Nekisha-Michelle Bakre is the Principal and Founder of Living Vivaciously Consulting and the creator of Spajama Works, a holistic lifestyle coaching series of programs for individuals who want less struggle and more habitual success. Having found the divine ability to rise above the many obstacles against her and build a thriving career and personal life, Nekisha uses her experiences, positive psychology, intuition and biblical principles to help thousands of people reclaim and redefine their lives.
As a teen mother at the tender age of fourteen, Nekisha refused to fall victim to the negative stereotypes and statistics associated with teen parents. Without the financial or emotional support of her family, she not only graduated high school, but bravely moved from her home in Ohio to Virginia, to attend Virginia State University, all the while caring for her young child. There, she found sisterly support as a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and graduated, with honors, with a degree in Social Work.
Soon after, Nekisha received a full academic scholarship and fellowship to the University of Cincinnati. Admitted into the university’s advanced placement program, Nekisha graduated with a Master’s degree in Social Work, just one short year after enrolling in the program.
But despite her determination, degrees and prestigious honors, Nekisha struggled to support herself and her child on the meager salary of a social worker. Hopeless and despaired, she soon found herself homeless and living in the basement of a church member’s house for six months. Through prayer, tithing and faith, God blessed Nekisha with a new job as a child protective worker paying $10,000 more annually than her previous job - more than enough to get her back on her feet and into an apartment of her own.
Nekisha worked as a Child Protective Worker for less than two years before relocating to Cleveland, Ohio, to become the youngest, and first female African-American, Regional Director of a private Christian-Based foster care agency in Cuyahoga County. There, she single-handedly developed, recruited, and trained staff while supervising the day-to-day demands of the agency, putting her heart and soul into her new found love and responsibility. Unfortunately, the success was to be short-lived. The agency was shut down due to proven discrimination and lack of funding.
Lost, confused and feeling betrayed, Nekisha fell into a deep depression for the second time in her life. But out of her depression and diminished self-esteem, Nekisha was able to redesign her life with only $98.00. She found her a life coach who introduced her to, and mentored her in, the business of direct selling. In just a few short months, Nekisha’s confidence and entrepreneurial spirit grew. She quickly developed, trained and recruited the largest and most successful business unit in the state of Ohio.
It was through these life experiences that Nekisha came to realize how so many people could build a much happier life if they focused on education, business ownership and developing a strong spiritual foundation. Through courage, competence and commitment, Nekisha now blissfully shares her wisdom and self-proven solutions to ‘Living Vivaciously.’ She believes that spirituality and entrepreneurship are truly the best ways to ‘Get yourself together!’
In January 2009, Nekisha will release her inspirational book ‘Breaking Invisible Chains.’ She has been featured in Black Enterprise Magazine, Empowering Women Magazine, a national publication dedicated to helping women achieve unlimited success through entrepreneurship, as well as the Time Warner television program “Another Look,” and several radio programs including “Mapping Your Future with Monika K. Moss” & “The Ronnie Duncan Morning Show” to name a few.
Some of Ms. Bakre’s preferred clients, past and present, include: Virginia State University, The University of Cincinnati, Franklin County Pre-release Center, The Word of Deliverance Church, New Faith Baptist Church of Christ, Urban League, Talbert House Women's ADAPT Drug Court Program, Dress for Success and the Entrepreneurial Women Network of Houston, Texas.
Ms. Bakre owes her spiritual growth to great ministries including: The Word of Deliverance Ministries for the World in Forest Park, OH; Blessed Hope Church in Prince George, VA; New Spirit Revival Center, Cleveland, OH; and Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. She also gratefully attributes her professional growth and development to her business mentors: Connie Atkins of Consortium of African American Organizations (CAAO), Delores Pressley of Born Successful and Gail Wright of Wright Alternatives.