Meet Kimia Kalbasi | Consultant & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimia Kalbasi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimia, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I’d have to say my positive outlook and attitude intertwined with my la la land childlike daydreaming nature. For instance, as a child, you’re truly hopeful, hold an unfiltered and unconditional faith in the world around you, an untethered soul who embraces any opportunity or challenge that enters your space. I wholeheartedly believe that whoever you want to become as a little kid is truly indicative of who you want to ultimately be because of this. I have proudly adopted an abundance mindset and focus on what I have at the moment and understanding what I can work with vs. focusing on what may be lacking at the time, whether that’s certain resources, time, etc. Point blank, despite any of the hurdles, ups, downs, detours, and failed attempts in between, I know that I’ll get there no matter what, it’s about heading in the right direction, not the speed.

I’ve always had the vision in mind of how I wanted my life to be and even though I didn’t know how I was going to get there, I’ve embraced the expedition and am writing that playbook as I go. There is no magical manual dictating how I get from point A to point Z, I am writing that manual for myself. There are times you will go from point A to G to K back to X back to A then slowly to B then eventually to Z. Let’s enjoy the road trip and not be so fully enamored by the destination. Half the fun is getting there after all. Simultaneously, my parents taught me about the law of attraction when I was 15 years old, basically your thoughts are tangible and as you have a vivid vision for your life, you work towards it while speaking it into existence. My mom also emphasized that luck is when preparation meets opportunity so it’s all about planting seeds and making those strides and once you pave that path, opportunities will line up. Not because you were “lucky” but because you already set up the stones towards success. I made my first vision board then and I’m proud to say I’m currently living my vision from a career perspective and there are still aspects of it that I’m winging as I go 🙂

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ambitious, bubbly, and charismatic are the ABCs that describe me in a quintessential nutshell. I was born in LA, raised in OC, attended UCSB, and have worked and lived in SF and NYC. Today, I’m primarily based in SoCal while working remotely bopping around traveling from time to time, whether for work-related campaigns and projects or on a leisurely cadence to reunite with friends, family, and loved ones.

I am an independent marketing consultant. I also run a micro-influencer brand on IG called Kimia’s Kravings, your ultimate go-to guide for where to eat, drink, and play in style intertwined with puns and positivity while working with a plethora of lifestyle brands on sponsored content and major campaigns. I consult on all things social media, from robust strategy to end-to-end execution, as well as run influencer marketing programs, for a multitude of brands and organizations to help drive growth and revenue through creative content, compelling copy, and cultivating communities.

I’m intentional with the companies I choose to work with because it’s crucial for me to not only connect on a professional level with the founders and their teams but also resonate with the product or service they offer and align on values, and the mission on a personal level as well. I wholeheartedly and deeply care about the work I do and although it may not be conventionally deemed as saving lives, I do find a personal meaningful purpose in my work. So it’s important for me to feel enticed about upcoming projects and work I take on.

With that said, what sets me apart from others is the fact that my approach is led through empathy. I sit in a very unique position as I wear 3 different lenses. Firstly, as a young professional and female millennial, I am a part of the core demographic and interest groups that many of these companies target. Secondly, I’ve built and led influencer and social programs from the ground up on the brand side. Lastly and most importantly, as an influencer myself, I hone in on the experience on the other side having had dealt with every unique scenario when it comes to connecting with brands, from gift seedings, dealing with the legalities and nuances negotiating sponsorships and contracts to the creative elements of campaign briefs, managing key stakeholder relationships, measuring the success of a partnership, and everything in between that goes on behind-the-scenes in this scope of work, that nobody sees because all they see is the final published content.

