MADEINC
MADEXXX
MADE: A lot of people don’t know that your
business was birthed from a personal tragedy that
occurred in 2013—your son passed after keeping
him on life support for six months. What made
you decide to tell this part of your story now?
Monique: For so long I struggled with sharing the
story because I had to be able to tell the story and
not break drown. It took me about four and a half
years to get to that point to tell the story confi-
dently, inspire someone by telling the story and to
not just break down crying. It was something that
I prayed about and I felt that God was pushing
me to tell the story and to tell the reason why I
started the company. After the healing process
started, I felt that I need to be obedient and tell
believers what faith can do and what happens
when you submit yourself to God and how he
continues to bless you if you just remain faithful.
MADE: You often talk about keeping God first.
How would you say that value has impacted you
as a business woman and in your personal life?
Monique: Without God, we are nothing. I mean
he’s the center of everything and if you keep him
first, then everything will fall into place. You know
I’m not saying that it’s going to make your life
easier or the road is going to be easier. There is
always going to be challenges and obstacles, but
at the end of the day when you get home, you still
need to have faith and have someone to pray too.
I believe that highest spirit is God, the center of
the universe.
MADE: Mielle Organics was started in your
basement and now you’re in over 7,000 stores
across the country. What has been one of your
best business decisions?
Monique: One of the reasons we were able to go
into retail was because of our engagement and
connection with the consumers. I think one of the
best decisions—well I won’t say best, but it is a best
decision is to maintain and stay connected to the
consumer. The consumer is who dictates all. We
are so quick to say as entrepreneurs that I don’t
have a boss, but you do have a boss. Consumers
are your boss and you have to stay connected with
them because that’s who drives your business.
MADE: You transitioned from a nurse to a
full time entrepreneur. How does your nursing
background help you with your products and the
formula behind them?
Monique: My nursing background helped me
understand how the body works. It helped me
understand the anatomy of the human body and
how it functions and how hair actually grows.
By understanding that and then looking to see
what natural ingredients actually help promote
growth, doing research and just making my own
little concoctions at home. I didn’t go to school
for chemistry but I did have to take chemistry to
become a nurse. So combining all of that research
and knowledge is what helped me start making
my own products.
MADE: And what would you say to the aspiring
entrepreneur who is on the fence about taking
that leap of faith?
Monique: Definitely make sure that it’s your
passion because the days that you can’t figure how
you are going to move forward or you don’t have
enough money or you don’t know when the new
inventory is going to come in because you just
can’t afford it—you are going to need that passion
to drive you because being an entrepreneur is not
easy. There are a lot of ups and downs and there
are a lot of challenges but the ones that survive
have a bigger purpose. Money is not what should
drive you. It should be your passion and your
purpose.
MADE: 1015 Designs Clothing Boutique,
Mielle Skin and Mielle Cares Foundation are
other businesses/organizations you have started
as well. What is your advice to the entrepreneur
who is looking to expand as well?
Monique: I would say make sure you perfect one
thing first before moving on to the next. Then,
apply those same principles of what perfected
your first business to the next business. It’s easy to
say that you have all of these businesses, but if one
has not hit the million-dollar mark, then you have
not done something right [laughs].
made-magazine.com |
48