Meet Charmaine Radway | Regulatory Specialist and Business Owner

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

Hi Charmaine, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
I started as an eager bushy-eyed creator full of ideas to launch. With that eagerness came to urge to share ideas I was excited about. Along the way, I realized that I needed to protect my ideas in every way I could. When you hear people speak of their ideas being stolen you never think you would be on the receiving end of that. Now I utilize NDAs and Trademark petitions FOR any OF my concepts to minimize the risk of losing assets I worked hard to create.

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?
I am a creator and business owner of Charmtravelz Travel brand and Yawd cards a Jamaican inspired line of games. When I started Yawd cards it was born out of a need for people to connect more with each other during the pandemic. Date nights and game nights were limited due to lockdowns and social distancing. I wanted to create a way to connect people. It was very hard in the beginning between trademarks, NDA’s and setting up my first business with a 9-5, I was burnt out!!! I researched a lot on my own before hiring help, this ensured that I asked the right questions and knew they could get the job done. This is key! I love getting reviews from my customer on how the date night cards have helped them get to know their partners better! This warms my heart!

My travel brand Charmtravelz is a Digital creative space for me to tell stories about my travel and motivate the black community to see more of the world beyond what we are shown in the media. I am also a huge advocate of Solo travel. Whether you are in a relationship or not! I have been to over 30 countries and each have given me a different perspective on life, whether its gratitude for my freedom or motivation to improve my life travel is an enriching experience.

Now I am grateful to be working with brands and hosting group trips for people who want to see and enjoy the wold!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Miami my adopted home that I love, I am a bit of a showoff for visitors.

Places to Stay-
I love East Miami Hotel for the amazing rooms and views.
The Fontainebleau Hotel Spa is my favorite in the world honestly. The indoor pool is top tier!

Where to eat-
Dinner – Papi Steak, and Chef Adrienne’s Kendall
Brunch – Little Hen Midtown and Greenstreete Cafe
Drinks- Prohibition Midtown

Site-seeing- Take an evening boat tour from Bayside
Perez Art museum
Barnacle State Park

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My drive and success in life come from my parents. My Father is 92 years old, still drives reads without his glasses, and reminds us that he taught himself to read and sold vegetables as a teenager to pay for classes. He has been a farmer all his life and whenever I feel the pressure of his career or life, I remember walking home from school in Jamaica and seeing him raise his machete at us reminding us of the hard work he would put in to give us the opportunities he didn’t have. I am constantly creating and pushing to be my best self because of his leadership and inspiration.

My Mother is my therapist. I understand myself more because of my relationship with her. During the pandemic, I sat with her and asked her questions about her life, even the forbidden topics, they were tough but she gave me honest answers and that allowed me to fill in the pieces of my story that I felt was missing.

Based on that conversation with her I can fully embrace who I am and push forward to the greatness I know are ahead for me. I have launched 2 businesses since our talk and fully stepped into a path that I believe is leading me to my purpose.

Website: charmtravelz.com and yawdcards.com

Instagram: @charmtravelz and @yawdcards

Image Credits
Styling: Alvianna Walford Photos; Zakaria Edaoui Bekirsozak Cesar Buelto