Women’s History Month Feature
PaSH Magazine is celebrating Women’s History Month with a Q&A style mini-series highlighting women from many different industries making an impact in the world, their communities and for themselves. In this Q&A we will spend time with Benaisha Poole Watson.
Meet Benaisha Poole Watson
Born in Los Angeles, California to an immigrant mother from Guatemala and African American Father, where life began with very humble beginnings. At the age of 7, she became a latch key kid, walking home from school past gang members and drug dealers through the streets of South-Central LA, Crenshaw Distric
Benaisha Poole Watson served nine years in the United States Air Force. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and I hold two Master’s Degrees from George Washington University. One in Political Management and one in Public Administration and a Law Degree in International Relations and Affairs.
Benaisha is officially named #2 Realtor in Dallas TX, #19 in the State of Texas, Top 100 Real Estate Agent in the United States of America, and Top 1% in the Nation. She has held an Active real estate license since 2015 with an average of 400 homes SOLD PER YEAR. From 2018-2020, Benaisha built and developed over 20 custom home properties. She has been Investing in Real Estate for over 20 years.
What inspired you to start your business, and how did your experiences in corporate spaces shape that decision?
What inspired me to become a Bank Owner was seeing how access to capital can completely change a persons financial trajectory, as well as the legacy of those who will come behind them. In both corporate and entertainment spaces, I saw talented people generating income, but lacking the financial infrastructure to build true ownership. That realization pushed me to build a bank focused on funding opportunity, creating access to capital and helping entrepreneurs turn success into lasting wealth
How did you identify your niche, and what gaps did you notice when working with high-visibility brands, talent, or corporate clients?
My niche revealed itself through observation. While working with high-visibility brands, talent and corporate professionals, I noticed many had influence, income, and opportunity, yet lacked access to strategic and most importantly trustworthy capital partners and financial structures designed for growth. Traditional institutions often overlooked unconventional earners or emerging entrepreneurs. I built a platform to close that gap, providing funding solutions that allow visionaries to turn momentum into ownership and long-term wealth, through non traditional programs that require less evasive documents, no tax returns and even programs for hgh net worth individuals that do not require any financial documents at all
What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced early on—especially navigating male-dominated or high-pressure industries
One of the biggest obstacles early on was credibility. In industries like finance, corporate leadership and entertainment, many rooms are still male-dominated, and women, especially women building financial institutions are often underestimated. Often mistaken as a worker for the company not the Owner, I had to consistently prove not only my expertise, but my ability to lead, fund deals and operate at a high level. What some may take as pressure I used as fuel. It sharpened my discipline, strengthened my resilience and ultimately positioned me to build a platform where access to capital and opportunity isn’t limited by perception
How did you fund your business in the beginning, and did access to capital look different because of the industry you were entering?
Like many founders, I started by leveraging relationships and my own capital. Entering industries like finance means that credibility and trust are just as important as the capital itself. Building a business often depends on who believes in your vision early. That journey shaped how I operate today as a Bank Owner, creating pathways for entrepreneurs to access capital without the barriers I once saw firsthand
What lessons did working with corporate clients teach you about professionalism, boundaries, and valuing your work?
One of the biggest lessons corporate clients taught me was that professionalism is tied to how you position yourself. When you communicate clearly, establish boundaries and stand confidently in the value of your work, people respond differently. It reinforced that expertise should never be discounted. It should be respected and properly valued
How do you balance creativity and structure when serving corporate audiences?
Balancing creativity and structure comes down to understanding the language of each space. Entertainment thrives on vision, innovation and bold ideas, while corporate environments require systems, strategy and discipline. My role is to create the bridge between the two allowing creativity to flourish while ensuring there’s a strong financial and operational structure behind it
In what ways has your identity as a woman influenced how you negotiate, lead teams, or set expectations with major clients?
Being a woman in high-level business spaces has reinforced the importance of confidence and clarity. I’ve learned to communicate expectations directly, lead with purpose and ensure my voice carries weight in every room I enter. It’s about leading with both conviction and perspective, which ultimately strengthens how I negotiate and guide teams
Was there a pivotal moment when a major client, project, or opportunity validated your vision?
There have been several moments when a major client trusted our institution with a significant funding opportunity that many traditional lenders had overlooked. Those experiences always validate the vision I had from the beginning, which is to help the underserved, overlooked and misunderstood. It also validates that there was a real need for a financial platform that understands entrepreneurs, creators and business owners. It confirmed that when you combine access to capital with strategic understanding, you can unlock opportunities others clearly miss due to their underestimation of certain groups of people
How do you protect your values and voice while working in spaces that often prioritize profit, speed, or optics?
I protect my values by being clear about my purpose. Profit and speed matter in business, but, for me, integrity and impact matter more. I’ve learned that when your decisions are guided by principles and long-term vision, you don’t have to compromise your voice; You lead with it
Looking back, what advice would you give to women entering corporate-facing industries who want to build something sustainable on their own terms?
I would encourage women to focus on both credibility and confidence. Master your craft, understand the business behind the industry and don’t be afraid to set boundaries. When you combine expertise with self-respect, you position yourself to build something that lasts not just something that looks successful in the moment
Thank you for reading this installment of the Women’s History Month Features. Come back each day to read a new inspiring story, centering women.
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