1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000
Downloaded from
YTS.MX
2
00:00:02,794 --> 00:00:07,925
[upbeat music playing]
3
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000
Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
4
00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:15,140
[Renae] Black women.
5
00:00:15,224 --> 00:00:17,226
Let me say that again.
6
00:00:17,309 --> 00:00:18,644
Black women.
7
00:00:19,228 --> 00:00:21,104
Black women
are the most amazing beings
8
00:00:21,188 --> 00:00:22,689
gifted to this Earth.
9
00:00:22,773 --> 00:00:25,943
I say this not just
because I am a Black woman,
10
00:00:26,026 --> 00:00:28,111
but because it is fact.
11
00:00:28,904 --> 00:00:30,447
From the range of our skin tones
12
00:00:30,531 --> 00:00:33,116
to the textures
of the glorious crowns
13
00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,327
that adorn our beautiful heads,
14
00:00:35,410 --> 00:00:38,664
we are the most disenfranchised,
underrepresented,
15
00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:43,293
least protected, and still
we rise like the poetry of Maya.
16
00:00:44,127 --> 00:00:46,797
We make everything we do
look effortless,
17
00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,092
like a breeze off the Island
of Lamu in East Africa.
18
00:00:51,134 --> 00:00:54,888
Black women are the creators
of all that is hip and cool.
19
00:00:54,972 --> 00:00:57,808
Everyone takes from us.
And I say "take"
20
00:00:57,891 --> 00:01:01,353
because we are oftentimes
not credited or compensated
21
00:01:01,436 --> 00:01:03,564
for what we excel at innately:
22
00:01:03,647 --> 00:01:06,775
our fashion,
how we style our hair,
23
00:01:06,859 --> 00:01:08,026
our delicious cuisines,
24
00:01:08,110 --> 00:01:10,988
to the natural curves
in our thighs and hips
25
00:01:11,071 --> 00:01:13,282
that so many pay
top dollars to emulate.
26
00:01:14,074 --> 00:01:16,159
We are the queens of creativity.
27
00:01:16,910 --> 00:01:18,954
We are the bridge
to every culture
28
00:01:19,037 --> 00:01:21,248
because we are the culture.
29
00:01:21,331 --> 00:01:24,084
As Mr. 3,000 sang so eloquently,
30
00:01:24,168 --> 00:01:26,837
"We are the prototype."
31
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,881
African-American women control
32
00:01:28,964 --> 00:01:32,342
about 1.3 million businesses
and they are
33
00:01:32,426 --> 00:01:34,428
the country's fastest-growing
group of entrepreneurs.
34
00:01:34,511 --> 00:01:35,804
[reporter] The number
of businesses
35
00:01:35,888 --> 00:01:37,306
owned by African-American women
36
00:01:37,389 --> 00:01:40,100
has grown by 322%.
37
00:01:40,184 --> 00:01:43,020
African-American women
are three to five times
38
00:01:43,103 --> 00:01:45,564
more likely to start businesses
than White women.
39
00:01:45,647 --> 00:01:47,941
[Renae] I want people
to see the truth
40
00:01:48,025 --> 00:01:49,610
behind entrepreneurship.
41
00:01:49,693 --> 00:01:52,070
[Melissa] I want you to look
at me and be inspired to say,
42
00:01:52,154 --> 00:01:53,447
"I can do that, too."
43
00:01:53,530 --> 00:01:54,823
[Luvvie] I'm a product of people
44
00:01:54,907 --> 00:01:57,326
who were committed
to seeing me thrive.
45
00:01:57,409 --> 00:02:00,287
Can I do this
every single month?
46
00:02:00,370 --> 00:02:03,248
Can I be profitable
every single month?
47
00:02:03,332 --> 00:02:04,875
[Lisa] Could I
have lost everything?
48
00:02:04,958 --> 00:02:08,253
Yes, but it would have been
much worse to live with,
49
00:02:08,337 --> 00:02:09,254
"What if?"
50
00:02:26,897 --> 00:02:28,524
[Renae] Since the beginning
of time,
51
00:02:28,607 --> 00:02:30,275
we have been creating businesses
52
00:02:30,359 --> 00:02:31,985
and doing it for ourselves.
53
00:02:32,069 --> 00:02:33,362
We know the greats.
