Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Harris.
Hi Kendra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey may look unconventional on paper, but when I look back, there has always been one common thread: helping people solve problems.
I spent 15 years as a middle and high school math teacher, helping students break down complex challenges, build confidence, and find clarity when they felt stuck. While teaching full-time, I completed the firefighter academy, served as a volunteer firefighter, earned certifications in rope rescue and vehicle extrication, and later worked with the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team. Whether I was in a classroom, responding to emergencies, or serving my community, I was always drawn to opportunities to help lighten someone else’s load.
After 15 years in education, I was burned out. I loved teaching, but I was tired of working incredibly hard, carrying enormous responsibility, and feeling like I had little control over my time, income, or future. As a wife and mom of five, I wanted more flexibility, more financial opportunity, and the ability to build something of my own while still doing meaningful work.
Leaving teaching was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I had spent my entire adult life in education, and walking away from something so familiar was intimidating. Like many women, I wrestled with fear, uncertainty, and imposter syndrome. Then a friend asked me a simple question that changed everything: “What’s the worst that could happen?” That question gave me the courage to stop focusing on everything that could go wrong and start considering everything that could go right.
Of course, taking the leap didn’t mean I knew everything. I invested in training and courses to learn the business fundamentals that weren’t part of my background. I had to learn entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, pricing, contracts, and what it actually takes to run a business. There was a steep learning curve, but I was willing to learn.
What surprised me was how naturally the client relationship side of the business came to me. Building trust, listening, communicating, solving problems, and genuinely caring about people’s success weren’t new skills. Those were things I had spent years doing as a teacher, coach, mentor, and firefighter. The business knowledge could be learned. The ability to build meaningful relationships and support people through challenges was already part of who I was.
What started as a leap of faith quickly became proof that the skills I had spent years developing were more transferable than I ever realized. As I worked with more clients, I discovered that my background in education, leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving gave me a unique perspective in the business world. The same skills that helped me manage a classroom, lead teams, and support students were helping business owners create clarity, structure, and sustainable growth.
Today, I am the founder of Kendra Harris.Co, where I serve as an Online Business Manager and what I call a Business Doctor of Organization. I help entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and growing businesses streamline operations, optimize systems, improve workflows, and create the structure they need to grow sustainably without becoming overwhelmed by the day-to-day details.
One of the biggest surprises along the way was realizing I hadn’t left teaching behind at all. I simply changed classrooms. Instead of helping students solve math problems, I help business owners solve operational problems. Instead of creating lesson plans, I create systems and processes. Instead of helping students find a path forward, I help business owners reclaim their time, reduce stress, and build businesses that don’t depend on them for every decision.
The work looks different today, but the mission remains the same. Whether I was teaching math, responding to emergencies, mentoring students, raising five children, or supporting business owners, I’ve always been passionate about helping people move from overwhelmed to empowered. I’m grateful that I get to do that every day through my business.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has definitely not been smooth. One of the biggest challenges was leaving a stable career after 15 years in education and stepping into a world where I had no experience running a business. I knew how to teach, lead, communicate, and build relationships, but I had to learn entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, pricing, contracts, and countless other business fundamentals from the ground up.
Like many business owners, I also struggled with imposter syndrome. There were times when I questioned whether I was qualified enough or experienced enough to succeed. I eventually realized that confidence doesn’t come before action. Confidence comes from taking action, learning from mistakes, and proving to yourself that you can figure things out along the way.
Building a business while raising a family has also been challenging. As a wife and mom of five, there were plenty of early mornings, late nights, and moments when I had to balance client responsibilities, family commitments, and the uncertainty that comes with building something new.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change any of it. The challenges forced me to grow, adapt, and become more resilient. They taught me how to solve problems, trust myself, and keep moving forward even when I didn’t have all the answers. Those experiences have made me a better business owner and have given me a deeper understanding of the challenges many of my clients face as they grow their own businesses.
We’ve been impressed with Kendra Harris.Co, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the founder of Kendra Harris.Co, where I serve as an Online Business Manager (OBM) and what I call a Business Doctor of Organization. I help entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and growing businesses streamline operations, optimize systems, improve workflows, and create the structure they need to grow without becoming overwhelmed by the day-to-day details. My clients don’t just get help managing tasks. They gain a trusted thought partner who can identify bottlenecks, create solutions, and build systems that support long-term growth.
In addition to my OBM work, I also coach aspiring and established Virtual Assistants who want to strengthen their skills, increase their confidence, and build sustainable businesses of their own. Having successfully transitioned from a 15-year career in education into entrepreneurship, I enjoy helping others navigate that journey and avoid some of the mistakes I made along the way.
One of the initiatives I’m most excited about is The Task Tranquilizer, a program designed to reduce teacher stress without removing responsibilities. As a former educator, I understand firsthand how overwhelming it can be to manage hundreds of responsibilities using disconnected systems, sticky notes, notebooks, emails, and memory alone. The Task Tranquilizer helps educators and schools create simple, sustainable organizational systems that reduce mental clutter, improve communication, and help teachers feel more in control of their workload. Rather than adding another initiative, it provides practical solutions that help educators manage everything already on their plates more effectively.
What sets me apart is that my background isn’t just in business. It’s in education, leadership, service, and problem-solving. As a former teacher, volunteer firefighter, and mom of five, I bring a unique perspective to every client relationship. I understand how to create clarity in complex situations, build trust, communicate effectively, and help people move from overwhelmed to empowered.
I am also the founder of 5th Quarter Family, a brand built on the belief that time won’t wait for more money, a less busy schedule, or the perfect plan. Through affordable adventures, sports experiences, and memory-making ideas, we help families stop waiting for someday and start creating meaningful memories now.
More than anything, I want people to know that my work is about creating freedom. Whether I’m helping a business owner build better systems, supporting a virtual assistant as they grow their business, helping educators reduce stress through Task Tranquilizer, or encouraging families to stop waiting for someday through 5th Quarter Family, the goal is the same: helping people create more time, more clarity, and more space for what matters most.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Nashville is the variety. Whether it’s attending a sporting event, spending a day exploring the city with my family, enjoying a Broadway date night with my husband, or connecting with fellow business owners, there is always something to do and someone new to meet. Nashville offers opportunities for every stage of life and every interest, which is one of the reasons my family and I find ourselves there so often.
I also appreciate the strong sense of community. As a member of the Advisory Board for FemCity Nashville, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with incredible women business owners who are committed to supporting one another, sharing resources, and building meaningful relationships. Nashville has a unique ability to feel like a major city while still fostering genuine connections and collaboration.
Another thing I appreciate about Nashville is Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It has become an important place for our family over the years, and we have experienced firsthand the exceptional care, expertise, and compassion their team provides. Knowing that level of medical care is available when you need it most is something I never take for granted.
If I had to choose something I like least, it would probably be the traffic. As Nashville continues to grow, getting around the city can sometimes take a little longer than expected. That said, the opportunities, experiences, and sense of community the city offers make it well worth the drive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kendraharris.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5thquarterfamily
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendraharrisco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KendraHarrisCo
- Other: https://www.calendly.com/kendraharrisva/discovery-call
