Today we’d like to introduce you to Shiquita Kendle.
Hi Shiquita, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey into entrepreneurship actually started during COVID, right before I left my career in healthcare. While I was exploring different business ideas, I came across the virtual assistant industry and immediately thought, “You know what? This could actually be a really good fit for me.”
I liked that I could get started without a huge investment, but more than that, it just made sense for who I was. I’ve always been the person people come to when they need help getting things planned and organized, create structure, or figure out how to make processes run a little smoother.
So, I decided to give it a shot and launched SLK & Co in October 2021. A month later, I left healthcare and began focusing on my business full-time.
As the business grew, I started getting more specialized and really found my sweet spot in real estate and the commercial driving industry. I helped real estate professional with transaction coordination services while assisting commercial drivers with startup assistance and data entry.
And somewhere along the way, I realized, “I actually liked figuring out why something isn’t working and making it work better!” So, the business naturally started evolving.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve transitioned from a traditional VA firm into a process improvement company. I still love the support side of the business, but now I get to focus more on the bigger picture—helping businesses streamline their processes, create better systems, and bring some organization to the chaos.
So, what started as a little “I need to figure something out after losing my job” moment during COVID has turned into something I’m genuinely passionate about. And honestly, I’m pretty excited to see where it goes next!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A smooth road? Absolutely not! 😂 But I wouldn’t trade the bumps. They’ve helped me become a better business owner and have really shaped the company into what it is today.
When I first started, I was figuring out everything as I went. I was learning how to run a business, find clients, market myself, manage the work, and figure out what I actually wanted the business to become—all at the same time. There were definitely some trial-and-error moments!
One of my biggest challenges, though, was learning how to communicate with different types of clients. I quickly realized that not everyone communicates, processes information, or works the same way I did. I had to learn how to meet people where they were, understand their communication style, and adjust my approach instead of expecting everyone to communicate the way I naturally did.
Another challenge I faced was learning how to filter my thoughts. 😂 I’m naturally a very direct person, and I like to get straight to the point. But there’s a difference between being direct and being effective. I’ve learned that sometimes it’s not just about what you say—it’s about how, when, and why you say it.
There have definitely been slow seasons, mistakes, and moments where I questioned what I was doing. But every challenge has taught me something, whether it was about business, my clients, or myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
SLK & Co started as a virtual assistant firm, but over time, it evolved into something much bigger. Today, we’re a process improvement company focused on helping growing businesses get organized, streamline the way they work, and create systems that can grow with them.
At the heart of what we do is helping businesses figure out, “How can we do this better?” Sometimes that means creating or improving a process. Sometimes it means developing policies and procedures, documenting workflows, creating structure, or providing the hands-on support needed to keep things moving. We look at the bigger picture and find where things can be simplified, standardized, or made more efficient.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just want to come in and complete a list of tasks. We want to understand the business, how things are currently being done, and where the opportunities are to improve. We look for the gaps, the bottlenecks, and those “we’ve always done it this way” moments—and then we work toward creating systems and processes that are more efficient and sustainable.
I think one of the things I’m most proud of from a branding standpoint is how much the company has evolved. It started as a simple idea during a very uncertain time, and as I learned more about myself, my clients, and what I was really good at, the business evolved right along with me.
Now, my focus is on growing businesses. I want to help business owners move from constantly putting out fires to having systems and processes that support where they’re trying to go. Because growth is exciting, but growth without structure can get messy really quickly.
I want people to know that we’re not just here to be another set of hands. We’re here to help bring some order to the chaos, create clarity, and build the kind of operational foundation that allows a business to grow.
And honestly, I think that’s what we’re known for—taking something that feels messy or overwhelming and saying, “Okay, let’s figure this out.” 😂
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I would say I’m a calculated risk-taker. I’m not the type of person who jumps into something without thinking it through, but I also don’t want fear to keep me from taking an opportunity.
Starting my business was definitely one of the biggest risks I’ve taken. I launched SLK & Co in October 2021, knowing that I would be leaving my career in healthcare shortly after. I didn’t have everything figured out, and I certainly didn’t have a perfect business plan sitting on my desk. But I had done enough research to know that it was something I could realistically start, and I trusted myself enough to give it a shot.
Since then, I’ve taken plenty of smaller risks—trying new services, changing my business model, niching down and eventually moving away from a niche, investing in things before I knew exactly what the return would be, and ultimately transitioning from a VA firm into a process improvement company.
I think what I’ve learned is that risk doesn’t always mean making one huge, life-changing decision. Sometimes it’s being willing to make a change when something isn’t working, even when the next step isn’t completely clear.
For me, the biggest question isn’t really, “What if this doesn’t work?” It’s more, “What happens if I never try?” I’ve learned that I can figure things out as I go, and that gives me a lot more confidence to take the next step.
So, yes, I’m willing to take risks—but I like to call them informed risks. I’ll do my homework, trust my gut, and then be willing to jump when I believe the opportunity is worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.slkandco.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slkandco
- Other: https://www.calendly.com/slkandco
