Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmen Knight.
Hi Carmen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As the oldest of 5, I have always carried my share of responsibilities. My mom was an entrepreneur in the most accurate form and always had a home business driven by her creative talents. She was very intentional with introducing my siblings and me to various creative mediums. Watching my mom balance multiple businesses while raising 3 kids was truly inspiring, but it wasn’t always easy. When my dad died, I had to really step up to the plate, and though some of the responsibilities were overwhelming, they helped mold me into who I am today. I hated high school, girls always wanted to fight me, and I honestly didn’t understand why there was always an issue. Being multiracial, I struggled with fitting in at times and lost way too many friends to keep count. When it came time to apply for college, I knew I wanted to travel out of state to attend an HBCU. I wanted the chance to find myself in a space where I didn’t have to defend who I was, a clean slate. Once I attended Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC, my life changed forever. The rich culture and family-like environment embraced me in ways I could never explain. In college was where I found myself, I was poppin’, okay?… I pledged AKA, stayed active on campus, and remained on the Dean’s list all four years.
I loved living in Charlotte, but I wasn’t meant to stay there, so I returned to California after graduation and started offering freelance marketing services. Once home, I noticed my baby sister struggling with low self-confidence and lacking quality friendships, much like I did in high school. It wasn’t until I went to college and pledged AKA that I was able to gain an undoubting level of confidence while building lifelong friendships. I wanted to help her the same way my sorority helped me, but I wasn’t willing to wait for her to attend college to gain this experience. So, in 2016, I formed BE Sisterly, a campus club at a local high school in Palmdale, CA, where we established interest with 15 members. This club met every week and went through a series of workshops, community service events, and sisterly bonding activities.
In 2017, BE Sisterly concluded at the local high school and moved to San Diego as I completed a Masters’s in Social Innovation. I perfected the business model, purpose, and services provided through BE Sisterly through my graduate program. In 2018, I competed in the Global Social Innovation Challenge hosted in San Diego. As a finalist, I pitched in a shark-tank-style event for a chance to secure $50,000 in seed funding. Although BE Sisterly did not secure seed funding, the organization received top-notch software to help run the nonprofit. BE Sisterly is undergoing a rebranding to date, and I hope to relaunch this organization next year.
After grad school, I decided to focus on enhancing my freelance offerings. I took numerous courses to ensure my services were diverse and considered expertise. As I took on clients, I realized the increased need to formalize my business and Hello Miss.CTK was created. Through Hello Miss.CTK, I continue to offer freelance marketing services, including social media management, content curation, e-communication strategy, small business branding, and event planning. California will always have my heart, but I was craving a change, so I packed up with my baby sister and moved to Houston in 2019! Currently, I live near the Galleria with my boyfriend and our 12 month old! I work for the University of Houston as a Communications Coordinator, and I still freelance on the side.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A smooth road? There is no such thing! My road has been bumpy, it has had sharp turns and detours… hell, I’ve run out of gas before lol. In all seriousness, no, my journey has not been easy. When my dad died, my life changed forever; a piece of me has never been the same. But I have also used his death as motivation to push forward towards success because I know he would be cheering me on. Along my journey, though, I’ve always felt too big for the spaces I would occupy. I’d get a job, and the work was creative, pay okay… but a small voice in my head would always whisper, “nah bigger, this isn’t it.” I became so emotionally attached to a man that our relationship was toxic. Still, I wanted to start a life with him because of our time in each other, but I constantly had to shrink myself to fit into his box. (Full transparency moment, when you find the ONE, you will not have to change who you are. This person will accept your flaws in a way that makes vulnerability a beautiful thing.) I’ve struggled with finding out what “it” looks like for me. Not that I didn’t have a dream career or anything, but when I set goals for myself, I’d accomplish them; I manifested the next chapter of my life so quickly at times that I didn’t know what I wanted next, nor did I take the time to be present to enjoy the stage I was currently in. It took the pandemic and becoming a mother to slow my spirit down. I finally understand the beauty in being present, logging off social media, and existing in the realities of the life I’ve created.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I very much consider myself a Creative. There is something so beautiful in formulating ideas and executing them into reality. From the age of ten, I’ve been planning parties and events (let my mom tell it… I’ve ruined a few surprise birthday parties because I went ahead and scheduled my own thing.) Because my mom has been a cosmetologist for over 30 years, I picked up a thing or two and have solid braiding skills. Of course, my academic career has afforded me the knowledge of marketing and innovative practices, so overall… I’ve packed all of these skills into being a Social Innovator. What sets me apart from others is that I acknowledge that I do not have all the answers, but I will research and work to find a solution. I am always learning something new and will forever consider myself a student. As I mentioned, I am currently employed at the University of Houston, where I use my organizational skills to create effective operation systems for a team of incredible creatives! I started this position about a month ago, and I am excited to grow in development communications. On the side, through Hello Miss.CTK, I have managed social media accounts for big shots like Warren G, local nonprofits, and lifestyle businesses. I’ve planned social events, created business plans, and designed websites for numerous clients. My typical work week is crazy, as I balance a 9-5, freelance clients, and being a whole mama! But I make sense of the madness because having multiple income streams is an absolute must.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Houston; I love how friendly the people are here (Southern hospitality is a thing) and the accent on my man… I mean, we have a baby now, so lol. There are many opportunities here; the challenge is getting out and discovering them because Houston is huge. I am a vegetarian, and while there are options at most places… the plant-based lifestyle isn’t thriving here like it is in California, and I miss that every day. Also, why isn’t there Dell Taco here?! The social life here is excellent, but I must admit I have had a hard time making friends… I have no idea why building solid friendships that aren’t centered around club/bar hopping is so hard!
Contact Info:
- Email: missctk@hellomissctk.com
- Website: www.hellomissctk.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/miss.ctk/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissCTK
