Today we’d like to introduce you to Daphne Wynn.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Daphne. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my entrepreneurial journey in 2001. I attained my Real Estate license while waiting tables at The Cheesecake Factory at Perimeter Mall. I maintained juggling both real estate and waiting tables for a year and left the Cheesecake Factory in 2002 to pursue real estate full time. It was the most courageous and frightening thing I had endeavored at the time. It soon sparked the need to own my time, my schedule and built great leadership responsibilities. Make no mistake, this was no easy journey. There were many stressful moments financially as well as emotionally. A few years after working with a builder the market in real estate shifted and I was offered a job as an assistant to an auto broker/dealer. I worked with him for a year from 2005 to 2006 and God instructed me to venture out on my own as a broker. I did that for the next six years and in 2012 opened my own pre-owned luxury dealership in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Owning this dealership and on this journey in the auto industry has been challenging as a female in a male-dominated industry. There was no history or forerunners who paved the way and I mostly self taught my way through it. There have been several rewards in ownership and I have sold many homes and vehicles and my clientele has been majority referral based. In the midst of this ownership I opened a residential and commercial cleaning service for my mother I moved to Atlanta in 2008 and it is thriving after 11 years. It is called An Angels Touch Cleaning Service.
In 2014 I launched my ministry called Daphne Wynn Ministries and incorporated in 2016. I have been able to impact, empower and encourage many people on their various journey’s in life. As an extension of that, a door was opened for me to be on the radio with my own show called Straight Talk w/ Daphne “Phanee” in 2015 on The Sensation Station Network airing on Saturdays 12-2pm EST. A couple of years later a spin-off TV show “At The Table” Straight Talk with Daphne we filmed 11 pilot episodes. Being on air has been the most humbling and invigorating experience and opportunity and I do not take it lightly that my voice on the air is attracting many listeners and viewership is constantly growing.
I authored and self published my first book “40 Days of Gratitude” in 2017, it is a devotional and working on my second book now. Again, this level of success has not been met without hardship and turbulence along the way. I submit though that its been in those hard times that resistance built up resilience and tenacity to endure, to thrive and excel.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely been a rocky road. I have been met with obstacles, challenges and seemingly defeat along the way. I started all my businesses on faith and not finances, which was extremely difficult. I established a foundation and was blessed to have favor and doors opened with advancing opportunities.
As a woman in male-dominated industries, there were many times I had to endure being minimized and overlooked. Many times having to prove yourself became draining and exhausting to say the least. However, I persevered and refused to give in to the attempts to intimidate and discourage me from pursuing what I am supposed to be doing based on my gender or ethnicity.
Whenever you serve the public, you must be willing to embrace the challenges of managing various personalities and not always meeting every need and criteria of the public. Leadership requires that you will not be accepted or agreeable with common opinion and rhetoric. I have learned from my challenges more than from any of my successes. I am determined not to repeat any of the challenges or decisions that landed me in hardships lap. I refuse to view who I am or what I had to struggle through as a victim. I am stronger and more tenacious now. I would not trade my path for an easier option.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
Luxury Auto Line is a luxury concierge car service. I am able to design a specific delivery and location of expressed and requested vehicle needs across the entire U.S. as well as abroad. I specialize in tailoring our services to meet the needs of each customer. I am intentional in removing the stress, strain and time factors in searching for a vehicle. My company removes that burden from our clients and have their dream vehicle delivered to their front door. Many times I haven’t met many of my customers I have served. I am known for going beyond the requested duties I hold in my company. I am known for serving before making money. I do not allow making money to hinder meeting the needs of my customers and clientele.
I am most proud of the longevity in this industry for over 15 years. I am grateful that a company launched from a non-experienced background has a reputation built on serving and integrity. I believe what sets me apart are my ideals, principles and moral convictions. I have learned to treat each person as myself. As a consumer of many industries, I understand the importance of being heard, respected and catered to and that is my hearts intention. Taking the load off of my customers by stepping in their shoes sets me apart with each tailored transaction.
As far as Daphne Wynn Ministries, I utilize the opportunity to allow people I minister to the ability to apply and interact with their needs, concerns and untapped potential. Allowing them to ask questions and open them up to resources to advance their lives is the most rewarding. I believe my ministry is set apart due to the fact that we are able to help train while teaching, be accessible while leading and bring aide while enabling sustainability.
Straight Talk with Daphne “Phanee” has a motto of keeping it ‘Straight No Chaser’. The premise of my radio show is to address controversial and challenging topics that will yield the ability to heal, to confront and to conceal matters of each person’s life and endeavors. The approach is rooted in empowerment, encouragement and equipping each listener with informative and relatable content. I have a non-judgmental heart towards people and distribute the content of each show realizing that everyone is unique and valuable.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First and foremost, I give all credit and glory to God, who is my first mentor and counselor. Of course, I believe He gives people to aide me along the way as well. My mother, Beverly Simmons, is my number one fan and she has always supported me and cheered me on. I always joke and tell people if I was selling snacks on the corner, she would cheer me on. My best friend, Hope Ellison, has been with me through turmoil and chaos in my life and businesses.
She has reminded me not to lose hope or faith in my abilities or capacity to win. She has stood with me in the face of adversity and unjust allegations and perceptions without allowing them to taint the truth of who I am. I know I could not have survived without her support. She has been an aide in my life and business morally, emotionally and spiritually as well as financially. She was never afraid to say no when I needed to hear the truth. She made me accountable to my own mishaps in love. There are several people who have prayed for me and been a sounding board in my career and I will acknowledge a few for brevity sake… Shooby doo, you know who you are, Domonique Mitchell, Bruce Wayne and my pastor B Dwayne Hardin.
Pricing:
- 40 Days of Gratitude is $19.99
- 40 Days of Gratitude Audio Empowerment Soundbites $9.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 3340 Peachtree Road
Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30326 - Website: DaphneEmpowers.com, luxautoline.com
- Phone: 404-814-5267
- Email: info@daphnewynnministries.org
- Instagram: straighttalkphanee
- Facebook: phaneewynn, daphnewynnminstries, Luxury Auto Line
- Twitter: phaneewynn
Image Credit:
Jeno Uche Photography
Gwen Ajayi Wardrobe Styling
Julian Lark Wardrobe Stylist
Camilla Terrell Hair Stylist
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