We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rhonda Alexia Webb a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rhonda Alexia, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Thanks so much for the opportunity to be featured in your magazine. Your publication is amazing and I’m honored to be able to continue my story. Kids Rule Now!, the name of my non-profit organization is closely aligned with the entrepreneurship curriculum I designed called I’m The Boss Now! I wanted the name to be something unconventional and unexpected. Typically, when you think of kids and their rank in the family or society at large, thoughts of “small” come to mind; small in stature, small in influence, small in impact, etc. But after three years of researching kids who were coming on the scene as innovators, artists, business owners and philanthropists, I began to see a different aspect of their capabilities and I wanted my non-profit’s name to reflect that. It was important to create a name that kids would think was fun and cool and adults would be bemused with. And Kids Rule Now! was born. In my early thought processes, I felt that Kids Rule was sufficient, but I knew it wasn’t quite there yet and decided to add “now” to the name. I believe the name signifies the urgency of what is current, what is present and what is relevant. In 2013, the kidpreneurship trend was in its early stages but it was clear to me that it was more than a fun, fad-type activity. I saw kidpreneurship as a Lemonade Stand on steroids and I wanted to be able to provide resources and opportunities for kids to get involved NOW.
I wanted adults (and parents) to understand that this new generation could have financial options that could set them up to be life-long learners, capable of earning their own money, supporting themselves and securing a future that would provide them with options. So, kids can own a business Now! Kids can be philanthropic Now! Kids can be innovative Now! Kids can be resourceful Now! Kids can make money Now! Learn how to invest money Now! Save money Now! In other words, Kids Rule Now! I believe the name and the concept is empowering.

Rhonda Alexia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The path that my life has taken, regarding my profession, is one that I did not see coming. Career-wise, I found myself enjoying the rewards of an industry that as a teen, I imagined pursuing. I have always been fascinated with the beauty industry and after graduating from State College of Beauty in Royal, Oak, MI. and becoming a licensed Cosmetologist, I found myself content and satisfied with my choices. Over a span of 24 years, I enjoyed being the co-owner of Pleasures Beauty Salon in Redford, MI., a hairstylist, owner of Rave’ Cosmetics, and a platform artist for the Avlon Affirm haircare company. I had wonderful clients and genuinely enjoyed the professional and personal relationships I acquired over the years. But ultimately, I believe God had other plans for me because after relocating from Detroit to Saginaw, Michigan everything changed.

I continued in the haircare industry for a few more years but eventually joined the workforce as an office administrator. Then one day in 2013 as the result of a conversation with a friend I decided that I would create an after-school class called I’m The Boss Now! that focused on teaching entrepreneurship to kids ages 5 to 11. Over the next few years with the help of several educators, I would expand the 8-week class to a full curriculum consisting of 32, fifty-minute lessons. I designed it for an after-school environment and with Homeschool families in mind. As a former Homeschool mom I believed that a robust teaching that incorporates math, reading, history, critical thinking exercises and vocabulary words, while teaching entrepreneurship and philanthropy, would be a dynamic tool to invest in.

So, it was my desire to provide more value which led me to form Kids Rule Now! Inc in 2016. I believed this non-profit format would permit me to have a greater impact upon my target market. Since the beginning Kids Rule Now! has provided over 15 events that have given kids and youth an outlet to launch and/or grow their businesses while receiving mentoring and encouragement. One of our premier, long standing events is our annual KIDposium,™ The ORIGINAL Conference for Kids. This full-day event consists of engaging break-out sessions led by successful adult entrepreneurs, a Vendors exhibit hall, lunch, and fun activities. The conference closes out with a keynote address by a youth entrepreneur who has achieved success on a regional or national level. We were blessed to have Gabby Goodwin CEO of Confidence and the inventor of GaBBY Bows as our 2022 Keynote Speaker.

2022 was a landmark year for us in other ways also. In addition to the return of the KIDposium™ after a two-year hiatus due to Covid, we also hosted our very first KRN! Awards Gala. We were excited to honor and award four successful youth entrepreneurs who were active with Kids Rule Now! This was also our first 2-day event with the Awards Gala and KIDposium,™ occurring on consecutive days and we were honored to have Gabby as the speaker for both events.

