Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly DeShields-Spencer.
Hi Kimberly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
When I began my entrepreneurial journey nearly 25 years ago, I was young, excited, scared, and ready to take on the challenge before me. There was a woman in my life who desired to be a professional speaker. I didn’t know that world at all, but I was ready to learn. As I dove in, I began to meet some of the most amazing people, and I became a sponge soaking up as much as I could to help her become a known speaker. Within one year, I went from 1 client to 15 professional speakers. By the end of year 3, I was working with 45 professional speakers. At that time, I built a professional speaker management agency that found and contracted speaking engagements for our clients. We also handled all their marketing, branding, travel arrangements, book orders, pursued press-related opportunities, organized press tours, and managed their calendars for them.
It was a great business and my love of helping people define, create, and own their voices through their branding and marketing really excited me. However, I realized that by handling everything for our clients, we placed them at a disadvantage. They never saw our processes. They did not know how to position themselves in their own markets. Essentially, they did not really understand how we did what we did. While we were highly successful, I realized that going forward I wanted to make sure any client I work with will know how to effectively brand and market themselves. I knew I needed to pivot.
That realization propelled me into the best decision I have ever made, which was launching UImpact. However, this time I wanted to show my clients how to craft, hone, and market themselves. But instead of doing this in the standard cookie-cutter way, I wanted to base things on who each client is. I have learned the more your business reflects who you are, the more you shine, grow, challenge yourself, and take ownership in what you are building.
As I built UImpact, I realized that there was another business in me to create. I started to reflect on my journey and the lessons I learned. I was listening to my clients share how alone they felt at times in building their business. I knew that building a career and business was not easy but it helps to learn from those who understand what you are doing. So, we created Behind Her Brand.
Behind Her Brand is all about championing women in their various stages of being exactly who they are while becoming exactly who they’re determined to be. Behind Her Brand takes you on the journey of real-life lessons, obstacles, think tank processes, disappointments, and the victories of successful women who turned their brand(s) and career into catalysts for their professional successes.
Behind Her Brand has become a multimedia company with a national magazine, an engaging YouTube channel, podcast, and one of the best community of diverse women. We are really proud of what we are building with Behind Her Brand. Our continual goal is to share, inspire, challenge, and encourage women to build and grow in their respective careers and/or businesses.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road and I am grateful for that.
One key lesson I have learned is to never measure where I am by where someone else is. Your journey in business is your own. I had to understand that my obstacles, wins, losses, and disappointments were all necessary to help sharpen my way of thinking and implementing. It was never about how fast I arrived. My journey necessitates focusing on what I learn and how I develop along the way. Once I really understood that I approached my struggles with new insight. I knew that struggling-whether it was learning new processes, dealing with “interesting” people, experiencing failed launches, losing contracts I really wanted, or whatever-was necessary.
Lastly, I learned the value of knowing about every single process that takes place in your business. Early on, someone stole an enormous amount of money from me (a former team member). People I’d hired for their skill stole content from me because I didn’t know what they were doing. So, I made sure that I armed myself with the knowledge of how to run all aspects of my company, so I had a working understanding of what to do. This literally saved my business in the early years. Yes, I still hire people who are proficient in areas I am not, but I always make sure I have a working knowledge of that area.
If I may say this-don’t look for a smooth road. A bumpy road helps to inform your growth and brings things out of you that you never thought were there. My greatest lessons have been forged in the struggles I’ve experienced. I went from being a really introverted person to being someone who is comfortable dealing with hard situations. I had to grow. I had to push past insecurities. That came with a bumpy road. Instead of looking for the easy road, focus on the journey ahead of you-regardless of what is presented.
As you know, we’re big fans of Behind Her Brand. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Real women. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Real lessons. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Real support.
Behind Her Brand is all about championing women in their various stages of being exactly who they are while becoming exactly who they’re determined to be. Whether you are building a career or a business we know how challenging it can be. There are moments when you want to feel like someone understands this journey you are on. We totally understand that! That is one of the reasons why we launched Behind Her Brand. Our desire was to create a company that shared real women and their journeys. In doing this, we have seen women connect, feel understood, form bonds, grow, and be inspired. There is something really powerful when you share your story and it helps someone.
We have a magazine named after our company, Behind Her Brand that can be found at Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, and other retail outlets. The Behind Her Brand magazine takes you on the journey of real-life lessons, obstacles, think tank processes, disappointments, and the victories of successful women who turned their brand(s) and career into catalysts for their professional successes. Each woman we feature are showing up. They are honest, encouraging, inspiring, thoughtful, and impactful. You can learn more about the magazine here: https://www.behindherbrand.net/magazine
Here is what Ashley had to share about the magazine. “Oh my heart! Behind her Brand magazine is truly visually stunning, inspirational, and motiving. It’s such an incredible resource to have insight into various female entrepreneurs – how they run their business, their lives, and what inspires them. To get this insight is life-changing as we are all here to teach and to learn from one another! I am beyond honored to be a part of the first one and cannot wait to watch this magazine grow!”
In addition to the magazine, we have an active YouTube channel where we feature content that range from interviews to a day in the life of women who are building and growing. We love sharing stories of women from all walks of life.
https://www.youtube.com/c/BehindHerBrand
“In a world that so many things are virtual it’s important to not only enjoy a magazine but actually turn the pages. I can’t say enough about Behind Your Brand. I love subscribing to this colorful, capturing, and contagious magazine. I have also found it is a great gift to inspire and encourage others. I love how guests in my home react when they pick up my latest issue from our coffee table! Kimberly and her team are connectors of people and every detail is done with excellence.” Blenda Aycock (one of our subscribers)
What Blenda and Ashley shared speaks to why we love what we do.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
There are a couple qualities that I feel is so key. Be a person of your word. If people can’t trust what you say, they won’t be able to work with you. Being a person of your word establishes trust and connection. Be focused. When you are focused you have the strength to see things through–you don’t vacillate or procrastinate.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@behindherbrand.net
- Website: www.behindherbrand.net
- Instagram: @behindherbrand_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindherbrand
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Behindherbrand
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BehindHerBrand
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-her-brand-w-kimberly-deshields-spencer/id1586017357
Image Credits
Charlie Spencer
Fixed Focus Productions
