Iindia Pearson's Recipe for Success in Business and Community

Imagine transforming from a number-crunching accountant to a culinary entrepreneur and mother of five, all while keeping community activism close to your heart. That's exactly the journey Iindia Pearson, the Asheville native, has navigated with grace and gusto. In our dialogue, she shares her compelling story of growth, her dedication to instilling life skills in her children, and her mission to build generational wealth. With Iindia's insight, we celebrate the extraordinary impact of representation in professional spaces, especially for African-American accountants like us.

This episode also uncovers the savory success behind NP Catering, Iindia's venture that began with a humble hotdog cart and blossomed into a bustling food trailer serving personalized gourmet experiences. Beyond the palate-pleasing discussions, we tackle the hurdles and victories involved in supporting nonprofit organizations. Iindia casts a light on the unique obstacles faced by communities of color in the nonprofit sector, the undervalued necessity of financial literacy, and the avenues for aiding those re-entering society post-incarceration. Her story is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength found in community support and the transformative effect of collective social and economic advocacy.

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Transcript

Veronica: 0:38

Welcome to the Veronica Edwards show where we have fun financial conversations that everyone listening can apply to their personal and professional life. I'm your host, veronica Edwards, always excited to be back here Season three of biz radious. Also want to thank the listeners, the V Team, for always supporting me, giving me great feedback. Please send me a DM, let me know any topics, any guests that want to be on as we continue to wrap up this season. We have about two more months before we end the season and we're still pushing for 4,000 downloads.

Veronica: 1:16

So I'm super excited for today's show because we have another beautiful African-American accountant with us who's also a native of Asheville, which is very rare. So today's guest is a finance manager by trade, an entrepreneur, a mother of five, a veteran that is passionate about organizing Asheville citizens to bring light to the plight of those disenfranchised living in Asheville and to push for social and economic justice for all citizens. This young lady stays very busy, most recently running for city council, as well as being an amazing cook and the owner of MP Cateries. I don't know how this sister has all this time, but I want to introduce her before I take up more of her busy day. Please welcome Miss Ayindya Pearson. Hi, ayindya.

Iindia : 2:07

Hello, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Veronica: 2:09

Girl, you doing a lot, but I'm so proud of you because you always have a smile on your face, you're never negative, you're just like. This is just what we do. Thank you, thank you. So let's jump right in. So, on the show, I always like to ask the guests to tell the listeners about you where you're from because a lot of people typically are not from Asheville but, more importantly, the story that led you to entrepreneurship, because, as I read in your intro, you're just a mother of five alone. I'll be like girl, but you just do so many things and you do it at a very high and efficient level. So please tell us about you.

Iindia : 2:47

Yes, of course. So my name is I, india Pearson, and I am a mother of five. I am an entrepreneur. I was born in Asheville. I like to call myself a Carolina girl because I was raised in South Carolina, so between North and South Carolina, that's who I am.

Veronica: 3:01

Girl, that's me too, sis. You know, I got to shout myself out to low countries in the building.

Iindia : 3:06

Yes, From Brazil, South Carolina, all that what?

Veronica: 3:09

part of INDA. Are you from South Carolina?

Iindia : 3:12

Georgetown.

Veronica: 3:13

Okay, now Georgetown On the way to the beach.

Iindia : 3:18

Yes, so for me, um, what led to entrepreneurship? You know, it's about doing what you love and it's about financial freedom, freedom and building generational wealth. So I taught my children how to survive at a very, very young age. They came out the womb, so they know how to cook, they know how to clean, they know how to do a little bit of everything, because I've always felt that if I was to ever drop off the face of this earth, I need them to be able to survive and not have to depend on anyone. They need the necessary skills to survive, they need to make money, all these other good things. So that's just what it is, and when I'm gone, I'll pass my assets to them and this thing will continue. I never want them to struggle. I don't want them to go through what I went through, even though I had a wonderful childhood. I will say that, but you always want better for your children than what you had.

