Visionary Women In Business Spotlight: Marketing and Branding Consultant, Coach Cris
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- May 3, 2022
In 2021 Fundera reported that 35% of Black business owners are women. 34% of Black business owners start their businesses because they want to be their own bosses.
We Empower Magazine got an exclusive interview with an highly successful woman in business. We are excited to bring to you UpNext Sports Consulting Owner, Coach Cris. Coach Cris is making an empowering impact by specializing in sports consulting, branding, marketing, event management, and social media training.
The work she has done for her clients, including Nikki Burnett, NBA G League player Kyree Walker, WNBA Draft Unique Thompson, and former WNBA player Ashley Shields to name a few, has given her clients’ brands the best exposure by securing them brand influencer deals, teaching them what their brand is, and how to market themselves as athletes and professionals.
What do you enjoy most about being a business owner?
The most enjoyable part about being a business owner is that it gives me the freedom to be creative and help others. As someone who has always worked on solving problems, I strive to find creative ways to assist others and help them to get to their goals. Moreover, I enjoy being the visionary of my business and implementing my plans to achieve my goals. It is a privilege to be able to do what I love in a field that I enjoy. I can also build it based on my values and beliefs. As a business owner, I must say this has been the most rewarding decision of my life.
What is a normal business day like for you?
My typical workday starts at 4:30 am when I wake up to get the day started. As I begin my day, I meditate and pray to clear my mind. I follow meditation and prayer by reading a book because I am passionate about learning new things every day. By reading, I can implement creative ideas into my business and life. Next, I’ll catch up on my emails from the previous day. From there, I will take any phone calls or zoom calls that are necessary. After I finish my calls, I work on my clients’ work. This includes following up on branding deals, making sure that they remember their schedule for the day, and letting them know what I have coming up for them. My day ends with brainstorming new and creative solutions to attract revenue, planning upcoming events, and networking.
What have been some challenges you had to overcome in your line of work?
There are special challenges for women in sports. Our appearance and attitudes are constantly being viewed. People say I dress too sexy to be a woman in sports, but what exactly does too sexy mean anyway? It is my belief that women should be able to dress however they want so I will dress how I want. Therefore, as long as they can do the job and not be judged based on how they appear. Aside from being a woman in sports, I am a black woman in sports. As a result, I have been told that I have a strong personality and that women should be nurturing and soft. In spite of my strong personality, I do think I am feminine. We need to be fierce because it shows that we are serious about our work.
Lastly, the challenge I had to overcome is that it is vital that coaches, parents, and student-athletes understand the importance of branding and marketing. It has been challenging for me to handle this issue because people are obsessed with money and do not realize that branding takes time and the money will come. So that’s why I teach the importance of marketing and branding so they can get a better understanding.
What have been some of the most memorable moments in your career so far?
The most memorable moment in my career was when I decided to open my business and got my first big client. With my client, I was able to secure major branding deals. From that moment on my work ethic really showed me that I was able to do this and really be successful at it. I have been killing it ever since!
What are you currently working on and what can we be on the lookout for?
What I am currently working on is connecting businesses to influencers, I will be doing my consultation calls for you or your business that needs help with marketing and branding assistance, anyone can book me to come speak about marketing and branding, and I will be hosting events in the near future.
What is a quote that you live by?
The quote I live by is “ “Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t,” Mrs. Obama
More on Coach Cris
She realized that she wanted to be a business owner when she was a stand-out player on and off the court for many years, and then started working with different local organizations with their brand development and marketing. She has also established her own non-profit called Life Beyond the Rim. Life Beyond the Rim is an organization that teaches student-athletes how to balance being a student and athlete, the importance of education, how to get scouted by using social media, how to create a highlight or film, and the importance of having a backup plan. Among her other responsibilities, she served as the Assistant General and Game Day Operation Manager for the Dallas Skyline, a professional basketball team in Dallas, Texas. In addition to working for Dallas Skyline, she coached AAU, worked as a basketball trainer and an assistant coach at Prince of Peace High School, all while staying true to her passion of preparing and training athletes both on and off the court for their future all while giving back to her community.
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