We had the good fortune of connecting with Audrey Bell-Kearney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Audrey, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I recently embarked on an exciting venture named “GenX University.” My vision was to forge a path for Generation X individuals dreaming of entrepreneurship. Utilizing the power of Artificial Intelligence, I crafted a superb superbot, designed to pose critical questions about the intricacies of starting a business. The process of training the bot was enlightening, and it dawned on me that I could empower others with this knowledge. Surprisingly, the entire setup was accomplished swiftly, within just a few days. The new initiative is UpSkill to UpLift.

As the president of the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce, my aim has always been to elevate our community. In Gwinnett, we have a population facing homelessness and reliance on public assistance, groups who could greatly benefit from these newfound skills. This realization sparked the creation of the Chatbot Engineer Academy as a part of the UpSkill to UpLift initiative. The academy’s mission is to teach individuals how to develop chatbots, transforming this skill into lucrative business opportunities or enhancing their employability.

Later, inspired by the potential for more widespread impact, I integrated Solar Energy training into our initiative. The allure of this addition lies in its low entry barrier and the promise of expert training, offering a gateway into the burgeoning solar energy industry.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve been a entrepreneur for over 25 years. I grew in Newark NJ in a single family home. My mom worked two jobs and still had to get public assistance. My brother and I didn’t want for anything even though we grew up in the hood. The person she was made me the person I am to this day. I lost her in 2021 to Covid and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her and wish she was here to hear about my crazy business life. She was my biggest supporter.

I started my journey like many entrepreneurs in network marketing. I sold Herbal Life and magnets, but I started seeing what was possible by selling Avon at my job where I was on a floor with about 300 women, so I was making a killing, but then the job decided to move further south and I wasn’t willing to make that commute, especially in the winter time in Jersey. So my business tanked, but by that time I was bitten by the entrepreneur bug. When the company moved I decided I wanted to be an entrepreneur forever, so I did other businesses until one day while working at a job I actually hated so much, God gave me the idea about plus-size fashion dolls. So Georgette and I invented the first plus-size fashion dolls. That was one of the most proudest moments in my life. We will forever go down in history as being the inventor of the first plus-size fashion dolls.

Our journey wasn’t an easy one. We didn’t have money. I had bad credit. I was single raising my daughter and on top of all of that I quit my job to do this business. I wouldn’t suggest that people do that, because that was very stressful, but I made it happen. Would I do that again knowing what I know now? No I wouldn’t, but I would start the business without a doubt.

We did not know anything about the doll or toy industry, so we educated ourselves by going to the toy stores and reading all of the doll boxes and finding out who the manufacturers were and then reading all we could about them.

We went to Toy Fair which is held every year in New York. We read doll magazines. We did everything we could to learn about dolls.

I’ve learned that you have to find something that will make you want to get of the bed in the morning if you want to be successful. You have to learn your industry and become knowledgeable and you have to have a burning desire and a determination to make it happen no matter what.

I got to where I am today by just jumping without asking permission. I got to where I am today by believing in myself and my dreams. I’m always willing to learn. I still have not hit the Pinnacles I Plan To Reach (Drake), so I get up and grind every day.

I’m not just a dreamer I am a doer. If I have a dream about something and I feel that it could be successful I will do it. I’m also a champion for other entrepreneurs just starting out trying to figure this crazy way of life out. I am a die hard entrepreneur and will be one until they put me in the box.

At my mother’s repass there was a woman there who was marketing some device that was supposed to block covid, well she was at the right event at the right time, because everyone in that room was there because I had just lost my mom to Covid, so she had a captured audience and you know what I let her do the presentation, because I am a champion for entrepreneurs, her customer was in that room and my mom was smiling down from heaven cheering me on.

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?
Ok. I’m a work-a-holic, so I don’t get out very often, but the Gwinnett Women’s Gala is happening in March and 3 of my best friends since we were 14 & 16 is flying in for the event. So I’m working an Itinerary now.

*Paint & Sip. I love doing this
*Bowling
*An event at the Lawrenceville Performing Arts Center
*Just kicking and living in the past for the rest of the time.

Honestly, I rarely do week long trips. I’m trying to change that this year. The last time I took a week long trip was in 2014. So Sad.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out to all of the women at the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber Of Commerce with special recognition to my Vice President, Business Partner and Best Friend Georgette Taylor. To my husband Franklin Kearney for being my rock, to my daughter Dominique Hagler and my Granddaughter Carter for being my inspiration and to my brother Coach Marion Bell for always playing on my team. To my Best Friend Rosa Hamilton for always supporting my endeavors. I would like to give a shoutout to Derrick J. Wilson, of the Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce, Shantell Wilson from Gwinnett County Economic Development, Nashlee Young from Atlanta Tech Park, Renee McCalla-Taylor from 4C Capital.

Website: https://www.ChatBotEngineerAcademy.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/GoodMorningGwinnett

Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/GoodMorningGwinnett

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/GoodMorningGwinnett

Youtube: www.YouTube.com/GoodMorningGwinnett

Other: www.GwinnettWomensChamber.com

Image Credits
McKenzie Cameron

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