We had the good fortune of connecting with Kiddada Grey and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kiddada, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I’m afraid I have to disagree with the idea of hustling alone. In westernized thought, the idea of pulling one’s self up by the bootstraps and working hard to build is dangerous. It keeps blinders on, and it is false. It sounds honorable; however, it is dishonorable to discredit the individuals championing our emotional and spiritual journey. It teaches us how to dismiss individuals we interact with on our entrepreneurial journey. I have people I turn to for advice and guide me in my business journey, and I credit all of them to my successes. We need to recognize our interactions on Social Media as opportunities for guidance on the emotional journey of being a business owner. All of those interactions should be credited to one’s success as well. I want to open everyone’s eyes to the connections we make as entrepreneurs and how it helps build our brands.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey to where I am today is based on studying human nuances, struggles, and life experiences. I was a “teen mother,” and many people never expected much of me because of that title. I learned from the low expectations of people with negative labels the need to build community and have a voice for others whose voices were not strong enough to advocate for themselves. I have a fighting spirit to ensure that people have a voice and the ability to have access to opportunities to better themselves. I have four people-centered degrees. I went to Europe to study the holocaust and harm. My M.S. is in Conflict Management, and my perfected study is adult bullying. My life is clearly about people advocating for themselves against challenges, whether I speak to caregivers who need to learn to care for themselves, individuals and organizations that are dealing with adult bullying, social workers that need their socio-emotional needs, child welfare organizations that need to build bridges to the community, I provide tools of access and success for people’s betterment.
I have worked in many industries, left the workforce as a stay-at-home mom, returned to the force as a divorced woman and single mother, and now I am an entrepreneur full-time. I never thought this would be my life.
My journey has not been an easy one. Sometimes, I felt like I didn’t know how to overcome life challenges, like being an over-educated black woman returning to the workforce and worrying about feeding my family. All of this is rooted in being told that it was not in my life plan to be anything or anyone.
Prayers, tears, and people have overcome my challenges. My tribe is fantastic!! From I was 15, to my college years at Colgate University, to my ex-husband, to my business coach, to my friends, to business partners, to everyone who has loved me, to every client, they have allowed me the opportunities to build me.
The main lessons I have learned are to stand in pain and struggle, fight through your fears, and build a community of support.
People don’t want to discuss challenges and hide them. I don’t. I am clear and loud about the hardships because I recognize them in others and honor their journeys. My only difference is that I get to partner with them to overcome these challenges and do this with individuals and organizations.
I giggle about what I want people to know about my brand and story because that is hard to identify myself. After all, I do so many things.
I am honest, an advocate, and fearless in my fight for everyone. I’m not too fond of messy circumstances and behaviors and will pull my earrings off to fight to ensure that people are happy, healthy, and whole. I am the person to call for a feeling of safety, robust analysis, and wisdom and implement human-centered strategies first.
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?
If my best friend traveled to Atlanta, know that both love to sleep so that nothing would occur before 1 pm.
Breakfast at Barney’s
Grits and Eggs
The Breakfast Boys
The Food Hall
Tiny Lou’s
Soul Vegetarian
Tassili’s
Bars/Lounges
Epicurean Jazz nights on Thursdays
The Lobby Bar at Hotel Clermont
Spring Bar for the bourbon
Places to visit
High Museum
Ponce City Market
Five Points
Drive to Berry College because that is where my daughter attends college
Botanical Gardens
Things to do:
Walk on the Beltline from Krog Street Market
Grab a Resort pass and book a few spa days at Waldorf or Whitley
Get ice cream at Jenni’s! (THE BEST)
Get Kombucha from the Floral Park Market. (Such an Awesome store)
Hang out at the Battery
King Center
Sit on the patio of the Airbnb with the pool we are going rent and love on each other, talk about men and our lives.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to credit all my friends, family, and business partners at Community First Solutions who allow me to B.E.! They have allowed me to use my mind to fight for social justice issues. I drive them crazy with my people-first mantra rooted in conflict management, life coaching theology, and the need to fight for people differently. They have allowed me the space to do that. I am humbled to use my voice to teach, advise and coach people and organizations through their social, emotional, and physical challenges of human struggles that are usually unspoken.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiddada-asmara-grey-62290993/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiddada.grey/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MakeItPlain/streams
Other: Youtube of National Training https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKvT3i7mHqw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU65zI3ppss&t=14s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUbRGCVQ1Eg
Image Credits
Picture of me in the Dark Blue Dress: Itoro Umontuen, Digital Managing Editor, Atlanta Voice Picture of me in the white multicolored shirt, light blue dress, and white dress, Wesley Person