DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center gives students and alumni the resources needed to build long-lasting businesses that deliver positive social impact. In particular, the Social Impact Incubator Program challenges entrepreneurs to scale and grow business ventures that have a strong social impact mission.
In this Q&A, we sat down with one of the winter 2022 participants, Mary Keel, founder of Divine Diamond Fitness. Read on to learn about her entrepreneurship story and how the program helped her business.
1. Can you tell us a little bit about what Divine Diamond Fitness is and how you came up with the concept?
Having been born and raised on the south side of Chicago, I wanted to start a business that would make a positive impact on people living in distressed South Side communities. As a single mother with a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure, I know firsthand the struggles of trying to live a healthier life while raising children. And so, I came up with the idea for Divine Diamond Fitness.
My business provides healthy options and resources to educate and empower communities of color and all residents to increase their longevity of life. We also have a unique ability to connect with clients through music, which can culturally, morally, and emotionally influence a community.
Our mission is to enhance the health and wellness of our communities by decreasing the generational disparities that exist in health and fitness. We strive to break the walls of negative traditions and build new ones that are designed to transform lives.
2. Tell us about your experience in the Social Impact Incubator.
The social impact incubator was very informative. The workshops and speakers shared valuable information that was relevant to my business, and I walked away with new knowledge and ideas. I was so happy the content was recorded because it allowed me to go back and review a topic to gain more clarity. Everyone in the program was sincere about helping us grow our businesses.
3. In what ways has that experience changed the way you operate as a business owner?
The experience helped me identify my target market and understand how to better focus my marketing efforts. By locating my target customers, being more intentional about my marketing strategies and which areas and services to focus on for immediate growth, I have grown my business by 5 percent.
4. Your business recently participated in the CEC Internship Program and worked with one of our DePaul students, Grant Jodoin. Can you talk about that program and how you and Grant worked together to accomplish goals?
I applied for the internship to receive additional assistance with growing my social media. The program allowed me to focus on customer service while Grant was able to focus on the social media aspect. Grant was such great help as an intern. He was very attentive and understood my vision. With this shared understanding, we worked together to grow our social media and engage audiences. We met often to take photos and record workout videos to promote the vision for my business. The program was everything I expected it to be. If you are seeking assistance in your business, I suggest you apply to this program.
5. What’s next for you and Divine Diamond Fitness?
My next goal is to establish a brick-and-mortar gym to expand my clientele and also add to my list of services, like providing heated massage beds, cupping, and assisted one-on-one stretching. I also plan to obtain a vendor number for the Chicago Public Schools so I can service principals, teachers, and staff. In addition, I’m looking to collaborate with other organizations with similar values to utilize their physical space and gain new clients.
Are you an entrepreneur interested in growing and scaling your business? Check out the Social Impact Incubator at DePaul University’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center. Learn more here.
Contributor Bio
Mary Keel is a fitness professional who specializes in weight loss transformations. Currently working as a certified group and personal trainer as well as a flexibility and mobility specialist, Mary’s goal is to help people achieve their ultimate health and fitness goals. She believes that health and wellness is a process that starts from the inside out. Mary is passionate about helping people on their fitness journey and empowering them to have better health.
Learn more about Mary and her services here.