Today we’d like to introduce you to Ki Gaines.
Hi Ki, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Kiandra, but only those who really know me can call me that. Born and raised in New Orleans, I moved to Texas after Hurricane Katrina. My life was shaped by a single mother growing up, so I know that anything I set my mind to is attainable. My mother is the source of my drive, my perseverance. Everything about me is her! As a woman with many talents, I am always juggling many things. In college I studied Child and Family Studies with a focus on public policy. I pursued a career as a high-profile nanny after graduating from Louisiana State University, supporting the luxury lifestyles of high-profile families, eventually morphing into what I am known for today. The Lifestyle Manager, the first of its kind!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, I appreciate this question because I took the unconventional route and opted out of corporate life right out of college. My personal professionalism has always made me realize corporate and I were never meant to mix. I was faced with many challenges when my agent presented my portfolio to ultra-high-net-worth clients who wanted their staff to look a certain way. It seems like yesterday when I was receiving those calls or none at all. As a result of the rigorous selection process, I would let imposter syndrome take over and felt I wasn’t good enough. Imagine being flown around the world for months at a time to compete with other high-quality candidates only to be sent home with no job offer but a thank you for your time check! Don’t get me wrong, the money was great, but I can’t get my time back. Despite how devastating those moments might have felt, I appreciate the no’s as they were true redirections. For a long time, my mother did not understand why I chose this path, but now she is so proud of me and constantly praises my accomplishments. My dream was once just to become a celebrity nanny; now I’m a business owner and entrepreneur. Like Yvonne Orji says, “a whole me.” I was really bamboozled by God!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As the creator of CONNECTOCOLLAB, a Lifestyle Management Agency, my passion lies in offering high-level structure and 1:1 lifestyle support to clients. I specialize in personal image and brand management. Collaborating with entrepreneurs and public figures to develop them into respected industry influencers. Besides managing key communications and personal images, I coach them on how to become organized and clear about the lifestyle they envision for themselves. I believe the highest form of respect is to listen to my clients to understand their core values, so we are always aligned. Utilizing tried-and-true techniques along with innovative approaches, I create proactive, innovative, and discerning ideas. A partnership of any kind requires trust between both parties and that is what I strive to achieve when working with my clients.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Life defines success for me. This is of course the life I have created for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.connectocollab.
com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ki.gaines/
Image Credits
@crushedvisuals
