OUR FOUNDER
With over 30 years of experience spanning financial services, insurance, marketing, and business development, Kim M. Braud is a serial entrepreneur and strategic leader who drives growth and creates lasting impact for underserved communities.
Current Ventures - Braud is the founder of The Couvent Collective, a global ecosystem providing funding resources, growth strategies, and expert guidance to underserved small businesses through a membership model. The collective encompasses Larkspur Wealth Management, Evans Cutchmore (a marketing-first publishing company), and Frigatebird Inc., and has empowered hundreds of founders with the tools needed to achieve sustained success.
As a six-time published author, Braud founded Evans Cutchmore to help independent authors grow their brands and reach wider audiences. She leverages two decades of marketing expertise to develop strategic launch campaigns, distribution pathways, and visibility platforms, blending creative vision with proven strategy.
Entrepreneurial Success - In 2017, Braud launched Fleurty Wick, one of the largest African American female-founded candle manufacturing companies in the U.S. She has since diversified her portfolio to include two Amazon e-commerce stores and a freight brokerage, demonstrating her ability to scale ventures across multiple industries.
Her entrepreneurial acumen includes serving as Managing Partner of Jayde Life Investment Group for NBA player Dwight Howard, where she secured over $350,000 in direct written premium in the first month and built the agency's infrastructure from concept to execution. She currently assists professional athletes in building businesses to continue their legacy.
Foundation in Financial Services - Braud built her foundation in the insurance industry at Nationwide Insurance, progressing through multiple roles before serving as an Affinity Sales Management Consultant, where she spearheaded initiatives that generated over $300 million in revenue for the Southwest Regional Operation. She executed over 700 events, delivered 40,000 new business leads, and demonstrated exceptional expertise in market share acquisition and strategic partnerships.
Community Leadership & Impact - In 2022, Braud offered $1.9 million to the Archdiocese of New Orleans to save Holy Redeemer School, her elementary school, from being sold to compensate child abuse victims. This bold action reflected her deep commitment to preserving community legacy and advancing educational opportunities.
Braud has held significant leadership roles with the American Red Cross (Board Chair, Minority Recruitment Board; National Diversity Advisory Council member) and has served with SafeKids GA, Atlanta Fire Foundation, EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association), Gwinnett County Habitat for Humanity Think Tank, SafeAmerica Foundation Mentor Committee, Army Explorers and United Way of Greater Atlanta, where she influenced funding decisions for underserved populations. She also founded Fabulous Friends in Philanthropy, which provided grants and resources to homeless girls aged 16–21, helping three young women earn postgraduate degrees.
Recognition & Credentials - Her impact has been recognized nationally. She has been featured in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta (2010–2020), the Strayer University Scholar Magazine, The Atlantan as a Woman of Power and Influence (2014, 2018), and profiled by The Dekalb Champion Newspaper and Voyage ATL (2014, 2018). Her honors include the 2017 American Red Cross Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service, the 2012 Presidential Drum Major for Service Award, and several community awards. She was one of only 40 women selected nationwide for the 2021 NAWBO Established and Ready to Grow Cohort sponsored by AARP. She is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Program, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Milestone Circles Program, and is a Luminary Fellow
She holds a Life Agent License, FAA Part 107 Commercial Pilot License, and is actively involved in NAIFA, Women in Financial Services (WIFS), Women in Trucking, and NAWBO.
A native of New Orleans, Braud's passion for innovation, community empowerment, and entrepreneurial excellence continues to inspire and create pathways for the next generation of leaders.
GEORGETOWN 272
The Georgetown 272 refers to a group of 272 enslaved individuals who were sold in 1838 by the Jesuit priests of Georgetown University to plantations in Louisiana. This sale was orchestrated to resolve the financial crisis faced by the university and its associated religious institutions. The decision to sell these individuals, despite their deep ties to the Jesuit community and the Catholic faith, highlights a dark chapter in the history of one of America's oldest educational institutions.
Among these individuals were my ancestors, Margery Cutchmore and her son Len. As a direct descendant of the Georgetown 272, I carry their story with me, honoring their sacrifices and working to ensure that their legacy is not forgotten.
Today, efforts are underway to seek reconciliation and justice for the descendants of the Georgetown 272. Georgetown University has publicly acknowledged its role in this history and has created a reconciliation fund aimed at supporting descendants like myself. However, the work of truly acknowledging and repairing these historical injustices is ongoing, and public awareness is crucial.
By highlighting this history on our platform, The Couvent Collective seeks to amplify the stories of those who were denied justice in their lifetime. We honor their legacy by fostering community development, education, and economic empowerment for marginalized groups, echoing the vision and values they held dear.
This story is deeply personal to me and ties into my broader mission to uplift communities and honor the legacies of our ancestors. It is a reminder of the resilience and strength that courses through generations, and my work today is a tribute to all those who endured, survived, and created opportunities for future generations.