Meet Techina Jacques, an ambitious serial entrepreneur with a heart for making a positive impact in the world. Born and raised in Charleston, SC., she has dedicated her life to empowering others. Despite lacking business acumen or mentorship in her early years, Techina was driven by her love of learning and determination to succeed, turning to online resources to teach herself the skills she needed to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams.
After earning her undergrad degree and initially aspiring to become an attorney, Techina instead pursued her passion for politics and community service by working in local government. There, she gained valuable insights into the inner workings of government. She also developed a passion for empowering underrepresented communities like the one she grew up in. Later, she pivoted to the architectural, engineering, and construction industry, where she worked as a Project Manager on multi-million-dollar projects. As a lover of learning, she continued her education and obtained her PMP certification, MBA degree, and a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership.
Her story is one of resilience and determination as she has had to overcome several obstacles and challenges in her life, including domestic violence. Throughout her journey, Techina remained dedicated to giving back to her community and making a difference in the lives of others. She has started three businesses, all designed to empower others. Her latest venture, Biz BuildHers, is a testament to this commitment. With Biz BuildHers, Techina is on a mission to empower women entrepreneurs around the world by providing them with the support, resources, and guidance they need to succeed. Drawing on her own experiences as a woman in the business world, Techina is passionate about breaking down barriers and bridging the gap for women everywhere.
FWM: You’ve had many successful businesses. Share your background.
My entrepreneurial journey began at a young age, but I lacked the business know-how and proper guidance to grow and scale my businesses. Growing up, I didn’t have anyone who was business-minded guiding me, so I made a lot of mistakes. However, I was super determined to succeed. I turned to Google and YouTube to learn what I could for free, but I eventually started purchasing business trainings and attending business conferences to learn all that I could. To help fund my dreams, I sometimes worked 2 and 3 jobs at a time. My first business as an adult was Focus to Finish, which provided virtual assistant services to entrepreneurs. I learned so much about myself and entrepreneurship with this business, especially the importance of systems, setting boundaries with clients, and implementing self-care. I’m relaunching Focus to Finish this year as it is moving into a new direction that’s more aligned with my personal goal of making an impact.
Last year, I started working on two new businesses, Embark and Biz BuildHers. Embark provides resume writing and career services to individuals who want to level up their careers. I started resume writing as a side hustle, but it grew into a business after seeing the number of people who needed assistance. Seeing the impact Embark has made internationally, reaching as far as Zambia, Africa, is one of my proudest achievements.
FWM: What are some of the challenges you have faced during your entrepreneurial journey?
Most people don’t tell you about the hard parts of entrepreneurship; they just talk about the time freedom, all the money you will make, vacations to tropical paradises, fancy dinners, etc. When I first started my businesses, I faced many challenges, including imposter syndrome, fear of failure, and navigating the complexities of running a business. Imposter syndrome and the fear of failure were major hurdles for me. Despite my achievements in life, I feared that my business endeavors would fail. My imposter syndrome showed up in the forms of perfectionism, analysis paralysis, and procrastination. To be transparent, at times, they still try to creep into my head. Starting a business is not easy at all. Besides the financial part of it, there were also the mental and physical parts. I remember over drafting my account to keep my business afloat, countless sleepless nights, turning down quality time with friends and family, and lots more. Those challenges made me stronger, more resilient, and shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today.
FWM: Tell us about Biz BuildHers and how it is uplifting and empowering women-owned businesses worldwide.
My latest venture, Biz BuildHers, is my pride and joy. It started as a passion project because I saw a need for more resources and support for women entrepreneurs. As a woman who has faced many obstacles in the business world, I saw the need to bridge the gap and provide guidance and tools to help women entrepreneurs reach their full potential and thrive. Our mission is to empower women entrepreneurs globally by providing them with the support and resources they need to build and grow their businesses. We are currently building a community for women entrepreneurs where they can collaborate, discuss ideas, and offer each other support. We truly want to create a movement where women and young girls learn skills and become successful businesswomen who make a positive impact in the world.
One of the things that sets Biz BuildHers apart is our commitment to community and social impact. We have partnered with several women-led nonprofits around the US to provide services at no cost. We are proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time and aspire to extend our influence and impact on communities worldwide.
FWM: What are the support and resources offered?
At Biz BuildHers, we offer a range of services that not only help women entrepreneurs achieve clarity, save time, and reach their business goals faster, but also alleviate the stress of launching or growing a business alone. Our services include business coaching, strategy, and done-for-you services such as virtual assistance, project management, web and sales funnel development, and press release writing and distribution. Our Start-Up Business Bundle is for aspiring women entrepreneurs or those who want additional coaching. It provides them with everything they need to launch their businesses, including 8 weeks of coaching, a new logo, social media setup and integration, and a 5-page website. We also provide marketing strategies to increase traffic to our clients’ businesses and increase revenue. After the coaching is done, we don’t just abandon our clients; we provide additional customer support to support a successful launch.
FWM: Your mission has always been to make an impact. Can you share a few personal stories of client success?
I’m honored to have been a part of so many inspiring success stories. One client’s transformation comes to mind, as it highlights the power of dreams and determination. She approached me with a simple idea for a cleaning business, fueled by her years of experience working in hotels. She yearned to create something of her own, a legacy she could pass down to her children. Together, we embarked on a transformative journey, turning her vision into reality. Through personalized guidance and support, we established a solid foundation for her business. We crafted a comprehensive business plan, developed a captivating brand identity, and brought her online presence to life with a professional website. Witnessing her evolution from an employee to a proud and successful business owner, with a steadily growing clientele, was rewarding.
One of the most inspiring client success stories came from a woman leading a nonprofit organization for children. She faced challenges in distinguishing her organization from others in the crowded landscape. She expressed a desire to amplify her organization’s visibility and make a greater impact. Together, we embarked on a journey of discovery, starting with a SWOT analysis to identify their areas of weakness and opportunities for growth. That analysis laid the groundwork for crafting a compelling brand story that effectively showcased the incredible work being done by her nonprofit. We also developed a cohesive and engaging social media strategy for her, which included establishing a consistent brand presence across various platforms, crafting captivating content, and leveraging targeted outreach initiatives. Our collaborative efforts resulted in heightened visibility, which allowed her to reach a broader audience, attract more support, and ultimately create a more significant impact within her community.
This success story holds a special place in my heart as it aligns perfectly with our commitment to giving back and making a positive difference. By empowering women-led nonprofits and amplifying their voices, we contribute to the collective strength of our communities and foster meaningful change.
FWM: How important is collaboration?
In the world of business, collaboration is crucial for success. As entrepreneurs, we must acknowledge that we can’t do everything alone. Partnering with others during our journey can accelerate our progress towards our goals. Moreover, having people around who are invested in our success and are there to support us can make the journey more enjoyable. At Biz BuildHers, collaboration is one of our fundamental values. We foster a collaborative environment and offer our clients opportunities to connect with each other and build a supportive community.
FWM: What lessons have you learned during your entrepreneurial journey?
My journey has taught me many valuable lessons. One of the most important lessons is that failure is part of the process. Embrace it, learn from it, and fail forward. Another lesson is the importance of being resilient. Being an entrepreneur will challenge you, and there may be times you want to give up. Keep pushing forward and don’t let obstacles stop you from accomplishing your goals. The last lesson that I’ll share is to have a strong support system. It’s important to have people around you who believe in your vision, encourage you, and support you. If you are an aspiring or existing entrepreneur that doesn’t have supportive people around, contact us, and we’ll work to provide you with the best support we can. As the saying goes, “Empowered women empower women.”
