Today we’d like to introduce you to Faren Franklin.
Hi Faren, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
“Go to college, get a good job, and move up the corporate ladder.” I heard those words often. I grew up in a supportive family, and the value of education and their dream of a corporate career pushed me forward as I plotted my life path. However, I’ve always had aspirations of owning my own business. I launched my first “business” around the age of 6. I received a nail polish kit as a gift and saw an opportunity. I marketed my nail tech services to my church members, set up shop in my Granny’s house after church, and actually managed to get a few “clients”. That business didn’t last long to say the least, but it planted a seed in confirming my dreams of becoming a business owner.
I did listen to my parents’ advice and went to college. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing and ventured into a career in human resources. I’ve worked in multiple areas of human resources for nearly 15 years. I discovered the areas of HR I enjoyed the most, and to build upon my experience, I went back to school and obtained a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development from Abilene Christian University.
I consider myself multi passionate, and I’ve also been interested in pursuing real estate endeavors since a teen. The thought of real estate investing seemed like a farfetched dream, so I put it on the back burner. A few years ago, my interest was reignited, and I purchased my first investment property. It was a very intense first project as it required a full renovation. I had zero experience in renovations (or real estate in general), but by the grace of God, I was able to manage the project successfully and consider the investment my first win in real estate.
In 2020, a perfect mixture of events pushed me into entrepreneurship. I became a first-time mom at the beginning of the year, and within a couple of months, we found ourselves in a worldwide pandemic. As I was scheduled to return to work from maternity leave, it was announced that everyone was to work remotely. I worked remotely full-time for over a year, while bonding with my newborn daughter, getting acclimated to motherhood, and working on my property renovation. During that time, I made the decision to start my own business to have the flexibility I desired. I started a human resources company, MaeVen Solutions, and also completed the property renovation, and co-founded a short-term rental business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey has not been without challenges. First, in attending a university as the first in my immediate family, I was faced with the pressure of knowing failure was not an option. I worked multiple jobs in college, and while it was challenging to balance school and work, it paid off because one of those jobs was in the university’s human resources department. The exposure I received while working as a student worker piqued my interest in the field of human resources and helped launch the career that became the foundation of my current business. As I entered the corporate world, I had to learn to navigate a world where I felt I had much to prove, especially because I was the youngest employee on my team and a Black woman. I worked hard, strengthened my skills, and moved up the ladder as I felt I was supposed to do.
Seven years after receiving my bachelor’s degree, I decided to pursue a master’s degree while working full-time. Balancing a full-time role as an adult while being a full-time graduate student was even more challenging than working part-time in undergrad. The program lasted two years, and by the end of it, I had completed my degree 2 months before giving birth to my daughter.
Although I had no prior experience in real estate, I took on a complete renovation of a property as part of my venture into real estate investing, which presented me with a multitude of challenges. However, the experience taught me many valuable lessons and boosted my confidence to pursue further opportunities in the industry. I used the confidence I gained from that first project to move forward in researching the growing industry of short-term rentals and partnered with a friend to start an additional business to get our first property.
Of course, building my HR company has tested my faith in ways I’ve never experienced before. I had to learn, and I’m still learning what it means to be a business owner. I was blessed to attend one of the top business schools in the country (Mays Business School), but the curriculum I learned in school could not prepare me for the very real challenges I’ve faced as I started my business. The first challenge was shifting my mindset to prepare for my transition from employee to business owner. I’ve been on a deep journey of personal development, which has been most helpful.
I knew my path wouldn’t always be easy, but that’s what makes it even more exciting. With support from my family and friends, my journey has been nothing short of a joyride. As fate would have it, I stumbled upon a quote on the side of a building that struck a chord with me – “the journey is the reward.” It has been etched in my mind ever since, and serves as a constant reminder that this journey of mine is just the beginning of an incredible story.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
MaeVen Solutions is a human resources company and was established to support businesses of all sizes in enhancing their growth potential through effective team building. As a human resources company, our primary objective is to assist businesses in expanding by recruiting, developing, and retaining skilled team members. We understand that a business’s most valuable asset is their team or employees. As businesses scale, we often find that employee development is overlooked, and we collaborate with businesses to hire, train, and retain quality team members.
We offer the following services:
– consulting, coaching, & speaking engagements – We consult, coach, develop programs for your organization, and speak on topics related to: effective hiring, organizational development, employee engagement, generations in the workplace, performance management, remote work, employee relations, conflict resolution, and more! Further, we provide organizational assessments to discover pain points to develop comprehensive plans to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of clients.
– recruiting – We recruit, manage, and develop virtual professionals (sometimes known as virtual assistants) to support our clients as they build their businesses. We also recruit for direct hires to provide support on-site.
– foundational HR services – including background screenings, offer letters, onboarding, employee handbooks, and more!
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My primary focus is MaeVen Solutions, and the goal is to support businesses through consulting and coaching services. Also, we will soon be launching courses for entrepreneurs on topics such as: how to hire like a pro, effective management, and employee engagement. More details will be announced on our social media platforms. Our website is undergoing a renovation, and updates will be published soon. I’ve provided links to my personal social media account and MaeVen Solutions’, so I encourage readers to follow to learn more about what I do and watch as I discuss my journey on other businesses as well.
I am also open to collaborations and can be contacted via email or any of my social media platforms. I am also available for discovery calls to learn how we may be able to work together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she_is_faren/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maevensolutions/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farenfranklin/
- Other: https://calendly.com/themaevengroup/maevensolutions-discovery
Image Credits
Digital Aspect Media
