We had the good fortune of connecting with Kawania Wooten and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kawania, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
When I was growing my business, I refused to feel guilty about working and running my business AND when I was spending time with my family, I refused to feel guilty about being a mom. Nothing good comes from guilt. Also, I allowed my son to be an active part of my business. When he was little, he would do little things like help stuff envelopes or alphabetize conference badges. As he grew older, he earned his allowance by being an active member of our event’s set-up team and tear down team. As a result, he has had a front seat view to the inner workings of a small businesses.
When it came to my daily schedule, I started my day every morning at 4:30 a.m. I would get 2.5 to 3 hours of work completed each morning before my family got up for the day. That early morning work allowed me the opportunity to block 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on my calendar each day for one-on-one time with my son. We both valued that time together a great deal.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Many people say that our vibe (or our energy) is one of our competitive advantages. And, I agree with that because our approach to our art, our client care, and our overall event experience is very soulful. It is based in how we love, how we dine, and how we laugh. So many of our events tell our clients’ stories. In the beginning, we followed a recipe per se to design events. Then, we realized our pretty events looked like everyone else’s event on Instagram and Pinterest. Now, we are more holistic with our approach, and as a result, our weddings and events and are filled with color, unique and interactive cuisines and very happy clients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In Washington DC —
I’ve been living in the Washington DC metropolitan area for a long while, so we’re used to friends asking us “What should I know when I come to DC” Here is some of the advice we give —

  • Most of DC’s tourist locations allows you access every day except Christmas, but some of the museums and buildings require you to book your trip in advance – this includes some of the Smithsonian Museums, the White House, the Capitol Building, and the Supreme Court. Check out the web sites for each of these attractions in advance for more information.
  • The Waterfront in SW DC offers so many amazing food options, such as Hank Oyster Bar (https://hanksoysterbar.com/), Mi Vida (https://www.mividamexico.com/) and Moon Rabbit (https://www.moonrabbitdc.com/)
  • If you want an intimate restaurant with fantastic food that is a little bit off the beaten path, check out Little Serow (https://serowtogo.square.site/).  They serve the best Thai food in town.
  • I know there is a lot of bakeries and cupcake spots that are popular to tourist, but the best bakery in Georgetown is Baked & Wired. This is where the locals go for cupcakes.
  • If the weather is warm, take a ride on a water taxi from GeorgetownOld Town to the DC Wharf.  Then, grab a martini from José Andrés’ barmini. You will love their cocktails

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have (what I call) a personal board of directors. They provide me with wisdom, support, encouragement and a “good kick in the rear” if I need it. One of the women in my personal board of directors is an entrepreneur herself, and she assists me with strategy, goal planning and client care. Another person in the group is someone I trust for parenting advice. My stylist is in this group. She provides me with clothing advice. And, a confidant who is also a financial advisor gives me financial advice.

Website: www.hwevents.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howertonwooten/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1533655/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/howertonwooten

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowertonWooten/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/howerton-wooten-events-bowie-2?osq=howerton+wooten+events

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrUDcCuwEz12PRPjt4Dj13w

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/howertonwooten

Image Credits
Renee Hollingshead Photography Terri Baskin Photography Love Life Images Stephanie Whitehill Photography

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