Meet our Ms.CEO of the Week, Kaira Akita, a professional actor and founder of A Clothes Encounter, the new way to shop!
Interview by Linda Day
Editor-in-Chief, Ms.CEO
Linda: You have an impressive list of credits in business and in the entertainment world; how do you balance being a business woman and a creative professional at the same time?
Kaira: I try to make it a point to seek out business ventures that compliment my work as an entertainer, so that my two worlds can build on each other.
Linda: What do you find is your biggest challenge as a woman in business?
Kaira: Maintaining balance between my personal responsibilities and relationships while trying to build my business.
Linda: What are the most effective time management skills you’ve developed?
Kaira: Write it down! I find I don’t get so overwhelmed when I write down a realistic daily agenda and stick to it.
Linda: How important is it to make time for you?
Kaira: It’s extremely important to make time for myself. But since I enjoy being on the go, sometimes it can be difficult to know what that entails!
Linda: Does your business affect your personal life? If so, how and if not, how do you juggle your two worlds?
Kaira: Absolutely! Running your own business takes an enormous amount of time and energy, which cuts into your personal time. I have friends who never call me or invite me out anymore because they assume I am busy. My family often worries that I am “doing too much” or not getting enough rest. So it can be difficult to juggle the two worlds but it is definitely worth it once you hit your stride and can find that balance for a happy, successful life.
Linda: What is the most gratifying “thing” about being an accomplished professional woman?
Kaira: Seeing your small idea turn into something of substance, something that others respect and value. That’s extremely rewarding.
Linda: What are your thoughts on the way women are perceived in the corporate world and do you believe women are becoming more respected as CEOs and business leaders?
Kaira: I think women in corporate America are finally being viewed as valuable, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Women are still daunted by the expectation of having it all — career, family, children — while their male counterparts are immune to such expectations.
Linda: Do you consider yourself to be an “every woman?”
Kaira: Absolutely! There’s nothing that I’ve done that is particularly special or unique. I’m not the best or the smartest…but not many can outwork me!
Linda: Tell me about A Clothes Encounter and how it came about.
Kaira: A Clothes Encounter is an upscale consignment shopping event held once a season at different Atlanta hot spots, complete with savings up to 75% off retail, signature cocktails, music, and more. Select proceeds from each event benefit charity.
ACE came about after I had a closet sale during a move to a new place. Women kept saying that it would be great if I could do the same with their old clothes. So, after sitting on the idea a while, I decided that I could make a viable business out of doing just that. I then combined my event experience and created the concept of a shopping party. To keep overhead low and demand high, I decided to hold the parties at various chic venues around town (as opposed to renting a traditional store front) just once a season.
Linda: What made you choose these two particular fields of work?
Kaira: They chose me!
Linda: Did you grow up with strong business women around you?
Kaira: Yes. My mom introduced me to the idea of entrepreunership when I was in high school. She owns a financial/debt management home-based business.
Linda: Tell me about your work with the Alliance Theatre. What did you take from that experience?
Kaira: The Alliance was a great place for me to submerge myself in marketing, promotions, event planning, advertising, and PR. As the Advertising and Promotions Coordinator, I planned opening night events for major productions such as The Color Purple, helped develop marketing and promotion strategies for each production, and served as the editor of the playbills. This experience taught me how to juggle a lot of responsibilities at once without sacrificing the details.
Linda: What are your long term goals?
Kaira: To expand my brand as a successful actress, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
Linda: What would be Kaira Akita’s “Golden Rule” in business?
Kaira: It’s all in the details. If you have an amazing concept and solid strategy, it could be lost if you don’t pay attention to the small details that make a big difference to your customers.
Linda: What do you think every woman should know when preparing for her own business?
Kaira: You have to learn that you can’t do it all yourself. It’s hard to give up control, but at some point you have to do so in order to keep your sanity and to get the results you want.
Linda: What do you want your fans to know about you?
Kaira: I’m so grateful to be able to get up everyday and have the freedom to do what I love. It hasn’t always been that way, so I cherish every minute of it!
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The Ms. CEO of the Week feature appears every Wednesday. If you know of a woman entrepreneur who has an innovative product or service, an inspirational background, a unique lifestyle or a phenomenal success story, tell us about her!
