money I had accumulated and two days before was expected to arrive I went to the travel agency and I booked my ticket. Now this is really happening I am about to go to a foreign land by myself for the first time with limited funds and no guarantees that it will work.
I packed my bags and boarded that flight and as soon as we reached altitude I panicked, so many thoughts went through my head like what if I am not accepted at the borders because didn’t have the study permit. I landed and took a deep breath of boldness went to the immigration officer and he was so intrigued by my accent and Barbados that he didn’t ask for my study permit I showed him my acceptance letter and he let me through. I couldn’t believe it worked now the next task was to find out about the funding. My cousin’s friend drove me to the university and helped me settle in my dorm, thankfully I had paid the downpayment so I should be fine and that week for foreign students we were able to get free lunch. Now on the day of the international student meeting, I took some souvenirs from Barbados as a thank you to the coordinator of the Canadian University because she was so nice to me. When the meeting ended I went to introduce myself to her and she freaked out.
“OMG you made it”, she said in total shock, “I wasn’t sure you would because I know we haven’t heard back on your application, but I was reviewing it yesterday and I recognized there was an error as it was only submitted for one semester but I know you have been accepted for the year so I changed it and resubmitted for you. I should hear back from the vice chancellor in a week and you will receive an email for the scholarship funds”. Now I was screaming in my head because even though she said I would receive the email it was not a guarantee it would be approved. I thanked her for her assistance and I went back to the dorm I called my mom and told her and she said “Kimisha, God will work it out” and we prayed about it. In three weeks I got my email and I received full funding, I was able to cover the outstanding cost for the dorm and I had additional monies to travel throughout Canada and the USA, I even got the opportunity to go back home for Christmas and
I got my study permit my resilience paid off.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My reputation in the market has been built through Jesus Christ. I have made it my focus to always partner with God on everything and by including in my decisions I have been successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.queensmindset.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queensmindset/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueensmindsetBB
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimisha-king-ab629273/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@queensmindset/videos
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Photo credit:Trey Vision Studios, Barbados