Exploring Life & Business with Candy Isabel of Khamai Strategies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candy Isabel

Hi Candy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am an Afro-Latina immigrant from the Dominican Republic. I am a veteran and worked in the nonprofit sector for 10 years. I have a bachelors and a masters in Family Life Education. I am a new resident to GA, moving here from Michigan in 2022.

While working in the nonprofit sector, I started realize that I wanted to do more than what I was doing. I wanted to be involved in systems change work. In the previous positions that I held, I was able to connect with families and provide resources but I started to realize that in order to truly make a difference I needed to work from the top down. Around that same time, I began to do a bit of consulting and public speaking and knew this is where I wanted to be. If I can influence leaders on a larger scale to bring about change to communities, then that would make the difference our communities need. I started my business Khamai Strategies in 2019, after having my daughter, I knew I did not want to go back to work and decided it was the perfect time to try what I had been wanting to for so long. I closed on my first contract and knew right away this was the right decision.

Right after, the pandemic happened which allow me the space to truly create and launch my business. I officially launched in summer of 2020 and have been growing ever since!

My family and I moved to GA because of the opportunities, the diversity, the school system, and the culture.

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?
There have been a couple of struggles along the way. The most impactful being growing a business and a family at the same time. Growing a business takes effort and time. A lot of time. This means that I may miss moments with my husband and my children. Its the sacrifice that most entrepreneurs make while trying to launch.

Another struggle has been understanding and realizing the fine line between and employee and a consultant/contractor for an organization. I care about nonprofit organizations and want to see them thrive. As I engage in contracts I find it hard for me to not want to help in other ways or offer free guidance.

We’ve been impressed with Khamai Strategies, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Founded in 2019, Khamai Strategies is a Consulting and Project Management agency formed in an effort to fulfill the existing gaps in advocacy for the Latinx and African American community around the areas of education and community engagement. The mission of Khamai Strategies is to unlock the full potential of organizations by championing meaningful stakeholder engagement, driving equitable outcomes, and empowering organizations to create a lasting positive impact in their communities.

Collaborating with a diverse array of nonprofit organizations and municipalities, ranging from grassroots initiatives to national programs, Khamai Strategies provides a suite of services designed to assist nonprofits in harnessing stakeholder feedback effectively, refining their strategic planning processes, enhancing program implementation, and ensuring the successful realization of community-driven goals.

Our service offerings encompass Project Management, Strategic Planning, Process Development & Improvement, Event Planning & Coordination, and Stakeholder Engagement consultations.

We are an equity based agency. All of our work is done through an equity lens, ensuring community voice is at the center of decision making,

We are here to help starting nonprofits launch and land safely. We are experts in strategy development and bringing about positive outcomes, ensuring organizations are meeting their KPIs.

At the core of Khamai Strategies is a profound passion for social justice and a commitment to empowering individuals to drive their own futures. Our primary motivation lies in advocating for marginalized communities and equipping individuals and organizations with the tools to voice their wants and needs. Recognizing the persistent underrepresentation of BIPOC leadership in the nonprofit sector and similar consulting services, we strive to be a unique community partner, offering expertise derived from a blend of professional knowledge and lived experiences. This approach fosters a deep understanding of the intricate link between systemic policies and their adverse effects on communities and distinguishes Khamai Strategies from other organizations providing similar services.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned that the world we create for ourselves pulls us away from what is most important, our families and loved ones. We are always busy- but this is self created. When the world shut down, my family and I were able to bond and really develop our relationships. It gave us time to ground ourselves in each other and really get to know the other person.

As a society we spend so much time with other people. Most of our days are dedicated to work or school, leaving only a couple of hours at the end to spend with our loved ones.

We need to be intentional about how we spend our time and what things we sign ourselves up for, taking into account that for everything you do, means less time for and with your family.

Pricing:

• Strategy Sessions $1,000 to $5,000
• 3 months of Project Management $30,000
• Hourly Consultant Rate $200
• Hourly Project Management Rate $80

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.khamaistrategies.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khamaistrategies/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/khamaistrategies

Image Credits
Jasmine Smith Photography
In RGB Photography