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Meet C’Chi Payne of A2O International in West Midtown

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Today we’d like to introduce you to C’Chi Payne.

Thanks for sharing your story with us C’Chi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Tulsa, OK and moved to Montgomery, AL at the age of six. While young, I began taking an interest in automobiles (from a design standpoint). At the age of 13, my 8th grade Science teacher assigned the class a project by which we were to spend the weekend thinking about what we wanted to be when we grew up. We were instructed to research various career fields that correlate with our desired interests. During my research, I became knowledgeable in the field of Engineering and found Mechanical Engineering to be the best match for what I was interested in pursuing.

I began spending more time researching Mechanical Engineering and its educational requirements. The High School I attended had mandatory “Academies”, in which we selected our Academy of choice during our freshman year, and were enrolled from the 10th-12th grade – Engineering, Graphic Design, Medical, E-commerce, Building Sciences, and Information Technology. I believe being in the Engineering Academy and taking advanced classes in High School prepared me for the Engineering classes I completed in College.

I graduated from the University of Alabama in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. I had an internship while in College (in the automotive industry), and began working at a top automotive company full-time after College. I now work as a Project Lead for my company’s Advanced Engineering team. We are responsible for New Product Development and Business Pursuits.

I’m involved in the Film Industry as well, which has also been a passion of mine for the last six years. Another passion I have is investing (Stock Market, Cryptocurrency). The analytical skills I’ve obtained in my career has allowed me to learn and understand the stock market.

Due to my involvement in the industries listed above, I have had the honor of speaking at local schools and events to students who are in the process of selecting what they’d like to pursue as a career. This has propelled me to launch an online business (https://www.cchiofficial.com/) in which I offer coaching/mentoring services, both on an individual and group basis. Giving back to the community has brought me true fulfillment that I believe can only be achieved through Philanthropy.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, my career has not been a smooth road. Because of my career of choice (Engineering), I had to become more disciplined at an earlier age than most adolescents. Although I made it a priority to have a social life, I still had to sacrifice a lot of “fun”. I believe the biggest challenge was (and still is) being a female in a predominantly-male profession. There are still pay gaps between men and women, however, I do believe this is seen in other fields as well, not just Engineering.

Despite the amount of work and study required, I’ve been privileged to meet leading executives in the automotive industry, as well as the film industry. I’ve acquired a wealth of knowledge simply by connecting with the right people who were willing to provide me with insight and mentorship. I strongly believe that it’s not just about “what you know” or “who you know”, but also “who knows you”. Sometimes what we see as “problems” are not because of a lack of resources, but because of a lack of resourcefulness!

Please tell us about A2O International.
My business tailors to the needs of those (both young and mature) who are in the search of finding their purpose and turning their passion(s) into a career. I offer coaching services for both personal and career development. I offer a free 30-minute consultation, in which I ask specific questions to understand my client’s needs. I then propose a plan as to how we will identify their strengths and areas for improvement. The coaching services offered are open to any age group, however, I target middle school through college seniors. I am available for school visits, speaking engagements, and one-on-one coaching, which can all be booked through my website.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I were to have done things differently, I would have spent more time learning about Economics and Entrepreneurship. The knowledge I’ve gained regarding Entrepreneurship is mostly due to research over the years and advice from skilled professionals. Had I had this knowledge before/during college, I would have considered starting a business at an earlier age, while in the pursuit of a career in Engineering. This thought did cross my mind while in college, but I let fear get in the way and put it off for a few years.

Pricing:

  • 30 min Consultation – Free
  • 30 min Career Coaching – $40
  • 1 hour Career Development – $70
  • 1 hour Personal Development – $70
  • 45 min School Visit (30 min discussion, 15 min Q&A) – $50
  • 1 hour School Visit (45 min discussion, 15 min Q&A) – $65

Contact Info:

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