Veronica: 4:09

Absolutely Well, Ayan, you know, we got to do a roll call in order. I need ages names. We got to shout all the kids out.

Iindia : 4:16

All right, well, shout out to my children. My oldest, he is 19. That is Davion, my daughter, she is 18. That is Danielle, my other son, he is 16. He'll be 17 the week after next. That is Daniel, my other daughter. Her name is Dania, she is 12. And then I have a baby girl named Ilesia, and she just turned one. How, Ilesia.

Veronica: 4:40

Get away with her name now, starting with a D.

Iindia : 4:42

I said the end.

Veronica: 4:44

I wanted a baby with my initial, you know, i-n-d-i-l-e-s-i-a.

Iindia : 4:50

And that's actually a combination of my name and my sister's name, who was Alicia, and she passed away.

Veronica: 4:55

So, in memory of her, um, her name is Ilesia oh, I love that, and so, and the youngest is, how old she's one girl. I got so many questions just on mommyhood and all that. So okay, so you mentioned you're from Asheville but also raised in South Carolina. How did that work out?

Iindia : 5:25

My parents. So my dad lives in Georgetown. So let me say this so I am fortunate enough to have three grandmothers that I met and I have a dad and my pops One is my biological and then one is the one who raised me and I have a wonderful relationship with both of them.

Iindia : 5:35

So my dad lives in South Carolina and that's where I was at. That's where my mom was at. You know, I'm from a military family. It's embedded, and so that's what it was. My mom and dad was there, and then my mom decided to move to Asheville and her daughter somehow came along.

Veronica: 5:54

I love it I love it so.

Veronica: 5:58

So I had the privilege of meeting you, I India, through a local nonprofit that I'm consulting with and I'm asking questions to the ED and I keep hearing the name I, india and I'm like I know she, black, I know, and I was so pleasantly surprised. No shade to my now and then friends, but it's just exciting in this space to see somebody that looks like you and talks like you, and that you can be my cousin. So I always like to ask other African-American accountants how did you fall into accounting? Because it's not a lot of us, and even fewer are CPAs, which I'm going to encourage you, I and you, to get your CPA.

Iindia : 6:37

Keep pushing for that. So tell us, how did you fall into accounting? So I've always loved to learn and I've always loved numbers. I've always been great with math. I've always liked challenges that make me think out the box. I've always been privy to overcoming those challenges. And so, for me, accounting, bookkeeping, all those things do that for me. It's just embedded in me. I love math, I love numbers, I love those things about accounting and finances, and so you do what you love, and that's what I'm about. If I don't love it, if I don't enjoy it, I'm not trying to do it. Sometimes it's a give and take, but for the most part I'm doing what I love.

Veronica: 7:21

So I ended. You did not go to school for accounting, You're self-taught. Was it just jobs or what? Did you have a mentor or anything? Cause that is a tough field to get into and do it at such a high level Like you're doing it as?

Iindia : 7:34

So well, naturally, like I said, I'm just good with numbers. I'm good with a lot of things. If you, if I see it, I can read it and interpret it and kind of go from there. I don't like geometry. Let me just say that.

Veronica: 7:44

Nobody likes geometry. I like algebra. I like all the other things. I love algebra.

Iindia : 7:50

But I actually did go to school for accounting for a little bit. I went to AB Tech for accounting so I got the basics you know of. You know I had actually started working and I was doing like some, taking accounting classes and it kind of helped out like okay, put certain things in perspective, which is why I do think that having some sort of education is important.

Iindia : 8:13

A lot of things come to us naturally, but to have some additional education is important because it can put some things into perspective. Not that you need it, but it can, and so that's kind of how it was with me. I just knew what I knew and could figure out. Whatever it is, and because I enjoy it, it's a little easier for me, but it's like I love learning. So I was like, oh yeah, accounting did a little, you know a few accounting classes and that's what it was.

