Meet Ikya Kenyatta | Strategy Analyst & Founder of the 23 Jade Scholarship

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ikya Kenyatta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ikya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always known that I had a passion for helping others; however, it was not until I was blessed with a scholarship from my alma mater, Spelman College, that I decided to really put my plan to action. When I began my matriculation, I was not at all financially prepared. I applied for scholarships for months prior to moving on campus but found little to no luck funding my education. So, I shifted my energy to focus on becoming an academic asset to the institution. I began networking, joined extracurricular activities, and threw myself into my studies while simultaneously working as a work-study student in one of Spelman’s offices. Eventually, my hard work paid off. I was selected to be the inaugural recipient of the Jaqueline Royster Distinguished Student Scholarship named after a fellow Spelman sister and former Dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Through my interactions with my scholarship donors, Colonel Stephen C. Hall and Mrs. Pamela Hall, I found just how enriching and fulfilling philanthropy could be, and I was determined to pay my blessings forward. That is why I created the 23 Jade Book Scholarship.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I currently work at Accenture as a strategy analyst and have been employed full-time for about two months. However, I spent two summers interning within their ASIDP and ASADP programs and have experience navigating both the office setting and the virtual landscape that we are subjected to due to the COVID-19 lockdown. When I reflect on how I got to this point in my life, I often laugh because this is not where I expected it to be at all. I enrolled at Spelman as a Political Science and International Studies double major, minoring in management and organization. I had all intentions of going into the world of diplomacy and exploring what there was to offer outside of my home country; however, it did not take me long to realize that this international industry was not my calling, nor was it something that I was tremendously passionate about. So, I began to explore skills outside of those I came into school interested in. For instance, I changed my major to English with a minor in writing and a concentration in African American studies. With that change came an overwhelming amount of alignment between myself and the content and materials I found surrounding me. I immersed myself in activities I found genuinely enjoyable, such as social media marketing, brand management, and eventually management consulting. After years managing the social media engagement for Spelman’s scholarship office and two semesters as a communications intern for Stuckey’s, I decided to apply for a position as a summer strategy analyst at Accenture. Although I had not had prior knowledge of the consulting industry, after researching the firm, I knew that this would be the perfect place for me to develop my professionalism and other essential skills. Three years later and my thoughts about the firm still stand true. If it were not for the many lessons learned during my time at both Accenture and Spelman, I would not have the tools necessary to expand my scholarship foundation or to have even created it in the first place. What I want readers to take from my experience is to be grateful for every moment you have and also to pay it forward because you never know how your interaction with someone can affect them for the rest of their days.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have lived in Atlanta my entire life, and there are still some places that I have not been. However, some of my favorite spots are the Starlight Drive-in Theater, Ponce City Market, JCT Kitchen and Bar, Cascade Roller Rink, and just about any body of water with a beautiful view.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people to thank for where I am today, however, five, in particular, were instrumental to my success. Those individuals are my mentors Colonel Stephen C. Hall, Mrs. Pamela Hall, Mr. Theodore Tate, Mrs. Cassandra Joseph, and Ms. Sharon Lightfoot. I also want to recognize the United Negro College Fund and the National Pre-Alumnae Council for providing me with a space to grow into my professionalism and a network of black professionals to learn from. Finally, I would not be who I am if it were not for my family, so I thank them for their unwavering support.

Website: https://23jadeconsulting.wixsite.com/bookscholarship

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thekenyatta/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikya-kenyatta-808a46172/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_thekenyatta