We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Queen- Valencia Zulu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Queen- Valencia below.
Hi Queen- Valencia , thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
Where to Begin? The Thrill of Launching WAP!
The launch of WAP was an exhilarating mix of excitement, stress, and sheer determination. It’s hard to put into words just how nerve-wracking those first steps were. Imagine this: I was building everything on my own but wanted to keep my identity behind the brand a mystery. To pull it off, I organized a photoshoot with three of my closest girlfriends to make it seem like we were launching WAP together. It was a bold move, but it worked!
Securing our first clients was a grassroots effort that relied entirely on connection and hustle. I threw myself into the women’s event circuit, attending as many gatherings as I could to meet like-minded women and personally invite them to our first brunch. On top of that, I spent countless hours sending out DMs and emails, spreading the word wherever possible. The result? A community-driven, word-of-mouth success that brought the vision of WAP to life!
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.
If there is a problem for Black Women, WAPBRUNCH is here to solve it!
Women Affirming our Power launched 26th September 2021 fast forward we are now a growing community of over 250+ black women between ages of 18-67.
Originally founded as a brunch we quickly realised we were more than that! Offering a range of social events such as empowerment brunches, book clubs, networking events, various self care, Zuri Bliss wellness women development workshops, courses & productive workday meet ups.
WAPBRUNCH was birthed to promote more collaboration over competition bringing sisterhood back into our community, and to also combat the many limited opportunities Black women face on a daily basis. We aim to challenge & change the narrative by equipping women with the knowledge and skill set to break down those barriers, building projects with purpose to help create a better future.
Many women within our hub are growing entrepreneurs navigating the harsh reality of business. With the lack of knowledge, funding, opportunities and resources this proves to be an exceedingly difficult task. Becoming a mental & physical challenge.
Always at a disadvantage never at the forefront of love, success, wealth or health
WAPBRUNCH promises to do our best at changing that.
WAPBRUNCH offers a safe space & sisterhood for women to connect, network, share experiences, meet potential clients, exchange whilst learning new skills & knowledge as well as enjoying being in the presence of other like-minded ambitious go getters. We’re all about good vibes, call your mama, sister, Aunt, niece & homegurls to come on down to WAPBRUNCH
We are trying to create a world where we as Black Women experiences ease instead of struggle.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
“Resilience in Action: A Lesson from WAP’s Journey”
Every single day running WAP is a testament to resilience—and, trust me, there’s no shortage of drama to keep things interesting, haha! One moment that stands out was when we were gearing up for a big event and had our hearts set on collaborating with this amazing brand. After multiple meetings and plenty of back-and-forth, it finally seemed like we had everything in place. But at the eleventh hour, they pulled out, saying they were heading in a different direction.
It was disheartening, to say the least. I won’t lie—there were definitely some “Why am I doing this?!” moments. But, as always, the show had to go on. And honestly, this wasn’t the first (or the last) time something like that happened. I’d say about 65% of the time, we hear “no,” but it’s the 35% of “yeses” that keep WAP moving forward and growing stronger.
Running a business you’re passionate about is like diving headfirst into an obsession—it consumes your mental, physical, and emotional energy. For a while, I let it take over, barely leaving room for myself outside of WAP. But this year, I finally hit pause, took a step back, and made space to regroup and recharge. That break helped me realign and gave me the clarity to pour the best version of myself back into WAP. Resilience, after all, isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about knowing when to take a breath and refuel for the next challenge!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
“Lessons in Flexibility: When Everything Goes Wrong”
One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn while running WAP is that not everything will go to plan—and that’s okay. You have to be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice because, trust me, chaos has a way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it.
Take our very first brunch, for example. The venue called me just 24 hours before the event to say they couldn’t cater to our group size after all. Oh, and by the way, they couldn’t refund our deposit until three working days later. Cue panic mode! I had less than a day to find a new space for 35-45 women, send out updated event details, and coordinate with our decorators to adjust everything last minute.
If that wasn’t enough, the morning of the event brought another surprise—a marathon. And wouldn’t you know it? The marathon route passed right by the new venue, causing massive traffic delays. It was like the universe was testing just how much I could handle.
That experience taught me to adjust my expectations and focus less on how I wanted things to turn out and more on making the best of whatever situation I was dealt. Running a business is never perfect, but if you stay flexible and keep your cool (even when chaos reigns), you can turn things around. And hey, despite all the hiccups, that first brunch turned out to be a success—and an unforgettable story!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wapbrunch.com
- Instagram: @wapbrunch_
