We were lucky to catch up with Li’Marie Hayes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Li’Marie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

There is an amazing story behind my mission but I have to start when what I’ve accomplished in first in order for you to understand my drive & purpose is so serious on a daily basis..

Allow me to introduce myself to this beautiful My name is Li’Marie Hayes . I currently reside bi coastal between Brooklyn NY & the outskirts of Atlanta, GA . I’m originally from Montego Bay Jamaica raised in Brooklyn NY . I come from a Jamaican & Cuban background. I speak fluent English Spanish & Patois. I currently own 5+ successful businesses along with 5 e-commerce stores . Upon being in this country myself & both my siblings whos longer with (R.I.P to them both ) has experienced severe abuse & traumas while growing from complete strangers & family members as well. I’ve entered the foster care system at the age of 7 Ive age of out the foster care system. I’ve seen it all & heard it all being raised in Brownsville Brooklyn NY. I was determined to finish high school & college which I did. I was also blessed over the years of employment to also worked for the Administration for Children Services of New York City . One day Ive made the one hardest decision in my life was by walking away from working for the city in 2003. I had no plan but I always had a vision & I was going to execute it. I am the founder & owner of SimpLi’s DeCor LLC, Designing Your Life Academy, LMH Realty Group & 2 other successful companies as well.

I am an international Licensed Interior Designer, Architectural Specialist, Business & Personal Credit Specialist, Business & Financial & Transformational Mentor. I am also a Transformational Mentor at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. I will be graduating again from Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center on February 9, 2024 . I am honor to be appearing on the Nasdaq Tower for the 3rd year in the row in my native city , at Times Square in NYC. This is will be my 4th year at Nasdaq . I am an alumnae for Cohort 74 , Cohort 144& also currently Mentoring for Cohort 175 & also Corhort 195 which starts which starts on 1/29/2024 I am a member of the Forbes BLK ! I’m a member of the American Consumer Council along with being a member of the American Consumer Council in the State of Maryland .

Ive also been featured in the now twice Canvas Rebel Magazine. I am also featured with Bold Journey Magazine. I am an Ambassador for New York Build. I’m am a proud World Record Holder for the Black World Women Record on Social on September 8 2023. which also supports the Ruby Bridges Foundation I graduated from College of New Rochelle with a BA in Social Sciences & a MA in Sociology from Georgia State University . Ive graduated from Cornell University through a Women’s Entrepreneurship Program through Bank of America , I am also a member of the Interior Design Society ( IDS) New York City Chapter. I’m a mother of 1 beautiful daughter who graduated from Howard University in 2020 & an angel mom of 2.

My mission is so strong is because through interior design & architectural design. I want everyone to have that experience of having an amazing home that they can all their own. I want they know & understand how the concept of design can bring such a difference into everyone’s life I want to continue to educate those on knowing their rights & the laws as being tenants & home owners.

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.

How I got into the business of interior & architectural designing is because I’ve always had a true passion for creating art & designs daily. I would do design projects for friends & family for free just to show them my work. Being the founder of SimpLi’s DeCor LLC I’ve always told myself that I would be limitless when comes creating & executing designs no matter where I was doing it. One day while working a 16 hour shift at Administration for Children Services being a full time mom & a full time student, I was just fed up. I had no plan & Ive made the hardest decision & I left.

The services that I provided will always start with quality. Quality is what you should always bring to yourself your business & your clients. The problem that I solve is assisting my clients with bring their vision into reality & I also educate them on how interior design helps them as far as showing how they can have luxury pieces in their homes at affordable prices., One of my favorite is showing moms how to have a beautiful luxury feel to their home even if they have small children living in their homes.

What sets me apart from others because I’m a woman who can’t & won’t be boxed in when it comes to designing because interior design has so many layers that needs to be shown to the world & that’s what makes the world beautiful through one’s own beautiful vision & having that creative eye. I love to expand myself & expand with others as well .

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I first started in my business back in 2003. I had absolutely no ideas what I was doing on the business side of things until I made over $500k then lost all in the next year. When that happened to me I began to pay attention to my credit more (which was poor at the time) I signed up with a program then I’ve taken a some credit classes & I started repairing credit. I’ve created two businesses in 2021, Designing Your Life Academy where I help assist individuals in various obtain resources for improving on credit, housing, jobs, , funding & etc. Once I paid attention to how important credit was I created another business LMH Solutions in 2021 which I am also a credit repair specialist Business & Financial Mentor

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My journey came basically from my life as being a foster child moving into this country from Montego Bay Jamaica. I remember when I first came here & I spoke nothing but patios & Spanish I was determined to learn how to speak proper English. This was one of the thing at the time that made me become very introverted. I had an amazing teacher in first grade name Ms. Newhouse where I went to elementary school P. S. 284 In Brownsville Brooklyn at the time, who would take time out & teach me English every day after school for 5 yrs. I still get teary eyed when I think about her today because she has shown me that Eventhough she was a Caucasian woman who was elderly but she also shown me that there is still good people in the world. From that day my determination & drive hasn’t stopped since. If I can share my motto with someone I will tell them Strategize, Capitalize & Execute!” Remember the better your attitude the greater the altitude ; the better your results.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/only1limarie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MsLiMarieHayes
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/limariehayes421