Community Highlights: Meet Korri Turner of Brand Builders Network

Today we’d like to introduce you to Korri Turner.

Hi Korri, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been interested in being a hairstylist since I was in the third grade. My mom taught me the basics of braiding and basic hair care. My sisters and I would always braid each other’s hair when we would be at our dad’s house together. I vividly remember one day when I was still in grammar school, my mom was taking forever to relax my hair. So, one day in the middle of the night, I relaxed it myself. I believe I was only in maybe the 5th grade?! Needless to say, I got in so much trouble the next morning; but on the bright side…my hair was laid! This spark never died.

Throughout school, I was always doing someone’s hair to make a couple of dollars here and there. I graduated from cosmetology school in 2015 and it was one of the greatest days of my life, I felt like step 1 was complete. I had dreams of being a salon owner, but over the years the dream has shifted. During the pandemic of 2020, I was on edge because my bread and butter was stripped from me. There was no way I could offer styling services or makeup with the climate of the world at that time. It was time to pivot. I am a very creative and artistic person. Often, I would design flyers or websites for someone for either no money or little money. It wasn’t until the Pandemic that I was exposed to how profitable I could have been. Over the last few years, I have learned how to merge the two passions by creating an environment where I not only pamper women in business, but I also provide strategies, creative direction, and clean yet eye-catching designs to effectively convey their messages to their clients.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I honestly wouldn’t believe anyone if they declared a “smooth road”. There’s an old saying that says, “Anything worth having is worth fighting for”. Even if the road isn’t necessarily bumpy, I feel twists and turns make it worth it. There have been many ups, downs, twists, turns, blockages, construction, etc. But with focus, strategic goals, and backup plans, life’s challenges are a bit easier to navigate. Some of the struggles have been knowing who to trust, making sure I do enough research to ensure I am not being taken advantage of because I am a black woman, and balancing family and business.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Brand Builders Network, LLC?
Brand Builders Network, LLC is a branding and marketing agency where we help women in business to show up authentically, creatively, and strategically to capture the attention of their audience and ultimately grow their clientele. What sets me apart is my background in cosmetology. I provide VIP experiences where we not only dive into your brand and make magic happen within 48 hours but we also allocate time for our clients to be pampered and treated like the elite woman that she is. Our VIP services are not just Chicago-based. We have the opportunity to fly to where our clients are or even have our clients fly to us. We are changing the game of branding and marketing one business at a time.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned would be to know when and how to pivot. It is important to know this because so many times, we allow stress to defeat us when in reality, we just need to shift our posture.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brandbuildersnetwork.com

Image Credits
Michelle Lee Dokes Angellica Bonner