Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayisha Smith.
Ayisha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’d like to think of my story as one to have layers…lots of them. Growing up, I’ve always been ambitious and extremely persistent. From childhood into my young adult life, I knew I wanted to make a name for myself. I can’t say that I’ve always known what that would look like, but I knew what I IMAGINED it to look like. For years on end, God would give me glimpses of my future self and what it’d reveal is that I’d be a woman who exhibited black excellence in the highest regard. Keeping the vision close to me, I’d reflect on it often and pray that God would order my steps and guide me to make the right moves to get there. While I’d like to say I started to find myself at an early age, it took me getting to and matriculating through college to really begin to learn my true identity, what I wanted to do in life and who I eventually wanted to become. I never would’ve thought that graduating from Bethune-Cookman University with a BS in Business Administration would be the planted seed that led me to the world of Corporate America, an MBA, and now a full-time entrepreneur and Business Consultant in less than four years’ time.
Before acknowledging myself as a “Corporate Escapee,” I was a proud 9-5er who wanted to work up the corporate ladder because an office with my name on the door and a nice view was once what I thought “making it” looked like. Especially, since out of the two jobs I worked post-grad, both were “Big Four” firms. So somehow, I felt on top of the world, until I realized how discontent I was and limiting I was being to my potential. The more I stayed working, the more I realized that I was delaying what God had for me. In other words, the more I was robbing the world of what I could offer. Fast forward two and half years later, after mapping out my business, what is now known as Ayisha Nicole, LLC, I decided to take the leap of faith I encourage so many others to take. I went through a course to get certified in business consulting and one year later, I resigned from my “cute little corporate job” to birth a business that would help people do the same. Furthermore, to be able to confidently say that I challenged myself to GREATER, opening the door of opportunity to nurture every last one of my passions with no room for rejection was refreshing. There was a point in time where all I wanted to do was do something that allowed me to kill both the fashion AND business industry. Now, there’s absolutely nothing that can stand in my way, except ME. So, here today, I must say YES, I took the risk. YES, I started a business consulting company. YES, I’m a content creator. YES, I’ve written books. YES, I’m a fashion enthusiast. YES, I’m a micro-influencer. But, above all else, I’m a Child of God and with the plans He has for me, I know that MY story…is still being written.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life doesn’t afford us the opportunity to achieve ANYTHNG relative to success on a smooth road. To reach the point I’ve achieved as an Entrepreneur, Author, Business Consultant, Influencer, and Content Creator, I’ve taken more detours than I can count. Smooth roads are an implication of ease and comfort, which I believe contradicts the reality of fulfilling your purpose. Hence, every struggle and obstacle I’ve encountered, though unfortunate, has been inevitable. A constant battle of rejection when trying to break into the corporate fashion world immediately after graduating college, having mental breakdowns when feeling like I wasn’t accomplishing goals along MY timeline, and waging war with myself when trying to decide whether or not I’d continue working for others or myself are just a glimpse of the struggles I’ve faced and at times, still are in the process of overcoming.
Crazy thing is, struggles have a comical aspect to them that sometimes can be overlooked because they’re masked by defeat and disruption. I can recall a few events that were pivotal turning points in my entrepreneurial career that made me feel like my world was going to turn upside down if I didn’t get through it. Prior to launching my business, I made tons of rookie mistakes such as, buying too much inventory based on social media feedback, delegating tasks to non-trustworthy freelancers, and not fully mapping out my game plan should things have not panned out the way I expected. I ended up overwhelmed, doubtful, stressed, you name it. Everything I went through was simply giving me a taste of the many roller coasters being an entrepreneur would take me on and for that reason, I ended up grateful for the struggles. They’ve taught me so much and attributed to the true BOSS I’m still stepping into.
All in all, I think it’s important to know that EVERYONE encounters struggles at some point in time and we can’t focus so much on the struggle itself, but how we’re going to progress and move forward once we make it to the other side. As a firm believer in God, prayer is my outlet and has gotten me through some of my lowest points while helping me face problems and struggles head-on.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ayisha Nicole, LLC?
