Today we’d like to introduce you to David Bazile.
David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Born and raised in a Christian household in Brooklyn, NY from two immigrant parents from Haiti. My mother and father came to the United States in the 80s to secure a better life and to create a better future for their kids. Being immigrants in a brand-new country surrounded by new customs, traditions, cultures, etc. my parents didn’t have the resources to secure a better financial life for themselves, however, they were willing to work hard in order to live a comfortable life in this country. Just as it is in many Caribbean households, my parents, specifically, my mother, stressed the importance and value of “getting an education, securing a great career, so we don’t struggle as she did. She would always remind us that her education was limited, and that she didn’t get past high school, and that she didn’t want the same for us.”
I’m blessed to have a mother who wanted the best for her children and will do everything she can in her power, but I feel her advice may be limited and maybe not enough for the life I want and visualize. A life where I could “break the cycle of generational poverty and create a financial legacy.” A life with a purpose and assignment that is bigger than me! To make matters worse, I experienced my father leaving our family in my mid-teens which was a very traumatic and emotional experience for us all. I watched my mother work very long hours, work jobs she didn’t like but knew she needed to and sacrificed her time and health to ensure the needs of the family were met. Experiencing my father abandoning his family along with other life experiences, I am more than determined to make a financial success and aim to help others along my journey to do the same.
I graduated from the College of Technology with an associate degree in 2013 in accounting information technology. Then, later transferred to pursue my bachelor’s degree at CUNY Brooklyn College where I doubled majored in accounting, finance & business management. Throughout my college career, I participated in business clubs and took on leadership roles as Secretary & VP which helped strengthened my ability to lead people and sparked my interest in entrepreneurship and in building a career in accountancy. In addition, I managed to land several internships at CPA firms, small businesses, non-profits, and also a freelancing gig, which exposed me to the corporate environment and working in different capacities within the field of accounting and finance. This further matured my passion for striving to educate others on the importance of financial literacy so they can make smart financial decisions and achieve financial freedom.
After working in corporate for almost six years and also growing freelancing clients on the side, I took the leap of faith and founded my own accounting firm: David W Bazile Accounting, located in Brooklyn, NY.
Additionally, I host financial seminars throughout the Tri-state, NJ, and PA, that teach the power of money to youth and millennials which officially began in 2015, after being invited to a career day event at a public school in NJ and everything else is history. To date, I have already spoken at places like Columbia University, Lehigh University, and others.
So, the question now is how I did become a public speaker.
After my first speaking engagement in 2015, I decided to look for more unique opportunities where I could build strategic partnerships with different organizations and host financial literacy seminars on their behalf, as I knew I wanted to continue with this path. I partnered up with organizations like Junior Achievement, Operation Hope, and a few others. As my speaking experience and expertise grew, I felt it was time to venture off and do my own thing, leading to where I am today.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Honestly, I feel that really depends on one’s perspective, but I will say both, LOL! Being an entrepreneur, a young CEO, an accountant, and a public speaker, there are moments when it may feel like it is hard work-literally! You know, no one is telling you what to do or how to do it. You don’t have a clear certainty of everything. There are sleepless nights, stressful moments, long hours of preparation for client meetings and speaking engagements, managing your time between your personal and professional life, etc. Entrepreneurship itself requires you to have a different mindset.
However, despite the obstacles you might go through, you learn to develop grit, passion, and a love for your craft, and you build perseverance to push through the hard moments.
Please tell us about David W Bazile Accounting – what should we know?
David W Bazile Accounting is a full-service accounting firm devoted to serving the needs of the NYC metropolitan community and beyond by providing bookkeeping, tax preparation, and consulting services for individuals, small & medium sized businesses, and non-profits…Our mission is to be one of the top-leading accounting firms in the tri-state area providing trusted accounting services so our clients can have peace of mind and run their business.
Although we are a relatively new company (founded earlier this year) our expertise has already been featured in Melanin People Media Magazine & Industry High, LLC Podcast Interview. I am most proud that we are doing incredible work in the community and have worked with close to 30 clients assisting them with their personal and business finances, helping them change the narrative of generative wealth. In addition, we are filling in the gap in the Black community by taking ownership and leading! This past summer we launched our very first initiative/networking event: Elevation Business Pitch Competition, for black businesses and entrepreneurs with a pitch idea which was a huge success!
As a new company, we pride ourselves on providing personable and individual client attention and make ourselves available 24/7 for questions and concerns.
Our Specialties Include: Individual Tax Preparation, Small Business Tax Preparation, Non- Profit Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, Personal Financial Consulting, Business Consulting
Additionally, I am the Co-Founder of MBJ Academy, LLC, an educational consulting company focus on fostering community development through speaking engagements, workshops, and mentorship.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I am so blessed to say that my family is one of my biggest supporters. They have always supported me throughout my peaks and valleys, and I’m super grateful for my mother. She is the REAL MVP! She raised my siblings and I to be responsible, respectful and resourceful
In addition, I could not be the person I am today without the support I receive from my friends, my church family, business associates, classmates, my professors, my neighbors who always saw me to be a success, and others. They all played a significant role and provided me with different lessons to apply to my life and the success of business.
Additionally, being a member of local and national organizations such as Mastermind Connect & The Gentleman’s Factory have also inspired me on different levels and help shape my entrepreneurship efforts.
Furthermore, the mentors I come across from being an avid reader, podcasts, videos, music, attending church, and more. Some of them include: Martin Luther King Jr, my Pastor – A.R. Bernard, Malcolm X, Eric Thomas, Kendall Ficklin, Warren Buffet, Jay-Z, Robert Louis Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, community leaders, and many others.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc.?
In the next 5-10 years, I believe we will continue to see the impact of technology and automation in the accounting industry and more and more jobs will become less manual which has already been happening for some time now. This will place high importance on accountants and CPA’s having experience with software implementation, apps, and cloud- based technology. Al technology will also be a threat to accounting roles as major corporations are already looking for ways to reduce the need for human capital and save on costs.
Another big change or trend will relate to the information accountants provide. Also, accountants will need to be their client’s advisor. They will need to understand things like business strategy, business development, etc.
Pricing:
- Bookkeeping Services starts at $125 monthly
- Tax Preparation Services ranges from $125 – $350
- Business Entity Selection – (LLC, Partnership, Corporation) plus state filing fees, includes consultation, ranges from $150 – $300
- Personal Financial Consulting – ranges from $50 – $100 monthly
- Financial Literacy Seminars/Workshops starts at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: DavidBazile.com
- Email: Davidwbazile@gmail.com
- Instagram: David_Bazile | Davidwbazileaccounting
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