My Secrets To Success: explores Kelia Bazile’s twenty-eight years of personal and business experience, in order to help others achieve the success they deserve.
My Secrets to Success is a compelling story about a high school student who took a summer job at Taco Bell that turned out to be much more than she initially expected. The author, Kelia Bazile worked her way through the corporate ranks to become Taco Bell’s first African-American region leader in the company’s forty-five year history.
The most difficult challenges she faced were working to earn her college education, while dealing with the responsibilities and issues that come along with a full time job, as well as being a wife, and the mother of three. Kelia Bazile found out early in her career what it was like to stand in the long food-stamp and (WIC) Women, Infants and Children lines; but it wasn’t by choice, it was a much-needed benefit. Many people would have given up and thrown in the towel when faced with the added stress of their parent’s divorce and losing a sibling, but not Kelia. Instead, she used those personal obstacles as fuel, not only to motivate herself, but also to encourage others to never give up on their dream – no matter what.
My Secrets to Success also shines the spotlight on many inspirational leaders who have influenced Kelia’s journey to the top of the corporate ladder. Kelia’s ideals, strategies and techniques will help anyone become successful in whatever type of business they represent. Kelia is definitely a prime example of that old cliché, “It’s not where or how you start, but how you finish!”
Kelia was born Feb. 8, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in Vacherie, Louisiana. The wife and mother of three children attended public schools and in 1985 graduated in the Top Ten of her class from St. James High School.
After graduating high school, Kelia studied criminal justice at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. In 1986, she left Louisiana and moved to Dallas, Texas.
Upon relocation, Kelia transferred to Richland Junior College in Richardson, Texas where she received an associate’s degree in Business Administration in 1993. Kelia advanced her education further by earning two degrees from Dallas Baptist University (DBU) in Dallas, Texas including a Bachelor of Applied Business degree (1995). She worked full-time while she earned her Master of Business Administration degree from DBU in 2004. Kelia is also a beloved teen mentor that works with community organizations to “create a better place to live.”
Today, Kelia is a Joint Venture Partner (JVP) at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Tampa, Florida, under the umbrella of Bloomin’ Brands, INC., which is one of the largest casual dining concepts in the world under the leadership of Elizabeth Smith, President and CEO.
