Meet Kelly Burton

 

We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Burton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

As I went to nursing school to obtain my registered nursing degree and care for patients, I never thought I would now be an entrepreneur. I never formally learned business skills or marketing. Through trial and error as well as seeking wise council from a local marketing agency and connecting with a business mentor, I slowly developed a streamlined process for my clients. I spent many hours (and still do now!) tweaking my website making it the best it can be. I had to learn how to network in person, make a business pitch, and speak in front of others. Through teaching many charcuterie classes, I have now found a joy for public speaking, who knew?! While I haven’t met many who own a charcuterie business it is fun to be unique and do something I never thought I would do!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Hi, I’m Kelly and I own a charcuterie board business, Boards by Kelly. I have been a stay at home Mom for the last 7 years and prior to that I worked as a registered nurse in women’s health. I have always loved celebrating people and enjoy planning all details and touches that go into a beautiful gathering. When my daughter turned 3 years old, she requested a “Princess Belle birthday”, from her favorite movie, Beauty and the Beast. With the French theme, I decided to make my first charcuterie board for our friends and family. I then took a leap of faith and turned my hobby into a business. I have been an entrepreneur for almost 3 years now! One of the biggest blessings is that my sister, Abby, now works with me as the business has grown. Based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we call ourselves the Oklahoma Cheese Sisters. We love serving our clients and making every event memorable. We also teach charcuterie classes for gatherings, corporate team building, and for fundraising purposes.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Great question! As an early entrepreneur who did not have any formal training as my degree is in nursing, I had to learn how to make my vision for my business a reality. Surrounding myself with those whom are further along in their business was extremely helpful and encouraging. I have learned so much from those who are experts in their fields from marketing, social media management, to business advising. I have then used these tips and tools to streamline my business to be efficient and operate as it makes the most sense to me.

Being organized has been critical in my business growth. Following up with clients in a timely manor, staying up to date with my bookkeeping, and keeping all the details (large and small) together is so important! I always operate my business as if I was the client, how would I want someone to treat me and what is the client experience like.

When I think about owning a business I can’t help but thinking about being resilient. Being able to pivot when needed, work hard when you are tired or don’t want to, and growing in my confidence as I own a business.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

When I think of my parents, there are so many things that come to mind that I am so grateful for. The most impactful though is raising my sisters and I in a loving home. My parents are humble, generous, kind, and Godly. They do what they and display the Gospel through their actions. My faith is extremely important to me and my parents have modeled what it means to Love God and love others. As I am now a Mother, I understand the importance of raising my children in a family that loves and serves one another.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

McKayla Bee Photography

Spiegel 3 Entertainment

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