3rd Annual Awards Celebration Gala Recognizing Achievements of Trailblazing Entrepreneurs
Southern NJ, In a vibrant display of empowerment and recognition, Lukeshia Walker, a trailblazing entrepreneur and CEO of LW Coaching Institute, stands at the forefront of celebrating the achievements of black women in the real estate industry. With her third annual Black Women in Real Estate Queens Gala, Walker shined a spotlight on the remarkable contributions of these women, spanning across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Through her dedication to cultivating a sense of sisterhood and support, Walker’s gala honors and elevate these individuals who are not only making strides in their careers but also inspiring others to pursue their dreams and build legacies.
In an exclusive interview with the nation’s faith-based and professional newspaper for winners, Anointed News Journal, Lukeshia Walker explains why she is so passionate about the work she does.
Collins:
Who is Lukeshia Walker?
Walker:
Lukeshia Walker is a boss. She’s about her business, and she’s always about empowering and inspiring women to live their best life. I am also a mother of three beautiful adult children. I am a daughter, fortunate to have my mother and father still with me. And I’m the oldest of five children.
Collins:
Okay. And Lukeshia, you are also the president and CEO of your own coaching business. Tell us a little bit about what that is and what your focus is.
Walker:
So I am the CEO of LW Coaching Institute, where I provide life and business coaching to individuals, aiming to help people live out their dreams rather than following someone else’s. I’m very passionate about not only the youth but also women and the elderly. I touch on all different sectors and provide something that people need. We all need a coach.
Collins:
What is it about entrepreneurship that made you want to become your own boss and pursue an opportunity as an entrepreneur?
Walker:
As a black woman, for 18 years, I devoted myself to a career where, once upon a time, I loved what I did. However, I found myself up against my counterparts, being underpaid and undervalued despite holding higher positions. Something clicked in 2020, amidst all the events of that year. I realized that I was not living my best life; I was living someone else’s dream. By nature, I’ve always been a caregiver and someone to comfort and counsel others. I took my passion and created LW Coaching Institute.
Collins:
As an entrepreneur, we all face challenges and need motivation. Most of us have mentors and coaches. Why is it important for young entrepreneurs— not meaning in age, but in experience—to have a coach?
Walker:
I find it important because we all need someone to lean on. Sometimes, you cannot lean on family because they offer opinions rather than accountability. A coach is different; they hold you accountable. There is a need for mentorship, coaching, or even seeking guidance from a higher power, like a pastor. We need to tap into that more.
Collins:
You are also a licensed real estate professional and have accomplished a lot in the real estate industry in today’s market. It seems as if more and more African Americans are getting involved in real estate. What is your outlook on real estate as a career choice, and what words of encouragement would you give to young individuals who are interested in that?
Walker:
So, first and foremost, I’m going to kind of answer your question a little backward because one thing I want to emphasize is investing in yourself. As a black woman, and reflecting on my ancestors, home ownership and investing were not always emphasized. Some people never learn these concepts. So if someone is looking to enter the real estate industry, I’ll be their coach and cheerleader. I’ll provide them with all the necessary knowledge because there are various areas of real estate. It’s not just about selling homes; it’s about investing.
If you’re coming up and you have children, you want to leave a legacy for them. When I think about the homes and land left by our ancestors, and what happened to them after they passed, it wasn’t always handled properly. So, how do we preserve the land our grandparents built from the ground up? I’m all for teaching individuals about real estate and how they can turn a little bit of money into a gold mine.
Collins:
I’m glad to hear you say that because too often, we see properties that mom and dad or grandma and grandpa worked so hard to acquire being passed down to family members without proper information or instruction. Consequently, these properties are lost to sheriff sales or tax liens. Here we are, post-pandemic… is today a good day to get involved in the real estate market?
Walker:
Absolutely. There’s never a bad time to get involved in the real estate market. Despite what you see and hear in the news; despite interest rates, it’s always a good day to enter real estate because it’s not just about buying and selling homes; it’s about seizing opportunities. If opportunities aren’t present here, find them elsewhere. People often overlook this. Purchasing a business, creating your business—that’s real estate. There are different avenues in real estate, and it’s always a good day.
