At 25, ShaKeia Kegler was determined to launch her own business. After five years in the U.S. Navy and one year at a pharmaceutical company, she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey.
Her initial venture—a souvenir company creating molds of pregnant women's bellies—didn't succeed. Her second idea, a location service for pop-up events, also fell short. Consulting her mentor proved pivotal: "Find something you have a problem with and solve it, whether in your personal life or at work," Kegler recalls.
Procurement processes from her Navy and pharmaceutical roles stood out. "I decided to simplify it nationally and locally, making it more inclusive and unified," she says. Thus, GovLia was born—a four-person firm helping Florida small businesses secure state and local government contracts.
"It emerged from a string of failed ideas but finally clicked," Kegler shares.
A Humble Beginning
Right after high school in St. Petersburg, Florida, Kegler enlisted in the Navy, stationed first in Yokosuka, Japan. She managed compliance, quality assurance, and supply purchases, while earning a bachelor's in business management.
Fellow Navy veteran Quentin Hodges praises her: "She has a genuine fire. Once lit, it's unstoppable—eyes fixed on the prize."
Honorably discharged, Kegler joined a pharmaceutical firm selling medical supplies to the government. After a year, spotting a "Start a business?" ad on the Careers for Broward County site sparked action. She joined the six-month Start-Up Now accelerator, refining ideas until landing on GovLia.
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Simplify and Unify
GovLia empowers women-, veteran-, and minority-owned small businesses to win government contracts—opportunities often overlooked. "Agencies buy in bulk, enabling exponential growth and credibility," Kegler notes.
Blending "government" and "liaison," GovLia offers a cloud platform for profiles, agency registrations, supplier tracking, procurement, and payments—all centralized.
"People focus on federal contracts, missing local cities and counties that reinvest in the economy," she explains. Needs range from copy paper to yoga instructors.
Launched in 2017 with four employees, early hurdles included lacking tech expertise. "I outsourced initially, then hired developers after learning to code," Kegler says.
Family Ties
The eldest of five daughters from a tech-scarce background, Kegler notes, "We lacked exposure to innovation. Discovering it fueled my drive."
Entrepreneurship empowered her family's future: "This changes our trajectory." Facing instability, she sought transparent opportunities for them and her community.
Her family's support was vital—even funding GovLia early on. "They scraped together $20 here, $30 there. That effort moves me to tears."
Upward Trajectory
GovLia won first in AnitaB.org's 2018 PitcHER competition, plus Women Empower Expo and Military Impact Awards.
Florida-based now, expansion to six states looms. Veteran Jessica Tabbert calls Kegler a "unicorn—woman, minority, seasoned entrepreneur." Their veteran cohort bond thrives.
"She's tough, full of potential," Tabbert says. Hodges predicts: "A household name."
Kegler defies limits: military service, gender, founder challenges. "No prescribed path to success—I still do."
Related: Women, own your dreams
Best Practices: Perfecting the Pivot
Dubbed "Pivot Queen" post-failures, Kegler's Navy honed adaptability. "Hardships prepare you for pivots."
Recent non-win? "900 applicants, top nine—still a win. Balance failures with victories."
Sideways Hustle
In the Navy, Kegler sewed uniform buckles as a side gig: "Ambition always burned to build something my own."