54
00:02:33,445 --> 00:02:34,863
Madame CJ Walker,
55
00:02:34,947 --> 00:02:36,782
Cathy Hughes and Oprah,
56
00:02:36,865 --> 00:02:39,409
but there are so many more
who came before them,
57
00:02:39,493 --> 00:02:41,161
like Maggie Lena Walker,
58
00:02:41,245 --> 00:02:43,121
who was the first
African-American woman
59
00:02:43,205 --> 00:02:46,041
in the US to charter a bank.
60
00:02:46,124 --> 00:02:47,251
Sarah E. Goode,
61
00:02:47,334 --> 00:02:49,169
the first African-American woman
62
00:02:49,253 --> 00:02:51,338
to win a US patent
for her invention
63
00:02:51,421 --> 00:02:53,340
of the foldaway bed.
64
00:02:53,423 --> 00:02:56,635
And Clara Brown,
who was born into slavery,
65
00:02:56,718 --> 00:03:00,055
later becoming the owner of
several successful laundromats,
66
00:03:00,138 --> 00:03:03,517
and is the first Black woman
to be a part of the Gold Rush.
67
00:03:04,434 --> 00:03:06,562
Despite the barriers
we've had to overcome,
68
00:03:06,645 --> 00:03:08,438
the tides are gradually turning.
69
00:03:08,522 --> 00:03:10,190
The stories that are shared here
70
00:03:10,274 --> 00:03:12,067
will let
the next generation know
71
00:03:12,150 --> 00:03:13,819
that with hard work
and commitment,
72
00:03:13,902 --> 00:03:17,573
they, too, can be
the captains of their own ships.
73
00:03:23,912 --> 00:03:26,707
In 2009,
I launched In Her Shoes.
74
00:03:26,790 --> 00:03:29,001
This blog is
all about celebrating
75
00:03:29,084 --> 00:03:30,919
Black women
and entrepreneurship.
76
00:03:31,003 --> 00:03:34,131
We are, in this moment,
making history,
77
00:03:34,214 --> 00:03:37,509
starting businesses at six times
the national average.
78
00:03:37,593 --> 00:03:40,387
We talk to entrepreneurs
at Essence all the time.
79
00:03:40,470 --> 00:03:42,806
And the constant thread
that we're hearing
80
00:03:42,890 --> 00:03:45,642
is that there was some need
that was not fulfilled
81
00:03:45,726 --> 00:03:47,019
and they literally
82
00:03:47,102 --> 00:03:48,312
just picked it up
and did it themselves.
83
00:03:48,395 --> 00:03:50,397
[Melissa] The Lip Bar is
more than just makeup.
84
00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:51,857
I want little brown girls
85
00:03:51,940 --> 00:03:54,401
to grow up
having representation,
86
00:03:54,484 --> 00:03:56,528
knowing that they
don't have to conform
87
00:03:56,612 --> 00:03:59,156
to society's standards
of beauty.
88
00:03:59,239 --> 00:04:01,825
I want you to be so comfortable
in your own skin
89
00:04:01,909 --> 00:04:02,743
that you own it.
90
00:04:02,826 --> 00:04:04,119
When I built My Fab Finance
91
00:04:04,203 --> 00:04:07,915
my goal was to get a 750-credit score
by the time I turned 30.
92
00:04:07,998 --> 00:04:10,417
And I just started posting,
93
00:04:10,501 --> 00:04:11,919
like, what I was doing, what was working,
94
00:04:12,002 --> 00:04:13,921
and then other people
started sharing the content.
95
00:04:14,004 --> 00:04:16,340
I was like,
"Hey, there aren't people
96
00:04:16,423 --> 00:04:18,133
who look like me
talking about this."
97
00:04:18,217 --> 00:04:20,219
2007 to 2012 there was
98
00:04:20,302 --> 00:04:23,347
a 70% surge
in Black women-owned businesses.
99
00:04:23,430 --> 00:04:26,517
Because Black women
are historically underserved
100
00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,060
in certain markets,
101
00:04:28,143 --> 00:04:29,811
there's so much more potential
for growth
102
00:04:29,895 --> 00:04:31,063
and there's
so much more potential
103
00:04:31,146 --> 00:04:34,650
for innovativeness
and new creative ideas.