Kids Rule Now! is committed to providing events tailored to the needs of young entrepreneurs. Every bazaar, expo, Pop-Up Shop or KIDposium™ has been kid/youth centered and is an environment where kids who are just starting a business for the first time can get valuable practice, feedback, and opportunities to fine-tune their presentation skills. These young vendors get to know one another and the similar interest of kidpreneurship has led to friendships and collaborations among themselves. That’s our super-power! The format of our bazaars and expos consists of 100% kid/youth vendors. And I love it when their confidence in their selling skills increases to the degree that they are completely comfortable with participating in events where they are among adult-owned businesses.

2023 is shaping up to be a phenomenal time for KRN! as we return with our 2-day event (Gala and KIDposium™) in October. And just recently I had several fulfilling experiences. Last year I won a local Pitch Competition at The Upgrade Experience by Latrice Goodwine. And just recently Sa’Veya Jackson, one of the youth who has been with Kids Rule Now! since 2018, surprised me with with a beautiful Award of Appreciation for the role and influence that Kids Rule Now! has had on her thriving business. And in June I was given a Heart of the City Award by The Michigan Banner, which is published by Jerome Buckley. I was so honored to be recognized with many notable leaders in our region and was excited to receive the Rising Business Award in recognition of my work with young entrepreneurs through Kids Rule Now! Inc and as the author of I’m The Boss Now! To be recognized on this level is important because it focuses attention on the viability of youth entrepreneurship in our region.
And a major goal I have is to continuously encourage parents and adults to be deliberate in exposing kids to entrepreneurship. Allow your child to start a (simple) small business or find a youth entrepreneur you can cheer on and support. I’m convinced that early exposure to entrepreneurship helps kids to develop important life skills and money management skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

When I started Kids Rule Now! Inc. I was venturing into a niche that was not heavily populated with other businesses or organizations like mine. I used that to my advantage and held my very first kids conference just months after forming my non-profit. I came out of the gate running! My 1st Annual Kids Rule Now! KIDposium™ – The ORIGINAL Conference for Kids was the event to launch the work I intended to do in our region. The breakout session speakers were experts in their fields, and I was able to book Asia Newsome – The Super-Business Girl, from Detroit as our keynote speaker. And it was helpful that she had just recently been interviewed on the televised news series 20/20. I laid the groundwork early in regards to what I wanted Kids Rule Now! to be known for. It was important that my focus remained intact; Kids Rule Now! was completely and entirely focused on kidpreneurship. And early on, I had phenomenal mentors, Renee` Johnston of Saginaw Community Foundation, Terry Duperon founder of Duperon Corporation and Duperon Education, and Mark Sauter of GTP Associates who used their influence and the wealth of their knowledge and connections within the business community to assist me. And the investment in securing a business coach cannot be overlooked. Latrice Goodwine of Girl, What’s In Your Purse? has had a tremendous impact in showing me how to position my business for success.
To sum it all up, investments have helped me to build my reputation within my market. People investing their knowledge in me, and my willingness to invest money in securing my phenomenal business coach. That’s made all the difference.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have had a few pivoting moments in both my career and personal life over the years. A major pivot occurred when I moved from Detroit, MI to Saginaw, MI, in 2001, I was newly divorced, with two young sons and unemployed. I left behind a 24-year successful career in the beauty industry as a Cosmetologist and make-up artist; and left behind clients who had over time, become good friends. And I missed them all tremendously and still do. I managed to resume my role as a Cosmetologist because of relationships I had established before leaving Detroit but it wasn’t long at all before I completely abandoned Cosmetology and entered the workforce as an office administrator. I’m grateful that God allowed that passion for entrepreneurship to remain planted in my heart and at the appointed time He flooded me with ideas that resulted in Kids Rule Now! Inc and I’m The Boss Now! This pivot has come with many challenges and over the years has required discipline and patience. But entrepreneurship is a business model that I have much respect for and cannot even imagine not being able to pursue it on some level. And I consider myself blessed that through my businesses I am able to mentor and assist youth who desire to explore entrepreneurship with successful outcomes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kidsrulenow.org www.imthebossnow.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsrulenow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidsrulenow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-alexia-webb-299034a6/
• Other: Podcast: https://totalmichigan.com/kids-rule-now-with-rhonda-alexia-webb/

Image Credits
Xavier Rozay Holmes David Brown, Jr.