As a woman of many hats, I’ve always experienced slight discomfort with the question “What do you do” for a plethora of reasons. I find this to be such a limiting question for someone like me because truth be told, I do A LOT. For the sake of this interview, however, I’ll bottle it up as best as I can. I cater greatly to both my personal and business brands. On the personal side, Fashion Enthusiast, Content Creator, Spiritual and Lifestyle Influencer would be the most fitting. I make it a priority to share style inspo and provide outfit ideas to women all over the nation, in an effort to educate and boost confidence through the voice of style. Actively through my YouTube channel, I cater to both men and women featuring content including lifestyle VLOGS, spiritual influential videos, my entrepreneur journey, professional and financial advice, and Dallas-based content, amongst many other things. With one goal in mind, to encourage, inspire, and impact the lives of my generation and beyond, the channel aims to help people reach the best version of themselves and go for the desires of their heart with God on their side. To date, my channel has gained exposure from thousands of subscribers and amassed over one million views across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and South Africa to name a few. I project that the channel will grow even larger within the coming year when I’m able to commit to it like I used to.
Now, when it comes to my business, I resonate most with being a Business Consultant and Launch Strategist, though I do offer other one-off services and physical products specifically for femalepreneurs. I’ve worked 1:1 with aspiring entrepreneurs to help them launch or relaunch product and service-based businesses with proper guidance and strategies to help with pre- and post-launch marketing, legal formations, business plans, copywriting, and more. I prepare unique brand and marketing strategy plans that help my clients operate their businesses confidently even after we reach their launch day. Taking a very intentional approach, what I like to call “The AN Approach,” it’s important to me that my clients know how to start and maintain their businesses in the most effective way possible. Some clients have come to me not knowing where to start at all, while others have had a good grasp on their business, but just needed some accountability and expertise to help them further along for what they’re trying to accomplish. Either way, whether I’ve been booked to help launch a business, write a business proposal, or simply to audit a business plan, I value results and want everyone to WIN, which is why all my clients know my golden phrase of “once a client, always a client.” To say the least, every client relationship has truly been a divine intervention and granted me the pleasure of finally being able to say “I love what I do.” So, with no question, my consulting business is what I’m most proud of right now. When I start my fashion line and offer styling services, that may change (haha) but my first business will always hold a special place in my heart.
Last, but certainly not least, there’s no way I could forget my current project and role as a co-planner of my very first Christian women’s event, Becoming THAT Girl Retreat taking place in January 2022! I’ve always made the effort to attend women’s conferences and empowerment events, so to now be hosting my own is extremely mind-blowing. Across three days, women from all over will be traveling to Orlando, FL to network, worship, promote their businesses, and prepare to become who they’ve always been destined to be. This is truly going to be an experience like no other and if you’re reading this, I encourage you to purchase your ticket or gift one to a woman who needs a refresh and is evolving. Tickets can be purchased at becomingthatgirlretreat.com.
So, if one thing is clear, and as you may be able to attest for yourself now, I’ve done a lot, I’m doing a lot, and I plan to do more in the future. Know that people may not always understand your vision and that’s OKAY. What God gave you will always be for you and it doesn’t have to make sense to anyone. There will always be SOMEONE ready and willing to support you in your business endeavors. That means you will ALWAYS have work to do. To support my brand or become a client, you can visit my site, ayishanicole.com to shop with me or book a service. I’ll let you choose 🙂 To keep up with me and my journey, you can follow me on my socials listed at the close of this interview or email me for any business inquiries/collaborations.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
To know that I’ve been fortunate enough to wake up every day for the last 26 years, learning, living, leading, and leveraging life experiences to build my empire and inspire the masses as I go along my forever evolving journey, is what’s truly fulfilled me. Happiness for sure is a choice and though I can’t honestly say every moment of every day is a happy one, my good days surely outweigh my bad and for that, I’ll forever be grateful. The amount of effort it takes to be down in the dumps bask in discouragement or unsatisfying contentment is something I simply can’t take part in. Not intentionally at least. Professionally and personally, I get to help people. No matter how big I become, making a difference in the lives of others will always be the most rewarding. My approach and outtake is simple. Everything I do in this lifetime is bigger than me, so I choose to move accordingly. Working hard, watching my goals and dreams become a reality, and showing my tribe that anything they put their mind to is 100% attainable keeps me going. Knowing that I have the power to make an IMPACT in the lives of others through sharing my story, building my businesses, empowering women, breaking generational curses, and being intentional in relationships is extremely rewarding and I don’t think I’d trade the happiness it affords me for anything in the world.
Contact Info:
- Email: ayisha.n.smith@gmail.com | info@ayishanicole.com
- Website: https://www.ayishanicole.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayisha.nicolee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011558462131
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrI42jk7-dTJPEIwULM2pFA
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/ayishanicole_/
