We recently connected with Katie Boykin Woods, MBA and have shared our conversation below.
Katie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism stems from a combination of my future-oriented mindset, lessons from past experiences and my faith.
In my professional life, I’ve learned that I approach my work with the future in mind, being motivated by what could be. Similarly, this has been my approach to personal challenges for most of my life, though I didn’t realize it until more recently.
I experienced a fair amount of trials at an early age that challenged me to quickly develop some level of resilience. While there were moments of feeling helpless and/or hopeless, I always seemed to find strength in knowing that particular challenge wouldn’t last forever. It absolutely felt terrible in the moment, but, more often than not, I looked forward to the next (better) season. Rather than being consumed by the current circumstance, I would also look for the positive aspects of a tough situation. Maybe there was a lesson to learn or an opportunity to change my behavior and actually practice wisdom. Maybe it needed to be a part of my testimony so that I can encourage someone else later in life.
Most of all, as my faith started to grow, so did my optimism. Relinquishing control is one of the hardest things to do but also one of the most liberating. These days, I think of life as a faith walk. I still allow myself to feel and process the necessary emotions that come with any trial. Yet, my optimism comes from knowing God won’t ever fail me- even if I don’t know how, what or when.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I work primarily in commercial real estate but believe strongly in nurturing other interests and using the gifts God gave me. One of them happens to be that I’m great at giving gifts, so I’m especially excited about my new brand, MENvironment Gifting. I’m really passionate about self-care and gifting, so I decided to combine them for a certain demographic that’s kind of forgotten in this space- men.
I realized the options to gift men with self-care items weren’t that great, so I decided to start curating my own gift boxes. The purpose of MENvironment is to improve the gifting experience for men, so they’re no longer an afterthought, and encourage self-care habits with thoughtful yet practical products. We’ve gotten some great feedback so far, which I’m extremely grateful for, and I’m looking forward to introducing subscription and group gifting services later this year.
Whether the intent is to give a gift, treat yourself, or up your own self-care, my hope is that this brand will bring joy and help normalize these things for men, especially Black men. Everyone needs self-care. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and loved.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Have I mentioned optimism? On a serious note, this quality has gotten me through some really low moments. Without it, you’ll find yourself ready to give up before you even begin. If you do that, you’ll never get to live out your purpose, which we all have. To improve in this area, I would suggest starting with small changes in your daily thinking, focusing on gratitude and looking for opportunities to learn and grow. Eventually, the things that seem to be discouraging will gradually start to lose that power as you become more interested in the good that’s only going to get better.
Another quality that has helped in my journey is willingness to learn. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a classroom, on the job, or from a random conversation with a stranger. Be a lifelong learner. Recognize that someone doesn’t have to be superior to be able to teach you something. That person could be younger, less educated, self educated, or have less money. I’ve found that these aren’t valid prerequisites for a valuable lesson.
Finally, a skill that I’ve been able to develop over the years, both personally and professionally, is adaptability. Often, we have no choice but to adapt because survival depends on it. I had the pleasure of honing this skill as a struggling college student, but it continues to serve me well. Now, when I’m faced with an abrupt change, I’m able to pivot and navigate a change of course without becoming overwhelmed. In general, people have probably become more adaptable than what we’d give credit for, considering certain events in recent years (e.g. a pandemic). But if you’re out there and think you could use some tips, focus on developing a mindset that is expectant of change yet open to new perspectives.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Absolutely. I want everything I do to contribute to building up community and small business in some way, so I’m looking forward to partnering with other businesses and organizations. Currently, we’re building supplier partnerships and want to talk to anyone who offers relevant self-care products for men. These can include skincare, haircare, home essentials, stationery, and beyond. If it’s giving guy vibes, we want to connect.
We’re also interested in partnering with service-based businesses and organizations as well for opportunities to curate experiences, foster positive dialogue, and cultivate community around self-care and wellness for men.
If any of this resonates, please get in touch!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.menvironmentgifting.com
- Instagram: @menvironmentgifting
Image Credits
Dream Lens Photography
