Check Out Kaleisha Walker’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaleisha Walker.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I’m a humble Christian soul from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where I was born and raised. At a young age, I was eager and ready to start working. I obtained my worker’s permit at 15-and-a-half and started working part-time at a fast-food restaurant. While attending high school, I continued working that respective part-time job. Upon graduation, I decided to take a five-year hiatus from education and work full-time. During that tenure, I realized that I wanted better for myself and more for my life. I made the ultimate decision to further my education and go to college. I was the first one in my family to go to college.

While attending college, I also worked full-time and part-time and balanced two organizations. The load was heavy. Although my present self then wanted to give up, I refused to quit on my future self. I persevered. And despite balancing that heavy load, I still managed to maintain good grades and a high GPA. I achieved academic recognition; I made the Dean’s List multiple times. I also almost graduated with honors; I needed a 3.5 GPA, but I graduated with a 3.461. I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2011. I majored in Mass Communication with a heavy emphasis in Public Relations and a minor emphasis in Fashion Merchandising.

I was a first-generation college graduate, which I am humbly proud of and hold near and dear to my heart. I was determined and driven to graduate – especially since I was the first in my family to attend college. I wanted to set a positive example and break the cycle. A year after graduating college, I finally landed a job at an advertising agency as a Receptionist/Director of First Impressions. Although I started in that role early in my career, I knew I wanted more and was determined to advance. So, along the way, other growth opportunities presented themselves and led me to other agencies and companies.

Throughout my professional career, I’ve served in the following roles: On-Air Broadcast Personality/Talent, Assistant Manager, Account Executive, Account Manager, Social Media Coordinator, Marketing Support Coordinator, Web Marketing Specialist, and Web Admin Specialist. Currently, I am a Casting Director and Location Scout for a video production company. So, how did I get here and land this role?

I relocated to Tennessee for a full-time web marketing position in October 2021. When I moved here, unbeknownst to me, there were unlimited opportunities in the acting and entertainment realm, which has always been a passion of mine. While working my full-time marketing job, I was intentional about learning more about those acting opportunities and making connections. And within three months, I booked my first role as background talent in a feature film. From there, it catapulted. To God be the glory. Within two-and-a-half years, I have booked nearly 70 projects – from feature films to short films, music videos, commercials, and more. Of that number, 25 of those projects were speaking roles. These opportunities gave me valuable experience and allowed me to work with owners, directors, producers, casting directors, and other industry people, all of which led me to my current role. I’m a firm believer that every job and every gig you work leads you to your next position/role. God is continually preparing you for that job and preparing that job for you. I want to preface this by saying this. I had been praying countless heartfelt, tear-filled prayer requests, humbly asking God to open a door (Matthew 7:7-8) that would allow me to work full-time in the entertainment industry. And He did just that – and much sooner than I expected.

One day out of the blue (Jan. 22, 2024, which also happened to be a fasting day for me), God answered that prayer in the form of a text message from an angel (owner of a media production company). I had the privilege and honor to work with this owner multiple times. He asked if I ever had an interest in working in the entertainment business. At that juncture, that owner had no idea I had been praying for such an opportunity. Tears immediately flooded my eyes when I read the message from my now-boss. I was speechless, in awe, and filled with immense emotions. I grabbed my Bible, got on bended knees, and began to thank God for that blessing, that angel, that answered prayer. I gave Him all the praise, glory, and honor. Once I regained my composure, I gratefully responded to the owner. After multiple communication exchanges, I accepted their Casting Director and Location Scout offer. Dream fulfilled.

Acting and being in the entertainment industry has always been a lifelong dream. But, in all transparency, I made it a suppressed dream before moving to Tennessee. Deferred dreams. Why? Because I didn’t think it would ever come to fruition. Where I was originally from, those acting opportunities were essentially non-existent. So, in a sense, I surrendered those dreams. But once I moved to a new environment (Tennessee) and started working in the entertainment industry and acting, those dreams were re-awakened. I had finally found my long-sought passion, and I knew wholeheartedly this was where I belonged and desired to be. I am eternally grateful, thankful, appreciative, and humbled to finally have the opportunity to work full-time in this field. As the adage goes, do what you love, and you’ll never work a day. I give God all the praise, honor, and glory and wholeheartedly and humbly thank Him.

