Today we’d like to introduce you to Keelay Carter.
Hi Keelay, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The Keelay Carter Experience didn’t begin as what it is today. I started this journey as an outlet for me, as a mother who was overwhelmed with the thought of being a mom of two children and not feeling completely ready for the journey. I created a video podcast by going live on Facebook every Sunday from my mom’s kitchen. Inviting moms with different experiences, backgrounds, and journeys to the kitchen table, to discuss our similarities and explore our differences. Through this, so many moms and women were encouraged by the thought of no longer feeling as if they were alone in this motherhood life. We shared the good, the bad, the struggles, the joys, and the lessons learned, it became a blessing for so many.
From just Facebook live, it evolved into an actual podcast, an apparel brand, and curated events that allowed moms to connect, collaborate, encourage and uplift one another through their different journeys. The community began to grow on social media platforms and through a beginner-level blog. As I began to share more transparently my personal experiences of #momlife.
In 2020, a shift happened. The year began with me losing a very influential person in my life, my Pastor. The world began to go through a lot of loss when it came to the death of Kobe Bryant, racial injustice, and then a pandemic hit. God spoke to me and called me to turn all of my pain into purpose. I didn’t know what it meant, but during one of the darkest times of my life, I began to see my purpose more clear than ever before. I began to use my life experiences from every aspect, childhood healing, wife life, motherhood, my struggles, and triumph as a woman of faith and God continued to confirm that this was how I needed to live with my purpose.
The Keelay Carter Experience was trademarked officially July 2020. A community and a platform for women and mothers to be able to encourage, inspire, motivate and uplift one another to live with their purpose. Sharing my everyday life to show that your anointing can be used in all areas of your life. As much as I loved the motherhood content and the mothers I reach daily. It was beyond that, I am more than just a mom, I’m a wife, I’m a daughter, I’m a woman of faith, etc. I began to use my platform to inspire others through motivational and faith-based words. I began to boldly show up as the woman that God has called me to be. Being used as evidence of his glory is my biggest motivation and encouragement to keep going. In the times when I may feel fear or self-doubt creeping in, I’m reminded that my purpose is bigger than just me. I am here for assignment to reach who God intends for me to reach and to impact.
The Keelay Carter Experience has truly given me life’s best experience. I’m in love with being able to connect genuinely with so many women in a space that allows me to show up as me and use my pain for purpose. To hear their testimonies and stories of growth encourages me daily.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This journey has never been a smooth road but a rewarding one. I’ve faced struggles in a lot of areas, especially being a first-time entrepreneur. I had no intentions on this becoming what it is today but God saw bigger for me and for that I’m grateful. The struggles of understanding what it means to run your own business, to play every role in your business because financially that’s all you can afford.
The struggles of balancing it all and balancing every other role in your life at the same time and not wanting to drop the ball in any of them. The struggles of fighting fear and self-doubt almost daily. The struggles of pushing through when you have those days that you just want to give up. The struggles of faith, not allowing what It looks like some days to determine what the future holds. The struggle of battling “people-pleasing” syndrome, to be bold enough to do what I’m called to no matter the opinions of others. The struggle to keep going even when it looks like the support is at an all-time low sometimes.
The struggles of mom guilt, the struggles of wife guilt, the struggles of learning and growing at the same time.
The struggles will come, they will sometimes have you questioning your “Why” all the time. However, when you find your “why” you’ll find your “how”. So, no worries about not knowing everything, you’re equipped for every season that you’ll have to go through. You just have to keep showing up!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Full Time, I’m an HR Specialist.
My passion and my purpose is encouraging others. I’m an inspirational speaker, blogger, content creator, and people like to use the title “influencer”.
I am known for my realness, people relate to me because I show up as me in every room, every post, every video, every piece of content, every conversation, every position, every role, everything I do I show up as Keelay.
I am most proud of where I am today, how I’ve overcome the things that were meant to destroy me, the times that I wanted to destroy myself, the times that I became complacent in life. I’ve fought to get to where I am today and I’m proud of me for continuing to grow and heal to get to where I’m destined to be in life.
I believe what sets me apart from others, is just me being me. We’re all here for a purpose, we’ve all been called to do something in life. I am Keelay Carter, so as long as I’m living with my purpose for me then I’ll always be set apart from anyone else but no one can do me like me.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, some may say I was the same but with different personality traits. I have always been “real” I have always been goofy, love to have fun, don’t take things too seriously. However, I was not always as bold. I was a “people pleaser”, whether it was with my parents to be the perfect child/student, whether it was showing up as what I thought others wanted me to be in friendships and relationships. Compromising who I was at times to please others or to make them feel more comfortable around me. Shrinking myself in rooms because I was battling self-doubt and fear.
All of this is what makes the woman I am today so proud because that little girl is now fulfilled into a woman of purpose.
Interest-wise, I’ve always loved music, books, family gatherings, shopping, eating good food, singing, and dancing. Some of these interests still are my favorite as an adult woman.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.KeelayCarter.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/Keelay_Carter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/K.Carter2
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RVXXaH32KhGW1pdVbzOTA?si=nxkG1xtQSN-HUIL7n_IfpA&dl_branch=1
