We had the good fortune of connecting with Kai Adura and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kai, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from Prince George’s County, Maryland. I credit PG for my tenacity, drive, and limitless beliefs. PG is the most affluent, majority Black county in the US. I grew up seeing an abundance of Black Wealth and influence. This allowed me to see myself in all careers, levels of leadership, and in an image that is not commonly displayed in media.
I grew up as the only child of a single mother. My mom taught me the importance of following your passion from a young age. She would say always to remember when you “follow your passion; the money naturally will come.” This, combined with seeing, experiencing, and learning the importance of community, shaped my mindset and molded me into the woman I am today.
What should our readers know about your business?
I am a serial entrepreneur. I am 99.9% sure my entrepreneurial spirit is genetic. I was the girl in high school who always sold snacks and candy. My mother ran her Consulting firm for most of my childhood while also pursuing her passion for baking.
I began as a Public Relations intern with Milan360 Strategies and immediately fell in love with the vast opportunity and possibilities in the communications field.
When I went to Spelman, and again when it was time to apply for grad school at Syracuse University, I made a promise to myself that I would only pursue higher education if it could catapult what I could do in building my own business, not only what it could do to help me become an employee for someone else. I intentionally shaped my graduate school experience and academic research to align with my passions, interest, and desire to own my PR agency.
When I began Adura Enterprises LLC, I found my strong suit as a strategist in combining reverse engineering and design thinking with visualizing and digital organization to manifest my dreams and achieve my desired results. In my first year of business, I worked alongside brands that allowed me to better understand myself as a spiritual being and become a product of my system.
In August of 2022, my mother (Waller of 1991) and another Spelman Legacy family (Jackson of 1996) began TruBlu Legacy Boutique, a luxury boutique featuring esoteric HBCU accessories. Within our first week, we grew our idea for a cute tote bag into a 5-figure, multi-licensed fashion accessory boutique.
If you had told me six months ago that I would be the co-owner of a fashion brand with my mother, I would have laughed in your face. When you allow God to guide your plans, things will happen in ways that defy logic.
The main lesson from this experience is that business and success can exist without needing a struggle story. A struggle is an indication of misalignment. Miracles happen when you are intentional, discreet, and disciplined about your goals and actions and allow room for God to 10x everything you planned. I want to express that challenge and struggle are not the same. You will be challenged, but taking action to find your alignment daily is necessary to avoid struggle.
This has looked like deepening my relationship with God through my relationship with myself. I had to learn how God speaks to me and implement new strategies for my betterment and holistic health.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would get cocktails Friday night at BarVegan in Ponce. It is the perfect AUC family vibes with great drinks.
Saturday we would go to Toast on Lenox and spend the day enjoying each other company, exploring and shopping. My friend group loves a good game night kickback.
I have a Spelman sister that is a Chef so a catered brunch by Zaza’s Kitchen on Saturday at our content worthy air bnb would be the best way to end the weekend!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
1st, I want to give all honor and glory to The Most High. Everything I have accomplished is only a testament to his anointing over my life.
2nd, I would not be the publicist or brand strategist that I am today without the love, guidance, prayer, and mentorship of Jasmine Murray. She was the first person to give me a professional chance in college and has helped me grow into the businesswoman I am today.
3rd, I want to give a shoutout to my SpelHouse family. Not only did Spelman College allow me to understand my position and responsibility as a Black Woman in America with extreme clarity, but it also gave me the most God-fearing, loving, and supportive family I could have prayed for.
Website: trublulegacy.com
Instagram: @k.adura @adura.enterprises @trublulegacy
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-a-699003a0/
Image Credits
Photography: Optic Production Creative Direction: Arrow Creative Industries