Posted by: Sacha Blalock
An interview with LaToya Renae Porter, a lifestyle brand entrepreneur who specializes in small business support.
Q: What is your start up story?
My start-up was quite circumstantial. I had been laid off in 2009/2010 at the height of our modern day “economic depression” I was laid off and subsequently left Chicago for the much cheaper cost of living state of WI. The job market was horrible with more lay-off and companies collapsing than hiring in any state. During my down time, my mentor and “aunt” Emmy award winning Rae Lewis-Thornton recruited my help in planning the 1st ever Chicago HIV/AIDS tweet-up. What started as me simply drafting a few letters, soon turned into me being the lead event marketer designing flyers, securing sponsorships and leading a team in the execution of the event. ALL from my cell phone and laptop.
Q: So take me in the day of the life of L. Renae Porter?
Currently I am under contract with Dr. Julianne Malveaux as the Executive Coordinator for her multi-media company. That entails me soliciting and securing speaking engagements as well as maintaining her calendar, booking her meetings and being overall office manager. After my 9-5 I tackle my virtual client work. I currently have 3 clients, which I service virtually. This works spans from research to web maintenance and small business marketing.
Q: Where did you get the idea of starting your own business, especially the idea of Small Business Support?
It really started with my volunteer efforts with Ms. Lewis-Thornton. I have always been a good communicator; in college I majored in communications. Through my work with non- profits both paid and volunteer I realized my passion for small business and my talent for supporting entrepreneurs.
Q: Do you enjoy working for yourself, or is your business a team effort?
I love working for myself! The ability to coordinate my own schedule, vacation days and even projects is a freedom I enjoy. I work a lot one on one with the business owners to assist and develop their marketing campaigns. I often work with corresponding members of their teams. I enjoy working with a team too!
Q: I think it’s amazing that your business functions virtually tell me more about a virtual enterprise?
I love working virtually! I get to create my own hours; I can work 10 hours days or at 2 in the morning! All but Dr. Malveaux are virtual clients. I also travel to my clients for big events.
Q: Do you prefer the virtual work environment? – I’m having a hard time just taking online courses, how do you run small businesses administratively virtually?
Working virtually definitely has its advantages, but it takes a different form of discipline. I prefer it because of its freedom. As long as I have a working phone, laptop and Internet connection I am “at work”, anywhere in the world, any time I want to be. There are some difficulties, but I think its something that most entrepreneurs deal with. It’s “living” your job. When you don’t have a “clock to punch” when you are working to fulfill your dreams and not just some company’s quota or strangers dream, I believe we tend to live our work.
Q: I understand many entrepreneurs start their business due to a defining moment in their life, what was your defining moment, where said “I need to be in business for myself”.
That moment kind of snuck up on me. I stumbled into it by happenstance. But the idea fully cultivated when even after finding a job, I realized I wasn’t passionate, and I need to create multiple streams of revenue for my stability.
Q: Your business was started with very little start up, and I’m not sure a lot of entrepreneurs think about things like this but since you are young what steps are you taking for your future?
I didn’t think about it. I am just now coming to the realization that long-term stability means savings and investing. When I began working for myself my main concern was making enough to cover my cell and Internet bills, investing in a printer/scanner and having enough ink and paper to supply. Now I’m thinking about health and life insurance, retirement savings and a growth fund to expand my team.
Q: Who are your role models, who lead you to being an entrepreneur?
My early role model was my mother, who has been a pseudo entrepreneur since I was a child. She was always working outside of her career. My God mother was an educator and she turned her love of travel and children into a job where she fund raises to take students on international educational trips. I also grew up watching my mother volunteer for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, being witness to some many educated, successful and driven motivators continue to propel my vision.
Q: What if any formal education or skills are needed for someone in your industry?
I am a proponent of higher education, however my own college education was short lived mostly due to lack of finances and being ignorant. I say ignorant because it was truly a lack of financial knowledge and guidance. I learned by working. I think formal education in business would serve ANY entrepreneur well.
Q: You have mentioned a few influential people, who you have worked with, how have these people influenced or mentor you through out your career? (You can do each person separately)
That list is too long. I’ll give a few.
Cheryl Porter (mother) taught me survival. She taught me how to work to survive and she gave me the push.
Rev. Jesse Jackson who I worked for two years but volunteered with since I was 10 taught me about service and tenacity. He showed me (and the world) that through serving others, you are also serving yourself.
Rae Lewis-Thornton teaches me daily about drive. The motivation to continue in the face of insurmountable odds, she pushes me to learn and be better than I was the day before, both personally and professionally.
Also I have a host of friends and supporters. I am grateful that they motivate me, believe in me and help me to overcome my biggest obstacle. Myself! They are professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and parents some younger, some older but they all gift unto me a different level of support.
Q: Where do you see your company in the near future?
Hopefully I can add a few more clients (and hours in the week). I’d also like to develop a team. I group of people interested in entrepreneurship with a gift for supporting small businesses in a variety of different ways.
Q: How do economic, environmental, social changes affect your business?
My business is affected in the same way most business’s are economically. When anybody’s business slows so does their budget, their ability to pay for certain services etc. Since my overhead is so low (again, a cell phone, laptop and internet) my survivability is decent. So far social changes have been in my favor, the trend towards social media connectivity, web conferencing and cloud sharing all assist my business being able to serve my clients virtually.
Q: If you were able to go back in time, what would you tell or advise you’re 25 year old self, who just started her, own business?
Good question! I’d probably tell her to become more financially literate by any means necessary. From a very young age I was focused on “surviving” working to pay the necessities. I’d tell my younger self to focus on becoming financially literate and think longer term.
Thank you; once again for this interview Ms. Porter it was a pleasure! For more information on L. Renae Porter you may contact her via email at l.renae.porter@gmail.com.
