Keyla Marte is the founder of Keyla Consulting where she works as a business strategist and project manager for nonprofits focused on helping underserved communities.
Keyla was raised by a single mother in an underserved neighborhood and has always been an advocate for communities that tend to be forgotten.
“I went to a public school in downtown Manhattan and we were on the brink of closing because of test scores,” Keyla shares. “I ended up leading a student walkout and we were featured in Democracy Now! and The New York Times and we were able to shift the conversation that closing schools was not the solution and really bring awareness to the issues that were going on in our community.”
Although she didn’t know exactly how her journey would unfold, Keyla knew she wanted to do something bigger than herself.
“There’s always a need that I can help try to solve or fill in,” she says.
After becoming a first-generation college graduate she completed a few internships with elected officials which gave her the chance to see how resources were distributed in different communities. From there, she began her career in nonprofit development but was laid off shortly before the pandemic.
Instead of panicking, Keyla saw this as an opportunity,
“I was inspired to say, ‘I know that I have this desire to start my own business and start helping upcoming women entrepreneurs,” she explains.
She dove in head first and began helping women with resumes and cover letters. Before long she transitioned to a project management role.
“Then it started to morph into a niche of helping upcoming nonprofits and upcoming entrepreneurs really define what it is that they want to do, and then find resources to help them scale those ideas,” she says.
Learning to Bet on Herself
After Keyla was laid off and started her own company, she spent some time reflecting on how comfortable it can be to stay in a “safe job.”
“When that security blanket is pulled out from under your feet, it definitely puts things into perspective” she explains.
She experienced some challenges along her new career journey but she knows she made the right decision.
“I learned that the security that we think is in a full-time role doesn’t really exist.” she says. “It made me ask the question ‘how about I bet on myself?’”
Keyla now brings her nonprofit experience and passion for helping underserved communities to her consulting work as she helps organizations break down the digital divide or aid adults as they navigate career and personal transitions.
“Most of the work that I do is community-based and community-oriented and is always about helping others in some way.” she shares.
Her Advice? You Don’t Need All the Pieces to Start
Keyla didn’t have everything figured out when she started her company – but that didn’t hold her back.
“You may not always have the full idea or you may not have all the pieces. But the most important part is just to start,” she advises.
It’s hard to break out of a limiting mindset, especially growing up in a community where resources are scarce. But Keyla has worked hard to not let fear hold her back and starts projects when they feel right.
Keeping the Faith
“I always keep my faith first,” she shares.
Throughout her personal and professional journey, Keyla has relied on her faith and her community to inspire her to keep pursuing her passions.
“My community always encouraged me, in spite of the difficulties and challenges, to pursue what I felt connected to,” she explains.
Keyla roots herself in what she loves, whether that’s her family, traveling, dancing, or performing, as she pursues her professional path. And just like her community inspired her, she hopes to inspire others along the way.
“I want to make sure that we continue to lift others as we climb,” she adds.