Veronica: 8:38

And I'm trying to figure out, in the midst of all this, how did the military slip in? Because you and I'm trying to figure out in the midst of all this, how did the military slip in? Because, you know, when I met Iandia a few months ago, I'm like, well, how is she doing the accounting? She got the baby, she got the this. And you were like, oh yeah, I'm a veteran too.

Iindia : 8:58

I'm like what? Well, I have a very supportive family, first of all, I will say that. But it's always been something that has been embedded in me and I really and truly say that. It wasn't taught or it wasn't shoved down my throat Like you need to be in the military. Now I do. My father, my dad, my pops, my aunts, I've had several relatives that joined the military, but for me it was like I seen the commercial Be all that you can be, and I'm like they're, they're in the mud, you know what I mean. And I'm just like, ooh, I want to do that. And then eventually, you know, I had a recruiter.

Iindia : 9:32

Um, at the time I had children, I had two children. I was very young, I was still in high school, and a recruiter came to me and you know, we talked it out and I was considering joining then. But this is when 9-11 happened and so they were deploying folks and that was just not OK with me because I had children and I needed to be home with my children and not, you know, you never know what could happen. And so I didn't join at that time. And then later on down the line, a few years later, I decided to take that leap and my parents are very supportive, who you know had my children at that time while I went through my basic and AIT, and you know it was on from there.

Iindia : 10:08

So yeah, I think I've been in for 15, 16, 16 years, almost 17 years.

Veronica: 10:17

Wow.

Iindia : 10:17

So are you in the reserves? Am I saying that I am? Yes, I encourage anyone to join. There are full-time opportunities while you're in the reserve. So if you feel like I don't want to join full-time immediately, it's okay. Join the reserves because there are full-time opportunities and you're able to travel. I've been to Czech Republic, I've been to Germany, I've been all across the United States with the military. So there are all of those opportunities and still get your benefits.

Veronica: 10:42

So there are all of those opportunities and still get your benefits.

Iindia : 10:47

Ianda, you got me like I want to sign up love at 42. Yeah, it's not too late, I think 42 is the cutoff.

Veronica: 10:52

I'm just saying, oh man, well, that's something I love about your personality, that's infectious is because you can just hear it through the interview you love learning and trying new things and you didn't let things stop you. And we have to hit on the fact that you were a teenage mother of multiple children, and we're not that far in age, so I know how it was growing up the side eye, how people would judge you once you had a baby.

Veronica: 11:17

Oh, then you got the nerve to have two babies, and you're not this and you're not that, and you're a black girl in the Carolinas and look at how you rose up. So what motivated you, ayanji? What would you tell? Because we always have all types of folks listening to the show. Yes, we have an entrepreneur focus, but we have all folks listening. So what would you tell someone like my niece, for example? She's a young lady, she's 23. She just had her first baby my first great nephew.

Veronica: 11:48

What would you tell some folks where they're kind of struggling right now or they're happy, they're thankful for their family, but they might get some of those haters or people saying, well, you can't do this now, when you know you got a baby. What would you say to inspire them?

Iindia : 12:03

Well, for one, I wouldn't even give the time of day to those folks that say that, because that's happened to me. But you have to have that mentality that you're going to make it and you want best, what's best for you and what's best for your children. And then the key to is to really make in time for yourself meditate, if that's what you do, pray, if that's what you do, listen to music. These are some of the things that I do. I get out in the sun, the earth, the grass, and I get that energy and I don't allow anyone to tear me down. Period, that's just it. Don't allow it.

Veronica: 12:34

Yeah, and that goes for family and for friends.

Iindia : 12:37

It doesn't matter who, it is that part. Don't let them compromise your happiness.

Veronica: 12:43

Oh, I love that, because April is stress awareness month, so that definitely wanted you to give. When is your birthday?

Iindia : 12:50

April 8th. My birthday is next Monday.

Veronica: 12:52

All right. So, for those listening, we're pre-recording this, so I want to say when this airs, it'll be right around your birthday. Well, happy birthday, thank you, thank you. So another thing I want to talk about because there's so many I have to have you on again is to talk about how you're an amazing cook and the owner of NP Catering. So tell us, how did you get into catering? How do we get your services? The same thing we're going to circle back to accounting services, with you being a bookkeeper. Tell us how we can support your catering business as well.

