WOMEN TO WATCH

Kara Wilkins

Co-Founder
Tidal Partners

Tidal Partners was conceived by myself, Lacy Selig and Alison Williams, three Arkansans with a passion to do more in our community. Leveraging our combined consulting expertise, we create tailored strategies to help maximize the influence and impact of local and national funders. Tidal asks, “What do you care about?” and helps philanthropists identify their interests and bring their ideas to life.

PRESSING QUESTIONS

What I learned from my first job:

Do the work. Many people will talk about what they are going to do, but rarely execute. There is inherent value in not only coming up with great ideas but also being able to implement them.

Best career moment so far:

Having the courage to move out of my comfort zone and establish three businesses - Tidal Partners, KWikins Consulting Group and Flyght Black. Each business has its own distinct purpose but they have allowed me the freedom and flexibility to chart my own path.

How I knew this was my passion:

Building on my extensive background in the nonprofit sector and advising local and national foundations in various roles, I felt poised to launch Tidal as a vehicle to shift philanthropic and political strategies to the next level.

Biggest challenges in my career:

I am trying to be more intentional about utilizing my time more effectively. It can be a challenge saying no to certain activities and events, but I have to prioritize my time in order to get things done.

The one thing I wish people knew about my field:

Philanthropy and giving is really rooted in relationship building. Establishing long-term relationships with clients allows for richer, deeper engagement, which ultimately helps to connect them to a wide array of deserving nonprofit organizations.

Nonprofit I wish more people knew about:

Delta Circles. The brainchild of Ms. Patricia Ashanti, this program is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty and encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset while placing special emphasis on helping Black women thrive.

What keeps me coming back to my job every day:

Launching a business with two women who I consider to be some of the most brilliant thought leaders in our state. They keep me motivated and it’s such a joy to work alongside them.

A skill I never expected to need in this field:

A strong accounting background

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Hometown

Little Rock

I can't start my day until

Coffee

Hobbies

Studying for my wine exam

Binge watch

“Abbott Elementary”

Last good read

“WSET Level 2” (Wine Certification Manual)

Favorite meal in town

Anything Tex-Mex

Best recent local discovery

The Nest

Latest splurge

Beyonce and Adele tickets

Most-used app

Twitter

Dream vacation

Maldives

SPONSORS