Meet Christina NUBIA” Leslie | Creative Professional Extraordinaire “

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina “NUBIA” Leslie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina “NUBIA”, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Oh my goodness! It’s not often I’m asked this question! Well, it started in 2007 when I was working for a well-known dental practice here in Atlanta, Ga. I was coming up on my work anniversary and due a raise, however, I was receiving some pushback from my manager at the time. Even though we agreed on a monetary amount and specific duties, as I had also created a new position for the company and department that I would hold myself; I ended up being on the chopping block a couple weeks later.

In the following months, I searched for another satisfying position with medical/healthcare companies, thinking that the education I had received and experience I had garnered was enough to afford me a great job at another great company. That was not the case. I was unemployed from February 2007 until February 2008. The next job I had was below my pay grade and outside of my wheelhouse, but I took it because I had a small child, I was separated from my then husband, and was living with a friend at the time and wanted out of my seemingly failing life. I worked that lesser paying job until we moved to Athens, Ga for a very brief time and then back to Atlanta, Ga, where I was once again, unemployed and frustrated with the job searching process.

My ex-husband asked me what was it that I liked to do, and I said that I loved to type and create things artistically, creatively, and so on and so forth. He said ok why don’t you create a business for typing things for people and then you won’t have to apply for a job?

I thought what’s the worst that could happen? I have always wanted to own a business and the thought of using the skills set that I already had to make my own income in a unique way intrigued me. I did a little bit of research, thought of a name, created an email, created a small flyer, and a simple website and started putting ads out on Craigslist.

About 2-3 weeks later, after posting consistently every couple days in multiple cities, I received a response to one of my ads for a college student looking for help with their papers. Initially I was scared out of my mind! I had never been in the driver seat of anything like that and was now faced with the thought of could I really do this? Was this person for real? Would I be to their liking? I took a couple of days to process my thoughts with a friend, and she was just as surprised and decided to take the potential client, just in case it was a scam, so that way I wouldn’t be financially further in the hole.

About a couple of weeks later, she reached back out to me excited and thrilled. She said, “they were legit and referred several people to her.” She sent one of the referrals to me to jumpstart my client base, sent me over some tips that she had learned in a very short time, and we both hit the ground running. That was the fall of 2009.

By February 2010, I had about 5 clients and a different type of confidence in myself, and of course money in the bank! My business was called Keystrokes 24/7, and I kept it simple and down to earth and straight to the point. By the end of 2011, I had more than 15 clients and 3 young ladies who also were working under me as my own personal contractors. We serviced clients all over the world with all types of backgrounds.

Fast forward to 2014, I shut it down partially after some unscrupulous advice I took, and begin to focus on some other things. I did, however, keep 1 client on and off as I figured out my next step and a plan for what I felt what was to come next for me and my creative entrepreneurship journey.

I revamped my business and in 2016, rebranded my business name and services to what it is now as “GNectar Publishing.”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a publisher, I knew I wanted to offer unique services to individuals but mostly to businesses and creatives getting into business. One of the things that set me apart is that I offer book reels and promo reels for creatives, and evergeen content. The other things that set me apart is the experience and background that I have from a corporate world of healthcare and medical administration to music, books and writing. Being a music artist also allows me to have a different perspective on things within publishing.

What I am most proud of to date, is becoming an Amazon Bestselling Author during the pandemic. How I got to where I am is by being consistent as possible and placing myself around people who were bigger than me in their fields so I could learn and challenge myself more. It wasn’t easy, there were many setbacks and moments of no clients but I kept pushing. What helped me the most was doing the internal work of removing the imposter syndrome from my psyche.

The world should know that people pay for a service or product of course, but most of all, they pay for an experience. Be the experience that they can brag about or refer more people.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would treat them to a reflexology and cbd oil massage first, then I would take them to a seafood boil with live music. We would visit some local botanicas and spiritual stores, a produce farm to pick some of our favorite produce. Catch a movie at one of the nice theatres here. Introduce them to some business friends by having a game night with a BYOB option. Last but not least, take them to an industry event where they could also meet more people that they might want to befriend and expand their circle with. Oh and I’d probably hire a chef to make a couple of meals for us throughout the week.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To my Chapter Sisters; Robin, Carla and Elecia. They encouraged me so much in so many ways. There are a couple of favorite books of mines as well: The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, Outwitting the Devil by Napolean Hill, and several of the For Dummies Book Series. These books are really a life changer and worth a reread over and over again, because they show you something new and different each time you crack them open, and they also help you when you feel lost and need direction.

I also want to give a shoutout to all of my clients from 2010-2020. They helped me to garner my skills into something that put me in rooms where I didn’t have to prove myself or ask for permission to be me. My abilities spoke for me and that’s not a real thing you get when working in Corporate America. Corporate America is very cookie cutter.

Shout out to my Yayi, Yeye, and Oba who always helped me to nurture and balance my spiritual and personal self so that the physical self could win.

Lastly, shout out to my daughter for believing in me through all of the tough times and being my main cheerleader when I would get frustrated and disappointed in myself. It is imperative that mothers be the example that they can only hope that their daughters will model themselves after in some aspect.

Website: https://gnectarpub.wixsite.com/gnectarpublishingllc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gnectarpublish/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GNectarPublishing

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GNectarPublishing

Image Credits
GNectar Publishing, LLC