I’ve always been a planner, a do-er, and an executor with a natural inclination towards leadership. When I was a kid and my mom would pick me up from elementary school, the office staff would tell her about the elaborate birthday parties that I had planned for my teachers (including delegating tasks to other students and staff, like bringing the cake and setting up decorations.)

Today, I have nearly 25 years of experience supporting presidents, CEO’s, and founders as an executive support specialist.  I excel at working with visionaries, risk-takers, and trailblazers (like Dr. Keecha Harris, as one example.) They are very unique and share certain commonalities, including unwavering beliefs in their ideas, having their pulse on the constant changes and shifts in their sector, and embodying an almost superhuman commitment to success.  I have had the privilege of using my laptop and phone as a classroom while watching them build from the ground up – in fact, it’s influenced my own journey.

Another thing that’s  different about working with these leaders is that they’re not on anyone else’s clock. Great ideas can come at any point during the 24 hours in a day. As an executive assistant, you have to be able to work at their pace in order to do your job effectively. After years of working at this level as an in-house, full-time support person in the corporate arena, I started my own business to gain freedom in who I choose to support — and Keecha Harris and Associates is one such firm. 

Transitioning into human-centered and mission-driven work

Before entering the field of philanthropy and working with KHA, my background was mostly in software, investing, and venture capital. I had been craving more connection in my work-life, because I worked in sales-focused roles that focused on the task of closing deals. I had a seat at the table but struggled to feel like a part of the discussion. It wasn’t that I wasn’t welcome, but I didn’t feel connected enough to effectively belong, or be a part of the culture. I was craving connection. 

My transition out of being an employee was fast-paced, and I desperately needed a break. I spent the summer walking along the beach, breathing fresh air, and reconnecting with myself.  I knew my next step would be entrepreneurship because I had enough experience of what it really takes to reach (or exceed) year end goals. That drive is forever imprinted into my DNA. It’s an internal thing that you just can’t teach. 

I eventually met Keecha Harris through my work at the MacArthur Foundation, who is a client of Keecha Harris and Associates. My experience at KHA has been very different from previous corporate work environments: I went from never showing emotion at work to being at a company that leads with human connection.  I’ve come to see that checking in with each other as whole humans – and knowing where someone else is emotionally – helps us interact more effectively. At the end of the day, everyone wants to feel seen, heard, and respected. In order for us to do that with our clients (who are working through systemic shifts on an interpersonal and organizational level), we have to start inside our own firm. 

 Keecha has welcomed me into her circle, and it’s not a transactional relationship. She’s the type of person who will connect you to opportunities she sees for you or pull something out of you that you didn’t even know was there. Every time we talk, she drops the name of a book or gives me a nugget of wisdom to further my own development as a human. She really has a way of inspiring you, which I’m grateful for. She reminds us that the work we do is about more than making money – it’s about relationships and the imprint you leave on the world. 

Celebrating the growth of Keecha Harris and Associates

I had the pleasure of producing the KHA 25th-anniversary celebration in September 2024. This project was very exciting because it’s the first time KHA has celebrated a milestone anniversary in such a large way. It was important to slow down and spend intentional time acknowledging how the firm has flourished over the years, especially for a consulting firm working with some of the most prestigious foundations, corporations, and government agencies in the country

I wanted this celebration to be filled with the love and the spirit of KHA – none of which would be possible without Keecha, who is nothing if not audacious and integrous. The firm truly speaks to who she is as a person. She’s been able to develop her business in a way that aligns with her values and how she operates as a human being. Also, there just aren’t a lot of Black women founders in social impact consulting, much less ones that are B-Corp Certified and have the roster of clients that she has accrued over the decades (representing over $340 billion in cumulative assets.) Her clients understand the power of inclusivity and culture. That’s our North Star at KHA – because everything is simply better when everyone is engaged at the table.