We recently had the chance to connect with Keisha Mabry Haymore and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Keisha, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now is a blend of family, community, and leadership. I start my mornings with a little me-time—whether that’s journaling, reading, or moving my body—before grounding myself with my daughter and husband. From there, I dive into my role as Managing Director at Per Scholas, where I’m focused on creating tech career pathways that open doors for people who are often overlooked in the industry. My days often include strategy meetings, connecting with employers, and supporting learners as they navigate training and job placement. In between, I carve out time for Heydays—my business and creative hub—where I get to build community with founders and creatives through events, pop-ups, and activations. And because teaching is still such a big part of me, I also spend time prepping or recording content for the entrepreneurship, tech and digital marketing courses I teach. By evening, I switch gears back to family life: dinner together, toddler adventures, or planning our next travel experience. Every day looks different, but the through-line is connection—whether it’s with myself, learners, entrepreneurs, or loved ones.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Keisha Mabry Haymore—a connector, convener, and community builder on a mission to change the world one connection at a time. I serve as Managing Director of Per Scholas St. Louis, where we’re creating tech career pathways and economic mobility for people who are often overlooked in the industry. I’m also the founder of Heydays, a community hub and creative agency that brings founders, creatives, and small businesses together through events, pop-ups, and back-office support. Beyond that, I’m a certified Grow With Google Marketing Coach and an adjunct professor, where I get to teach and mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs. What makes my work unique is the through-line of connection—I love designing spaces and experiences where people feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive. These days, I’m flowing, growing, and saying no-ing—flowing with purpose, growing with intention, and saying no without guilt.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful goes back to my mom. She always told me I was powerful, and I believed her because she modeled it every day. For me, power has always been defined as the ability to act, and my mom created safe spaces where I could practice that—whether it was speaking up, leading in school, or trying something new. Those early moments of encouragement and action made me feel like power wasn’t something out there to be chased, it was something already inside of me.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most is the fear of shining too brightly. I know that when I walk into a room I take up space—from my big hair to my bright colors to my energy—and sometimes I worry that my light might dim someone else’s or that I’ll be seen as ‘too much.’ At the same time, I feel this fear every day and I do my thing anyway. And, over time I’ve learned that my ‘extra’ is part of what makes me…me, and that God gave me this light not to hide it, but to shine it.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think smart people often get it wrong by doing the most—we go big instead of going lean, we overthink instead of just trying, and we point way too much instead of shooting. So much brilliance gets stuck in analysis paralysis because we’re waiting for the perfect plan instead of simply starting and executing. But…the truth is, momentum creates clarity. You figure things out in motion, not in theory.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I don’t have any regrets. In fact, I’ve achieved every single dream I’ve ever wanted to achieve—and honestly, I’ve run out of dreams. So for me, it’s less about regret and more about curiosity. I’ll never regret what I didn’t do, because I’ll always find the courage to try it. The only thing I’d regret is not honoring this season of being. As doers, we spend so much of our lives chasing, achieving, and checking the next box. I don’t want to wake up one day with a life full of doing and miss out on the gift of simply being—because we all deserve to just be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://perscholas.org/stlouis
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keishamabry
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keishamabry/
Image Credits
Tyler Small
Tracy Jane