104
00:04:35,234 --> 00:04:38,403
I always say that the first time
105
00:04:38,487 --> 00:04:40,113
that Carol's Daughter
was a business
106
00:04:40,197 --> 00:04:41,823
was the first time
someone gave me money
107
00:04:41,907 --> 00:04:42,783
for my products,
108
00:04:42,866 --> 00:04:44,868
not me giving it to them
as a gift.
109
00:04:44,952 --> 00:04:47,704
So that is May 25th, 1993,
110
00:04:48,330 --> 00:04:50,832
where I sold products
for the first time
111
00:04:50,916 --> 00:04:52,835
at a church flea market.
112
00:04:52,918 --> 00:04:55,003
I sold out of those products,
113
00:04:55,087 --> 00:04:58,090
and I realized this was
something that I could do.
114
00:04:58,173 --> 00:05:00,342
I started blogging in college
115
00:05:00,425 --> 00:05:02,219
back when it was still called
weblogging,
116
00:05:02,302 --> 00:05:05,848
but then when I graduated,
deleted the whole thing off the web.
117
00:05:06,473 --> 00:05:08,517
And started
what is now AwesomelyLuvvie.com
118
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,477
'cause I wanted
to talk about just the world
119
00:05:10,561 --> 00:05:12,312
and celebrities and pop culture.
120
00:05:12,396 --> 00:05:13,981
I actively love writing,
121
00:05:14,064 --> 00:05:15,482
and when I don't write I feel
122
00:05:15,566 --> 00:05:17,651
like I'm doing something wrong.
123
00:05:22,906 --> 00:05:25,993
I am from
a very quaint little town
124
00:05:26,076 --> 00:05:28,495
right outside of Indianapolis,
Indiana,
125
00:05:28,579 --> 00:05:30,747
called Kokomo, Indiana.
126
00:05:30,831 --> 00:05:32,875
I grew up in a family
of entrepreneurs.
127
00:05:32,958 --> 00:05:37,087
My grandfather was
a funeral director in Indiana,
128
00:05:37,171 --> 00:05:39,882
during a time where it was
almost unheard of
129
00:05:39,965 --> 00:05:43,177
for a Black man to be providing
for his own family
130
00:05:43,260 --> 00:05:45,137
and not working
for someone else.
131
00:05:45,220 --> 00:05:48,098
Seeing families celebrating
the lives of their loved ones
132
00:05:48,182 --> 00:05:51,810
every single day
was a harsh reminder
133
00:05:51,894 --> 00:05:52,978
that life is short,
134
00:05:53,061 --> 00:05:56,023
and because of that,
I realized early
135
00:05:56,106 --> 00:05:58,066
that you have to do
what you love.
136
00:05:58,150 --> 00:05:59,735
Both my parents were
in the military,
137
00:05:59,818 --> 00:06:00,944
so I lived everywhere.
138
00:06:01,028 --> 00:06:02,905
I was born in the Philippines.
139
00:06:02,988 --> 00:06:05,782
I lived in Texas,
Oklahoma, in Germany,
140
00:06:05,866 --> 00:06:07,701
but my parents retired
in North Carolina,
141
00:06:07,784 --> 00:06:08,994
so I consider that to be home.
142
00:06:09,077 --> 00:06:10,537
I have a strong sense of family.
143
00:06:10,621 --> 00:06:12,873
My sister and I, you know,
early on
144
00:06:12,956 --> 00:06:14,499
we were each other's rocks,
145
00:06:14,583 --> 00:06:16,251
we were each other's
support system,
146
00:06:16,335 --> 00:06:18,212
because so often it was only us.
147
00:06:18,295 --> 00:06:20,214
I am Nigerian.
148
00:06:20,297 --> 00:06:22,591
I was born there, raised there.
149
00:06:22,674 --> 00:06:26,428
When I was nine, we moved
from Nigeria to Chicago.
150
00:06:26,512 --> 00:06:27,846
I didn't realize we were moving.
151
00:06:27,930 --> 00:06:29,264
I thought we were going
on vacation.
152
00:06:29,348 --> 00:06:31,683
There was definitely a class
adjustment coming to the US
153
00:06:31,767 --> 00:06:33,685
'cause we lived
in a big house in Nigeria
154
00:06:33,769 --> 00:06:35,437
and then we came here
and lived in an apartment.
