Today we’d like to introduce you to Nakiya Pitts.
Hi Nakiya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Truthfully, I never saw myself as an entrepreneur or even knew what that meant! I went to college, continued on to receive my master’s in International Affairs, and landed a job with the federal government. It was with my dream agency at the time and it was amazing for the first few years. After five years of running into red tape and “office politics”, I realized I was unhappy and wanted to have a greater impact on the lives of others.
Over the years, I had been managing and growing my short-term rental business while maintaining my 9-5, so when the opportunity came to go full-time during the height of COVID, I decided to trust my intuition and take the leap! It truly was the scariest but best decision I could have made to take control of my own destiny. Since then, I have continued to grow my short-term rental company Coki Housing, expanded into Ghana in 2020 and created a second brand, Bese Saka, which offers handwoven products for women locally created and sourced from the region. There have been many more doors opened since I began my journey and I look forward to inspiring other people to trust your gut and as cliché as it may sound, follow your dreams. True fulfillment will be discovered somewhere in between.
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?
The road is not only bumpy, you may run into some potholes, detours, and pedestrians in your path along the way. In short, the idea that the road to success in any area of your life will be smooth is a fallacy that I wish more entrepreneurs would speak openly about. It’s been very challenging for me in some aspects but also rewarding in others.
One of my biggest challenges was that I truly didn’t understand the backend operations of managing a business. I never had a “business” background, so most concepts I learned from experience or invested in workshops and conferences to really learn how to build a team, how to market, and how to scale your business to name a few examples. Another that impacts many people across the world is I became an overnight caregiver for a parent which tremendously impacted my ability to operate my business as I had grown accustomed. So the biggest takeaway I’d share is to always remain a student of your industry and learn as much new information as possible and know when it’s time to pivot in order to meet the needs of your business and the client you serve.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am the founder of two brands: Coki Housing and Bese Saka. Coki Housing specializes in providing fully furnished short-term housing solutions for business and leisure travelers, healthcare providers, relocating families and employees, and military families. Our current offerings and partnerships reside in Virginia, Washington. DC, Accra, Ghana and growing!
In addition, as a woman of color Bese Saka was inspired by a personal vision of mine to reconnect with the land of my ancestors in Africa. I’ve always recognized the richness in its people, beauty, culture, and vast artisanship. African traditions are represented all across the continent in its highly sought-after sculpture art, paintings, beading and handcrafts such as traditional basket weaving. My connection to Ghana inspired the creation of Bese Saka to showcase the elegance and captivating vibrancy of West African woven products.
What I want the world to know about our products and services is that we are a company that supports inclusiveness and truly being the change we want to see in our communities. It only takes one changemaker to make a huge impact! There is so much talent and opportunity in the market, so there is a space for everyone to feel included.
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 think of risk as an essential part of being an entrepreneur. COVID taught me you must know how to pivot in your business when the environment calls for change. Calculated risks are par for the course, so I learned to trust my intuition more than in the past. Each small decision led to the next, like putting one foot in front of the other.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Cokihousing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/besesakawovens/
- Other: www.Besesakawovens.com
Image Credits
Sam- Creative Heights Photography, Ghana Lazarus-Bison Photography, Ghana
