Today we’d like to introduce you to Nirjary Desai.
Hi Nirjary, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
KIS (Cubed) Events specializes in one of a kind event experiences with serious wow factor for some of the top brands, celebrities and personalities across the U.S. and globally, and I am the proud CEO and Founder! I believe that every moment is unique, experiences should be memorable, and when you walk into a space, your style should stand out and be unforgettable. What sets me apart is my Southeast Asian identity and business experience. I was born in Zambia, raised in South Carolina and educated in London, so I have a poly-cultural upbringing that instilled a passion for global travel, socially conscious businesses, and inclusive community building. My life has always been a battle between my Eastern culture versus my Western lifestyle.
Those experiences make me want to advocate for a more socially inclusive world. In terms of my experience, I earned my MBA in International Marketing & Management in London and worked within the hospitality and travel sector with American Airlines, IHG Hotels, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. I went on to found several brands and businesses designed to serve the travel and hospitality industry including S3 Catering, Glam Squad, Bridal Elements, KIS (cubed) Events, and Leave Her Mark, a conference series to help educate, elevate and inspire women to find their passion and achieve their goals. I ultimately aim to uplift multicultural identities and experiences within my events and my work with women nationally and internationally.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
KIS (cubed) Events has not gotten to this point without its struggles as a business owner, especially in the past few years with the pandemic. I really had to pivot once COVID hit and remind myself why I started KIS(cubed). Sometimes, you have to take yourself back to the basics of why you started and what your “why” is. If you, as a business owner, can remind yourself, you can find ways to continue on your journey. When the pandemic hit and events were at a standstill, I went back to the basics and evaluated how I could continue contributing to the industry to help our community and build a better industry moving forward. Since then, we, along with so many industries, have been forced to confront manufacturing and supply chain issues. In addition, the past two years include the largest number of events and weddings in years. It has been challenging but extremely rewarding as things have evolved to a moment where people ultimately want to have experiences and celebrations they will remember. Of course, there are always day-to-day struggles, especially as a minority woman business owner competing in a male-dominated industry. I would never alter the journey—it has taught me an incredible amount about my values and how I choose to run my business.
As you know, we’re big fans of KIS (Cubed) Events. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
In Indian culture, celebrations are usually planned by the community and held in a temple or a community center. About 15 years ago, more South Asians started using full-service venues for their events. Many hotels lacked the cultural knowledge for their celebrations. Being South Asian, I was often pulled into meetings to help close that business. At the same time, many of my friends were getting married, and I was helping them plan their weddings on the side. That’s where it all started. I thought, “This could work.” It evolved when I was getting my MBA, I had a professor who said to use the KISS (“Keep It Simple, Stupid.”) principle when it came to anything and everything in marketing. That always stuck with me and is how KIS (cubed) Events came into being.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how diverse Atlanta is overall. You can walk into any area or neighborhood, and there will always be people from different backgrounds. I am proud that our city is diverse. I would love to see more celebrations and festivals that revolve around cultural holidays and events. We all celebrate them with our groups, and I would love to see us celebrate together as a community. Holidays aren’t really that different from culture to culture, which would be great to emphasize.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kiscubedevents.com
- Instagram: @kiscubed & @nirjarymdesai
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kiscubed/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kis3-event-planning/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiscubed
Image Credits
Styled and Snapped
