We were lucky to catch up with Kymani Hayden recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kymani, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The mission behind my community & lifestyle brand KARAT NYC, is to bring together ambitious, inspired and vibrant souls over a shared love for community and learning. As a first generation Jamaican-American from Harlem, I understand the impact and importance of community and culture, especially in a post-Covid world where so many of us have felt the strains of isolation and reconfiguring what connection and socializing has had to look like. With the absence of so many third spaces and the emergence of new and creative ones, KARAT speaks to the needs of people seeking enjoyment without barriers, judgement or confinement to a specific niche.

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

Hello! My name is Kymani and I live in New York City. My brand KARAT is all about cultivating community by curating unique experiences and events here in New York. My events are typically rooted in collaboration by implementing or offering exposure and visibility of other brands, businesses and leaders – often based out of, or from the local area. I’ve loved New York City for as long as I can remember in part due to its role as a cultural super hub and a global gathering place. I decided to enter the industry of small business/events because it combines my passion for people and having a good time.

I think a problem KARAT is aiming to solve is providing more authentic and original experiences in the Harlem community of NYC. Oftentimes, folks are tasked with venturing out of their local area to enjoy a good time or attend events, but what if more was made available to them right here?

As the founder of this brand, I’m most proud of my ability to relate to my audience as someone who has tried to navigate community, adulthood and building a network for myself that feels inclusive and rewarding.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is having full control of your vision from ideation to execution. I’ve always been an out-of-the-box thinker and naturally so, innovative. With KARAT I have complete autonomy over my creative ideas, everything from what I think something should look like, feel like and what it should ultimately represent. Working for yourself in a creative capacity also sets you up as your own competition or challenger, pushing you to constantly think about how you can evolve and do better the next time.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I pivoted in my career back in June 2023. I was working as a recruiter for an education non-profit and as much as the work felt meaningful, it didn’t challenge many of my technical skills or allow me to merge my interests in digital marketing and social media in a strategic way. After earning my MS in Social Media & Mobile Marketing, I wanted a role that would allow me to use my marketing and analytical skills from my time as a graduate student. Fast forward to today, I am a Social Media Director running a range of social channels for a digital media platform. This pivot has been my biggest and most fruitful to date, and has made me feel more secure in knowing that sometimes changing directions can propel you further towards where you want to be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @karatnyc @kymanihayden
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kymani-hayden-725274b0/
• Other: [email protected]