KISH: Tell us about you
Lakina: I am a wife and mother of six children. I am a business woman and an entrepreneur with many different business ventures. I have a Bachelors in Business and a Masters in Social Justice. I believe in doing what’s right by all people, and speaking for those who can’t or are afraid to speak for themselves. I am a Realtor, Author, Motivational Speaker, Business coach, and Host of a talk show called, Believe in Yourself Tuesday.
I am Vice President of The Lost and Found Christian Association whose mission is to provide battered and sexually abused women and their children with a rehabilitation process that provides continuum care and empowerment. I am founder of The Treasure Within, a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting women of all ages. I am a member of the Women’s Council of Realtors, and a VIP Member of the International Associate of Professional Women.
KISH: What is your dream and how will accomplishing your dream benefit you and others?
Lakina: I want my real estate company to become a global enterprise. I want it to incorporate all the aspects of Real Estate and Real Estate investing. I want to develop a community to bring good newly built affordable housing with a community center attached for the people.
As a business coach, I want to continue to help people make multiple streams of income by turning their hobbies into businesses; helping people all over the world.
I also want to build an elementary school for grades K-8, to be named after my non-profit, The Treasure Within. I want my school to teach children how to value themselves and how to stand against issues like bullying. Teaching them how to value themselves is just as important as their academic education. I want this school to be a perfect blend of them both.
My bigger dream is to create something that will be here long after I’m gone. Something that will continue to empower people to be who they were born to be, and find their purpose in life. I want to continue to show people that they are special beyond what they can see in themselves. My benefit from this, is that completing my purpose ensures that others will fulfill theirs.
KISH: Who or what inspired you to pursue this dream?
Lakina: I have always wanted to be a role model. As a young girl I ended up in some dark places, and when I became an adult I always said that I never wanted young girls to make the mistakes I did. So recognizing my mistakes and going through pain was one of the first things that inspired me to pursue my dreams.
My other inspiration was my grandmother. She always inspired me to always be who I wanted to be. She picked cotton when she was younger, and cleaned houses in her later life, and she shared with me stories of how hard her life was in the South. But, in spite of her struggle, she was one of the strongest people knew. She made me feel like I could accomplish anything I put my mind to. She never gave up, which made me always push even more when I thought of her.
KISH: What challenges have you encountered while pursuing your dream?
Lakina: The challenges I had pursuing my dreams came early in life. At 16, I became pregnant with my first child and got married at 17years old. That marriage was very abusive, and my husband at that time did not encourage me to aspire to do anything. But, with my grandmother instilling in me to never give up, I was still able to earn a Bachelor and Master’s Degree. Her inspiration taught me to always believe in myself even when the closest people to you did not. It was a thought that kept me going through abuse and pain.
Having 6 children through 2 marriages also presented me with a challenge. But, God turned that around, and they too became my inspiration to help me stay the course toward my goals.
KISH: Who or what inspired you to keep pushing regardless of the challenges you’ve encountered?
Lakina: My grandmother and my children were always in my thoughts despite the circumstances. My grandmother’s voice told me to keep going. My children’s existence reminded me that they needed me and that giving up was not an option.
KISH: Please provide final thoughts/advice for others by finishing this sentence… dream.
Lakina: Always believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect someone else to believe in you? It doesn’t matter if there are other people with similar businesses or ideas like yours. Because what’s missing from their vision is you. There is something special about being you, and this is what makes you stand out from the rest.
Continue to believe and don’t let your dreams die. You can have whatever you want, you just have to believe. When you leave this earth, you want to leave in impact! Make sure that you leave someone in a better place because they met you. Never give up on your dreams!
Last modified: August 12, 2020
