Where Business Meets Beauty

Kyra Coffey

Scholastic Achievement/Community Involvement: I attended DePaul University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a minor in marketing, while leading as the captain of the women’s track team since my sophomore year, reoccurring as a Big East Academic All Star, and co-founded the Elite Dance Team, which performed throughout the city of Chicago at DePaul’s men’s basketball and even on BET’s popular television show 106 & Park. I was honored in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was a repeat Authur Ashe Recipient through DePaul’s Athletic Department. I left the Windy City for warmer winters in Houston, Texas where I graduated from South Texas College of Law and was blessed to pass the Texas Bar Exam on my first attempt. My passion as a lawyer is to serve others and help them protect their assets and build wealth, focusing on clients who are building a business, growing in capacity, or looking to retire. My passion to serve goes beyond the attorney-client relationship and I often lend my knowledge for the benefit of others through various community initiatives. I have established the S.E.L.F. (Savvy Entrepreneur Leaders of the Future) Business Program, where I take high school students through an 8 week program, in a hands on experience, showing them what it takes to develop an idea into a business. At the end of the program, the students present their business ideas to a panel of local business owners, in a format similar to that on the television show Shark Tank. In addition to this program, I head an annual toy drive with the Texas Children’s Hospital and the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. I am also heavily involved with an annual backpack drive, serving students in the Humble, Texas community, just north of Houston, Texas. I am a woman of many hats and I also have a fond interest in the Arts, which has led me to volunteer and partner with Kaleidoscope Houston, a collaboration of creative individuals, all working in one or more respective fields of fashion, art, music, film, performance, and/or photography.

Platform Issue: My mission is to help women build wealth and protect assets, encompassing more than items of monetary value, enabling women to fulfill their purpose for self, career, and the community, in a climate that is often working against the advancement of women in corporate America.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?: I love traveling, experiencing different cultures, and embarking on new adventures. I especially love anywhere with a beautiful beaches. However, Houston is a booming city, is home to several Fortune 500 companies, has a practical cost of living, with practically non-existent winters, and beautiful sunny days year round. So with that being said, I don’t think I’ll be seeking anywhere else to live anytime soon.

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would they be?: It would be an honor to sit down, talk, and have lunch with a few of the most influential and inspiring people in business – Oprah Winfrey, Ursula Burns, and Howard Shultz. I am encouraged by each of their rags to riches stories, where they have taken control of their destiny, succeeded despite limit resources, and risen above unconventional means.

Best advice you have ever been given: The best advice I have been given most recently was to understand that sometimes we feed our dreams, passions, and purpose in different and unconventional ways. It is extremely important to be open to alternative methods, in which fulfillment of these ideals may arise. For a while, I struggled with my nature to plan and execute and was stuck on trying to figure out and make a plan to understand and fulfill my purpose. I had to recognize and appreciate that these ideals may be presented as a career, hobby, community involvement, or side project. I had to also respect that there is no clear and perfect plan and to enjoy the flow of life’s journey with God’s guidance, along with a loving relationship with God, self, and others at the core of everything.

Who is your role model and why?: I think that it’s important to have mentors and people that you admire and look to for inspiration from various industries and backgrounds and this list of people will change for an individual as they grow and evolve. At the top of my current list is FLOTUS, Michelle Obama. As a young girl, who like myself, grew up on the south side of Chicago and attended Whitney M. Young, to now one of the most influential woman in the world, I admire her bold intelligence, emotional strength, and genuine sincerity while remaining balanced and true to herself. I also find inspiration in the fashionista that she is. She exudes true beauty and the type of woman that I hope to be not only for myself, but as an example and role model for others.

Something interesting about you: In elementary school, during my 8th grade year at St. Thomas the Apostle in Chicago, Il. I was the best defensive player on the girls’ basketball team that finished the year with a 83-2 record, losing only to all boys’ teams as the only girls in the St. Columbanus boys’ league.

Three words that describe you best: Determined, strategic and honorable (with integrity).

Current Read: I am currently reading and really enjoying the book #GirlBoss. It is a story of how one woman defined success for herself and her journey from dumpster diving, to selling on e-Bay, to becoming the CEO of a multi-million business that started with no debt. It’s geared towards women empowerment, but really anyone should read it. It encourages its readers to follow your own path and is a great example of how your talents and gifts will make room for you. There are so many great quotes in this book and I haven’t finished it yet, so I’m going to give you my top 3 (so far):

  • “When you believe in yourself, other people will believe in you, too.”
  • “When you approach everything as if it’s a bug or fun experiment, then it’s not a big deal if things don’t work out…There are secret opportunities hidden inside every failure.”
  • “When you treat your possession as emblems of your hard work, they inherit a meaning that transcends the objects themselves.”

Bonus: “When you take care of the little things, you’ll be presently surprised to find out that the big things often happen much more easily.” – Sophia Amoruso

Favorite TV Show: I often turn the tv on simply for background noise, but I do enjoy Shark Tank, How to Get Away with Murder and any of the Law and Order Series. I would love to be a guest on the Steve Harvey Show, Good Morning America, The Ellen Degeneres Show, and Dr. Oz.

Favorite Food: I love seafood! Grilled, fried, or baked and topped with butter and garlic is simply delicious! It’s like a little taste of heaven!

Favorite Sport: As a former college athlete, I respect the discipline and hard work that it takes to participate in any sport. I enjoy a good competitive game regardless of the sport, but my favorite sports to watch are basketball and track and field.

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