Meet D. Keith Pigues | Founder & CEO, Luminas Strategy

We had the good fortune of connecting with D. Keith Pigues and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi D. Keith, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
My purpose statement – to get more out of work and life than I ever thought possible – not only motivates me in my personal life but also in the work Luminas does with our clients. We help our clients win with their customers and find the path to profitable growth. We serve primarily Fortune 1000 business to business clients, along with mid-market businesses and major non profits. For our business clients, our success is also attributed to our ability to help them answer what we believe is one of the most important questions: Do your customers make more money doing business with you? Getting to the answer can change everything!!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an author (Winning with Customers: A Playbook for B2B), four-time CMO for a mix of large companies across a range of industries, I’ve served as a sales leader and I’ve spent time in academia as both a professor and a dean. In all this I’ve learned the importance of humility and taking the time to gather, listen to and apply feedback – both personally and professionally – it’s critical to grow both for individuals and organizations. Taking the time to listen and understand how you are – and can in the future – add value to every situation, team or company is critical to make a positive impact.

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.
Let me preface this by acknowledging that I have only lived in Atlanta for eight months, and I am not very well versed on all the hot spots yet. But, here are a few places I’d include in the itinerary:

Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) would be the first stop. There is no place like this on earth that supports Black businesses in their growth and development. It may be a consulate for one the “wonders of the world”.

After RICE, I would swing by The Gathering Spot. This is a gathering place for the cross section of Atlanta, from entrepreneurs and business people, to entertainers and politicians, from culture shapers to Atlanta’s next generation – people who are making their mark on this city and the world. I’ll add that I became a Foundation Member of the Gathering Spot several years ago before moving here. I believed in this concept so strongly that I maintained a membership from afar and visited nearly every time I came to the city.

I would include Paschal’s on the itinerary. There is nothing like diving into good old school soul food, Atlanta style, to make the exploration of the city complete.

I really like Buckhead and Buckhead Village. It has become my regular hangout and the restaurants are dope! One of my favorites is Yeppa! And, the amazing food is accentuated by the incredible music by DJ Grace during Saturday brunch and Tuesday evenings.

While in the Buckhead Village neighborhood, I would include the culinary delights from Le Bilboquet (amazing French) and Carmel.

To show off the Atlanta design scene, I would remain in Buckhead and visit the designer showrooms at Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) — a one stop destination for home design and furnishings. I would also head over to one of my favorite furnishings and accessories stores — West Side Market.

To round out the trip, I would plan a couple of hours at Ponce City Market to take in the food and visit the amazing market with small businesses selling their wares. There is not better place to experience the entrepreneurial spirit in retail. And, of course, we would walk out the market and hit the Atlanta Beltline for a stroll to people watch, see the street entertainers and get some exercise.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many, countless, people that have contributed to my story, including family, friends, mentors, former colleagues, clients, professors, students and others.

The single person that has contributed most is my late father, Alonzo Pigues. He was born to a sharecropper family in a small town in Arkansas and moved to Memphis, TN (my hometown) in his late teens to make a better life and became a successful entrepreneur.

I had the blessing of working alongside my dad as a kid through undergraduate school. The lessons I learned were pivotal in my success and it is a blessing and honor to stand on his shoulders.

Website: www.luminasstrategy.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/luminasstrategy

Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkeithpigues/