Being The Boss of Me - An Entrepreneurs Journey by Sarrah K.Davis
As a young Afro/Caribbean female Executive quickly climbing the ladder of a large nonprofit organization and eager to serve my community, I soon realized that the mission of the leadership at the organization no longer aligned with my passion nor were my colleagues who looked like me being afforded the same value as their white counterparts. I took a stand in the best way for me and left the organization, choosing to accept the challenge of entrepreneurship and it’s been one of the best decisions I have made in my life so far.
Family Story
I am Sarrah K. Davis. I am smart, goal driven and determined to succeed. My close friends and family would describe me as fun, organized, classy and resourceful. As the youngest of five, but the first to attend college, I experienced some unique challenges that my family just couldn’t relate to. My parents, Monty and Helen, were born on the small island of Nevis, and my siblings and I were born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, so my upbringing was strongly rooted in Caribbean traditions. Being first generation American provided many different opportunities, but one that was most familiar to my family already was entrepreneurship. Desiring to know more about my lineage, I reached out to Dr. Gabrielle Downer-Hutchins, an archivist and owner of Ital Preservation, to connect stories and other information passed down to learn that several family members, including my father were actually small business owners.
As a child, I was always curious as to the intricacies of how everything worked and how I could make it even better. My mother often complained about the nail polish and house cleaner concoctions I would leave under the sink, but I would say, “I’m going to be a chemical scientist and these are my experiments.” Being quite resourceful with items given to me and learning I was skilled with my hands, I would make and sell crochet purses, repurposed clothes and even sold candy in school to help fund my soccer and track and field expenses. By the tenth grade, I learned how to do hair and utilized my skills to earn money on the side. After receiving a track scholarship to Florida A&M University, which covered my education, I continued doing hair for clients while in college to pay for other expenses. After I earned my bachelor’s in health science, I returned to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2008 to start my “adult” life, and soon encountered challenges of unemployment, divorce and depression.
Career
I frequently tell people that I didn’t even know nonprofits existed - because truthfully these were services which I had seen my family initiate and be involved throughout my childhood. After Sunday dinners, my mother would pack plates to take to the homeless. We always had guests living with us who were either ill or just in need. Seeing this level of selflessness certainly created a strong foundation of service to others in our household and fuels my passion for community engagement. After facing unemployment for the second time, following this passion is what led me to my career with the YMCA of South Florida, with a referral from my dear friend Coral Springs Commissioner Nancy Metayer. In my early YMCA work as a program director for youth development, I helped keep students on track for graduation through the B.O.S.S. (Best Opportunities to Shine and Succeed) program, co-wrote grants to fund clothing for underserved students and empowered youth to advocate healthy eating options in their neighborhoods by way of the Good Neighbor Store program.
That work led me to a promotion as associate executive director of community health strategies, where I spearheaded programs that provided resources to communities (mainly senior citizens) who were facing food insecurities, high unemployment rates, health disparities, large education gaps and mental health issues through peer-leader models using Community Health Workers (CHWs). Mental health is an issue I feel most passionate about, so when an opportunity arose for me to initiate P.E.A.R.Ls a Depression Self-Management program at the YMCA, I was ecstatic. Despite all the great work we were doing in the community, I frequently heard complaints from staff, community and community leaders about the misalignment of the mission of the organization and what was actually being done for this predominantly African American and largely Caribbean community. After several conversations with leadership on this topic, some of my more vocal staff were let go or written up, and I was offered a demotion or no job. In this moment I realized life challenges were being presented yet again, but this time I was able to see them for what they truly are – lessons for growth.
I chose to challenge myself by declining their offer and instead of looking at this as my third time being unemployed, I stepped into my current role of owner/CEO of Katcheri Davis Services, LLC. Supported by my family and friends, I confidently focused my knowledge and skills into my own business endeavors. Katcheri D aims to enhance clients understanding of living healthy by educating them on health benefits of natural products, techniques and remedies which lead me to creating our first all natural hair care line Goddess Elixir.
Entrepreneurship and Future Goals
My diverse background in nonprofit management and business leadership has enabled me to expand in my current role and is the base for why I run our business on the values of integrity, humility, trust, accountability, quality service and products, passion and commitment to our customers. The mission of Katcheri D. is to provide knowledge, products and services for all people seeking organic options for hair, skin and body. We stay committed to supporting other small black business: logo creation by Antoinette Wellington, Aura StuDio 1125, label creation by Mannylyn Hall, Wikid, T-shirts by China Coleman, PAC’D house and business mentor Toia Wallace, Small Goal Leap Tribe. Because of the conversations I had with my hair clients and various clients in the P.E.A.R.Ls program, I started to see a connection between mental health and haircare and plan to expand the business with this ideology.
Closing and Legacy Building
I strive to set an example for my niece Andrea Carruthers, Katcheri D. Social media manager, so I hope that this story encourages other young Black females to pursue their life-long goals and aspirations. There are so many wonderful opportunities out there, and if we can all support one another, then the world will truly be a better place.
Never be afraid to #ChoosetoChallenge
Sarrah K. Davis, affectionately known as Katcheri by her family, is the Owner/CEO of Katcheri Davis Services, LLC.- a company that provides natural haircare services and products. Ms. Davis is the youngest of five, born in St. Croix, USVI to Nevisian parents Monty and Helen Davis. Her family relocated to Jacksonville, Florida where she graduated from high school and earned a track scholarship to Florida A&M University. After receiving her Bachelors in Health Science, Sarrah furthered her education by pursuing her Masters in Public Administration with a Health concentration at the University of North Florida.
Before officially starting her business, Ms. Davis worked as the Associate Executive Director of Community Health Strategies at the L.A. Lee branch of the YMCA of South Florida in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. During her employment with this multimillion dollar organization, she spear headed several programs that provided resources to communities who were facing food insecurities, high unemployment rates, health disparities, large education gaps, and mental health issues. Sarrah’s goals both personal and professional, are to follow her passion of helping individuals with mental health issues and mental disabilities so they may live active rewarding lives by providing resources many have not had access to.
While providing excellent hair care services such as braids, faux locs and loc retwists, she educates her clients on the importance of self care for mind and body. Her all natural hibiscus hair oils and butters are made with essential oils like rosemary which is known to promote mental clarity as well as hair growth. During her leisure time Sarrah enjoys cooking, dancing and traveling with family and friends.