We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tameika Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tameika, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, what do you think about family businesses? Would you want your children or other family members to one day join your business?

I may have a more unfavorable view on family businesses. I absolutely love them and believe that they can make it longer than two generations. Having a family business with my biological sister has given me direct exposure to the many benefits as well as pitfalls of going into business with family. Initially, the thought may be that mixing business with personal is the first mistake. I believe that it’s imperative to separate business from personal, as challenging as it may be. When discussing business, my sister is not my sister, she is my business partner. Differentiating the two helps to ensure that our priorities are directed towards the right things. The benefits of going into business with family include: trust, transparency, teamwork, and flexibility. Some pitfalls include: delay in decision-making, blurred boundaries, financial strain, and succession planning. When referencing the benefits, I would say that trusting my business partner provides peace of mind that both of our views are considered before making a business decision. One pitfall mentioned previously is delay in decision-making. Because there are only two of us, there are times when we have to decide to agree to disagree and proceed in the task at hand. One decision that we both agree on is not forcing our current and/or future children to join the family business if they aren’t interested. There are some experiences that stem from the benefits and pitfalls above mentioned that helped shape my view on family businesses. Most recently, my business partner and I decided to be intentional about our endeavors in one another’s entities. As sisters, we are heavily involved in each other’s projects. To eliminate burnout and tension from constantly working in one another’s space, we decided to only run the business for a period of time. I thoroughly encourage family members in business to do an evaluation of all that they do together. This is because we get so engulfed in supporting one another that our lives become intertwined which leaves no breathing room. Frustration and a short temperament can develop subconsciously if not identified early. I’ve found that separation was necessary and has further supported my beliefs on family businesses thriving beyond expectancy. In any relationship, intentionality is key. If the goal is to flourish in growth and business, being intentional must not be a compromise. Be intentional in the business relationship, family dynamics, and communication to aid in a successful family business. It is an absolute honor and privilege to get to work with my sister.

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?

