Marie T. Kidhe of RieImagine Solutions on her Leadership Journey and the Art of Collaboration
Photos by Susan Fried
Watch full interview below
Recently, in keeping with the theme of women who lead, host Trae Holiday featured Marie T. Kidhe, the managing principal at RieImagine Solutions, on The Day With Trae. With a track record as an intrapreneur while working in full-time leadership roles , Kidhe offered insight into business ownership, balance, collaboration, and what it means to be a leader throughout the segment.
As the head of her own business, RieImagine Solutions aims to provide community engagement strategy, public relations, and event management services, with a focus on serving & uplifting the Black diaspora. With notable clients such as Communion Restaurant & Bar, Métier Brewing Company, 4Culture, MLB’s HBCU Swingman Classic, and Historic Central Area Arts and Culture District (HCAACD). Kidhe is not just building a business but also a platform for empowerment and elevation, encouraging others to pursue their objectives with purpose and passion.
"It's been a real honor to be able to support these phenomenal Black businesses and connecting deeper into not only our community but expanding upon that with events that are aligned with their vision and their values," Kidhe said.
As a community connector and culture bearer, Kidhe emphasized the importance of balancing her responsibilities across multiple ventures during her time as a full-time community engagement director and intrapreneur. From nurturing client growth to fostering and cultivating diverse relationships, Kidhe explained the importance of self-care when transitioning between both roles prior to venturing into a full-time entrepreneurial path.
"A lot of that is just really time management, but also self-management, making sure that you're taking care of yourself, that you're eating," Kidhe said. "Rest is a big deal. Being able to think about ways that I have been able to go forth is what I do tends to be connected to what I've done for my employers. That's been a real asset for me. So I've been able to work in spaces where my background has not only complimented who I'm working for, but the work that I'm doing in community, and it's allowed me to bridge both together."
Kidhe views her career as a journey built on tenacity, love, intentionality, faith, and strong examples of determination from family members, in particular her mom.
"I'm a very spiritual person. I'm very grounded in the fact that the Most High is getting me up every day if I'm blessed to be able to continue on this journey. So I'm grateful for that," Kidhe said. "My mom went to school, raised two kids, and had jobs. She's celebrating 50 years of being in this country this year. So, being able to watch that- as a single mother- her grinding, getting up, doing one, coming home, resetting, doing the other. It sets a real tone and understanding: "Okay, I got to make this happen. If I really want to see something positive come."
Kidhe also paid tribute to influences in her life, including Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, Vivian Phillips, Reverend Harriett Walden, Patricia Valentine, and more.
"It's a journey, and Black women are strong, and they're resilient, and they're powerful, and when we come together, and we can support each other in a pathway, there's nothing stopping us," Kidhe said. Continuing her anecdote, Kidhe accentuates the importance of collaboration with like-minded individuals, a core element of her industry.
"Most people who know me know I'm a child of East Africans. I move in this world with a very village sense of mentality and an effort. I believe in the importance of collaboration, of course, being aware of who you're collaborating with is important," Kidhe said. "Everyone doesn't fit together, even with how great you may be, but I've had the opportunity to collaborate with so many powerful people and be able to see us bring different pieces of the pie together. You don't have to do it all by yourself, and I think that has allowed me to not only support others but be supported."
As for 2024, Kidhe and RieImagine Solutions have spearheaded multiple projects, one of the most notable being the launch of "Say Yes!" prior to the 2024 New Year. In collaboration with Teya Williams, this platform is dedicated to empowering and celebrating Black women.
In addition, Kidhe is hitting a significant milestone with her first collaboration event of the year, Ladies First’ Vibe Bingo & Market, set to take place on March 23rd. Sponsored by Métier Brewing Company, Ladies First’ will take place at Victory Hall at the Boxyard, the Mariners-owned event space in Seattle’s SoDo area that includes the Métier x Mariners partnership taproom honoring Negro League Baseball, Steelhead Alley. Moreover, the partnership with Softball Beyond Borders adds another layer of depth to the initiative with a portion of the proceeds going towards their youth softball program. The event is complemented by an all night free-entry Black & Women-owned vendors market. Ladies First’ will pay homage to the women who have made significant contributions to hip-hop and R&B, this collaboration aims to recognize and honor their valuable impact on culture and society.
Watch the entire segment with Holiday and Kidhe above! As always, for more stories about influential women making changes in Seattle, tune into Trae every weekday at 11 a.m. on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
