Today we’d like to introduce you to Keisha V. Ryals, MBA.
Hi Keisha V., so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in a Sarasota, Florida, a city where paradise was only a bridge away and the smell of the ocean permeated through the city. Although most considered Sarasota an absolute fairytale, those of us who were born on the north side of the city experienced life a little differently. Considered the “inner city”, I was blessed to have parents and grandparents who believed in the power of education and work ethic. I learned early on that was my way to success and to be honest, I had a front-row seat to a real-world illustration from my parents. Despite having me younger, my mom had desires for accounting, administration, and hospitality while my dad had a desire to be a professional football coach compiled with athletic directing, which led to the perfect mixture of who my success.
Growing up, I was always smart and competitive, often time competing with my brother for the most A’s. My family was great about aiding the competition as we were paid top dollar for A’s earned. Later on in life, my brother and I regularly held each other to the standard. Education was the thing I was great at and it showed until Junior year of high school, when I developed test anxiety and struggled to pass larger test that determined so much of my future. My senior year of high school was proving to be more challenging as I tried numerous times to past the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and it threatened me graduating. Two weeks prior to graduation, I received my test scores back that I had passed the ACT, which was a supplement for the FCAT. I knew that I struggled in larger classes and decided that a smaller community college was the best option for me. My brother being my biggest support system decided to tag along with me. After receiving my Associate of Arts Degree from Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, I went on to finish my bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.
My career was taking off in the hospitality industry. At the age of 23, I was tasked with working in Task Force Management and was able to work with big-name brands and developers to ensure quality assurance. After successfully helping more than 15 hotels in the span of 7 months, I accepted a position in hotel operations and fell in love with the accounting and financial aspects of the industry. After spending years in Orlando and feeling like I hit a plateau in Hotel Operations, I felt like I needed a change. Before I could a motion a plan into action, I received a call from my mom that my grandmother was rushed to the hospital and that my brother and I should come quickly to see her. My grandma passed away a few hours later and I was absolutely devastated. My world stopped.
After losing my grandmother, I decided to move to Miami, Florida where my brother was residing with the plans of developing a new business for myself. With my grandmother’s spirit lingering over us, my brother and I instantly got to work on brainstorming strategies on how to birth what we considered at the time to be the next best business consulting firm. Searching for what to call my new business, my brother named it Crowning Tier Group. His reason for the name was simple, I was birthing and creating higher levels for businesses. It was always my vision to do this with a specific group of individuals who were all experts on specific business topics. I was feeling confident and excited about how promising my near future looked. What I didn’t know at the time was that I would have to go through more dark clouds before I ever saw the sunshine. Tragedy struck again, and this time, it was my brother who was gone. To say I was heartbroken is an understatement. My best friend, my brother, my everything was no longer here and I had to figure out how to navigate life without him. Lost and in need of some clarity, I moved to Athens, Georgia with my dad. Five months later, another tragedy struck but this time it was my paternal grandmother. Nothing made sense at that point. With darkness coming from every angle, I knew I needed God to help me find the light and fast. Two months after my grandma past, and in honor of my grandmother and brother, I officially launched Crowning Tier Group in June of 2018. But this time, I was tapping into my passion of accounting and financial strategies.
Athens, Georgia turned out to be just what I needed to not only build my business and expand my network but to heal, develop a self-love, and to prosper personally. I met my sister and mentor here, Michele Pearson Tucker, and some of my closest friends who all still push me to become the best version of myself. Pushing me to my full potential created a fire in me that I always knew I had, but it just needed to be brought to the forefront. In 2021, Michele and I started a nonprofit organization, Minority Business and Nonprofit Association, that aims to help the development, growth, and sustainability of minority businesses. With my family, friends, community and mentors supporting me, I was able to obtain a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management from Nova Southeastern University in June of 2022. With that huge milestone completed, I am stepping into my next chapter of becoming a Certified Public Accountant.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. With losing my core three, I felt like nothing mattered. The biggest obstacle that I had to overcome was getting out of my own head and leaning more on the support of my family and close friends. They constantly remind me that I have people who I inspire and more work to do.
As you know, we’re big fans of Crowning Tier Group. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Crowning Tier Group is a bookkeeping and accounting firm that specializes in optimizing business financial results. Our foundation is built on knowing that numbers and healthy financial habits are key indicators for the success of your business. We are not your average bookkeepers or accounts, we constantly connect to clients to ensure business goals are achieved while working through business management strategies.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
It really is cliche to say but never give up. If you think you can do it, you absolutely can do it. Every day that God allows me to see is a day that he has a purpose for my life and my plan. I vow to work and see just what he has in store for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crowningtiergroup.com
- Instagram: Crowningtiergroup
- Facebook: Crowning Tier Group
- Twitter: Crowningtier
- Youtube: Crowningtiergroup7940