This question tends to be the most challenging for me because there is so much to share. As the youngest child on my mother’s side, I like to believe that I am richly spoiled and I do not take it for granted. I have been blessed to accomplish many things in my life to include modeling internationally, creating a nonprofit based on my life experiences, Avery & Aubrey’s Way, and starting my own business alongside my sister. In 2024 and two months after earning my MBA, I went into business with my sister, Ke’Ira Lewis, rebranding the idea of a shared workspace and event venue. Together, we have built 618 Business & Event Center, a community-focused workspace and event venue that provides businesses, professionals, organizations, and event space seekers (ages 12+), with a unique and customized atmosphere for their business and events needs. We do this via hosted events, rentals, and individualized amenities. We offer office rentals to small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking a brick and mortar for their clients. We are beyond the four walls that we sit in. Our focus is truly on the community. There are a number of events planned throughout the year with emphasis placed on providing and sharing resources. Our goal is to become a pillar within the community where not only events are held and space is offered, but also, where resources are shared in various ways and we may each grow in our own way. Being a family business that is involved in the community and that offers access to multiple entities in various industries, is what sets us apart from others. When brainstorming business ideas and launching new marketing initiatives, my business partner and I are able to offer unique perspectives based on our distinctive backgrounds. Something that I am proud of is having the opportunity to utilize my educational background freely within my own business. I want potential clients to know that the owners of 618 Business & Event Center are well informed of the industry, equipped to manage their needs, and are innovators who are not afraid to think outside of the box and push the limits. Our motto, “A unique atmosphere with eloquence and style” is how we operate. We have a strong support system and are honored to exist and to be there when a family needs a space to remember their loved one who passed, to celebrate a milestone, or even to let their hair down and enjoy their weekend.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I still remember the day as if it were yesterday. Almost 4 years ago, I received a message on LinkedIn from a talent acquisition manager from TD Ameritrade. I responded to her request to have a 15 minute chat about a job opportunity. I listened in as she shared with me what I’d do on a day to day basis. She emphasized how imperative it would be for me to pass some licensing exams to proceed in my role. I moved on to an interview days later and was offered the Financial Representative, Stockbroker, position. The journey began to earn my licensing to become a licensed Financial Representative. Now this is nothing that I asked God for. I was minding my own self business in banking still pursuing Accounting as my profession. The Lord opened up the window of opportunity for me in the world of finance. That meant that I would need to drop my accounting pursuit and start completely over in my career. Oftentimes, that is hard for many to do, but because God and I had been here before, I dropped everything and moved from Texas to Illinois in 2016, I trusted Him completely in this new endeavor. While earning my Series 7 and 63, I came into many setbacks and shortcomings. You see, I was working full-time at TD Ameritrade in my new role, working part-time at LensCrafters, attending modeling and acting auditions, and earning my Masters from Texas Southern University. I’m still unsure why the Lord allowed me to do all of that at the same time (I would not recommend anyone do that). As you may have guessed, my licensing journey was well earned. I had passed the qualification exam, SIE, and was standing face to face with the Series 7. I will tell you that the Series 7 is a beast. It’s not about answering the right question. It’s about selecting the answer that makes the most sense for the scenario given. The day came for me to test and I failed by 1 point. I was devastated. I replayed in my mind how I felt while testing, the test questions themselves, even recounted what preparation looked like for me. So why did I fail?? I was enraged! I started to study again to retake the test. I had 30 days to retest and was determined to put this test behind me once and for all. Daily I felt like the study material that I switched to was not aiding me in comprehending the material. I did not feel prepared but was told that I could not extend my test date. Again I sat waiting to test with a pain in my chest feeling as though this was not the time to retest. I gave myself a pep talk. “Tameika, you’ve been studying and can identify key points to make the best informed decision”. ” Conquer this exam”. “Don’t let fear get in the way”. “You’ve got this!” I started the test and failed again. This time by 4 points. I was angry and beyond frustrated because I did not ask for this. It had been over a year and I was still stuck in the same place trying to earn my licenses. Remember, I was minding my own self business in banking still pursuing Accounting as my profession. I’ve never worked this hard and failed like this in my entire life. Why did I have to go through this? I remember laying down that night trying to get some rest when I heard the Lord say “until you remove YOU from this, you will not pass what I have set before you”. My mind completely shifted. I understood immediately what He meant. If I would have passed on the first or even second attempt, I would have, subconsciously, given me the glory instead of God. We have to remember that what God allows, it is for His glory. I was looking at this thing all wrong. I used words like “I didn’t ask for this” and “I don’t know what God wants me to do” instead of words like “I thank God for the opportunity to learn something new” and “God, thank you for trusting me to birth this new thing”. A shift in one’s mindset can change the whole trajectory of events. I pulled out my old study material and read every word from the cover to the index of the book. I did not rely on what I thought I knew, rather on the opportunity to try again. While testing for the third time, I made it halfway through the exam before stopping to exercise the breathing techniques taught in the training sessions that I used alongside my study material. I went into praise and worship thanking God for being with me and leading me through the exam. There were questions that I knew weren’t answered by me alone. I felt God’s presence with me. I love experiencing unexplainable miracles. I submitted my exam and closed my eyes to thank God again for the experience. I opened my eyes and saw the best four words that I’d ever seen, PASS. I just sat there. I thought about the hesitation in my heart to sit for the exam again after failing the second time. I thought about the abrupt pivot I’d experienced previously. Then I thought about the things that God showed me throughout the journey. Leaving behind pride, putting off rebellion within myself, and embracing the shift instantly came flooding into my memory. Pivots aren’t always comfortable but they are necessary. I thank God for the pivot!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Looking back over my life, there were times when I didn’t see a way out or through. The most challenging time occurred February 14, 2013 when I gave birth to 1 pound baby girls. During my pregnancy, I worked and attended school full-time earning my Bachelor’s. I planned to work and attend school until my doctor gave me instructions to do otherwise. After losing the girls shortly after birth, I could not fathom being home while my body adjusted to the absence of my children. I wanted to help myself but couldn’t. My natural reaction was to keep going in other areas of my life. My mom picked up and dropped off my assignments from school to help make sure that I did not fall behind. During that time, assignments were submitted in person rather than online like now. There was one professor that never sent any work my way. When I emailed to inquire about the lack of work, he would say “don’t worry about the assignments”. I returned to school and my job near the end of March. I earned a promotion at work and prepared to transition to another branch location. The process was smooth. School, unfortunately, was not as welcoming. The same professor that would reply with “don’t worry about the assignments” emails had other plans. My first day back into his class, he shared with me that I would be retaking his class next year. Not next semester! I had no idea what he meant because I did not discuss this with him nor my advisor. Right there in front of the entire class, this same professor proceeded to tell me that I would not be able to continue in his class. I was so shocked that I could not move. I had a stare off with my professor for what felt like 5 minutes. My shock quickly turned into rage. I went to my car and screamed out to God for help. I desperately needed his help because I had done all that I could do to help myself. After calming down, I went to my advisor’s office to explain my encounter with my professor. My advisor gave me reassurance that what I was told was inaccurate and that she would help to ensure that I graduated on time. In the end, the professor stated that he didn’t realize all that I was going through during the time that I was asking for assignments. I’m not sure what he assumed with me reaching out, but I was very clear in my situation. I completed all of my courses that I was registered for and graduated on time. Having the desire to keep going can be tough when faced with adversaries. I had no control over losing my children. Work and school were the things in my life that I was able to control. I was determined to change my narrative to keep choosing life each and every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.averyandaubreysway.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meika.meek?igsh=MXVxdWtuZ25ybXFmZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14iy6fMvK9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

Simple Slate Photography
Chapter 8 Studio