Meet Kei Davis: the powerhouse behind The Inn Crowd, a travel tribe for millennial women of color.
Davis is a process improvement analyst by trade, with four years of corporate experience helping businesses run efficiently while increasing their profitability. In the last two years, she also has built an international travel brand designed not only to empower women but also to equip them with the tools and resources to level up their businesses and bank accounts.
Rolling out recently asked the passionate young “travelpreneur” to share how she built her brand and how other women can do the same.
As a Black woman, what do you consider your superpower to be?
My ingenuity. I truly believe I have the gift of grind. No matter what circumstance or situation, I’m going to take that opportunity and make whatever it is 10 times better than it was when I started.
What was the creative vision for The Inn Crowd?
My creative vision for The Inn Crowd was simple: I wanted to create a fun travel brand for women of color that was inclusive, ultra-feminine and over-the-top. Have you ever ordered something and every detail of the packaging was perfect?… Now think about how you feel when you open that package. That’s exactly what I strive for any time I plan an Inn Crowd event.
How would you describe The Inn Crowd brand?
The Inn Crowd is like having a dedicated group of friends who are always ready to travel. We strive to create an atmosphere that makes every girl feel as if she’s amongst friends she’s known for years. It’s all about positivity and good vibes. We actually have a no-gossip policy. If someone comes on a trip with crazy energy, talking about people and being just outright negative, we ban her from ever coming on a trip again. I do that because there’s enough of that catty, petty energy in the world, and I’m building something different.
What advice would you give to women wanting to start a business?
Just start! Don’t ask anyone what they think, because it doesn’t matter. Get out of your head and get to work. Almost anything you need to know can be found out with a simple Google search. Stop procrastinating and calling it research. Procrastination is the thief of success. There will never be a good time to start, so you might as well start now.
What’s next for The Inn Crowd?
My mission is to help as many young Black women as possible, travel and experience life on a global level. Currently, we’re expanding to include more trips centered around entrepreneurship and self-development. Our next initiative is to grant scholarships to help women of color study abroad. This program will be specifically for women of color who attend predominantly White institutions.
Visit The Inn Crowd’s website at theinncrowd.co, and follow @TheInnCrowd.co on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Davis @kei.wanders on Instagram, or email her at [email protected].