Iindia : 13:24

So I come from a line of culinary extraordinaires is what I'll call them.

Iindia : 13:28

My grandmothers, my dad, my pops, my mom, my aunts. You know they didn't receive any formal education, it was just a natural talent and it's because it's a part of our culture and that's what happened with me. You know, I actually started in one place to, you know, build up my income, and then I was blessed enough to, you know, have a job and other resources to receive. Or actually I purchased my first food cart hotdog cart and then I was blessed enough to receive a food trailer and then it's just on from there. You know, I do have a Facebook page facebookcom slash MP caterings with a Z. I do have an Instagram, which is also MP Caterings, and then, you know, you could always send me an email I-M-P-R-S-N-0-8 at gmailcom. My website, mpcateringscom, is not up yet, but that is the website name when it's up and running MPK, excuse me mpcaterings with a Z dot com.

Veronica: 14:32

So, ayindya, is there a particular type of food you cook? Is there a type of group that you serve? Do you do for commercial like a big organization? Are you just doing family reunions, potlucks, small things like what's who's your perfect client?

Iindia : 14:41

So I've done all of the above. I've attended events. I've catered for bigger events Um, I haven't done a wedding yet but I've done graduations for organizations. I've done it for bigger group meetings at least 150, 200 plus. So I have a little bit of experience with all of it. I don't really have a preference. I enjoy kid-friendly events with the hot dog carts and burgers. I enjoy kid-friendly events with the hot dog carts and burgers. You know I enjoy family events. You know I enjoyed the bigger organizational events just because you get to taste that culinary cuisine, you know, with a touch of love in it.

Veronica: 15:20

So yeah, so if I was like, hey, I want some Italian style, or if I want you to do it all, so yes, and that's it.

Iindia : 15:26

That's the good thing about this. So I have a general menu, but I also have we can. If there's something that you don't see, that you would like, we will create and customize a menu for you. So that's where we'll go back and forth and talk about so what is it that you see? You know, what would you like to eat? What do you have a taste for these different things, and then we'll create a menu based off of our conversation and go from there.

Veronica: 15:50

Man, I'm trying to give India all the coins. So we got catering MP caterings that we have to support you with. Also, you're an amazing accountant and bookkeeper. Is there a contact information for that?

Iindia : 16:00

Absolutely. Feel free to send me an email. I don't have a Facebook page for that, but an email. It is yourbookkeeper88 at gmailcom, because I am your bookkeeper.

Veronica: 16:11

Yes, so that means I can send you all the referrals your way.

Iindia : 16:16

You sure can. I'm taking a couple of clients.

Veronica: 16:19

I was telling you it is so hard to find a good bookkeeper and in the space that I and I work in is mainly nonprofit, and I would love for you to talk a little bit about that before we go of. You know, how did you fall into nonprofit work with supporting people in that accounting field? Because we know a lot of black and brown folks don't have a lot of financial literacy and there's been a lot of amazing opportunities for people to start nonprofits but nobody is giving folks, you know, the training that they need. So how did you find yourself assisting folks in the nonprofit world?

Iindia : 16:55

So, again, I always love numbers, so that is just what I do. And then, aside from that, I started with an organization that I would like to shout out, green Opportunities, who created, you know, different opportunities for folks, and I was one of them. I went through the programs and then they actually hired me as their executive assistant of their social enterprise and then as a bookkeeper, then an accountant, then their finance director and operations deputy. So that was a nonprofit and it kind of opened the doors. I was also working for other nonprofits in different capacities, but I had the knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping.

Veronica: 17:32

And, if my understanding properly, with green opportunities, they're providing folks that at times have been incarcerated, they're trying to I'm trying to think what's the proper word reenter and work, which we know can be extremely hard, and they're providing opportunities in the culinary lane with green opportunities for people to work. Is that correct?

