Kemberley Washington, CPA
Written By: Reneé Claire Blanchard, Owner/Operator Church Alley Coffee Bar, Bossy Like Me
I met Kemberley at my shop in 2015, when I shared a space with an independent movie theater. My cafe took over the first 800sq feet and the movie theater, which only operated in the evenings, took over a huge space of close to 2,000 sqft. Kemberley was looking for a space to hold free financial workshops for women. The workshops went over the basics of financial literacy, something so many have needed at some point in our lives (or something we have hid from in our business and need to this day). She purchased drinks and a small snack for each participant and that gave me a good amount of business once a month. During these weekends, I got to know Kemberley and her mother and we all hit it off.
I wanted to interview Kemberley because I was interested in her story. I wanted to understand how she came to love finance so much and the steps she took regularly to fulfill what is truly her life’s mission of helping everyone to create their own wealth.
I spoke to Kemberley over the phone during the peak of COVID-19 in New Orleans. My shop was closed to the public but I was pivoting to delivery of bulk items that we normally sold individually. And Kemberley had just finished an extended tax season. While taxes are usually required to be filed no later than April 15, the federal government had extended this filing deadline to July 15. I spoke to her about a week after that.
How did you get started in finance?
Kemberley’s dad is an architect and had lost his accountant one year. He needed one and she needed a job. At 16 years old, Kemberley started doing her dad’s bookkeeping. She learned the ins and outs of what it took to keep a small business’ books during this time. Once she got a taste for finance, she decided to go to school and learn more.
Why do you love finance so much?
It doesn’t take long to realize Kemberley’s love for teaching and counseling others about finance and expanding their financial knowledge. I was lucky enough to watch her teach over several months. Kemberley understands that everybody doesn’t really understand finance professionally and personally. In her writing and TV appearances, she connects with her audience and clients with her own personal journey. Constantly making finance accessible to those listening. She repeatedly mentioned that it is the education side of the work she does that is so satisfying.
If you haven’t seen Kemberley’s TV segments on WDSU here in New Orleans, make sure to check them out. They are small segments on timely topics to help you create the financial freedom you are looking for.
It is in her consistency where you see the dedication to her craft. And the joy it brings her. Kemberley not only appears regularly on WDSU, but she also keeps up a website, holds down a private practice, holds workshops at her church, and has published seven books.
You are great at promoting the value of your work and skills. This is so difficult for many of us. Can you share a few tips on how you do this?
Kemberley’s first piece of advice is to get over your fears. We often walk around telling ourselves we can’t do it. Who do you think you are, is a question so many of us repeatedly say to yourself. But Kemberley is adamant, you have to get over it and move forward. Keep saying “I can do it”. Through prayer and believing in God’s promise, I can do all things through his strength.
Much of the success Kemberley has seen is because of her dedication and discipline in her faith to God. Her books bring in scripture to better understand how to build a budget dedicated to believing in yourself and tithing, giving 10% of your salary to the service of God. Her commitment to service is deeply entwined with her confidence that she is following the right path for her own business. And why she believes you can do it too.
How do you start your day?
I’m so impressed with how much Kemberley seems to accomplish and I wanted to know more about her routines. She told me many years ago, maybe around 2010, she purposefully created a system that has worked well for her. She wakes up early in the morning, prays, journals, and practices meditation. She even created her own planner because she couldn’t find anything that works for her. She knows that when she doesn’t follow this routine in the morning, the day just doesn’t work out the way she wants it to. She calls this her baseline. It’s the foundation for which she builds the rest of her work.
What are the routines to accomplish your goals?
Aside from this morning foundation, she keeps the big picture in front of her at all times. But it isn’t static. She is constantly revisiting her journals. Looking for what she has said she wanted to accomplish and wondering “why am I not doing it right now? what excuse am I saying and how can I overcome these excuses?” Something we can all identify with when we have so many ideas and a demanding schedule of running a business. Kemberley said she always goes back to prayer. She goes back to her life purpose and to god to find the answers.
I greatly appreciate Kemberley’s commitment to something bigger than herself. Running a business is taxing on every part of our life and without a greater purpose leading the way, it can be nearly impossible to get through the rough times. Some are working to provide for their family, to create generational wealth, or simply following a greater calling to provide for society. For Kemberley her greater calling is her discipline in the gospel.
What are you reading and listening to right now?
When I spoke to Kemberley she had just finished with an extended tax season and was reflecting on her work during this time and figuring out what was the next goal to tackle. She shared with me some of her favorite books that she likes to revisit. “Destiny: Step Into Your Purpose” by Bishop T.D. Jakes, which is about reaching your goals, reaching your vision, and she rereads this again and again. “Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale, Rick Warren’s “A Purpose Driven Life”, and she reads the bible everyday.
Kemberley left me with some words of encouragement to share. “Keep going. Don’t be afraid to change, especially in this season. Follow your passion, whatever that is and wherever it leads you. Keep your dreams and goals alive no matter what happens.”
You can learn more about Kemberley and the resources she offers:
Books:
“The Ten Commandments to Financial Healing”
“It All Starts With A Budget!”
“Are You Wearing the B.A.D.G.E? Financial Planner”
“21 Days of Powerful Breakthroughs”
“21 Days of Victorious Living”
“21 Days of Rightful Relationships”
“My Financial Planner: Set Thine House in Order”
“21 Days of the Great I am!”
