Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam King.
Hi Miriam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My career as a corporate consultant actually started in the classroom. For more than 20 years now, I’ve educated multiple generations of leaders. In 2021, I decided to make a full consultancy of my practice in organizational leadership, executive development, and change management. I have effectively trained, coached, supported, advocated for, and guided young minds from kindergarten through college. I’ve come to respect the fact that there is a certain grace required to develop young people into adults. In 2020, during the height of the global pandemic, I entered into a partnership with Miami-Dade County’s Office of Cultural Affairs. I was granted an opportunity to initiate a project for young adults that caught the attention of many “elders” in the room who would go on to ask, “Can you do this kind of development work for adults?” And thus, the genesis of The E.V.E. Consulting Firm, which was founded on the laurels of the Courageous Creatives Leadership Collective (CCLC). Virtually, I curated a safe space for creative changemakers to respond to the crisis of the global pandemic. Their task was to enact a ‘socially just response’ to George Floyd’s murder, engaging multiple artistic disciplines with a focus on social leadership and community activation. As the founder of both the project and the business entity, the heartbeat of my work rests on a drive to help leaders to become by “being” and not just “doing.” I encounter leaders (of all ages) who are positioned for leadership by skill, tenure, or nepotism, but not by PASSION as they should be. Obligation. Talent. Discernment. Empathy. All of these, and much more are required for servant-leadership. The E.V.E. Consulting Firm (which is an acronym for Empowerment Via Education) specializes in helping leaders get to the root of who they actually are, and how authentically showing up in their capacity to serve and lead empowers their team(s) to do the same.
All to say, I am neatly seated between two schools of thought: the old school, which is “trial by fire” and the new school, which is “trial by technology.” I was raised by the generations before me that knew of one way to do things. Subsequently, as an educator of two decades, I raised Millennials and iGens, who only learned by trying things and failing out loud before finding success. As a result, another project I’ve given birth to is The Sustainable Sankofa Project. “Sankofa” is the act of turning back to retrieve and bring forward. We need both “gems” and “gens” for the survival of humanity’s future: The new school needs the gems from their past (blueprint, wisdom, historical perspective, experience). The old school requires the vision of future gens who hold what they can no longer afford to– (innovation, creativity, insight, imagination). There is an immense value between both these approaches to what I like to call “failing forward”. But real success? It’s found in the balance of actively pursuing the characteristics and lessons from old and new school traditions and tropes. One mantra of our consulting firm is that “We close generational gaps in the workplace.” We do this by leveraging both time (experience) and technology (tools) to drive innovation, creativity, and solutions with greater efficiency.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ll give you three letters that sound like a singular expression. “Tuh!” And, if anyone else in business calls it a “breeze”, they are lying through missing teeth! Starting anything and sticking with it is hard work. And often, the work is believing in yourself against all odds. All whispering voices, All doubters, and even all of the supporters who love you, but don’t quite understand the ideas, work, creation, or vision attached to you. Some of the things I struggled with along the way can be marked by something I’ve noted in a memoir I’m currently working on. “Self-anything (i.e. help, sufficiency, confidence, discipline, etc.) often and ironically requires a village of people to guide you into these states of being…” I struggled through:
Self-Discovery: To shape the company values around what I genuinely believe anchors us. We believe in the pursuit of purpose; in creative and critical thinking; we believe in excellence.
Self-Discipline: To ensure that excellence is reflected in all I do – I’m picky! And, as a recovering perfectionist, sometimes the discipline is in knowing when, as my mother would say, “Good enough is good enough.”
Self-Assurance: This takes consistent practice, attention to detail, and failing forward, which includes learning from victories, losses, and unexpected hits. Though I’ve only been in business for about 5 years, I’ve gotten enough knocks to know that I’m not doing this on my own strength, but with the help and mercy of God.
Self-Respect: Learning to package my offer(s) for what they are worth takes continued reflection and self-work. People maintain a high respect for my work, as the price of a product or service never reflects the cost of the prior sacrifices and investment to develop it. In other words, I don’t come cheap, because I was already “bought” with too high of a price!
As you know, we’re big fans of The E.V.E. Consulting Firm. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
“The E.V.E. Consulting Firm empowers people for their purpose.” We specialize in closing critical gaps in the workplace; in using creativity as a means of communicating powerful ideas; in creating safe spaces for people to become their most authentic selves. I’m personally and professionally known as an analyst by day, and artist by night. I’m a leader in my community. An advocate for unspoken voices. I’m most proud of who I am, to and for my family. What sets me apart is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ– for which I am grateful, and unapologetic.
My vivid imagination flourishes in both written and visual forms, and the vision for my brand was built from my dreams, and with my hands. So brand-wise, put the introvert in her ‘creative corner’ all day, and I’m as happy as a lark! My work with current and potential Empowerment Partners (clients) encompasses a range of services: We facilitate Board Retreats and LTEs (Live Training Experiences) for leaders and staff. I am often engaged as a keynote, moderator, or motivational speaker, and I offer 1:1 executive coaching for Changemakers, CEOs, and Creative Entrepreneurs. From ideation to strategy and execution, our firm anchors organizations and stabilizes teams through these purposeful partnerships. We train at the pace of your workload and workflow as to not disrupt systems in motion, but to support the re-engineering of them. Additionally, we facilitate seasonal capacity-building programs. Foundations, and other strategic community partners engage us to lead and serve cohorts of changemakers in various contexts.
Any big plans?
They say “slow and steady wins the race.” I believe sound, strategic, sensible, and sustainable wins the game! For now, we’re about amplifying the brand and messaging that is already clear. Our firm doesn’t need to be widely known – just respected and needed by those whose work we’re called to, and whose values align with our own.
Pricing:
- Feel free to connect with us to learn more about our services and fee structure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eveconsultingfirm.com
- Instagram: @empowerusnow
- Facebook: @EVEEmpowerUsNow
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eveconsultingfirm/
- Youtube: The E.V.E. Consulting Firm (YouTube)
Image Credits
Evens St. Louis, Zoe Lenz, Miriam ‘Mimi’ King
