For this week's #HBIC I had the pleasure of chatting it up with the poised & zealous T-Kea Blackman of NSpire! I just adore her not only for the constant work ethic that she puts into building her brand but I also admire her ability to always NSpire!
How did
the idea for Nspire come about?
I randomly thought, what if people had all
of their PR, marketing, and communications needs in one spot and they wouldn't have to go anywhere else to get anything
done. I asked people if they would hire a company like that, and they
said yes! I thought it was a great idea but I was worried about what
I would call it. I knew that I wanted to focus on projects and events with social causes attached to them. Then I started to look at it from a
production angle, since I had a background in production and now PR background, I thought wow, I really can combine these
elements. Before it had a name it was just a way for me to bridge the gap
between everything that I like doing PR, events, networking, marketing, and
inspiring through social advocacy. When I pitched the name Nspire to my business partner I wasn't
really sure but she was like "That's it! Don't over think it."
You couldn't even imagine how many names I've gone through and thinking
back now I'm glad that I didn't pick any of them!
What 3
pieces of advice would you give to college students who want to become
entrepreneurs?
For one, I would say to make sure you surround yourself with people
who believe in you. People who aren't entrepreneurs won't understand your
way of thinking. Some people just want to get a 9-5, make their money, and
depend on that job. Entrepreneurs don't think that way so you also need to start
surrounding yourself with like-minded people because you need a
strong support system. Secondly, I would say never stop learning. Always read, I don't care
what it is just continue to educate yourself. Allow mistakes and learn from
them, just know that you are not going to get everything right on the first try.
What
has been some (or one) of the biggest mistakes that you have made so far, and
what have you learned from them?
Considering that I am still in the early stages I haven't made
too many mistakes. My business plan, I haven't completed it. I've worked
on it but I haven't been able to say "it's done". It's a roadmap
to your success and it makes your life much easier. If you want investors, you definitely want to have that business plan done. They are going
to want to know things like startup costs, marketing costs, and so on. That’s the only thing that I wished I finished sooner and not have it lingering over my head because now
that business is picking up, it's hard to find the time to sit and
complete it.
Who has
been some of your biggest supporters?
My mom,
my family, and especially my friends Destiny, Breann, Giona, Keeyah.
I have a really big support system. These are people that I KNOW I could call
in the middle of the night and they will come running to help me.
What is
it that motivates you?
First and foremost, I would have to say God, because God has given me the
vision for Nspire. Second I would have to say is student loans! I do
not want to be one of those people who are paying off student loans for the
rest of my life. Nspire is not going to be my only business or my only source of
income so I do know how important it is for me lay the foundation and have it
stand up on its own two feet. I want to have
financial freedom. Third, is the fact that I have so many family members,
siblings, and just people in general that look up to me, what would they
do if I just stopped? I feel the pressure!
What
are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your non-work time?
I like to hang out with friends, go to the gym, and I
like going to the movies. I'm actually about to take myself to
the movies tonight! I enjoy being around other people and it doesn't take
much for me to start a conversation with people. People call me the 'networking queen' because I'm always striking up conversation with
strangers. Also, I like comedy clubs, laughing is one of my favorite things to
do.
How do
you handle stress?
Oh my goodness, I'm actually a person that drowns in stress. I don't
manage stress well. How I am able to move forward? I just start spitting out
scriptures to myself. I just have to remind myself of God's promises. My
favorite is Romans 8:28 "All things work together for the good of
those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose." It's not
over until it's good. No matter how bad something may seem, it is always going
to turn out fine.
Who has been your greatest inspiration/
role model?
Cathy Hughes, I love me some Cathy Hughes! She is the creator is TVOne,
RadioOne, and InteractiveOne. She started as an on air radio personality and
from there she built multiple companies. She was a single parent
mother sleeping on the floor of her radio station because she did not want
her dream to die. Her story is one of perseverance and hard work. I admire
her for that. She wanted to give everyday people a voice, spread
awareness about issues in the community, and effect positive impact. I've
been able to meet her on numerous occasions, once when I was debating
on going into business for myself. She told me to go for it! She asked me "what
are you waiting for" and told me that she would look me up one
day because she knows that I will be something great. In that moment I
said "T-Kea you have to do it."
What can our readers expect from you in the next
year?
Next year, Nspire plans to have an inaugural event to
celebrate our success. Expect to see our name more. We are going to be a
part of a lot of upcoming events and campaigns throughout the next year. Trust me, you will
know more about who we are and what our mission is because Nspire will be
everywhere.
What makes Nspire different from any other PR company?
We are a strategic communications firm that is very clear about our mission. "Our mission is to create
social change by bridging the gap between entertainment and philanthropy.
To raise awareness of various social issues shift perceptions
and ultimately change behaviors." Whether we are working on an
event or campaign; it will always have a positive impact. We help our clients leave their mark with a touch of “Nspiration.”
Thank you so much for Nspiring us, T-Kea! If you would like to follow along for tons of great pr tips you can follow
NSpire on
Instagram,
Facebook, and
Twitter! You can also check out T-Kea's feature in the Fall 2015 issue of Howard University's Alumni Magazine.
