Community Highlights: Meet Keandra Ward of The ꓘWI Collective

Hi Keandra, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
 I’ve been carving my path as an entrepreneur,  since I was 14 years old. For over 25 years, I immersed myself in the beauty industry, mastering its intricacies. However, life took a turn in 2012 when I became my mother’s full-time caregiver. It has been a challenging yet profoundly transformative experience.

After working in the salon and traveling as an educator, being home with my mom as her full-time caregiver, I discovered a new passion: coaching. In 2012/2013, I ventured into opening my business coaching practice, which grew substantially within the first 5 years. In the midst of me helping others bring their vision to life. I have always been intrigued with all aspects of marketing.

Fueling this passion, I pursued a master’s degree in digital marketing, cementing my expertise in the field. Although I had my degree and continued to study marketing , I never fully announced or operated in the field publicly , Several encounters with two entrepreneurs less than three years ago truly ignited the shift in my brands journey.

These two remarkable local entrepreneurs sought my expertise in marketing and PR for their burgeoning brands. I embarked on a collaborative journey with them, dedicating a year to honing their brand narratives and amplifying their presence.

This collaboration planted the seeds for what would become The ꓘWI Collective – a Marketing, Public Relations, and Media Firm. With our official launch, we’ve swiftly evolved, now boasting a team of three dedicated individuals.

In just a short span, we’ve secured over 35 features for our clients and expanded our offerings to include billboard services. While we’re still in the process of solidifying our foundation, the trajectory excites me beyond measure. The future brims with endless possibilities, and I’m eagerly poised to seize them all.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth sailing? Not entirely, but it’s been the fastest brand I’ve ever built. Leveraging my past knowledge and experience has been instrumental in our journey. As we navigate these industries, trial and error have become our companions, I’m not perfect, I’m still learning and overcoming my own personal challenges with this build. Some strategies hit the mark, while others missed, but each outcome serves as a valuable lesson.

Entering our third year, clarity has been our primary focus. With every challenge that we overcome, we inch closer to our vision and have established new legs to our vision. And as we continue to expand, I anticipate this clarity to only deepen, propelling us forward on our path of growth.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The ꓘWI Collective?
Since its inception, The ꓘWI Collective has garnered significant recognition, including the 2023 Distinguished Communications Award from the Diversity Action Alliance for outstanding achievements in Public Relations and Communications.

In 2024, we were honored as the recipient of the Her Awards for our exceptional contributions to the world of media. As an award-winning firm, The KWI Collective, through our Marketing, PR, and Media Strategies helps corporations and funded corporate start-ups:

Get Clarity and gain focus so that they can consistently Generate Profits!

Get Clarity – We specialize in refining your brand’s identity using our distinctive system to provide you with absolute clarity.

Gain Focus – Armed with this newfound clarity, we direct our energies towards the most strategic avenues, ensuring a concentrated effort.

Generate Profits – We excel in the art of crafting and promoting your products and services, all while boosting your brand’s visibility through our comprehensive public relations campaigns.

If you possess a remarkable expertise or business, we understand that you may be fully aware of your capabilities but require assistance in effectively communicating, packaging, and profiting from them. Our goal is to create a marketing/PR mix that works best for your brand’s visibility goals!

For those who may not be ready to hire a full marketing firm, we’ve curated an online community of entrepreneurs where we talk all things Marketing-PR-Media full of education and support geared towards helping you establish your marketing profiles and prepare to hire your first firm. Join us Backstage! www.thekwicollective.com!

https://www.thekwicollective.com/backstagepasscommunity.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Honestly, luck has never been something that I subscribe to.

My faith is important to me and I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without my faith in God and my ability to seek him in all areas of my life. I am blessed and thankful for the good and bad parts of my journey, it helps me help others! I believe that ” With God, ALL things are possible!”