I attribute some core people for molding me into the woman I am today, for my success, and for helping me get to where I am. First and foremost: God. I wouldn’t be who I am without Him. The things I’ve achieved wouldn’t be possible without Him. The opportunities wouldn’t exist without Him. Every single thing is possible only because of God. From the depths of my soul, I love You and thank You. Next: My beautiful, strong, loving, compassionate, hardworking Mother. I got my strong work ethic, independence, strength, drive, determination, and so much more from my beloved Mother. For that – and so much more – I thank you with every fiber of my unique being, Mother, and I am eternally grateful for you. I love you, Mom. I always strive to make you proud, myself, my family, and, most importantly, make God proud. Lastly: My entire loving family – including the Hodges family. Thank you for your unconditional love and continued support. It means so much.

I am eternally grateful for my core people and foundation, and I cannot thank them enough. I love you all. There are a few others outside my core people, as well, who have been instrumental, and I thank them. There’s so much more I want to accomplish in this life, and I know I can’t do it without God and my foundation. I thank You, God, and thank You for my core people. To any and all dreamers, I want to share some sound advice with you. These things helped me along the way and helped get me where I am today, and I feel they can help you, too.

1. Trust in yourself, and, most importantly, trust God.
2. Ask God for what you want; He will give you your heart’s desires. Psalms 37:4.
3. Work towards your dreams and goals. If you reside in a vicinity that doesn’t support your dreams, or those opportunities are unavailable there, move to an area where it will be possible. God will make the impossible possible. Matthew 19:26.
4. Seek opportunities in your desired field; if they do not exist, create them.
5. Surround yourself with like-minded people and people who are more intelligent than you. Find your people, your tribe.
6. Develop healthy and intentional relationships; they can be fruitful, yield blessings, and pay off in more ways beyond transactional.
7. Be an eager student and absorb as much information as possible; always be willing to learn.
8. Invest in yourself continually; you are your most significant investment.
9. Make yourself indispensable and an asset.
10. Expand your skill sets.
11. Work constantly on your professional and personal development.
12. Work hard, smarter, diligently, and passionately.
13. Encourage yourself and others.
14. Leave a positive, lasting impression/impact on others.
15. Diversify your circle.
16. Keep a positive, can-do, winning attitude.
17. Be a professional in all settings.
18. Help others.

The aforementioned are essential. However, I strongly feel, in every facet of life, the absolute most important are these three (3) core and necessary ingredients: God, prayer, and faith. Keep these as your guiding source, light, and beacon, then you can do all things. Philippians 4:13.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

In life and with any journey, I don’t believe it’s ever a smooth road. There will be many turns, u-turns, directions you don’t want to go, stop signs, “road work” signs, etc. Although it doesn’t feel good, I firmly believe that struggles, challenges, and adversity, which are simply “teachers,” are necessary ingredients in life. And teachers are intended to teach us valuable lessons. In all transparency, you learn more about yourself on a deeper level and are strengthened in those moments of time. Those struggles, challenges, and adversities coerce you to think creatively, figure out effective solutions, lean into God, and put all your faith in Him. Everything that we endure is all for a purpose and our good. Romans 8:28.

I’ve traversed some I-didn’t-want-to-take-those-roads, but those unplanned, unwanted, and unsmooth “road trips” helped me to go in the direction and taught me valuable lessons. I’ve had my share of many struggles, but I’ll touch on just a few. One struggle I’ve faced, as it pertains to the entertainment realm, was a mental struggle. My booking ratio was low when I first started submitting for acting gigs. And when I didn’t get the role, I would take it personally and harp on it for days. Self-doubt began to creep in. It made me question myself, my talents, my worth, etc. Over the years, I’ve learned to not take any of it personally. I chose to not let any of that affect my mental state; I’m a huge proponent of mental health. Fast forward to the present, and thankfully, my booking ratio has improved significantly. I’ve even booked many roles without having to audition.

