Winter 2022
THE QUARTERLY INSIGHT
“You are worthy of your dream.”
Octavia Raheem, Author of “Gather”
A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER
Happy New Year!
My hope is that the holiday season provided you with the same opportunities we had to rest, reflect, and reload for another year of great possibility.
Inspiring words like those that come from my friend and author, Octavia Raheem, remind me of how powerful a positive mental attitude and relentless determination can be during our most challenging times. Our firm has balanced staying the course with also making the appropriate pivots to align with our client's needs and the direction of the social sector. Our shift into offering virtual development services is an example of our efforts to meet clients where they are while also bringing a vital option to nonprofits seeking sustainability in a traditionally unstable area of their operations.
As we forge a new path in 2022, I hope we all maximize this time we have to lean into our village, pursue our passions, and build our respective legacies through service to others.
Be well,
Kaseem
2021 Highlights
Client Growth
The KAL team has had the pleasure of working with an array of great clients in 2021, across various areas in the social sector, including education, workforce development, housing, and theatre.
In addition, our network is expanding. We now serve clients outside of the Metro Atlanta area and the state of Georgia.
Our broad client base and expanded reach have created increased revenue opportunities for the firm. As a result, we've experienced 4X growth in revenue!
Participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program is a 3+ month program focusing on helping small businesses grow their revenue and scale their businesses. The program combines the thought leadership, financial resources and instructional horsepower of Goldman Sachs and Babson College to create a practical business curriculum anchored on developing the business owner and the business.
I completed the program in December and am honored to now join an amazing alumni community. I can not thank Goldman Sachs and Babson College enough for helping me think differently about how to grow my business and evolve as a leader. I had an amazing experience over the course of the program learning and sharing with this wonderful group of entrepreneurs (photo taken at our graduation day at the Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City). The program experience was nothing short of transformational for me and the firm!
My Journey to Nigeria
I recently returned from a trip to Nigeria, the home country of my father and many of my relatives. I have traveled to Nigeria in the past, but it was especially gratifying to have my two young boys joining me on this trip for the first time.
Besides being super proud of my boys for navigating a very different environment than their normal circumstances, I was also more deeply impacted by the visit than in my previous trips largely due to my willingness to open my mind and heart to learning and growing. The people helped me understand, through countless examples and in the purest form, how to build and nurture community, family, legacy, and the honoring our elders. Great lessons worth "re-learning" stateside.
While somewhat challenging to adjust to some of the cultural norms in a foreign country, maintaining an open mind also led to receiving some of the most memorable moments of laughter, love and pure joy.
A truly inspiring adventure and a great way to end the year!
Key Lessons Learned from 2021
We enter 2022 with the following lessons learned (and “re-learned”):
Standing on your core values and beliefs makes personal and business decisions much easier to live with.
Authenticity and active listening are two of the most underrated character qualities that people and organizations bring to a relationship.
Aligning your social and professional networks to fit who you are and aspire to be ensures that you will fill your spiritual “tank” up with the right energy needed to reach your goals.
Not every opportunity - either idea, client or cause - should be pursued. Staying focused, passionate and determined on fewer pursuits ensures a faster path to success. Always honor who you are and your organization’s values when assessing an opportunity.
Remain committed to the process of building and growing and not just the results. Don’t let your unproductive “alter ego” get in the way of what you are destined to achieve.
WHAT’S NEXT?
We are hiring in the new year as we continue to prepare for continued growth in 2022. We'll also begin a gradual re-branding slated for completion mid-year. Our new look will more appropriately convey The KAL Firm story and our value to the sector.
Finally, we are honored to have new and retained clients that are ready to partner with our team. We're excited to help them realize new possibilities for their organizations and the people they serve.
Best wishes in realizing your vision and dreams in the new year! Let us know if we can help you get there.
Onward and upward,
Kaseem Ladipo
Principal