Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kimberly Davis, Founder of Brave Leadership University, located in Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I have the great privilege of running the Brave Leadership University, which gives us the opportunity to democratize the conversation around how to be a brave leader. Thus, we get to watch thousands of people worldwide step into their best, most authentic, and powerful selves, develop rich, meaningful connections, grow their confidence, and experience themselves achieving things beyond what they thought was possible for themselves.

Tell us about yourself

My journey has been anything but a straight line. I was in theatre for over a decade and then found myself starting my own events company and eventually made my way into training and development, where I got to marry all of my experience when I created my own experiential training program that utilized theatre tools to develop leaders. Eventually, I wrote my book, Brave Leadership, to provide access to the content that, up until then, was reserved for the privileged few who had an organization invest in their development or the means to enroll in Executive Education. Then, when COVID hit, I developed my online courses, which have allowed me to reach people on a global level. Connecting people to their best selves is what drives me every day as the byproduct is a society that is more constructive, mindful, responsible, and fulfilled. Yes, we get better work results, but it is much bigger than that.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Two things: Launching OnStage Leadership, which is the program that has been the work of my life since 2008 and has led to everything else I've done. And then, releasing my book, Brave Leadership, into the world and having it, unexpectedly, met with accolades and awards.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Staying with it when it feels hard and discouraging. Luckily, my work requires me to keep moving forward when I'm not feeling very brave in order to model being brave in the face of my own humanity for others.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Demystify starting a business for yourself. When I launched my first business, I knew NOTHING about business. My boyfriend at the time (who is now my husband) was getting his MBA, and he suggested when I was frustrated with my current job in the events industry that I start my own if I didn't like how they were doing business. At the time, I thought he was crazy! "Who am I to start a business?!" I thought. It seemed like such a big, scary thing. But once I started it, I realized that it wasn't as difficult as I had made it out to be in my head.
  2. Take baby steps. Huge accomplishments unfold one baby step at a time. When you're looking at your one-year, five-year, or ten-year plan, it's easy to get completely overwhelmed and stop yourself. Break the big leaps into tiny baby steps, and they add up quickly.
  3. Stay clear about your purpose. It's easy to get frustrated when you're spending a lot of time doing critical tasks for your business that aren't necessarily things you love. Every business requires you to do things that are hard or tedious. That's part of life. But if you can stay clear about why you're doing what you're doing, beyond the money. What is the impact you want to have with your work? Staying clear bout that makes the hard things worth it, the journey richer, and your work better. Money and success are just a byproduct.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

We are all far braver than we realize. Your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's. I encourage you to craft the unique path that allows you to bring your best and stay away from the comparison game. The more you focus on what others are doing, the less you're focused on realizing what you're up to with your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://braveleadershipuniversity.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnStageLeadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onstagekimberly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OnStageKimberly
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlydavisonstage/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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