Meet Hermelyn Latouche | Financial & Insurance Educator

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

Hi Hermelyn, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Being an entrepreneur is not an overnight decision; it takes a lot of planning before stepping into the role. However, sometimes you have to just jump into the water and take a chance. I thought about the freedom that comes from being your own boss, building an empire from the ground up, and the lessons that I will learn from being an entrepreneur. There are a lot of risks involved when it comes to owning your own business but there is no reward without risk involved. As an introvert, speaking to people or evening mingling was a challenge because I don’t like a lot of people in my circle but a prior manager of mine said to me that “people will always see your work but they won’t promote you unless they know you”.

One thing I have learned and have put into practice is that I am my first customer. I must be able to walk into the room as someone who not only knows what she is doing but is also a satisfied customer. The best word of mouth is you and if you are not confident in your product then those looking at you won’t be confident in you. You also, have to understand that there are people who know you are confident but won’t even give you an invitation to the table. So, if you want a seat then you must be willing to create a table and sit alone until it gets full..

Other risks are lessons that can be turned into blessings when you change your mindset about them. An entrepreneur only fails when they let failure define them. To quote Robert T. Kiyosaki “Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success”. When you turn your failure into a lesson, then you come back educated and start again with a newfound understanding of the business you are trying to build. To build is to grow and to grow means that you have to make uncomfortable decisions or pivot from the original plan. With the help of God, I continue to grow and to pivot where needed, especially when my plans are not working.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m not sure if this really sets me apart but I always make sure that I put myself into the work that I do. I believe in to human experience and take reviews seriously and as a form of growth. When someone does not give you a review then that is troubling for a person and for your business, Now, you still have to use discernment and not conform to every review but to put them up against each other. If something is working then don’t change that but change what is not working.

I’m proud of the growth I get from being an entrepreneur and entering rooms that I never thought I could enter. It has not been easy and I’m still learning when it comes to fostering my niche market. As a new entrepreneur, you have to overcome a lot of fear, the imposter syndrome, failure, and saying yes to everything. Fear means that it can be okay but we are keeping ourselves from success. The imposter syndrome just means that you need to believe in yourself more. Failure is not a bad thing but means you need to regroup. You can’t say yes to everything because it may mean your plan may never come to fruition, even the Lord says no when you’re going the wrong way.

As a woman of God, the Lord guides my steps and helps me to respond to what is happening in from of me in the best way possible as well as teaches me when I do fail.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are a number of people I would like to give a shout-out to: First and foremost God, Miracle Sims as a sister in Christ, Anji Evette for her spiritual guidance, Constance Watson, another woman of God, for her transparency and wisdom, Alicia Adamson for her support and zeal for God, Belita Gary-Smith for her support as a sister in Christ, Monica Jones for her support as a sister in Christ, Melvina Washington-Feaster for her confidence, this one may shock a few people Charles Phillips for being a seed where God needed him to be, my mentor Tara Lockett, My family both here in GA and in Boston: The Latouche; Auguste, Cesar, and Belfond family.

Instagram: yourriskadvisor_hl

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hermelyn/