Today we’d like to introduce you to RK.
Hi RK, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My mother was a housekeeper when she was not a full time homemaker, my father was a superintendant, a handyman of sorts, so they both instilled a foundation of unwaivering work ethic and technical knowlegde of how to actively upkeep and care for my environment. I think they also helped me learn to be able to make something out of nothing anytime I need to.
I started out similarly to many young millenial adults (i think).
I moved out of my home when I was sixteen and confused about my place in the world. To make extra money to make rent, my roommates and I would throw parties for our classmates and charge a cover to get in, that’s how I developed my passion for hosting and taking care of people. I worked in hospitality and retail while I studied a couple trades, like hypnosis and cosmetology. Making a place for myself in my hometown proved to be pretty tough, so on a whim and on the coattails of a blessing – I moved to Richmond.
Fast forward, having worked in the guest facing industry for nearly 20 years along the way, creating and hosting as much as I had the bandwidth for – I was presented the opportunity to become the Membership Experience Manager at No.303. A role best suited to all of my strengths in an environment that encourages my authenticity, understands my vision and supports me as a human.
I’ve always been a bit headstrong, so I never settle for anything less than I feel that I deserve and I think that I get that from the way I was raised and having to learn independence so early. It’s always been a goal of mine to be able to cross demographics in order to develop genuine relationships with people that I never fathomed I could meet and I’m so grateful that I have been able to do that in this life. The opportunities that have been presented to me because I’ve remained open minded blow my mind everyday.
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?
Nothing smooth about the road! I think that the process of learning to accept myself, learning my strengths and acknowledging my weaknesses in order to become the person I want to be, had been a been stunted or slowed by being in survival mode for a lot of my young adult life.
Little to no resources for healthcare and food makes for a wrecked nervous system and a lack of healthy coping mechanisms for sure. I had no familiarity with mental health until I was about 26 and i’m so grateful for my community at that time that held me close in order for me to pave the path to healing.
Back then, I could not have considered how far I could come in life and I am now the most healthy and successful that I have ever been. I think that no matter what changes in my life now, I will be fine because I feel as though the worst is behind me.
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 one is hard, I think because as an artist, that part of myself is what makes me good at my profession at this time. It’s like a different way of approaching this liminal workspace that lies between a hotel and a restaurant, It’s a social club, a place made for people to get together and create lasting relationships hopefully based on deeply meaningful feelings, actions and concepts relevant to their growth.
I am the Membership Experience Manager of No.303. A Role that was created right around when I accepted the job, it’s super hybrid as far as duties go and I have to be very flexible in my day to day in order to adapt to what my peers, the members, my boss and the company require of me in order to execute the vision of what we would like to do here in the city, which is create a platform for connection while helping to maintain the proverbial bridges that exist in this city and trying to take an active part in being in the picture in a meaningful way for many years to come. Technically I am the Project Manager of the Programming Department. I seek out talent in the city and bring in local artists and business owners to engage the membership here in the club and off site. This includes, food and beverage events, wellness, live music, workshops, honestly you name I’ve probably tried it. I’m working to finetune this constantly but, the demographic and demand is always shifting so I remain vigilant in my endeavors always.
I have been apart of this team for 6 years now, having joined when it was due to open right as the world began opening up “after” covid in October 2020. Having the perspective of observing the social phases and trends, internalizing them and working to apply the things I’ve learned in order to take care of humans within the parameters that the company provides.
It takes a level of instinct and it helps that I’m a bit of a nerd about the nature of humanity. I’ve always been a bit proud of my ability to pick up on the needs of humans in any environment and my willingness to learn something new. I’m still learning how to apply my specials skills professionally, attempting to qualify and quantify something that I feel is a bit umeasurable haha, you know with ROI’s and budgets there’s a bit of rigidity there that I’m not accustomed to because I do not have a college degree.
I’ve made it my life’s work to help people get aligned in their body, mind and spirit whether they know they need it or not. I will be doing that no matter what platform and resources I have. Making people feel seen, felt and heard is such a simple purpose I can always live up to.
I think that my look, and the way I take up space in a professional environment can be a bit jarring for some, I’ve gotten some push back in my career but, the proof is in the pudding. My work speaks for itself and my intentions are loud.
Gosh I hope I am making sense.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I use they/them pronouns.
I believe that if you try to maintain awareness in yourself and your environment, and follow your heart, you will be greatly rewarded, but it will never be how you dreamed it would be! It will be better. Life is scary, I don’t think it will ever stop being big and scary, but your heart can always get bigger, your potential is unending, the strength you inherited is inside of you!
I especially want to say this to the BIPOC community.
I did not use AI to help me write this!
Pricing:
- Consulting (Negotiable)
- Hosting (Negotiable)
- Speaking Engagements (Negotiable)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @needful.ark
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rk-they-them-421759385/
