PODCAST: You've Got to Have the Audacity to Try with Vivian Kaye
We first met Vivian Kaye during the pandemic while waiting virtually backstage to be guests on Cityline. We LOVED her ‘Big Viv’ energy and had so much fun chatting with her, so we knew we needed to get her on our podcast so you could experience just how amazing she is. Tune in to be totally inspired (and highly entertained) by this CEO and business & empowerment expert, who built her business from zero to over 6 million dollars in sales. Not only did she answer all of our questions and offer up invaluable advice, she also made us laugh throughout this entire episode! Our favourite takeaway, which will empower you to have the audacity to go for whatever it is you want, is to develop the Chad mentality. What Would Chad Do? Listen in and find out!
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Q&A SESSION:
Tell us about yourself!
Vivian Kaye is the Founder & CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki, a premium textured hair extensions brand for black women that she built from zero to over 6 million in sales. She’s also a business and empowerment expert, a Shopify/E-commerce expert and an all around dope lady. Tune in at the 2 min. mark to feel the ‘Big Viv’ energy!
What came first for you - the company or the expertise in the business?
The business. Vivian said that even before she started her company, it’s not like she knew what she was doing. She has just made stuff up as she was going along. Check out the 4 min. mark to learn how she got started by simply marching to the beat of her own drum. Her advice will help you get started, too!
Tell us about Chad.
First of all, everyone knows a Chad. Vivian prefaces this by saying this is not a specific person and it’s not meant to downplay anyone’s accomplishments or even to bash men. Chad is an energy. Chad is a mood. Chad is an attitude. Chad is a mindset. Vivian likes to say “What Would Chad Do?” and you can listen in at the 7 min. mark to find out why she asks this! Her explanation is inspiring, empowering and so amazing.
Is this message what you teach as a business & empowerment expert?
The reason why Vivian got into business empowerment, or even just empowerment in general, is because a lot of women think we need to have all of our ducks in a row to figure it out, but here she was…a black woman, who immigrated here from another country, dropped out of college, became a single mother and managed to figure out how to build a business into a million dollar company. Tune in at the 12 min. mark to learn more about her story and how overcoming all of these obstacles has made her an expert.
Can people who need coaching hire you to do it one-on-one?
Vivian explained that this is why she changed from ‘coach’ to ‘expert’. She used to do one-on-one coaching but she found that it was draining her energy (and she’s known for her energy) and made her feel more like a therapist which she isn’t trained to be. Check out the 17 min. mark for more on why she made the switch to speaking to a wider audience on different platforms.
What do you find is the biggest fear of most people who are trying to start a business?
Their fear is being found out as fraud. They know that they know what they’re talking about, but they think other people are going to find out that they actually don’t know 100% of what they’re talking about. But this is mostly a woman thing, because Chad wouldn’t feel this way. Listen in at the 18 min. mark for a wild story about this that will actually blow your mind.
How did you gain this perspective? When did you start to get this new outlook on life?
It wasn’t until one day in 2016, Vivian woke up and wondered what the hell she was doing. She was living her life based on other people’s standards and was tired of trying to shove herself into the box people tried to put her in. She had had enough. And then when she turned 40 - she was just f*cking done and ready to live for herself. Go to the 20 min. mark for more of the story and some laughs!
You have to have some type of drive in you. Is it money? What attracted you to go 100% on the gas pedal?
Money is not it. Vivian made that very clear! She likes to say that X is her why. Her son’s name is Xavier and she does what she does for him. She wants him to grow up knowing that his mother tried her absolute best to raise him. And what can she do that is within her control so that she can raise him to the best of her ability? It’s to be her, show him her strength and make sure he knows that the world is limitless. Tune in at the 23 min. mark for more about why X is her why.
When a woman wants to start a business but she doesn’t believe she’s qualified to do it, what can you say to them that will help get them out of their head?
Vivian encourages women to look at their life and decide what they’re really good at. Whether it be organizing fridges/pantries or at STEM - what are your strengths? You’re going to naturally gravitate towards that. If you’re starting a business, it has to be something that you like. Money can’t be the number one reason, it HAS to be something that you enjoy doing and are passionate about. You also need to start a business that solves a problem. The internet has made it possible for you to try anything. Everything you know can be applicable to anything - don’t limit yourself. Use the “What Would Chad Do” mentality to open up your eyes to all of the opportunities around you that you didn’t even know existed. Check out the 25 min. mark for more advice and inspiration!
What’s next for you? What do you want to do?
Vivian gave us her honest, Vivian answer when she said that she’s Oprah + Gary Vee, so this is what she’s manifesting. She doesn’t know what exactly it looks like, but she knows this is what she is. Tune in at the 44 min. mark for her unknown plans! She’s not concerned with the how, she’s focused on the why and what she wants to do.
Do you ever have self-doubt, compare yourself to others or get caught up in wanting more?
Vivian’s problem is more about needing to take her own advice - because everything is always easier said than done. Listen in at the 45 min. mark!
MORE ABOUT VIVIAN KAYE:
Vivian Kaye is the CEO of KinkyCurlyYaki, business & empowerment expert, keynote speaker, TV/Podcast personality and all-around dope lady.
She was born in Tema, Ghana and immigrated to Toronto, Canada as a toddler. She was a rockstar from elementary through high school and even won a Make Your Own Future Award (how fitting!). And then the world threw a wrench in her plans. She dropped out of college and battled depression in her early adulthood.
She ended up working a series of jobs as a French bilingual for several startups in fintech, MedTech, and at the home office of a multinational franchise company. She was learning the ways of entrepreneurship without even realizing how these lessons would show up later in life!
Now, Vivian runs a 7-figure business while living just outside of Toronto with her son Xavier.
Check out Vivian’s website here.