Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenty Lichtenberg.
Hi Kenty, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I believe that the stigma of the 9–5 no longer applies. An internationally awarded blogger and brand manager, having worked with some of the biggest brands in the world (Bacardi, Neutrogena, Barefoot Wines, Mobil, just to name a few). My ability to profile brands, connect them to local markets, and create opportunities for growth are some of my most strongest qualities. I have been recognized by my peers as substantial influencer, mompreneur, and advocate for women in business.
My focus is to empower her clients (mostly start-ups by women) by building a strong and sustainable brand for their business by connecting them with the right sources and network that will increase their sales and place them in a better position as a business. In addition to this, I also use my Blog, Kerai Kreative Style as a platform where women can share their journey about inner beauty and the pressure of today’s society when it comes to Beauty Standards.
In 2016 I started the first ever plus size blog on St. Maarten. Coming from a small island where the concept of blogging was still very green, I invested time and resources in understanding this industry. The core objective was to educate, inform, motivate and create a platform where plus-size women could come and co-exist without the fear of feeling judged. My first paid gig was by L’oreal; this emphasize that inclusion was necessary and that the beauty standards were being redefined by global beauty brands, even in small places like the Caribbean.
In 2018, after Hurricane Irma devastated the island of St. Maarten and the beautiful paradise that I call home, I dived full-time into building the blog and the branding consulting agency. I changed my strategies when it came to creating content, I closed my niche, and I made a strategic approach to collaborate with partners that would help me expand my business. If there were 3 things that I learned during this process were:
Becoming aggressive in building my digital footprint
Collaborations are necessary in order to thrive
Invest in the quality of your business; this is what will land you long-term commitments
The reality is that I have met so many amazing men and women along this journey that it would be impossible to point out just one person. But looking back at what I have been able to accomplish, it would have been quite challenging if I did not have my family’s support. My partner has ensured that he takes the reign of our household while I am out there soaring my dreams and goals. In 2019 I took the job of managing the Bacardi portfolio for the island of St. Maarten, I remember that when I went to that interview, my baby was in the incubator (he was born a preemie), but his dad knew that this presented an opportunity for me and so I went for it. The manager that interviewed me had no CLUE, of everything that was happening in the background of my life. That really showed me the level of strength that women possess.
All my platforms share the same message of community involvement and giving back. If we do not invest in our community, we are doing something wrong. Some of the programs that I have been part of: parent reader, creating activities for our seniors, taking part in SXM DOET (the biggest volunteer activation within the Dutch Kingdom and the Dutch Caribbean islands), motivational speakers for primary and secondary education, mentorship to young entrepreneurs. I do this because I truly believe that if we all can contribute to a better community, we can create a better world for the generations to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are quite a few myths about what it is to be “work for yourself.” The most popular one I think has to be that you are your own boss and therefore you work less hours.
The crude reality is that when you are running your own business, you end up working long hours, your clients believe that you should be available 24/7, and most of us have challenges disconnecting fully from running your business. They forget to mention that your mental health is affected by the pressure of wanting to succeed, that most of us do not sleep a full 8 hours, and that we battle insomnia.
That is simply because people choose to only see the glam and glitz of owning a business, the photo ops, the successful press releases without wanting to admit that we pay a heavy fine for wanting to accomplish all of that: you sacrifice family time, “me” time, and more often than not you place yourself in the back burner to fulfill the needs/demands of your clients.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
This blog is my greatest hobby. Besides blogging, I love travelling, reading, and shaking it up at Zumba. I am the mother of two lovely sons, the life partner of a wonderful man, the daughter of a doting mother, and a full-time Marketer. I am blessed with great friends and a huge network of all sorts of people in the very diverse and resilient community on the Island of St. Maarten. I was born in 1980 on the beautiful island of The Dominican Republic. My mother is Dominican, and my father is from Curacao. As a little girl, I moved to wonderful St. Maarten, where I grew up and attended Elementary and High School. In 2001 I left my island life and moved to The Netherlands to go to college. I chose Tourism & Leisure Management, and my proficiency in languages, communication skills, and ability to organize showed me that I made the right choice. I got my Bachelor’s degree in Tourism & Leisure Management and returned home in 2006.
I have always had a specific style in which I combine basic pieces that fit me well and are comfortable with items that reflect the latest trends of the fashion industry, colorful accessories, and shoes. I also love to play with makeup and different hairstyles. Because of my job in Marketing, I am always organizing and attending events where I meet lots of people from all walks of life who come to me and ask me about my outfit, hair, shoes, you name it! I truly enjoy sharing all my style and beauty tips with anyone who’s interested, so I decided to create a platform that is accessible for everyone, at any time and from any place: my blog Kerai Kreative Style!
As faith would have it, the tourism industry was not where I would start my career as a professional woman. I started working as an Office Manager for a wholesale agent for beauty products and pharmaceuticals. I was soon promoted to Operational Manager, and after that, I became the Sales & Marketing Manager.
Marketing soon became a very important and vibrant part of my life. My main goal is to always create and execute marketing activities that surpass the expectations of clients and consumers. I am always striving for quality and innovation. Collaboration with local companies and resources, to me, is the key to success in this field of work. I believe that in anything you do, education and sharing your knowledge is what will make you successful, for this is how you gain the trust and respect of your peers.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I am 5.3’, fully loaded (with energy and personality) My weight…220 lbs. of creativity and FUN
I have way too many shoes to have a proper inventory, but I can guarantee you that going through ALL of them will be worth YOUR while! (I usually start my outfit with a pair of shoes).
They Call me the “Accessories Queen” I can give Amazon a good run for their money. They are bold…dramatic, and full of life!
My nails have been part of me since I was 18, and I have the most creative and demanding nail tech for the past 10 years.
As you know or may not know, St. Maarten is in the Hurricane belt. This only means that I have been witnessed of at least 10 hurricanes since the age of 9; Irma (2017) was by far the worst.
During the month of April, people usually know not to contact me. We celebrate Carnival in April on St. Maarten. The BEST Carnival in the World!
I would love to tell you that I have a favorite food, but being multicultural makes this a little challenging. The one thing that I can tell you is that I have always appreciated good and diverse cuisine.
Favorite lippie color: Hot Pink, Purple, or a combination of both.
Clothing Items that I would REALLY love to own: an original Kaftan and an African Ensemble made with authentic fabric.
Music that heals my soul: everything! I can go from Tupac to Nina Simone in 4.5 seconds (my 12-year-old son complains about this constantly).
A Magical place that is on my bucket list: Greece; there is just something about Santorini, all white, that gives me LIFE!
Pricing:
- Styling Sessions: Virtual or in person, depending where you are starts at $100 per hour
- Business Coaching: designed to assist start-ups or businesses that are in need of revamping their brand or business model: Session starts at $300
- Marketing & Branding: from designing your logo to a full functioning website and all the necessary components that are relevant to uplift your brand
- Social Media / Digital Community Manager: tailored plans that start as low at $1000
- Event hosting virtual land in person starting at $250 per hour, of course, discussion available to explore possibilities
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keraikreativestyle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keraikreativestyle2016/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerai.lichtenberg/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbBo97b7kd8IT7x9eEpz2LA
Image Credits
Artistic Drive
Alvin Prescod Photography
Ryan Tackling Photography
