Mompreneurs: Navigating Hollywood With Dr. Kimberly Harris
Mompreneurs: Navigating Her Daughter’s Hollywood Journey With Dr. Kimberly Harris
Dr. Kimberly Harris is a talent manager, educator, and mother to rising TV and film star Mykal-Michelle Harris. This week on the Mompreneurs podcast, Dr. Harris shares the journey it took to reach this point. At 13, Mykal-Michelle is already a force in Hollywood, whose credits include Mixed-ish, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Raven’s Home.
The mother of two sat down with Mompreneurs host Nancy Redd to reflect on her daughter’s viral moment that captured the attention of tennis champion Serena Williams, and how it changed their lives overnight.
A viral video became an overnight sensation.
As a little girl, Mykal-Michelle loved Serena Williams after seeing the tennis star on TV. One day, Dr. Harris started recording and captured the moment that became a new beginning for the family.
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The video quickly went viral, and the family found themselves on a whirlwind press junket, appearing on CNN, Good Morning America, ESPN, and more. “Within 72 hours, Serena Williams invited her to the U.S. Open,” said Dr. Harris.
Soon, Hollywood came calling. Agencies reached out, eager to represent Mykal-Michelle—and it quickly became clear that Los Angeles was where she needed to be. “I knew within my spirit that if she was going to pop, she had to be in LA where the business is done,” said Dr. Harris. “We could feel her outgrowing New York City even in a very short amount of time.”
Mykal-Michelle’s early career was a chance to learn and grow.
The family picked up and moved across the country from New Jersey to California. “It was stepping out on faith for us to move,” said Dr. Harris.
But Mykal-Michelle’s career didn’t blossom overnight. As the family settled into their new home on the West Coast, the uncertainty hit hard. “The bills were mounting and we had nothing,” said Dr. Harris. “I left my entire career to come to LA.” Still, she had faith that things would turn around.
Determined to find work for her daughter, who was around four at the time, the mompreneur got her a role on L.O.L. Surprise! —a fun gig that proved to be a valuable stepping stone for what came next. “I am so grateful for that opportunity,” said Dr. Harris. “Had we gone to Mixed-ish before that, we would not have been ready.”
During this early period, Dr. Harris found comfort in scripture. “I remember getting a word from the Lord: ‘Despise not small beginnings.’ You don’t know what I’m doing behind the scenes. And that’s exactly what it was, an opportunity to start to learn the business without high stakes.”
Dr. Harris is holding the door open for other kids to succeed in the business.
Mykal-Michelle has since established herself as an Emmy Award-winning actress—appearing in major titles such as Mixed-ish, Cheaper by the Dozen, Ada Twist, Scientist, Raven’s Home, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, and Disney Jr.’s Ariel.
Having successfully guided her daughter’s career to this point, Dr. Harris gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in show business. Now, the former educator has channeled her passion for teaching into helping other families navigate Hollywood. “The entertainment industry is my new passion,” she said.
Through her company, MyKi Forever Entertainment, Dr. Harris offers courses designed to demystify the world of entertainment and provide guidance on navigating the industry. It’s about “democratizing the world of show business.”
Understanding the business side of entertainment is half the battle, she explained. “If you have the talent but don’t understand the business, you will not be successful.”
The mother-daughter duo is guided by a desire to give back.
The overall goal of this journey is to give back in some way, said the mompreneur. “We want to encourage others, we want to empower others, we want to have opportunities that we can pour into others.”
Don’t miss out on the full conversation. Watch or listen to this episode of Mompreneurs above.
Catch new episodes of ‘Mompreneurs’ every week.
Every week, we celebrate beautiful Black entrepreneurs who are simultaneously amazing business moguls and awesome moms. Join host and New York Times bestselling author Nancy Redd as these mompreneurs share their life stories and inspiring advice. Catch new episodes of Mompreneurs every Monday on MadameNoire’s YouTube channel. Or listen to the podcast online on the Urban One Podcast Network.
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