Business of the Beat

This week, Kimberlee Alexandria-Day, Founder of Ode to Self, discusses understanding the foundation of self-care amid a personal breakup, questioning God when things didn’t look like what she saw, and staying present with her brand through strategic partnerships. Kimberlee’s intentionality to the importance of foundation lends expertise around balance and replenishment.   Bio: Kimberlee Alexandria...

This week, Junior Mintt, Founder of Mintty Makeup shares her intimate story of thriving in a Mintty world, creating and producing “In Living Color” one of the longest running drag variety shows in NYC, and how important her mother’s strength, support and love have always been to building her confidence and growing as an entrepreneur.    Bio: Junior Mintt is a drag artist, business owner, and motiv...

This week, Chana Ginelle Ewing, Founder & CEO of GEENIE, talks about curating a “shopping with intention” approach, becoming an author, and the change from GEENIE Box to GEENIE World.   Bio: Chana is a cultural entrepreneur who has long been obsessed with storytelling and marketing that instigates a more equitable society. She has funneled this commitment into her work in beauty, retail, and film...

This week, Desiree Verdejo, CEO and Founder at Hyper Skin joins me in conversation about the look and feel she wants around her, the mute yet massive issues of melanated customers, and how finding a partner was serendipitous!   Bio Attorney-turned-entrepreneur, Desiree Verdejo, created Hyper Skin after battling for years with hormonal acne and hyperpigmentation. She was unimpressed by the lack of...

This week in the part 2 series with Abena Boamah, Founder and CEO of Hanahana Beauty, she continues her conversation with Kendra by delving into on-the-fly lessons she’s learned in entrepreneurship, sharing how The Hanahana Circle of care provides sustaining production on multiples sides, and giving visual artists the opportunity to collab with beauty brands they grew up on.    Bio: Abena Boamah i...

This week, Abena Boamah, Founder and CEO of Hanahana Beauty, talks about her journey before Hanahana Beauty, 5 years building out her business and the impact she’s carved out across her social media in part 1 of a 2 part series.    Bio: Abena Boamah is the Founder and CEO of Hanahana Beauty, an ethically-conscious, Black-owned clean beauty + wellness brand aiming to disrupt the global beauty indus...

This week, Akilah Releford, founder and CEO of Mary Louise Cosmetics joins me in conversation about how her DIYing turned into a full fledge business, the beauty in  rediscovering self care and the creation of the infamous Mississippi Mud Mask.    Bio: 25 year old Akilah Releford is the founder and CEO of Mary Louise Cosmetics, a clean beauty brand that helps its Gen Z audience redefine beauty on...

This week, Julie Napolitano, Founder of Pup Wax shares how rescuing dogs led her from a corporate executive role into her journey as a founder, being one of the first to be chosen for the Target petcare accelerator program, becoming one of the top premium dog lines .    Bio: Julie Napolitano founded Pup Wax in 2019, realizing a lifelong dream of building a business that makes the world a better pl...

This week, Stephanie Bell, Founder, Step Up & Glo’ and Partner, Franklin Wellness Partners (PIPCBD) shares how her “glow” was inspired by her mother, her mantra around Movement Toward Improvement, and the experience she’s had over the last 15 years learning, creating and implementing effective and customized strategies that produce long-term growth. As a business development executive turned busin...

In 2009, after the passing of her aunt, 16 year old Saliyah Mustafa had a vision. That same year, she turned her vision into Sabreen Cosmetics and launched the brand with her two sisters, Najiyyah, and Kareemah Mustafa as business partners leveraging their parents as investors.  @SabreenCosmetics is now a leader in the beauty industry that inspires women to lead lives of luxury, elegance, and well...

Natasha Edwards founded @thickleavein after heeding to an internal call to leave her career in medical ophthalmology and pursue a different journey leading her to peace, purpose and honoring community. She booked a spontaneous trip to Brazil and came to an epiphany while paragliding over the favelas.  Tune in to listen to her personal story and the road to founding her successful one SKU brand, th...

Leah Freeman-Haskin calls Blk Oceans (@blkoceans), her “Ode to to Black Founders and Black Creators.” It really is just that! What started as a creative hustle became her passion business and a platform focused on quality products in fashion, beauty, lifestyle and kids. The home page is a lovingly curated tableau of products and services that are all Black-owned. A life-long writer, Leah’s career...

