Today we’d like to introduce you to Kesha T. Clinkscale.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Today, there are over 2.3 million men in jail in America.
1 million of those men are black.
If this current trend continues, one in three black males born today can expect to spend time in a jail cell during his lifetime.
One. In. Three.
Not on my watch and certainly not on the watch of Young Gents, Inc.
My name is Kesha T. Clinkscale and I am the founder of Young Gents, Inc.
I started this movement four years ago for my, then 6-year-old, son, Connor, along with a handful of like-minded moms of young black boys.
Each month – twice a month – we brought our sons together to expose them to basic etiquette and social intelligence skills in a fun and engaging way.
- Give me your eyes and don’t blink first.
- Here’s what a proper handshake feels like. Firm. Two pumps only.
- Sit up straight.
- Walk with purpose.
- Capture people’s attention by what they see.
- Keep their attention by what you say.
- Enunciate your words.
- And smile. Authentically.
Since then, we have grown! And we are growing fast with consortiums in Atlanta, Nashville, and the Bay Area. We are also exploring future expansion efforts in Los Angeles, New York and Jacksonville, FL.
In addition to mastering the critical life skills of etiquette and social intelligence, our young gents:
- learn about incredible career opportunities and steps towards becoming successful entrepreneurs
- they are involved in community engagement
- they are learning about budgeting, banking and investing
- and they travel
Let’s be clear. Young Gents, Inc. is not a program geared towards “at risk black youth.” Young Gents, Inc. is an exceptional social enterprise for exceptional boys of color.
Young Gents, Inc. exists to provide our sons and the young men in our lives with extraordinary, unmatched travel experiences and access to influential people who look like them – high ranking, executives and leaders from all industries who are eager to help our young gents dream and do big!
And when it’s all said and done, our young gents will know their worth, achieve their ambitious goals and ultimately, continue to “normalize black excellence.”
Has it been a smooth road?
As with any new endeavor that is destined to disrupt basic norms and shake up the status quo, there are and will be many challenges. These challenges must be met with aggressive resolve and they must not be allowed to discourage, dissuade or diminish momentum.
There are two useful tools I rely heavily upon when challenges come up: a strategic plan and my brain trust.
My strategic plan is firm yet flexible. This plan keeps me focused. It is specific enough to give me clear guidance on where I want to go and it is flexible enough to allow for integration and prioritization of new concepts. My plan includes the basics: mission, vision and purpose statements; a one-page executive summary; SWOT analysis; a detailed case for support and; a compelling value proposition.
My brain trust is a very small group of really smart people – who are much smarter than me! They believe in the change Young Gents, Inc. is destined to make. They are gifted in the areas of: finance, securing capital, legalese, strategy development and “vision casting.” This group of brilliant minds lend me their expertise and allow me to leverage their know-how to fortify the Young Gents, Inc. business framework.
They challenge me, test my rationales and help me think through opportunities and threats. Their counsel – which is often times very informal – helps shape my strategic decision making.
Keeping my strategic plan top of mind and members of my brain trust easily accessible are two invaluable strategies for success. They helped me combat challenges when – not if – they arise and they can help you, too.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Young Gents, Inc. story. Tell us more about the business.
As the founder of Young Gents, Inc., my job is to set the strategic direction of our movement to normalize black excellence. I listen attentively to our young gents, their guardians and those who support our cause. Collectively, they are the YGI Village. I gather their thoughts, ideas, hopes, and aspirations and figure out how to authentically incorporate and strategically operationalize those ideas.
One of my proudest moments is actually an example of how listening to an idea turned into operationalizing an idea. During one of our sessions, all of the moms and guardians were gathered together in a classroom while our young gents were learning about all things etiquette. Together, we were simply having a casual conversation.
When asked, “what does Young Gents mean to you?”, Nnnena Makanjuloa, a mom of two young gents, said “this movement means so much to me because it is normalizing black excellence for our sons”. Normalizing Black Excellence. When those three words were spoken out loud – with such ease, confidence, and assurance – everyone in the room jubilantly agreed that “normalizing black excellence” must become our official tagline!
So, what sets Young Gents, Inc. apart from other youth-focused movements? A lot!
Young Gents, Inc. fully equips boys of color to audaciously lead in every aspect of their lives. Through our carefully crafted curriculum, Young Gents, Inc. build their acumen in etiquette, social intelligence, business and leadership development, community involvement, travel, and cultural enrichment. Youth who experience our fun, forward-thinking program will garner every skill and tool they need to demonstrate excellence at home and exude it everywhere else.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
What I’ve learned is that asking someone to be a “mentor” can be perceived as a huge time commitment. Instead, I connect with industry experts and ask if I can occasionally reach out to them with specific questions I have or the guidance I need. Through brief email exchanges or quick text message chats, I’ve been able to develop a rapport with some incredible leaders over time without taking up too much of their time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.younggentsinc.com
- Phone: 678-521-5484
- Email: kesha@younggentsinc.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/younggentsinc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/younggentsinc
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/younggentsinc
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