Another temporary struggle I endured was when I made the tough decision to resign, which was God-ordained, from my corporate job. It was a scary time but a necessary time. One thing I was concerned about was my finances, as well as my bills. But I chose to be obedient, trust the process, and trust God. And to God be the glory, God provided and blessed me greatly during that unknown time. That unknown time eventually led me to one of my lifelong dreams: to work full-time in the entertainment industry.

When you encounter those “unsmooth” roads, paths, struggles, challenges, or adversity, (aka “teachers”) I encourage you to trust the process, and trust God with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6. Don’t be afraid to take the roads less traveled; traverse them, and enjoy the “road trip,” the journey. God will guide you to the right destination so you’re not left going in the wrong direction. Your struggles and challenges are tailor-made, and they’re for a special and meaningful purpose. James 1:2-4.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I am a Casting Director and Location Scout for a media production company in Nashville, Tennessee. We shoot scripted videos every week. One of my prominent roles and responsibilities is to cast talent for our shoots and secure locations for our shoots. I also assist with other tasks like blog optimization, research, project management, etc.

There are some things in life that I am humbly proud of and hold near and dear to my heart. I have categorized them as follows:

Personally: Graduating college. Achieving academic recognition (Dean’s List) multiple times. Deciding to take that scary chance to move to another state (Tennessee).

Professionally: Working my way up the ladder to achieve career goals. Accomplishing milestones at various jobs. Achieving one of my many dreams to work full-time in the entertainment industry.

Physically: Deciding to go on a water-only journey in 2019; I’m still going strong (no soda, tea, coffee, alcohol, etc. since 2019). Deciding to quit eating sweets in 2020; I’m still going strong. Completing the 75 Hard challenge.

Spiritually: Deciding to get baptized in 2020, which was the best decision of my life. Developing a close, intimate relationship with God. Completing the Daniel Fast in 2023. Deciding to be obedient when the Lord instructed me to resign from my corporate job.

What sets me apart from others is that I am a C.E.O. (chief encourager officer). I like to encourage people; it’s one of my spiritual gifts. Encouraging others fulfills me. In the famous words of Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” So, I lead with this exemplary notion. I am always intentional about leaving a positive impact, lasting impression on people, “making them feel.” You never know what people endure on a daily basis, so I strive to bring them a smile, happiness, and joy – even if it’s just a fraction or temporary. That “temporary” can leave a permanent mark on that soul.

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.

I wholeheartedly believe it’s vital to take strategic, calculated risks. For me, one reasonably recent scary, bold, courageous, and rewarding risk comes to mind. Last year, I took a leap of faith, chose to be obedient, and resigned from my marketing job – without having a contingency plan. I didn’t have another job in the pipeline. Thankfully, it all worked out in my favor and for my ultimate good. Thanks to some angels (dear friends), within four days of resigning, I had a full-time job offer and a good side gig. And shortly thereafter, I was working in my dream field. God rewarded me immensely during that scary, unknown time for my obedience and mustard seed faith. He answered one of my primary countless heartfelt and tear-filled prayer requests: for God to open a door for me to work full time in the entertainment arena. Although it wasn’t strategic or calculated, that sole risk I took paid off in more ways than just financially. I’ve since then experienced so much joy, peace, happiness, completeness, fulfillment, and more, which is priceless.

Another risk was when I moved to Tennessee. I packed up my entire life in Missouri and moved here. I had no idea I would like it here, if it would work out, etc. But, thankfully, it did. I had never lived in any other state, so the thought of residing in a new state was scary, yet exciting. It only took me a few months to get fully acclimated. That move was all worth it; moving here was one of the best decisions and risks I have taken.

So, no matter if you’re taking a risk in business, investments, personal life, etc., I encourage and recommend taking those strategic and calculated risks. I am challenging myself to take even more of these types of risks. I also strongly urge you to always listen to the voice of the Lord, act on it, trust Him, keep the faith, and be obedient.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleishaw/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaleisha.walker/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleishawalker

Image Credits
John Ross Foy