Embracing Change: A Year Rooted in Transformation

As we close out the first month of 2025 and enter into Black History Month, I’m finally able to pause, breathe and reflect on 2024. I know I’m late as it’s now taboo to say Happy New Year but here it goes!?

My word for 2024 was transformation and the manifestation of that word has woven itself through every aspect of my life.? It started on New Year’s Day at Church LV during a week-long 6am daily morning in person Transformation Furnace Prayer led by Pastor Benny. I’d never experienced anything like the intense power of daily in person prayer circles. These mornings served as the foundation for my year, illuminating the path to my own transformation.?

As I reflect on that path, I have undergone profound transformation—spiritually, personally, and professionally…

- Authorial Success: I proudly became a bestselling author with the release of my first book, "The Beauty of Success: Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand" and completed a 32 stop, 15 city book tour. Sharing my own insights and experiences from guests on my podcast, Business of the Beat has been a rewarding journey that has allowed me to connect with others on a deeper level.

- Venture Capitalist: I ventured into the world of becoming an investor through co-founding and deploying BrainTrust Fund I with Lisa Stone.?

- Travel Milestones: Achieving membership in the million-mile club on American Airlines was a goal I set early in my career, and reaching it actually taught me to slow down.

- New Beginnings in Las Vegas: I officially became a resident of Las Vegas (April 26th), embracing this vibrant city and all that it has to offer.

- Leadership Role: I became a first-time public company (Nasdaq and Russell Index) CEO, participating in the successful close of our PIPE and acquisition of Elevai Skincare, a role that reshaped my mentality in business.

- Motherhood: Most poignantly, I transformed into a mom of a 10-year-old, deepening my understanding of love, patience, and nurturing.

On a spiritual level, I continue to be a living testimony of the power of unyielding faith and prayer. In my darkest moments, the strength derived from my prayers and the prayers of those around me renewed my spirit, providing grace and encouragement that lifted me to heights I never imagined.?

Over the past six months, I’ve been on a journey of grounding, stillness, and transition. I appreciate the DMs, calls, and texts from many of you—your support has been invaluable during this phase of my journey.?

I made the conscious decision to hit pause on various aspects of my life: I stepped back from my podcast, shifted my role at BrainTrust, and reduced my travel schedule. More than that, I turned fear into faith and took a leap into a world I had not envisioned for myself—one that felt divinely ordained. It was an assignment of abundance that answered my prayers.

Julie Flanders played a vital role in helping me transform my prayers, guiding me to focus on shifting my circumstance for protection, growth, and abundance. She reminded me to lean into defining what clarity, focus, and faith mean to me.?

I was reminded from my “impact of color group” (thank you IMANI LANERS ) that this transformation was a test of faith—not just any faith, but "Walk on Water Faith…The kind of Faith that allows you to move into spaces and places that weren’t always meant for you but once you got there you were bound to lead and succeed.”

As I continue to move forward into 2025 and what has now become an uncertain future for many in our community, I am even more focused on storytelling about “us” through launching season 5 of my podcast, embracing new professional opportunities, celebrating my wins, learning from my losses, and leading with renewed momentum.

Transformation is not about losing oneself or running away from something; it’s about leaning into new possibilities, fostering growth, and accelerating your God-given talents while receiving new ones. 2024 and the start of 2025 have taught me invaluable lessons about control, transparency, communication, and my renewed sense of purpose, self and what success truly means.

Last month, I took one of the biggest leaps of “Walk on Water Faith” in my career and I encourage you to look towards the rest of this year with the same mindset. Envision the greatest possibilities ahead, embrace your own transformation, and let it lead you to a year filled with faith, purpose, joy, and your own version of success.

Carpe Diem!?

Kendra