With that said, I’m most proud of and excited about the interconnected relationships I’ve cultivated since day 1 that have helped paved the way to where I am today. I’ve learned that the world is eerily tiny in that you really never know who you will reconnect with, cross paths with, as there are endless full circle moments when it comes to expanding my circle and community, especially when you’re immersed in a niche industry. Those full circle moments are the most magical and special to me because we’re all connected, that is my most favorite part about it and they never cease to fascinate me. It goes beyond the surface-level glitzy and glamorous aspects and accolades that have gone into the past 7 years and counting. It’s all about the stories swapped, the connections created, and the bonds formed that ultimately make the most fulfilling lifelong impact and biggest accomplishments of all. I’ve been an avid networker for as long as I can remember and quite frankly, it still never gets old to this very day. You never know who you will meet next and what a profound difference you can make in one another’s life in ways you’d never begin to imagine. It starts with seeding a relationship.

Throughout my career, I’ve learned to leverage my network and intertwine my personal hobbies & interests into my full-time livelihood. It’s been the last thing from easy because it all looks so fun and effortless, but I’ve accepted and embraced the challenges along the journey that I face to this day. Let’s be real, none of us have it truly figured out. Needless to say, there have been countless sweat, tears, thankfully no blood, and breakdowns and breakthroughs but can’t deny the fact that it helped build the foundation of my mental fortitude. Remaining resilient has been my guiding force to keep me going no matter how tough the going gets. There are infinite up’s, downs, and diagonal directions that go into this nature of work – from facing numerous rejections for projects, proposals falling through after weeks or months of discussions, to the inconsistencies and unknowns of it all. I’m highlighting the not-so-fun parts because none of it is talked about enough yet we’re all blinded by the aesthetic facade of this digital world we reside in. Even to some extent we’re aware of the highlight reel that social media is but there is still so much yet to be openly discussed, let’s open up the floodgates. My favorite quote is, “It takes 10 years to create an overnight success,” that’s because we’re bombarded by spick and shiny, sparkling success stories but we forget to realize that there was so much going on that led to that point that none of the viewers or audience is wary or cognizant of.

I’ve learned to accept things when they don’t go according to plan and not to be so rigid or black and white with my perspective; I can only control the controllables – my actions, setting boundaries, how I respond, and how I consciously spend my time are what are in my full control. In full candor, I’ll admit I’ve always steered on the side of positivity and optimism when it comes to the kind of mentality I adopt. Even though life isn’t always dandy like candy filled with rainbows and butterflies, I like to act like it is and it helps me, personally. I’ll admit I tend to wear rose-colored glasses. Some call it delusional, I call it dreaming 🙂

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Laguna Beach is hands down one of my favorite places in the world. Its pristine beauty, untouchable charm, and magical aura is unlike any other beach town I’ve ever been to, which is why I love taking friends here to share that special experience. It’s like having access to a tropical vacation in the comfort of your backyard. Also, since I spent a couple of the best years of my life in Santa Barbara during college, Laguna Beach reminds me of an elevated experience with its casual, laid-back atmosphere juxtaposed with vacay vibes,

As someone who grew up in Orange County and having had lived in NY, SF, LA, and SB I only grow to love and appreciate OC more and more.

I also love Newport, Corona Del Mar, and enjoy spending time in the towns in between

Here is a lil itinerary of where I’d take my best friend for the day:

– Morning: breakfast at Coyote Grill followed by a hike at Top of the World

– Mid-Morning: grab coffee at Koffee Klatch and explore downtown Laguna Beach

– Lunch: Grab lunch at Bear Flag Fish Co. at Lido Marina Village or Crystal Cove

– Late Afternoon: walk around Balboa Island and go beachfront house sightseeing

– Dinner: Abha in Laguna Beach for a cozy intimate dinner or Sota Sushi in Corona del Mar

– Evening: wind down with tea & treats in the lobby at Montage Laguna Beach

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents and best friends who are like family and have been supporting me since before the start of my entrepreneurial journey. You know who you are 🙂

Website: KimiasKravings.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/KimiasKravings

Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/KimiaKalbasi

Image Credits
@AlisonRaePhotography Getty Images