There are two main questions from Founders that tend to top the chart no matter where they are in their journey: How do I describe my unique value proposition? What funding source is best for me at my various stages of growth?   You may uncover these and other answers in my conversation with Olivia Owens, the visionary Creator & General Manager of IFundWomen of Color, where Founders make authentic...

Think back to a mentor in your life who was vested enough to coach you and create opportunities for you to shine. How did that relationship impact your trajectory? Helen Aboah @HelenAboah had many mentors but two women of color, in particular, stood out as early sponsors whom she credits with shifting her dynamic career. Helen is the Chief Executive Officer of @UrbanZen, a design vision and philos...

Drop your answers in the chat before you run to @google: How many countries are in Africa? How many superfoods grow on the continent? While you consider your answer, I’ll share that Christina Funke Tegbe @funke_tegbe, Founder of @54thrones, a luxurious skincare brand, uses at least 5 of these superfoods in the products that she sources directly from the continent. The celebrated products also boas...

Troy Alexander’s light radiates as he walks into any room. Founder and CEO of Troy Skincare, a clean, premium men’s skincare brand, Troy is the epitome of manifesting your dreams and purpose. He exudes confidence, humility and is an advocate for giving and community building.    His @linkedin profile reads Disruptive Entrepreneur & Cultural Tastemaker. I’ll add mentor, philanthropist, style guru a...

Dr. Natalie King, hailing from the beautiful islands of Jamaica and Cuba, earned her Ph. D at the age of 26, one of the youngest and first Afro-Latina to receive this degree in their 163 yr. old history. Her graduate school experience was one of triumph but also tragedy as her father’s sudden passing and her friend’s suicide both significantly shaped who she is today and have led to her continued...

Who is Angela Manuel Davis? When I talk to her on the @businessofthebeat podcast Angela describes herself as a child of God, a mother, a wife, a sister and a coach. Her throughline since childhood is being an encourager.     The world knew her as a five-time All-american member of the USA track and Field Team, an Olympic Trials semi-finalist, a member of the World Championship team, and a professi...

Tune into part 2 of my conversation with Rachel Lambo, CEO of Sade Baron, who honed in on her professional skills in marketing and design to translate her mother’s vision into a coveted brand. Rachel, a BeautyUnited mentee and BrainTrust Founders Studio member shares her magical relationship with her mother, Sade, and the balance they’ve found as co-founders of their line of clean and efficacious...

I talk to the powerhouse, Rachel Lambo, CEO of Sade Baron, who honed in on her professional skills in marketing and design to translate her mother’s vision into a coveted brand. Rachel, a BeautyUnited mentee and BrainTrust Founders Studio member shares her magical relationship with her mother, Sade, and the balance they’ve found as co-founders of their line of clean and efficacious products. Rache...

Kendra talks to Jordan Karim, Founder of Flora and Noor, the most inclusive Black-owned brand in the industry with a line of Halal certified, vegan and cruelty-free products.  Jordan’s connectivity to her faith, culture and professional training positioned her to step into a relatively vacant space in the industry– sourcing ingredients that are honestly halal approved and extending clean options t...

Kendra talks to @BTFoundersStudio Founder, Marquita Robinson Garcia about her journey from scientist to Cosmetic Formulator, and now Founder of Philadelphia’s first all-natural skin brand, DVINITI.  Marquita trained and worked professionally in the beauty industry for major chemical suppliers designing skincare products for global brands including Chanel, NARS, and bareMinerals.  She transitioned...

Ezinne Iroanya-Adeoye @Avenue_z is all about creating authentic experiences through luxury beauty. Her premium beauty brand @Sknmuse is made for the modern Black woman while honoring West African beauty practices. For Ezinne, beauty IS culture. In this week’s BOTB episode, she walks us through her decade-long experience working for brands like @Lancomeofficial, @Dior and @Nordstrom. We dive into s...

On this episode of @businessofthebeat Kendra talks to Angel Cornelius, Founder & CEO of Maison 276, about her collection designed to inspire women to celebrate their own version of beauty.  Since her childhood, Angel has been a product DIYer. Later, friends and family asked to buy her product overflow leading her to her first platform on Etsy. The combination of her passion for experimentation cou...

Kendra talks to Jennifer Yen (jenyen1), a superhero, and the Founder of Purlisse Beauty (@purlisse), and Yensa Beauty (@yensabeauty). In two different stages of her life, Jennifer seized the opportunity to start two brands that initially met a personal need. Her acting role on the hit TV show Power Rangers required heavy makeup and other environmental triggers that damaged her skin. When other pro...