Meet Kimberly Evans | Servant, Mentor & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Kimberly, how do you think about risk?
I had a career at one point, but I am an entrepreneur at heart. I believe true entrepreneurship is about taking risks. It is necessary in order to grow and scale any business, but it teaches you that some can be low risk and some high risk.

I view risk not just as a potential for failure but as an opportunity for growth and learning. There have been instances where I had to step out of my comfort zone to pursue new projects or roles. Each time I embraced uncertainty, there were times when I felt afraid, but I did it scared and uncertain, and I found that it opened doors to unforeseen possibilities.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a women-centric community mobility company, prioritizing women’s safety, comfort, and empowerment. Our platform connects female drivers and riders for secure and affordable rides. We understand that when there is a lack of safe, affordable mobility, whether you are going to the airport, are in a transportation desert, or impacted by domestic violence and feel safer with a female driver, it impacts the quality of life.

I founded my rideshare company with the inspiration to make a positive impact on society by providing convenient transportation options and creating job opportunities for women drivers. I aimed to reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, and promote shared mobility, all while working towards building a lasting legacy for my family and community.

I am mostly proud of what we have built because starting as a non-technical founder at 55, I was not comfortable on the backend of technology. But I took on the challenge and learned my product and what it took to build, and now I can comfortably say that I am a technical founder. I am also proud that we are driven by social impact and taking care of others, whether that be our drivers or riders.

I did not dream doing this at 5 years old or discover at the age of 12 that I wanted to do this. I was introduced to my purpose at 55 and I saw a need and an opportunity to serve and that interested me. But, it was not until I learned of tragic stories like Samantha Josephson that pushed me to create a safe space for women. Then even further, I saw the lack of mobility for people and I wanted to be part of a solution that I knew impacted lives and businesses.

This has been the hardest thing I have ever done in business. I continue to overcome because of my faith and my desire to continue is greater and more powerful than my desire to quit. I am reminded that when I do not make the best decisions, even sometimes costly ones, that I will survive because God is with me. That grace has helped me to focus on my decision making and not to be reckless, but to know that I can move forward making tough decisions even when I don’t have all the answers, knowing I will survive the outcome.

I want to world to know that we are doing our part to impact the world. Our brand is that of service and we are not just driving women or creating safe work environments, we are building powerful communities and solving mobility issues.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1. I would start each morning with either a walk or a bike ride on a beautiful lakeside trail with morning meditation and being present with nature, witnessing the glorious beauty of our creator. 2. We would then sat down for conversation about life over coffee and lattes, first checking in to see if we have to capacity to handle the topics. This will center us to be open for each other.
3. Monday- We would then head to the spa for a much needed massage and lunch at my favorite hotel spa. We would go to dinner at Eddie V’s uptown Charlotte and have late night conversations about our day.
4. Tuesday – Afternoon, we would head to the mall for shopping, lunch at Roosters South Park and then dinner at Steak 48. Maybe catch up on reading.
5. Wednesday – Afternoon, we would head up to Lexington, NC to one of my favorite wineries Childress for an afternoon of wine tasting. Later that evening dinner at Sullivans and a late night convo about the day.
6. Thursday – Morning, we hop in the car and take a day trip 4hrs to Charleston, SC for some great seafood and walks and talks on the beach. Head back and catch up on some needed rest.
7. Sunday, we would attend church, afternoon brunch at the Ritz Carlton and put her back on a plane.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout out to (my) husband Kevin and my sons Josh and Caleb for holding me down and being my biggest supporters. To my network of founder friends, community networks and mentors there are several, for not only walking the same path and understanding the highs and lows of building something from the ground up, but for the support and encouragement. For telling me to keep moving forward and never letting me forget the greatness in me.

Website: https://justherrideshare.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justherride

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/justherride

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

Image Credits
Photos By Bella Dawn Photography