Story & Lesson Highlights with Averri Liggins of Downtown

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Averri Liggins. Check out our conversation below.

Averri, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. One of the proudest moments for me recently was finally becoming a full-time entrepreneur in November. For years, I would say, “This is the year I’m going full-time,” but it never quite happened. And when it finally did, it didn’t happen in the way I imagined—but it was exactly what I needed in that moment.
I had been building my business for years, working on it after hours, on weekends, and between life’s responsibilities. So to finally take the plunge and turn it into something that creates a sustainable living—without relying on a salary or a safety net—is something I’m incredibly proud of. I had always dreamed of reaching that point, but it wasn’t until I actually did it that I realized: I can make this work.

And on the lighter side, I recently looked back at some of my older content and had a good laugh. The lighting was off, the delivery was nervous, but the passion was there. It reminded me that even when things aren’t perfect, the willingness to start and stay consistent is what moves you forward. Every version of me along the way contributed to this one.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Averri Simone, a Systems Strategist, Marketing Automation Expert, and the founder of Automazing Systems and Black Women Moguls. I help service-based entrepreneurs streamline their operations, automate lead generation, and create systems that allow their businesses to run without them constantly being in hustle mode.

What makes my work unique is that I blend structure with strategy. I’m not just focused on helping people stay organized—I help them design a business that creates time freedom, increases revenue, and actually works for their life, not the other way around. After years of working in government, managing multi-million dollar contracts, and consulting across industries, I now help entrepreneurs get out of survival mode and build with intention.

After running my business while working full-time, I stepped into full-time entrepreneurship, and that shift has fueled everything I’m building now. Right now, I’m especially focused on helping more entrepreneurs implement systems they can scale and continuing to create solutions that help business owners stop being the bottleneck in their business.

My brand is rooted in legacy, sustainability, and systems, and I’m passionate about showing others that structure doesn’t restrict you; it frees you.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Ooh, that’s a soul-piercing question isn’t it? As children, we dream without boundaries. We believe we can become anything, fearless, bold, and limitless, because no one has told us otherwise. But as we grow older, life begins to chip away at that freedom. Doubts creep in, fueled by our own experiences and the voices of others who tell us to be realistic, to shrink our dreams, to choose stability over vision. They say play it safe, stay small, and blend in. But from the beginning I knew I was different. My mother didn’t pray for ordinary. She prayed for an uncommon child and that’s exactly what she got.

Even with life’s unexpected detours I’ve always felt something greater pulling me forward. A quiet knowing that I was not meant to settle for the bare minimum. I was created to build, to lead, to rise beyond limitations both the ones others placed on me and the ones I unknowingly placed on myself. So I stopped waiting for permission. I stopped dimming my light to make others comfortable. I chose to keep going. Because for me the sky is not the limit. It is only the beginning.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
For a long time I hid the fact that I was living with an autoimmune disease. I didn’t want to be seen as weak or have people assume I couldn’t handle the demands of business or life. I pushed through the pain in silence, trying to maintain an image of strength and capability even when my body was telling a different story.

Everything shifted when I finally decided to share my story publicly. I didn’t expect it to resonate the way it did. I started hearing from other women who were also living with chronic illness or navigating their own silent struggles. They felt seen. And that’s when I realized the power of vulnerability and transparency.

By sharing my pain I gave others permission to stop hiding too. I found out I wasn’t alone—and neither were they. What once felt like something I had to manage in secret became part of the message I now carry. You can build a powerful, sustainable life and business even with limitations, especially when you stop pretending they don’t exist.

There’s real power in being seen fully, not just for what you do, but for what you’ve had to overcome along the way.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Even though I have two separate profiles—one for business and one for personal—I would say both are an open book and very much the real me. On my business profile, I share parts of my story and who I am, but it is always with a set purpose in mind. People want to learn about me as a strategist and entrepreneur, so I show up in a way that supports that.

On my personal profile, I am free to be as geeky and corny as I want. I share my love for WWE, Star Wars, recipes, and all the things I cook. It is where people get to see a different, more playful side of me.

So yes, it is the real me. You just have to know where to look. Both profiles show authentic parts of who I am, just in different ways and spaces.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
What would remain is my essence—my values, my spirit, and the impact I’ve made on others. I genuinely care about people, and whenever I can, I try to help those I know I can make a difference for or help get to the next level.

Coming from a humble beginning, possessions and credentials have never been the most important things to me. Growing up in Girl Scouts, I was taught to leave the world a better place than when I came. That lesson has stuck with me, and it means more than anything I could ever own.

I’ve always been someone who values experiences over material things or titles. In fact, most people don’t even know I have an advanced degree because, to me, that’s not the most important part of my journey. What truly matters is the way I show up, the difference I make, and the legacy I leave behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blackwomenmoguls.com/ or www.automazingsystems.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomenmoguls
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/averri-liggins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomenmoguls
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomenmoguls

Image Credits
Kimazing Photography