We were lucky to catch up with Zaa’Kiya Green recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zaa’Kiya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I am happier as a business owner — but that happiness comes with a lot of responsibility, sacrifice, and growth. I actually still work a regular job right now while also running my braiding business and my graphic design/creative agency. So I’m living both realities at once, and that gives me a unique perspective on this question.

The last time I questioned everything was a few months ago, right in the middle of the slow season for braiders. Bills were still rolling in, and I was trying to help carry the household relying on what felt like pure faith. I was job hunting, braiding, creating graphics for clients, and being a mom — all while trying to hold myself together emotionally. It felt like every part of me was being tugged in a different direction, and I didn’t know where to step next.

In that moment, the idea of just having one predictable paycheck and letting someone else make the decisions sounded so peaceful. Because when you’re an entrepreneur, you don’t get to take off one hat and put on another — you’re the boss, the manager, the employee, the creative director, customer service… everything. It’s rewarding, but it’s a lot.

But even in my overwhelm, something in me wouldn’t let me walk away. My purpose, my passion, the impact I want to make — and my family — kept me grounded. My calling has always been louder than my fear, even when fear is the loudest voice in the room.

There’s one day that really sticks with me. I woke up at 6 AM to get my son ready, worked my 8–4:30 job, then braided from 7 PM until almost 4 AM. I went right back to work the next morning with no sleep. Most people would take that as a sign to slow down, but for me it was a moment of clarity. It showed me that I’m willing to put in the work required to build the life I want. That moment reminded me that, as exhausting as entrepreneurship can be, it’s also where my purpose lives.

So do I think about having “just” a regular job? Sometimes. But the truth is, even while I’m working one, my heart is in my businesses. I don’t think I’m meant to choose one lane — I’m meant to build the life that fits my calling. And that calling consistently shows me I’m built for more.

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.

My name is Zaa’Kiya Green, but most people know me as Kiy — the hands, heart, and vision behind Krowned by Kiy and Krowned Kreative Co. | Reign Marketing. I’m a braider, a creative director, a designer, a mother, and a woman who built her businesses from pure intention, passion, and faith.

I got into braiding because of my mom. She taught me as a child, and what started as something we did together eventually became something I wanted to master on my own. Later in life, my husband encouraged me to lean deeper into it, and that’s when I discovered my true love for the craft. Braiding became more than just a skill — it became a calling.

I’m also completely self-taught in graphic design. I started by making my own flyers, then word spread, and people began asking me to design for them. A close friend helped me nourish that gift even further, and from there it blossomed into a full creative agency. Now, I create branding, content, and marketing materials that help other entrepreneurs show up with confidence.

Across everything I do, my mission is simple: to help people feel beautiful, inside and out.
For my braiding clients, that means nurturing them and their hair, reminding them of the beauty they were born with, and changing lives one crown at a time. For my branding clients, it means helping them elevate their businesses, giving them a system to follow, and making entrepreneurship feel less chaotic and more predictable.

What sets me apart is the combination of all these gifts and the heart behind them. I’m a braider, a designer, an educator, a visionary — and I pour intention into every role. My southern warmth, my eye for detail, my creativity, my story, and my resilience all show up in my work. Everything I create is crafted with care, purpose, and the desire to make people feel seen.

What I’m most proud of is the woman I’ve become through this journey — the confidence I’ve earned, the skills I’ve sharpened, the businesses I’ve built from nothing, and the people I’ve impacted along the way. Each service, each design, each book, each client — it all reflects growth.

And if there’s one thing I want potential clients, followers, and supporters to know, it’s this:
I’m human. I feel, I push, I grow, and I show up even when life is loud.
You can build something meaningful even while life is happening around you. We all get the same 24 hours — the real question is, how will you use yours?

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

For me, staying connected with clients is about relationship, not just transactions. I keep in touch by being present, consistent, and personal. A lot of my clients don’t just come to me for a service — they come to me for an experience, for comfort, for conversation, and for a moment where they feel seen and cared for.

I check in with clients after appointments, send updates about new services or products, and share educational content that helps them take better care of their hair or their brand, depending on which side of my business they’re part of. Whether it’s a braid client learning how to maintain their protective style or a business owner learning how to elevate their marketing — I make sure they feel supported long after the appointment or project ends.

Brand loyalty comes from the way I show up. I try to create a space where people feel safe, valued, and understood, not rushed or judged. I’m transparent, I communicate clearly, and I bring my full personality and authenticity into my work. I also make sure my clients know I’m grateful — because without them, none of this would be possible.

At the end of the day, loyalty grows when people feel connected to the person behind the brand. I want every client to walk away knowing that I care about their confidence, their growth, and their overall experience — not just the payment. That’s what keeps them coming back and what turns clients into community.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has honestly been a mix of word-of-mouth and the visibility I create through my own content, flyers, and personal presentation. Word-of-mouth has always been powerful in the beauty and creative industry — when someone loves their hair, their branding, or their experience, they tell people. And those personal recommendations travel further than any paid ad ever could.

I also attract a lot of clients simply by doing my own hair. I treat myself like walking marketing. When people see my braids, see how healthy my hair is, or see the styles I create on myself, they immediately ask, “Who did your hair?” And I’m always like, “Me.” That alone brings in consistent new clients because they get to witness my work in real life.

On the design and branding side, the flyers and graphics I create for myself double as a portfolio. When people see my visuals, they want the same level of creativity and detail for their own business. So my work naturally promotes itself — whether it’s my braids or my graphics, I wear and display my brand everywhere I go.

Overall, my biggest source of clients comes from showing up, being visible, and letting the quality of my work speak for itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://krowned-by-kiy.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krownedbykiy_?igsh=Ym1ydmo4NDFiejFk&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/178J1EKSjV/?mibextid=wwXIfr