We were lucky to catch up with Maranda Evans, MBA recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maranda, thanks for joining us today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?
The most amazing boss I ever had was Dave McMahon, CEO of the largest domestic franchisee for Smoothie King . Along with Dave was the CFO, Bill Roberton, my accounting mentor and “uncle figure”. Dave has been a “father figure” to me since I was 17-years-old working at one of his Smoothie King stores.
I remember being a teenager with my first car, a 1993 Toyota Camry, that was paid for with cash. Since this was 2010, “Betsy”, as I called her, was as old as I was. While temporarily managing one of his stores, I’ll never forget the day he walked in and said, “Put some new tires on that old thing out there would ya!” He gave me $400 and to a low-income household teen like me, the value seemed way more than the amount. No one had ever given me such a gift, especially someone with over 200 employees. I often wondered, “What made me so different?”
After graduating with my BBA in Accounting, I started my first accounting job at the main office with Bill and Dave as their Accounting Assistant, the first to ever hold this position. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today; both business and personal growth.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
There is so much to Maranda Evans it would take a book to explain it all, which I actually wrote and published in 2014 and titled it Troubled. This is one of three books I have published since. When I started, I never believed or even thought I would one day become an editor and publisher. After years of writing, editing, and helping other authors create their literary masterpiece, I created Victorian Publishing, Inc. in 2019, which is inspired and named after my late grandmother, Mildred Victorian Stoot.
In 2016, I created the brand name, Elements of ME, because there are so many elements to Maranda Evans. From the troubled teen struggling to survive abuse and depression to the prosperous, God-fearing woman I am today, and the elements in between. With me, you never know what you’re going to get: accounting and business advice through my second business, Evans Financial Solutions, unfiltered motivation and vlogging on YouTube on my page, Elements of ME Motivation, and most importantly the Founder and President of The Troubled Movement, a youth nonprofit organization.
The Troubled Movement was birthed after the release of Troubled. As women and men of all ages began to reach out to me for advice and mentoring/motivation, I realized my story was more than a book. It was and is a movement. I was dedicated to help other teens like I once was and on October 5, 2016, The Troubled Movement, Inc. became an official 501c3 that mentors boys and girls 11-18, as well as an education program that provides them with knowledge on life skills, schools of all types, scholarships, entrepreneurship guidance, and an annual 5K Walk. The Troubled Movement is what I am most proud of and it is my heart, my child, and my life.
I would like to thank my TTM Family/Team: Christian Simmons, Vice-President, Shariese Martin, Education Program Leader (and one of the first board members), Jalika Mercer, Secretary, SheKerria Steptoe, Mentoring Program Leader, Mariah Glover, Mentoring Program Assistant, all of my wonderful mentors, and the many supporters and sponsors that are the reason we have grown throughout the Houston community and in the lives of youth.
The main thing I want people to know about me is when God gave me my purpose, I listened and dedicated my life to it. I am determined and unstoppable, even in my hardest times. I will never give up. Most importantly, I am a Motivator!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2015, while getting my MBA in Accounting, I decided to leave my full-time job as an Accounting Assistant with Smoothie King and work part-time to start my life of entrepreneurship and philanthropy. This was a major decision for me because I knew financially I would suffer. However, when God called me to serve in my purpose, I answered. From 2015 to 2021, I worked part-time as a HR & Payroll Coordinator and focused on the growth of my businesses, YouTube page, and nonprofit. I also expanded to a traveling motivational speaker.
Working part-time allowed me to become a published author, nonprofit founder, and CEO of two businesses: Evans Financial Solutions, an accounting and financial company that serves businesses of all sizes and types and Victorian Publishing, one of few black-owned publishing companies in the country.
In Fall 2021, after working a year in education administration part-time, I decided to become a full-time entrepreneur for 6 months. The experience was amazing and it only made me work harder to build. Unfortunately, I wasn’t yet fully equipped financially to handle entrepreneurship. In January 2022, I made the hardest decision of my life. I returned to full-time work as an Accounting Department Manager. Though it hurt my heart to return to the very thing I left, I reminded myself that for 6 months I chased my dream and goals 100%. Whether it’s 6 months or a lifetime, it was an achievement. We have to remember to celebrate our small wins at all times. This is only temporary for me and soon I will be able to return to full-time entrepreneurship.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Funding a business is the hardest part of entrepreneurship, especially as a minority woman. The only way to success is to invest in yourself. For me, that included consuming a significant amount of debt. Though I took a financial hit, it allowed me to reach the goals I wanted for my business. I’ve received a few grants over time and with the help of my father figure and CEO, Dave McMahon, I was able to fund not only my business growth, but my nonprofit as well. He was the first person to invest in my dream and I’m determined to make him and my family/friends proud.
To all of my entrepreneurs out there, I know it’s hard but you can do it if you apply yourself. Find every grant or funding opportunity you can and apply for it. Also, invest in yourself and you will see a phenomenal return. With faith and work, anything is possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marandaevans.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elementsofme
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marandamotivates
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/marandaevans
- Other: Other websites: https://www.thetroubledmovement.org https://www.victorianpublishing.com Other socials: https://www.facebook.com/evansfinancials https://www.facebook.com/victorianpublishing https://www.facebook.com/thetroubledmovement https://www.instagram.com/evansbookkeeping https://www.instagram.com/victorianpublishing https://www.instagram.com/thetroubledmovement
Image Credits
Racquel Hegert, Clearshutter Alamin Borshon