Happy Monday, folks! This week's "Millennial on a Mission" is an author, entrepreneur and branding specialist. Her new book, "Five Steps To Marketing Success: A Small Business Guide" provides tips and tools for small business owners who are looking to enhance their marketing strategies.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Kiersten Kindred.
Hailing from Houston, Texas, Kiersten graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, specializing in Broadcast Journalism. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sam Houston State University," Kiersten says. "It taught me a lot about my field and myself." Currently, she is the founder and CEO of her own media firm, Kindred Communications, which specializes in communications, marketing and branding for medium-sized businesses.
CC: What inspired you to pursue your choice of career? Who are some individuals you admire in and out of your field of work? What challenges have you faced in building your business, and what have you learned from them?
KK: I love everything branding and communications! When I graduated from college, I knew media and communications was going to be the arena for me. LaLa Anthony inspired me to choose my major and carve out my career path. I admire how to has been able to manage her career in entertainment and brand herself very well. When I first launched my Kindred Communications, I was trying to market my business and brand myself simultaneously, which was very difficult. But I had to combined the skills I learned in the classroom with my work experience in order to teach myself the trade. One of the biggest challenges that I have faced in building my business is having to say 'no' to people. I have now learned that to be a business owner, you must understand that you can't do everything. You have to learn what is important for your business and what will help you reach your end goal.
To Kiersten, being a "Millennial on a Mission" means to never give up and strive to achieve your dreams no matter what anyone says. "I strive everyday to build my brand, whether it is networking, seeking new opportunities or attending events- I am constantly branding. Her advice to fellow young professionals? "It's a quote that is at the end of my book: 'Plan, prepare and grow. Repeat.'"
To learn more about Kiersten and her work, visit the Kindred Communications website and follow the firm on Twitter.