Iindia : 17:53

Correct those with barriers barriers to employment or whatever it may be. So yes, that's wonderful.

Veronica: 18:00

So that was your first opportunity, no pun intended. It was with green opportunities in the nonprofit world.

Iindia : 18:07

So that, and the Residence Council of Asheville Housing Authority, which is another nonprofit that represents the residents in public housing, which is no longer called public housing but low income housing. So yeah, those two they're around the same time.

Veronica: 18:23

And what would you say is the biggest challenge? That you're still seeing that people like ourselves, black and brown folks, are still struggling within nonprofit world Cause I feel like at times people say, oh well, all these organizations are coming up and they are great organizations, but me and you both still know the struggles of getting funding and things like that. So what would you say for those that are listening in their community if they wanted to support a local nonprofit? What's some of the struggles that these nonprofits have that those listening can assist with?

Iindia : 18:52

You know capacity and funding, you know, and I feel like sometimes we're not given that opportunity or that chance that you would give someone else and I don't know why, what the reasoning is, but I feel like given that opportunity and that chance for someone to show the organization, to show that you know they are capable and able to do these things, help provide those resources to build capacity, which would be great, because I think a lot of times we lack the capacity because we lack the resource you know, to build our capacity.

Veronica: 19:24

And can you elaborate a little bit more? When people hear like well, what do you mean by capacity? Like if I'm just listening and I might not have money, how can I support an organization in that capacity? Is it volunteering? Is it providing your talents, Like what could they do?

Iindia : 19:38

Exactly, yes, volunteering Definitely. Because again, we may not have the monetary resource to hire everyone that we need and then sometimes we may not have the education. You can have formal education but then lack some sort of education to take it to that next level. So if there are organizations that can provide those type of educational resources, you know, to help build that organization or build folks in that organization, that would also be good. Sometimes you just need that step up, that leg up, that just want you know the next level of assistance to make a bigger impact.

Veronica: 20:12

Yeah, and just like you stated, India being, you know, a lifelong learner, there's things that you've figured out, but it was nice when people kind of said, well, no, do it this way versus that way, to kind of help you along. So it's not like we're expecting folks to do everything for these nonprofits A lot of the nonprofits like me and you. They want to learn. They just never have been taught or it's been explained in a way where it doesn't make sense. So that's where I'm so excited to see another young African-American woman like yourself that didn't get things on a silver platter.

Iindia : 20:44

You've worked your butt off, oh no, from the bottom.

Veronica: 20:47

Yes, and we haven't even talked about city council. So I definitely would love to have you back on to just talk about politics in Asheville without us getting in trouble and, you know, dogging anybody out too bad. But we do need to talk more as Black and Brown people about politics, because I'm tired of hearing people saying, well, I'm not going to vote, because my vote doesn't matter. So if you can just leave us out with that like just a little tip that you would say I know we only got like a minute on why it's so important to vote- so, if it wasn't so important and if it didn't make an impact, why are there measures being put in place to keep us from voting?

Iindia : 21:23

Why are there so many red line tapes whatever to keep us from voting?

Veronica: 21:29

No, you hit that right on the head. You're absolutely right, and I think sometimes it's as simple as that and everyone wants to say, well, not everything is a conspiracy, it's not. They're putting it right in your face, they're letting you know what it is. And if you're just going to lay down and just be like, well, my vote doesn't matter, well then there's never going to be change, then there's never going to be change. So I just thank you so much. I, india, is so much more one to talk to you about. So you have to come back on the show, definitely.

Veronica: 21:55

Thank you so much for everything that you've been doing in the Asheville community for years and that, and even more that you're going to do. I told I India. You stuck with me. Now, girl, we friends. So yes, yes, so thank you, thank you, and I want to thank the listeners for tuning into bizradious. Please come back next week, same time, same place, on Wednesdays on bizradious for the Veronica Edwards show, and if you miss the live airing, you can listen to all prior shows at veronicaedwardsbuzzsproutcom.