When you meet Kimberlee Richards, you immediately notice her strength, focus, and drive. It is no wonder she has turned years of hard work and leadership into a thriving business, The Flourishing Agency. She built a platform that empowers entrepreneurs and strengthens community growth in Memphis.
Having navigated personal and professional challenges, she found the tools, confidence, and community to grow her vision, with the support of the FINSYNC CO.STARTERS program helping guide her final steps.
Turning Adversity into Purpose
“Eight years ago, I had no idea where this journey would lead,” Kimberlee says. “I just knew I wanted to help people grow their businesses and leadership skills.”
Kimberlee’s entrepreneurial path was marked by profound challenges. Just 11 months after she started her business, her husband passed away unexpectedly. Suddenly, she was a solo parent faced with the choice of whether to keep pursuing her dream or give it up.
“It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever faced,” she recalls. “But I kept going because I believed in what I was building and I wanted to show my children what it looks like to persevere.”
This determination laid the foundation for everything The Flourishing Agency has become today.
Years of Branding, Years of Impact
Kimberlee credits much of her success to intentional, consistent branding and SEO efforts.
“My online presence didn’t happen overnight,” she explains. “It’s the result of eight years of building my personal brand, growing my credibility, and making sure people can actually find me online.”
Her work paid off. Today, a quick search yields a thriving website, an engaged Instagram following, glowing Google Reviews, and a strong LinkedIn presence that effectively showcases her credibility and influence.
Facilitating Growth Through FINSYNC
Alongside growing her agency, Kimberlee has facilitated multiple FINSYNC CO.STARTERS cohorts, which are hands-on programs designed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of starting and growing their businesses.
“The program is so much more than just learning business skills,” Kimberlee says. “It creates a beautiful, organic community where people support each other and keep growing long after the program ends.”
She describes the CO.STARTERS Canvas as a “powerful organizer” that helps participants test business ideas and find clarity. “You see those light bulb moments,” she says. “That’s what keeps me inspired.”
Creating Community Leaders
Kimberlee has witnessed the power of FINSYNC CO.STARTERS to spark lasting connections. Through her role as a facilitator, she has watched alumni like the founders of Pile of Threads and Cousins Cravings Catering go from idea to established businesses. Seeing these entrepreneurs build on their experience and make a local impact shows just how much influence the program can have beyond the classroom.
A New Space, A Bigger Vision
After seven years of working in co-working spaces, Kimberlee secured a 1,500-square-foot office in Whitehaven, the same Memphis neighborhood where she grew up and even worked her first summer job in 1996.
“It feels like coming full circle,” she says. “To build something right here in my community, in a space that already holds so much personal history, is incredible.”
Looking Ahead
Kimberlee’s vision extends far beyond her agency’s walls. She’s now working to build partnerships with community development corporations to bring entrepreneurship programming to more small business owners.
For Kimberlee, true success means helping others flourish — living up to the name of her agency.
“I know what it feels like to start from scratch,” she says. “That’s why I’m passionate about creating spaces and resources where other entrepreneurs can succeed.”