155
00:06:35,521 --> 00:06:38,899
When you have maids and you
have drivers and multiple cars,
156
00:06:38,982 --> 00:06:41,568
and you come here and start
taking the bus, that was new.
157
00:06:41,652 --> 00:06:42,486
That was new for me.
158
00:06:42,569 --> 00:06:44,196
Growing up,
159
00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,156
we did not realize
160
00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:47,199
that there were things
161
00:06:47,282 --> 00:06:48,242
that we didn't have
162
00:06:48,325 --> 00:06:49,326
that other people had.
163
00:06:49,409 --> 00:06:50,369
We were happy.
164
00:06:50,452 --> 00:06:51,870
We had full lives.
165
00:06:51,954 --> 00:06:53,997
There was always
food on the table.
166
00:06:54,081 --> 00:06:56,124
Mom and Dad were always there.
167
00:06:56,208 --> 00:06:57,417
Now that I'm an adult,
168
00:06:57,501 --> 00:06:59,253
I know we didn't have
any money at all.
169
00:06:59,336 --> 00:07:00,546
[laughs]
170
00:07:00,629 --> 00:07:02,214
But as a child,
171
00:07:02,297 --> 00:07:04,341
I did not feel or see that.
172
00:07:06,343 --> 00:07:07,886
[Melissa] Coming from Detroit
173
00:07:07,970 --> 00:07:10,097
means that you come
from a place of grit.
174
00:07:10,180 --> 00:07:13,392
When I moved to New York,
or went to college,
175
00:07:13,475 --> 00:07:14,726
or started a business,
176
00:07:14,810 --> 00:07:17,646
I had such a strong foundation
because of that.
177
00:07:17,729 --> 00:07:21,817
My dad was in jail basically
my entire childhood, adulthood.
178
00:07:21,900 --> 00:07:24,194
I watched my mom do everything,
179
00:07:24,278 --> 00:07:28,615
be that fist,
but also be that nurturer,
180
00:07:28,699 --> 00:07:33,328
and be that provider,
and be that really independent woman.
181
00:07:33,412 --> 00:07:36,164
Growing up in a family
of entrepreneurs
182
00:07:36,248 --> 00:07:40,961
and having this family business
kind of made us an anomaly,
183
00:07:41,044 --> 00:07:42,754
so to speak, in Indiana.
184
00:07:42,838 --> 00:07:45,382
My dad used to remind me
all the time
185
00:07:45,465 --> 00:07:48,135
that having
a family business is rare.
186
00:07:48,218 --> 00:07:50,179
There weren't
that many Black families
187
00:07:50,262 --> 00:07:53,891
that had their own businesses,
and thriving businesses,
188
00:07:53,974 --> 00:07:58,270
and for that reason, you know,
he was always, you know, gently
189
00:07:58,353 --> 00:08:00,731
or not so gently pushing me
190
00:08:00,814 --> 00:08:02,232
to take over
the family business.
191
00:08:02,316 --> 00:08:06,945
Having a family business
kind of made it a norm for her.
192
00:08:07,029 --> 00:08:10,449
And so Renae kind of got it by osmosis,
193
00:08:10,532 --> 00:08:11,617
so to speak.
194
00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:14,578
And when I went off and acquired
other funeral homes,
195
00:08:14,661 --> 00:08:18,582
then is when I really was
wishing that Renae would say,
196
00:08:18,665 --> 00:08:21,752
"Hey, Dad, you know,
um, I like this thing,
197
00:08:21,835 --> 00:08:24,880
but I think I'm gonna try
the family business."
198
00:08:24,963 --> 00:08:26,673
But it never happened.
199
00:08:26,757 --> 00:08:28,342
Renae found a passion.
200
00:08:28,425 --> 00:08:30,344
I'm grateful for these examples
201
00:08:30,427 --> 00:08:32,930
of strong Black men
as entrepreneurs
202
00:08:33,013 --> 00:08:34,932
in my life at an early age,
203
00:08:35,015 --> 00:08:38,018
very grateful for the life
that my family
204
00:08:38,101 --> 00:08:40,771
was able to provide
because of the business.
205
00:08:40,854 --> 00:08:43,440
But it just was not my thing.
