We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Renarda Joy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Renarda below.

Renarda , appreciate you joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

I started my business in the early 2000’s, but I wish I had started sooner! I graduated from Simmons University, a women-focused school in Boston, MA, with my BSc in Marketing. Like many who graduate, I found myself at a crossroads. I ended up getting an internship as a Matrimonial & Family Law Paralegal. I worked on a case where we assisted a client in acquiring a resort in the Bahamas. Closing the deal was so energizing and exciting for me, I knew real estate was where I wanted to be.

Like many women who are building a career and attempting to network, I came up against roadblocks trying to make my way in a male-dominated industry. I had to sharpen my skills and knowledge – which still too often ended up in me being asked where my husband was. I started going by “RJ” and saw a shift in how men engaged with me via email. Magic! Never be afraid to use your initials of your name to get you further, you’re still being truthful.

If I had it to do over again, I would have incorporated two things from the beginning. First, I would have worked hard to identify and fill my knowledge gaps and ask more questions. I realize now that questions don’t make you look stupid – they make you look curious and invested. This would have shortened my learning curve and kept me from doing things the hard way. I was working harder and not smarter, juggling many hats I had no business wearing.

The second thing I would do differently is harness the power of collaboration sooner. I’ve learned that relationship building really is the key to having a successful business. But not just meeting people – meeting with intention. Everyone is familiar with the infamous radio station, W.I.F.M….what’s in it for me! I now know how to create synergy to produce a symbiotic collaboration. No one wants to feel used.

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 back background and context?

Obtaining real estate is without a doubt the best way to start building wealth. We’ve always seen disparity in homeownership in underserved communities and in the Black community. This gap has only gotten worse in our post-COVID world. According to Pew research, “The gap between White and Black homeownership rates is wider now than it was in 1960, when housing discrimination was rampant and legal, U.S. Census Bureau data shows. In 2022, 74.6% of White households owned their homes, compared with 45.3% of Black households — a gap of more than 29 points”.   (  Source )

Rent is going up and homeownership in the Black community is going down. Owning property makes a massive difference when it comes to generational wealth. But, I’ve learned firsthand, even in my own experience, the process is intimidating! A lot of people are really intimidated by the process, or have no clue how to start. I’ve seen the power of closing the intergenerational wealth gap, and I am uniquely qualified to help people get there in their own lives.

When I was a little girl I was obsessed with the women in power suits I saw around me. I wanted to be like them – a woman who was a hard worker, was an absolute boss, and advocated for and helped others. I wanted to help people in my community while building something I could be proud of. After graduation, becoming an attorney was an option for me, but I decided to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and mother and become a third-generation wealth builder.

My mother used to take me along when she visited her rental properties. You have to remember, this was before the days of HGTV or accessible finance information. In these days it was also considered bad etiquette to talk about money – so my family didn’t. At all.

I started with what I knew. I did my best to build my credit and seek out whatever information I could find about real estate and wealth building.

Knowing what it was like to want information and be unable to find it, I made it my goal to get information into the hands of anyone who wants it. Along with my 20 years of experience as a business owner, paralegal, real estate agent, and investor, I’m always looking for ways to get information into the hands of people who are ready to change their future. This started with my Legacy Playbook®, a transferable resource that is very affordable. This led into the Legacy Playbook Summit, which created a space for business owners and speakers to share their expertise on a large platform, both platforming phenomenal business owners and getting more resources and knowledge into the hands of the public. My courses help clients rewrite the narrative of wealth inequality.

Last year, the Office of the President, Antonio Reynoso of the Borough of Brooklyn recognized the work that I do in the community and wealth building efforts among the Black community in Brooklyn. I also received a proclamation praising my company for our initiatives that were aimed at providing the public with valuable and oftentimes difficult to find resources, information, and services that enable financial prosperity.

My most recent project is my online and print publication called BOOTSTRAP. BOOTSTRAP offers support for today’s entrepreneurs a resource to help them navigate today’s changing business landscape.

I have my Minority and Woman-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Certification and I’m also honored to sit on the Special Advisory Board of the NY Black Chamber of Commerce which allows me to keep my finger on the pulse of what’s happening in my community. This allows me to have a bird’s eye view of problems that I can help find solutions to.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have almost 5,000 followers across social media platforms. My social media growth started slow as I focused too much on my aesthetic appeal. I realized that, like in business, you can’t expect new results with old behavior. I had to figure out how to create content that added value to people’s lives.

To build my audience, I started by listening to what my clients said their needs were. There was value in realizing that I am not my client – they know things I don’t about their needs! I led focus groups and really listened and created a buyer persona.

By looking through the lens of my clients, I was able to create content that catered to various learning styles and was valuable to my clients. You want to allow your clients to see themselves going through the journey with you that will yield the results that speaks to their pain points.

It’s important with social media to niche down so that you’re speaking to your ideal client. If your messaging is too broad, no one will resonate. Consistency is key! Create A/B tests to determine the best times for your clients. Check each social media platform and study and analyze the data or insights that are available. Don’t get caught up if you’re swimming in a sea of others doing the same thing as you – they can’t be you on a good day. YOU are your secret sauce!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I know firsthand what it’s like to feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the idea of building wealth. I also know that people in my community have been forgotten or taken advantage of far too many times. I’ve been there – I get it – and I’m here to help people. Many in my industry overpromise and underdeliver. I believe in the joy of investing and I love to help my clients find that joy and have fun in the process of building wealth. I am here to serve my clients – not sell to them. I’ve built a reputation with my clients on putting the person before the almighty dollar. I’m a person of integrity who tells the truth and delivers on my commitments. My number one goal is to support my clients in their journeys even after they purchase my playbook or complete my course.
I’m passionate about educating people and I am always excited to see another person make changes in their lives that will lead to generations being impacted by wealth. I’m committed to breaking down the financial literacy walls, especially in the Black community, and creating more opportunities to have productive and safe dialogue about wealth building dialogue in a comfortable space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://renardajoy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renarda.joy/
• Facebook: http://renardajoylive.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renarda-joy/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/renardajoy1
• Youtube: http://renardajoytelevision.com/

Image Credits
Amanda Crommett Photography