Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in professional development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Karen Semien-McBride, founder and CEO of MKCircle Enterprises, LLC./CEO Institute, located in Long Beach, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The company I founded in 2017, MKCircle CEO Institute, offers individuals, small business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate, non-profit, and civic leaders a one-on-one curriculum that supports professional growth, life planning, and goal setting. We also help our clients identify and find strategies to deal with personal and professional pressures that may hinder progress and growth. We’ve introduced several tools that support daily decision-making and leadership, all of which can be shared with other leaders, colleagues, and subordinates.
Tell us about yourself
I was raised in the inner city of Compton, California. Even as a small child, I knew I was destined to not only reach success in the entrepreneurial and leadership space but also to help others get there, too. I was leading and starting businesses at a young age. As a teenager headed to college, I created, operated, and then sold a flower business to a florist and used the $11,000 I made to pay for my education. At the time, I thought that amount would cover it, but little did I know that I would go on to earn five degrees!
I earned a bachelor's in business administration, a master's in management and organizational leadership, two doctoral degrees in business administration/psychology/management & consulting, and human letters honored for research.
Today, I am the Chief Executive Officer of MKCircle CEO Institute. I am committed to creating emotional Intelligence leaders. My company is leading a new movement in Executive Coaching programs, Corporate Counseling/P-EAP, Small Business Coaching programs, and Leadership programs for individuals, which support professional advancement and personal growth. It’s making a difference in the lives of others, and that’s an incredible honor for me as an entrepreneur and a member of the Los Angeles business community.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We have a diverse group of clients, which says a lot about how we coach and teach the curriculum. Many of our clients have been repeatedly marginalized in their sectors, boardroom, and work. They have been assigned to less desirable positions, told their skills are inadequate, or simply praised and then passed over.
Our clients come to MKCircle CEO Institute to find a way to make sense of not only their current jobs but also to identify a career and life path forward that will allow them to break through. We give our clients the strategic tools to identify and implement a real-life path forward to achieve their goals. We teach clients how to navigate conflict, practice awareness, balanced assertiveness, and overcome personal doubts to finally thrive at work and in their personal lives. Making a contribution like that, where I see real results in the lives of our clients, is my “why” every single day.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Making time for self-reflection and self-care. All leaders must take time for themselves. I encourage my staff to take one half-day for self-improvement every week, and let me tell you, the time invested pays off.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires multiple competencies, but I’d suggest the following three are the most important:
- Master Self Efficacy.
- Set the most effective goals and track real-time results.
- Think, process, and plan strategically.
How to accomplish this? Here at MKCircle CEO Institute, we’ve created a meaningful self-evaluation tool we refer to as an Operational Style Assessment. This series of questions allows our entrepreneurial clients opportunities to not only know their pressure and trigger points but also how they can more effectively communicate with employees, customers and colleagues. Understanding what makes you tick- and how best to leverage your strengths and challenges for success is critical for any business owner. It’s the place anyone interested in “leveling up” needs to start.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I once wrote, "if I win, we win.” I sincerely believe that this leadership approach has helped me bring such an incredible team of psychologists, life coaches, and corporate trainers to work with me as a part of MKCircle CEO Institute. But there is still much to do. Our success rates of professional advancement speak to the needs of our services and programs.
In 2021, our clients gained a total pay increase of $322K. The year before was $298K. The curriculum and strategies we teach work. Although we have come far, there is still inequity in pay, position, and perception for so many in our world who weren’t lucky enough to have a mentor, supportive boss, or so many other privileges the rest of us take for granted.
It is both the mission of my company and my personal goal to help others overcome stagnation, a lack of inclusion, and a lack of diversity to shine both in the workplace and in their personal lives. We must recommit ourselves every day to making this dream happen, not just for ourselves but for the community at large.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mkcircle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkcircleCEO
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkcircleceo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MkcircleCeo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkcircle-ceo-institute/
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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