My latest book, The B Words; 13 Words Women Must Navigate for Success will be coming out this fall. While researching the book, I had the opportunity to meet many extraordinary women, each one more than willing to share their stories to support other women. Each week I will highlight a woman I admire who is living the principles outlined in The B Words.
I’m excited to introduce you to the amazing, talented Cimone Key.
Cimone Key
Founder of CK Creative Studio
Cimone is an unstoppable black female entrepreneur and founder of CK Creative Studio (https://ckcreativestudio.com), a branding and digital design agency with an integrated Louisiana themed co-working spaced designed for creatives to work in a supportive, collaborative environment. While Cimone is growing her branding and digital design agency, she also opened her studio to provide coaching, connection, and creative opportunities and ultimately build a social community to share with others on her journey. Cimone never ceases to amaze me in her professionalism, tenacity, and grace.
I met Cimone last year when I was looking for someone to create a website and take a head shot for me. We set up a time to meet in person, and we immediately connected. When the elevator doors opened in her eclectic and modern downtown Dallas renovated building, Cimone's welcoming smile and excitement filled the space between us. I was anxious about getting my picture taken. And in a splint second, all that anxiety melted away. Cimone and I chatted about my book and how I wanted to support and uplift women in non-traditional roles in the workplace. Cimone shared her vision of opening a studio where creatives could collaborate and share experiences. We also perfected the art of the "fake laugh" that day. We discovered if you start with a fake laugh, you actually start laughing, which translates in to more natural, happier photos and a lot more fun.
Picture Day!!!
Fast forward less than a year, and through Cimone's leadership and commitment, she realized her dream. Cimone is living the characteristics of The B Word – Bad Ass. Cimone sets a vision, and nothing stands in the way of her achieving her dreams. That is Bad Ass! I had the opportunity to interview Cimone to get some insight, and the following is what she shared with me.
TK: What inspired to open your new studio?
CK: I always knew as a young child that I would open up my own branding and digital design agency. The woman who inspired me was named Margo Chase. She has several design studios around the nation, and I loved how small and intimate they were. Although I loved Margo Chase, it wasn't easy to find women of color in my space that I could look up to. We naturally have a hard time building a business and having the knowledge being passed down to us from generation to generation, so I wanted to see someone who looks like me, who had the same barriers that I would have building a tech business. Since I didn't see a woman of color in my industry, owning a branding and digital design agency and being in a tech industry, and flourishing, I felt that it was my duty to be the person people aspire to. I wanted to show other young women that they can do it too.
It's rare to see a minority-owned business doing what I'm doing and accomplishing the goals that I'm achieving. I've worked hard, with no handouts, no loans, no investments, or capital.
CK Creative Studio Dallas, TX
TK: What barriers were in your way?
CK: One barrier that was in my way was not being able to have a path to walk in. I'm providing the path and knocking down those barriers for the next generation. We all go to high school and college to work for someone else. Schools don't typically teach us how to run a business. It's passed down from generation to generation inside of a family tree. I've had to fall and get back up multiple times.
Another barrier is being a woman but also a black woman. There was a time that women couldn't work, and when they did, they were paid lower than their counterparts. Then black women were able to work, and we got paid lower than Caucasian women. I'm fighting for what's right; equal pay.
TK: How did you overcome these barriers?
CK: Overcoming my barriers is still an uphill battle for me. I've only been in business for almost five years, and if it takes me ten or twenty years, I will fight for what's right.
I do whatever is necessary to move forward. COVID -19 delayed my studio grand opening. Yet, we opened anyway and had a small party with a few close friends. We have rescheduled the official Grand Opening for next year. Just a few short weeks later, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) riots started. I knew I could put the studio to good use to bring awareness to this incredibly meaningful, life-changing issue finally. I invited creatives to my studio to collaborate and design BLM posters in a safe and collaborative environment.
A Poster from the BLM DESIGN FOR THE CAUSE poster design meetup at CK Creative Studio.
TK: What would you say to other young females who want to start a business or pursue a passion?
CK: What I would say to other young females who want to start a business or pursue a passion is that it's possible. You have to start somewhere. You are your worst enemy. Your business doesn't have to be perfect when you start because striving for perfection will delay your purpose. Strive for greatness. Always remember that we are strong, bold, and wise, and we can do anything we want when we put our minds to it.
“Strive for greatness. Always remember that we are strong, bold, and wise, and we can do anything we want when we put our minds to it. ”
Cimone Key is a young black female entrepreneur who is living her own authentic life and already intentionally reaching back and opening doors for others on her journey. The world desperately needs more Bad Ass role models like Cimone. Find out more about Cimone's studio and her work at https://ckcreativestudio.com/
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