Today we’d like to introduce you to Zakirah Archable.
Hi Zakirah, 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?
My story is a journey. I am originally from Baltimore, MD. I graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in Family Studies and a minor in Theater studies. My passion is helping and healing others which is why I joined the best sorority ever Delta Sigma Theta Sorority INC. My journey started off as 1st grade teacher in Baltimore City Public schools and although I love kids, I quickly learned it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I moved on to my second and long-term job working as a counselor to adults and children at a black-owned outpatient clinic in Baltimore. I moved up in my job from counseling to becoming a program director managing two adult programs in the Hagerstown and PG County offices. Although I loved the work I did something was missing. I was finding myself enjoying my side projects and businesses more than work. I took a leap of faith in December 2021 and decided to quit my job and pursue my passion of being an entrepreneur full time.
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?
The challenges I have faced in my business was simply trying to find clients to use and trust my services. I am extremely new to Atlanta and had to build my clientele from the ground up. This meant going to the mall to pass out business cards, making flyers, reaching out to over 50 people a day on social media, and doing email blasts. Also, my funds were extremely low coming here. I just quit my job and had enough saved to cover my bills and a little extra I had leftover. I used to buy leads to help grow my business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a celebration enthusiast. I enjoy meeting new people and bringing people together it has always been a passion of mine. Back at home people call me the networking guru. I am constantly creating new ideas and new concepts for my business. I currently have a wine lifestyle brand called Dolce Vines that I still run with my partner in Baltimore. We work with a private vineyard making wine and wine products for our customer base. From this career launched my photo booth business Zak’s Mirror which is an interactive photo booth that I lease out for private and corporate events. It has revolutionary software and interactive tools that will make any event stand out from the rest. Additionally outside of events, I wanted to use my mental health background by creating a self-love platform using my mirror to reflect self-love back in the community and increase positive self-esteem in others. I am currently working with an Atlanta therapist to develop a workshop to pitch this concept to schools, wellness retreats, empowerment events, and other events in the mental health realm. I am most proud of the fact I can combine my passion of helping and healing with throwing events and making new connections.
How do you think about happiness?
Networking makes me the happiest. I love meeting new people, hearing new stories, and absorbing knowledge from others. I am a fan of the statement people need people and were not put on this earth to live alone. I am a firm believer of that. I have been to so many new places, experienced so many adventures, and acquired so many new theories and concepts by simply just having a conversation.
Contact Info:
- Email: zaksmirror@gmail.com
- Website: zaks-mirror.mailchimpsites.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaksmirror/
