Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakisha Pattin.
Hi Lakisha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Toledo, Ohio, but my formative years were spent in the inner-city ghetto of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I faced numerous challenges and obstacles, including low self-esteem, poverty, and the struggle to fit in due to my differences.
Despite my exceptional creativity and passion for fashion, I lacked the proper avenues to pursue my interests. As the first in my family to attend college, I encountered unforeseen circumstances that prevented me from completing my degree. This setback left me feeling depressed and hopeless, but I firmly believed that my story was far from over.
In 2007, I embarked on a new journey, determined to pursue a career in fashion. I began as a freelance fashion stylist, diligently building my portfolio and forging valuable industry connections. I collaborated with local makeup artists and hair stylists, working with them on various events. Through unwavering faith and tenacity, I chose to rewrite my narrative and define my own terms of success.
Remarkably, despite lacking a college degree, I achieved notable accomplishments. I collaborated with major television networks, held senior management positions at prominent corporations, became a community advocate within the very inner-city community I grew up in, and even founded two successful boutiques (Gold Orchid Boutique and Moda Coeur Shoetique). Additionally, I provide coaching and workshops to aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives, sharing my knowledge and experiences.
Every aspect of my life has contributed to my current success. I am driven by a desire to use my story as an inspiration, encouraging, and uplifting others to embrace their own journeys.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey to success was not a smooth road. When I launched my fashion business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2007, I faced limited resources, such as having access to business grants/loans, mentorship, and opportunities to establish a clientele.
I came from the inner city projects and didn’t finish college. This presented several challenges for me, as I lacked the foundational knowledge to build upon. However, I refused to let this setback deter me. I delved into the world of other industry professionals, including photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, event planners, and hair salons. Through my research, I discovered that success and standing out in the industry required a team. By assembling a diverse and skilled team, I was able to offer comprehensive fashion event services in the surrounding area.
At that time, I had limited resources, such as no computer and no transportation. I would visit the local library to complete style projects for clients and cultivated relationships with the staff, which led to more work as other businesses and organizations posted their fliers for their events. Instagram didn’t exist back then, and Facebook was only for college students. So, creating a network to gain clients through word of mouth was a challenge. Not having transportation pushed me to make the most of every opportunity to network and make myself visible to potential clients.
One of the challenges I faced was the lack of fashion stylists in my area. I had to prove that I was the real deal and why people should work with me and trust me with their wardrobe and fashion events. Consistency was key to standing out, and over time, it enabled me to gain bigger clients and paid projects. My work ethic and drive created many opportunities and opened doors, all because I never let my obstacles or challenges get in the way of my dream of success.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Over the years of hard work and dedication, I have become an award-winning fashion stylist and the proud owner of Focused Fashion Consulting, LLC. With over 18 years of experience, we offer an innovative approach that combines self-esteem development with image styling. Our goal is to help clients discover their unique style, enhance it, and leave a lasting impression wherever they go. We consult with a diverse range of clients, including designers, photographers, media companies, businesses, schools, non-profit organizations, corporations, and more.
We have been involved in various style segments for KDKA Channel 2 News and have served as a fashion contributor for Live Free Magazine in North Carolina. We have also worked as a former partner and style director for Pittsburgh Fashion Week, a makeup artist for Baltimore Fashion Week, and a fashion stylist for DC Fashion Week.
Additionally, we have conducted workshops for Duquesne University, Dress for Success, Macy’s, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School, Seton Hill University, Coro For Civic Leadership, the Women’s Empowerment Expo of Los Angeles, California, the Detroit WALK fashion event, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and many other organizations.
In 2023, we launched a women’s initiative called “Beneath Your Beauti,” which focuses on empowering women, building self-esteem and confidence, and helping them embrace their journey. In 2025, we launched a podcast titled “Beneath Your Beauti with Lakisha,” which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice to those who are just staring a business, is to stay true to yourself and to have a plan.
If for whatever reason that plan doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to pivot. Sometimes starting over, is the best decision you can make!
No matter what changes, make sure you are staying true to why you started your business.
What drives you? What are you passionate about? What is your why? Who is your target audience? These are some questions you’re going to want to consider as you are starting out and even after you are more tenured in your business.
Trust your decision making, but don’t ever be afraid to consult with trusted counsel or seek out a business mentor. Those who have been on the path you are seeking can provide wisdom from both successes and failures. Learn from others mistakes and use that as a tool to build a more stable business.
You don’t have to do it all! Outsourcing is going to help you tremendously during your entrepreneurial journey. From accounting, social media marketing, legal, website building and much more. Don’t feel as if you need to be a “one man show.” You can take your business so much further with assistance rather than doing everything alone. It will free you up to pour into the core of your business while overseeing all your strategic partners that are supporting you.
Create a team of people you trust and that supports your vision and works from a place of integrity. Interview everyone you work with, including family. Make sure your core values align and they are willing to be led. The most common issues I have seen in team dynamics, from the corporate enviroments to having a business, is to make sure you clearly communicate their role and your expectations for your business. Always remember, clarity weeds out confusion. When people know your “why” they can either commit to supporting you or decide that isn’t the path for them.
Make sure your finances are in order. It doesn’t matter if you are starting with very little money, your business and personal finances shouldn’t ever be intertwined. Open a business account to keep those finances separate.
Be sure to keep records of all your spending for your business and make sure you keep account for your profits when it comes time to submit your business taxes. Search out financial resources such as business grants, loans, business lines of credit, and startup programs. There also niche business resources out there as well.
Charge what you’re worth! Get comfortable talking about your prices right upfront during business meetings. If you go in scared, you will get low balled immediately. But if you go into your meetings confident and able to explain the purpose of your business and how you can solve their problem, you will win almost every time.
Everyone is not your customer. The quicker you grasp this concept the more time you will save pursing clients and opportunities that don’t align with your end game and business purpose. Never force it or ever oversell yourself. All money isn’t good money, and taking on clients and/or projects to get a quick dollar can end up costing much more in the end.
What I wish I knew when I started my business, was having a strong support system is essential to success. It does not matter if it is one person. You are going to have good days and you are going to have days when you want to give up and throw in the towel. Knowing you are not doing everything alone makes the world of difference when you are a start up.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focusedfashion/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakisha.pattin/videos/new-podcast-episode-/919300713767899/
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beneath-your-beauti-podcast-with-lakisha/id1832516399
