Meet Imani Peterkin | Life Coach, Youth and Community Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Imani Peterkin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Imani, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born and raised in Columbia, SC. When it comes to how my background and upbringing impacted who I am today, there is a lot that I could say. I grew up in a very faith-based family and a family of handworkers. My upbringing was not always easy, I grew up in a single parent home watching my mother work superhard and trying her best to provide for her two children. Losing a very close family member at a young age, experiencing bullying throughout grade school, mental health battles, and the list goes on. But having my mother by my side to help guide me through every hurdle while facing her own battles is something I can never forget. There was never ever a time I saw my mother give up while I was growing up. She somehow always turned lemons into lemonade and always made a way. Our family has faced so much adversity that could have easily broken anyone down but still we overcame every obstacle that came our way.

I always like to say that life is the greatest teacher whether good or bad. For that reason, everything our family has endured and have overcome I believe has impacted who I am today in a positive way. My upbringing is the reason I always lead with a kind heart because you never know the struggles others are facing behind closed doors. I believe in helping others, especially if you see someone in need and you are in a position to help whether that’s financially, sharing information, or simply being a listening ear. My upbringing has taught me to never ever give up, even when it may seem like the easiest thing to do, but enduring for a season will be worth it in the end. Lastly, my upbringing has taught me that the storm doesn’t last always and that there is sunshine at the end of the tunnel.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
As people we are all unique in our own ways. What sets me apart from others is that I actually take the time to get to know each client personally no matter what business I am operating at that time because I believe the better you know a client the better you are able to assist them and create an unforgettable experience for them. In addition, I believe me being 100% myself has allowed me to also connect with my clients and potential clients.

Something that I am most proud of is my own personal growth through this experience of becoming an entrepreneur. I was once shy and not as confident in myself but now I am able to speak in front of others without fear and confident in my ability to meet the needs of my clients etc.

When it comes to how I got to where I am today, the main thing would have to be stepping outside of my comfort zone even when running away was the easiest thing to do. I realized your business will not grow if you continue to stay in a comfortable place. In order to overcome being comfortable I would volunteer to speak at events, go live on social media, and do everything that made me uncomfortable because I understood what the bigger picture was.

Lessons along the way? This is really good because there have been so many. I would have to say the biggest thing is to just do it, just start. The longer you wait the longer the person who needs your services is without a YOU. What you have to offer no one else can duplicate and there are people who need YOU. The second thing is stop trying to do everything perfectly when starting something new. What I have found is that sometimes imperfection is perfect in its own way and that there is and will always be room for improvement along the way. Lastly, stay laser focused on the bigger picture and the main goal. When you keep your eye on distractions or other successes it will deter your attention from what you should be focusing on, and it could discourage you from continuing to keep pushing. Ultimately, do not lose focus.

What I would want for the world to know about me, my brand, and my story is that I am human just like everyone else. I aim to always be who I was created to be boldly and to always remain true to who I am. I work very hard to empower others to see their potential within themselves whether that’s through our youth mentoring program, empowerment coaching, or helping people enhance their lives through employment. Everything I do and every business that I have in one way, or another is to give back to others and have them leaving empowered,

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have to first say that Columbia is definitely a vibe in itself. With businesses booming and more to come there is always something interesting to do here. When it comes to some good places to eat, for meals I would have to recommend the toasty hot spot and Tati’s Island Cuisine. As far as treats and deserts I highly recommend The Sweet Shop Columbia, Simp’Lay Sweet Kreations, and Passion’s Treat.

There are plenty of places to hang out but since I love nature so much some of my favorites are Lake Murray, the riverwalk, and Saluda Shoals.

When it comes to fun places to visit especially if you’re a content creator and would love to vlog your experience would have to be the Carolina Content Studio. In addition, some other places to check out Soda City that take place downtown on Saturdays or even catching a movie at the Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8, the list could go on but as you can see Columbia has a lot of options to choose from.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Whew, this is a good one! I understand and truly believe every successful person has had someone, thing, or etc. that has contributed to their success. For me the list is a little long, but I can’t just acknowledge one person as the person you all are meeting now had a village to become her. My first shout out would have to go to my husband and oldest daughter. They are my biggest cheerleaders, from encouraging me to start my businesses when I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do, to sacrificing time when I have to show up for events or spend more time on business, to loving on me extra when I’ve felt like giving up and the list goes on but there would certainly not be any business without those two.

Secondly, to my village, especially my mother, father, and grandparents. They have encouraged me to remember who I am and that I am more than capable. The love they have shown and the push that they have given me during this journey is something that I will forever be grateful for.

I’d also like to give a special shoutout to my board members that have now transitioned from Brown Girls of Tomorrow to welcome our new board members. Over the last two years that has impacted not only the organization itself but me as well. They have pushed me and helped me grow as a person and as a leader in more ways than one. I have learned how to be confident in leadership and the encouragement they gave me during some of our hiccups was more than I could have asked for.

I would also like to give a major shout out to one of my many mentors Leo “Cmetro” Jones. He was the first person to actually bet on me and give me a platform for people to get to know who my first business venture “Brown Girls of Tomorrow”, a nonprofit youth mentoring is all about. Not only that, he has put me in position to step out of my comfort zone and truly push myself to my full potential. I am forever grateful for that.

Lastly, I have to thank my other mentor Lashawn Rembert and the Jump Tribe. They have impacted my life in ways I didn’t know existed through sisterhood and our love for God. With their push I was able to truly do some deep reflection, soul searching, that ultimately led me to become who I was called to be. With the encouragement, prayers, and guidance from my sisters I am now able to “JUMP SIS”.

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/browngirlsoftomorrow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/browngirlsoftomorrow

Other: https://www.facebook.com/PeterkinConsultingServices https://www.instagram.com/uhpcoaching

Image Credits
Headshot (photographer: CMetro)