Collins:
Fantastic. There are many African American males and females, and notably more African American females, in real estate today. However, many of them go unrecognized. You did something special a few years ago to honor and recognize African American women in real estate. Tell us about this initiative and your upcoming event.
Walker:
What I found is that there are times when we as black women don’t celebrate or support each other. So when I attended a couple of events and noticed the success of black women in the room, I realized it was time for us to be celebrated. It was time to build a sisterhood. So I put together the Black Women and Real Estate Queens gala, and this is my third year doing it. I am passionate about this because I believe in celebrating and honoring black women who are doing amazing things. They’re not just mothers and wives; they are bosses running their businesses and holding down the home front. I bring these women into the room, and people don’t know what to expect, but it’s inspiring. I crown women who have been in this industry for 30, 40 plus years and never got their due recognition. We as black individuals like to get dressed up and have a good time, so why not do it while celebrating and honoring these women who are doing great things in the community?
Collins:
At some of these events you were invited to, as you looked around the room, did you see a good representation of successful black women being honored?
Walker:
No, there wasn’t a good representation of women or men who looked like us being recognized. That’s why I decided to make and create change by starting with honoring black women because I am a woman in real estate. After having the event a few times, men approached me asking, “When are you going to do the King’s event?” There are many black kings out here doing their thing too.
Collins:
We thank you for having the vision to organize an event of this magnitude. It’s extremely important. Oftentimes, as entrepreneurs, especially among African Americans, there are many success stories. However, at these big events celebrating us, it seems like we don’t always communicate with each other. What words of encouragement would you offer to African American entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs of color when it comes to communication and coming together, even among our counterparts?
Walker:
We can come into one room and speak. That’s something taught at home—respecting one another. We’re in this together. When I enter a room, you’re not my competition, and when you enter, I’m not yours. We should be masterminding together like our counterparts, figuring out how to build upon our success. It starts with a conversation, sitting at a different table with someone you’ve never met. Just open your mouth and start talking.
Collins:
So your event, again, is called the Black Women in Real Estate Queens Gala.
Walker:
Yes, it’s going to be on March 29th, 2024, at the beautiful Lucien’s Manor in Berlin, New Jersey.
Collins:
Okay. Tell us about some of your honorees this year.
Walker:
Well, you know, Chris, I got it right this year. I have seven amazing black, beautiful queens that I’ll be honoring, spanning across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some individuals are licensed in both states. I wanted to bring the two together because we’re so close. You know, we all watch TV, and some things you just can’t ignore. But you have shows like “Selling Sunset” in Atlanta and LA that depict black women selling real estate or just black individuals, period. But they’re showing that they’re all selling these million-dollar homes, which isn’t always the case. I wanted our event to be live and in person, showcasing real women out here making sales happen. And we’re right here in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, so if any cameras want to follow, they’re welcome.
Collins:
How can people get involved? How can they contact you to buy tickets and inquire about sponsorships?
Walker:
We want people to come out and witness these amazing women being honored, to witness this event that is put together for us but is open to everyone. You know, there’s no color to who attends the event. I just want everybody to wear black if they can. Be a sponsor, support black-owned businesses. I’m a small black-owned business, but I’m doing my thing, so come on out, support, sponsor the event. We have sponsorship opportunities available on my website, LukeshiaWalker.com. You can buy tickets there and also place an advertisement in the program if you’d like.
Collins:
Okay. And again, that’s LukeshiaWalker.com. What’s next for Lukeshia Walker?
Walker:
I can’t reveal all of my secrets, so I’m not going to spill everything. But outside of this, I am an author of three books. So I am continuously writing and promoting my books. You’re going to see a whole lot more of me.
Collins:
Well, Lukeshia, I want to thank you for giving us your time for this interview today. The Anointed News Journal has over 180,000 weekly readers. In conclusion, what do you want to say to the readers of Anointed News Journal?
Walker:
Keep believing, keep reading, and keep supporting our black businesses. We need you.
The Anointed News Journal thanks Lukeshia Walker for serving as a beacon of inspiration and empowerment for black women entrepreneurs in the real estate industry. By highlighting their achievements and building a sense of community. Walker is not only honoring these individuals but also paving the way for future generations of aspiring entrepreneurs. We love that she is committed to celebrating success and promoting unity.
Recent Comments