We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandi Denyse and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Brandi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business? I started my business a little unorthodoxly (if that’s a word lol). At the time, I was working at a major bank and comfortable so starting my own business was the last thing on my mind. One day I went to apply for a mortgage loan and got denied which led me to venting to my mentor about how I needed to fix my credit. He then introduced me to a platform that not only could assist me with fixing my own personal financial problems but I could also invest in a franchise opportunity and work it part-time to help the numerous of my peers and those across America who were suffering from the same issues.
Still comfortable in my role at the bank, I was only helping a few people here and there making a few extra hundred dollars. One day my manager told me I couldn’t go to the restroom and at that moment I realized I never wanted to allow anyone else to tell me what I can and can’t do when I need to. The next day I put in a months notice that I was quitting and started to focus on making a greater impact with my business.
What should our readers know about your business? I want people to know that help is here! I spent so many years paying unnecessary fees, interest rates money that I did not have to pay out because I lacked financial literacy! Even with years of school under my belt and an Accounting degree, I still ended up with bad credit and living paycheck to paycheck working at a bank, go figure. Even when life happens, because I know a lot of people experienced financial woes during the Pandemic, some people don’t know where to turn and that’s what I am here for. I am dedicated to changing our communities after learning from my own mistakes. I would have never thought my bad credit would have me traveling the country educating others on the subjects of financial literacy, wealth building, and entrepreneurship. I get excited everyday I wake up because I’ve been afforded the opportunity to mentor others and lead them towards their own financial freedom. Seeing that light bulb go off in peoples heads when they realize they don’t have to be stuck and there is a way out brings an unexplainable joy over me. It feels good to get texts from clients saying their score increased or they finally closed on their home or one of my partners getting their first check because I remember what it felt like to be denied, not know where to turn and to not have enough money to do the things that I loved to do. Not only that, I also mentor here in Atlanta Public School systems and because I know our children aren’t being taught Financial Literacy in school, I instill what I know into my mentees so that they won’t graduate and make the same mistakes I did.
Getting to this point in business numbers wise was easy because helping people is second nature to me. Entrepreneurship wasn’t new however me not having a job as a cushion was. It’s easy to dish the money out to start a business and you might get a few wins here and there but in order to really become who I am today I had to fight, literally. Not only in my own home at the time, but I had to fight the naysayers, fight the distractions, fight through those days when the phone wasn’t ringing and I questioned my own sanity, the days when people gave their unsolicited advice about how they couldn’t do it, yeah I know YOU CAN’T BUT WATCH ME. I’m grateful and blessed now but it took a lot of personal development, determination, faith and me knowing my why was way too big for me to throw in the towel because I was uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable made me go even harder. Knowing my mother is still working a 9-5 makes me go harder. Knowing God sent me here on a mission is what makes me go harder. People see the highlights and think you become an overnight success but don’t see the sacrifices and what it takes behind the scenes to get there. It’s easy to dish the money out to start a business and you might get a few wins here and there based off of popularity but in order to really walk in purpose takes more than just the physical. It’s a mental and spiritual battle as well. My advice to anyone reading this is to believe in yourself and don’t let anyone stop you from becoming the greatness God created you to be!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh Atlanta, how I love thee. I’m probably the wrong person to come an visit for a week because I’ve become such a homebody over the last year and a half, but I know we would definitely do brunch at Ms. Iceys Kitchen & Bar, dinner at Ghion Cultural Hall, some raw vegan greatness from Tassili’s Raw Reality and whatever other vegan deliciousness I could think of. And since the majority of the time will be spent eating, we’d have to get out and get some fresh air along the Beltline and stop by King of Pops along the walk. Then to close it out, we’d have a manifestation session on Jackson street bridge looking at the skyline and all the potential $$$ to be made in the city! Now that last one is powerful. Y’all better not steal it lol.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are quite a few people that have poured into me over the years but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my biggest influence/support system/big brother and mentor Jaylen D. Fletcher. He’s been my backbone for over 13 years and definitely getting $150,000 of my first million. There it’s in writing, I said it. If you’re reading this I love you to life!
Website: www.myuwe.net/bleverett
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brandi.denyse
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brandi.denyse