206
00:08:43,524 --> 00:08:45,734
In Detroit I went to one
of the best high schools,
207
00:08:45,817 --> 00:08:46,652
Cass Tech.
208
00:08:46,735 --> 00:08:48,654
It's a school for scholars,
209
00:08:48,737 --> 00:08:53,575
and they have maybe, like,
a 95% college acceptance rate.
210
00:08:53,659 --> 00:08:56,453
So, they push college,
like, through and through.
211
00:08:56,537 --> 00:08:58,247
I knew I wanted
to go to a Black college.
212
00:08:58,330 --> 00:09:00,123
I knew I wanted that experience.
213
00:09:00,207 --> 00:09:02,584
The thought was, like,
what college am I going to?
214
00:09:02,668 --> 00:09:04,586
Howard or FAMU? Howard or FAMU?
215
00:09:04,670 --> 00:09:06,338
But I ended up going to FAMU
216
00:09:06,421 --> 00:09:08,632
because they had
the best business program.
217
00:09:08,715 --> 00:09:12,678
I don't think I really learned
about Black American history
218
00:09:12,761 --> 00:09:13,846
until I got to college,
219
00:09:13,929 --> 00:09:17,140
and I definitely didn't learn
how diverse Black people were.
220
00:09:17,224 --> 00:09:19,893
Going there was the best
decision I've ever made.
221
00:09:19,977 --> 00:09:22,646
My mother, I think she saw
the challenge with me being
222
00:09:22,729 --> 00:09:25,274
the only Black child
in my class most of the time.
223
00:09:25,357 --> 00:09:27,484
And my mother sat me down,
and she said,
224
00:09:27,568 --> 00:09:29,611
"It's just time for me to have
this conversation with you.
225
00:09:29,695 --> 00:09:32,531
You're a girl, you're going
to be a woman, but you're Black.
226
00:09:32,614 --> 00:09:33,448
And because of that,
227
00:09:33,532 --> 00:09:36,076
you're gonna have to work two times harder
than anybody else.
228
00:09:36,159 --> 00:09:37,870
But don't ever let anyone
make you feel
229
00:09:37,953 --> 00:09:39,788
like you don't deserve
to be where you are,
230
00:09:39,872 --> 00:09:42,165
and just know that you are
equally as good as anybody."
231
00:09:42,249 --> 00:09:44,251
In hindsight, I always tell my mom,
thank you so much
232
00:09:44,334 --> 00:09:46,920
for preparing me for what it is
to be a Black woman.
233
00:09:47,004 --> 00:09:48,922
Had my parents not developed
that confidence,
234
00:09:49,006 --> 00:09:51,008
I don't know if I'd be
where I am right now.
235
00:09:51,091 --> 00:09:54,052
I was a very good student.
236
00:09:54,136 --> 00:09:56,847
I was actually
in high school at age 12
237
00:09:56,930 --> 00:09:58,974
instead of starting at 14,
238
00:09:59,057 --> 00:10:01,185
so when I graduated
from high school,
239
00:10:01,268 --> 00:10:03,604
it was one month
after my sixteenth birthday.
240
00:10:03,687 --> 00:10:07,566
My parents, my grandparents,
they believed
241
00:10:07,649 --> 00:10:09,610
that if you worked hard,
242
00:10:09,693 --> 00:10:12,070
there wasn't anything
that you could not do.
243
00:10:12,696 --> 00:10:15,824
They knew that there were
limitations out there
244
00:10:15,908 --> 00:10:17,910
because of the color
of our skin,
245
00:10:17,993 --> 00:10:21,788
but rather than teach us
that those were true limitations,
246
00:10:21,872 --> 00:10:24,124
they taught us
that if we worked hard,
247
00:10:24,208 --> 00:10:25,459
we could overcome them.
248
00:10:25,542 --> 00:10:27,127
When I was in high school,
249
00:10:27,211 --> 00:10:30,964
my cousin owned
a throwback jersey store.
250
00:10:31,048 --> 00:10:33,884
And so, at 16 years old,
251
00:10:33,967 --> 00:10:36,845
I'm, like, basically managing
a store at the mall.
252
00:10:36,929 --> 00:10:39,431
He's, like, having me count
the registers at night,
253
00:10:39,515 --> 00:10:41,808
I'm coming up
with different promotions.
