Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kimiko Davis, Founder of Kimiko Consulting, located in Newport Beach, CA, USA.

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

At Kimiko Consulting, we are transforming data into impactful results. We aim to help organizations understand the importance and benefit of using data by specializing in business analytics. Our goal is to provide companies with expert guidance on combining research theories with human potential to positively impact organizations and the people within them.

Tell us about yourself

Growing up, I was taught that data and people should be looked at as separate pieces. My passion for research and human life led me to challenge this belief and combine the two. My curiosity opened my eyes to the advantages that business analytics can have on individuals and organizations.

I formed Kimiko Consulting to help organizations understand the importance and benefit of using data. However, the road to starting a business was not easy. Like most people, the pandemic interrupted my career plans and changed my whole work trajectory. In 2020 I was in a master's program and waiting to start an internship and a job. When the world came to a halt, so did my career.

Companies were no longer putting money aside for industrial-organizational psychologists, and I found myself out of work before I even began. I had one of two options - either wait to get hired somewhere or start building my own future. As you probably guessed, that is when I started Kimiko Consulting.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Positively impacting and changing lives for the better brings the biggest smile to my face.

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

Being a business owner doesn't mean you have to know everything. When I started my company, I had never studied business, and honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. I used to doubt my abilities to start and grow a business, but through failing and learning, asking lots of questions, and seeking mentorship, I was able to accomplish my goals.

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

When starting a business, ask yourself these three sets of questions:

  1. Your brand - What are you trying to sell, and why do you want to sell this? What would make your company unique? What would your company mission be?
  2. Your network - Who can I talk to about starting a business? How can these friends or mentors help with specific parts of my business? What platforms can I use to grow my network?
  3. Your market - What does the market currently look like for this product or service? Who are my buyers/customers? Will my product or service be successful in the future market?

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Even on the hardest of days, keep your head lifted high and your heart full of passion.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.kimikoconsulting.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kimiko-consulting/

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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