254
00:10:41,892 --> 00:10:45,270
So, he really inspired me
to be an entrepreneur.
255
00:10:45,354 --> 00:10:49,399
When I was about 11 or 12,
256
00:10:49,483 --> 00:10:52,319
I wanted to be Diana Ross
when I grew up.
257
00:10:52,402 --> 00:10:55,989
I just thought
that she was amazing.
258
00:10:56,073 --> 00:10:59,743
So, there was a point in my life
when I decided to go back
259
00:10:59,826 --> 00:11:02,120
to that desire to be a singer,
260
00:11:02,204 --> 00:11:07,000
and I was part
of a girl's group,
261
00:11:07,084 --> 00:11:09,837
don't laugh,
called Tuxedo Gold.
262
00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,715
For a very long time,
I looked at that part of my life
263
00:11:13,799 --> 00:11:17,010
as, like, the thing that you do not
want someone to bring up.
264
00:11:17,094 --> 00:11:19,805
So grateful that there is
no social media...
265
00:11:19,888 --> 00:11:21,306
[laughing] ...back then
266
00:11:21,390 --> 00:11:23,392
for somebody to say,
"Look at this."
267
00:11:23,475 --> 00:11:27,563
But that process that I went through
268
00:11:27,646 --> 00:11:32,651
to try to be a singer plays into
helping you to be
269
00:11:32,734 --> 00:11:34,444
fearless about things.
270
00:11:38,323 --> 00:11:41,493
Starting The Lip Bar was
almost like a hobby at first.
271
00:11:41,577 --> 00:11:43,412
It was for my own personal use.
272
00:11:43,495 --> 00:11:46,331
So, at that time,
I was deciding to make
273
00:11:46,415 --> 00:11:47,749
a more natural approach
274
00:11:47,833 --> 00:11:49,126
and take
a more holistic approach
275
00:11:49,209 --> 00:11:50,502
to my own lifestyle.
276
00:11:50,586 --> 00:11:52,504
So, I started actually reading
the ingredients
277
00:11:52,588 --> 00:11:54,214
on all the food
that I was eating,
278
00:11:54,298 --> 00:11:55,465
the makeup that I was using,
279
00:11:55,549 --> 00:11:57,467
the skincare that I was buying.
280
00:11:57,551 --> 00:12:00,679
And when it came to lipstick,
281
00:12:00,762 --> 00:12:02,973
it was, like, all these
sixteen-letter words.
282
00:12:03,056 --> 00:12:05,058
I had no idea what it was.
283
00:12:05,142 --> 00:12:06,810
And in addition to that,
284
00:12:06,894 --> 00:12:10,105
why can't I find nude lips
that match my complexion?
285
00:12:10,189 --> 00:12:12,357
So, I started
making lipstick on my own.
286
00:12:12,441 --> 00:12:15,027
Before I took the leap
into entrepreneurship,
287
00:12:15,110 --> 00:12:18,572
I was working at one
of the top PR agencies
288
00:12:18,655 --> 00:12:19,865
here in New York City.
289
00:12:19,948 --> 00:12:21,909
But I wasn't there.
290
00:12:21,992 --> 00:12:25,412
I realized that I wasn't gonna
be completely happy
291
00:12:25,495 --> 00:12:26,830
with the work that I was doing
292
00:12:26,914 --> 00:12:28,415
until I had
a little more control
293
00:12:28,498 --> 00:12:31,251
over the types of brands
that I was doing PR for,
294
00:12:31,335 --> 00:12:33,629
the types of projects
that I was managing.
295
00:12:33,712 --> 00:12:36,048
And the only way to do that
was to really start
296
00:12:36,131 --> 00:12:38,759
my own consultancy
and become my own boss.
297
00:12:38,842 --> 00:12:42,679
And so, I started moonlighting
and freelancing on the side.
298
00:12:42,763 --> 00:12:44,473
I would work from nine to five,
299
00:12:44,556 --> 00:12:47,392
or, let's be real,
nine to seven or eight,
300
00:12:47,476 --> 00:12:48,852
and I would come home
301
00:12:48,936 --> 00:12:51,230
and start working
on my own client roster.
302
00:12:51,313 --> 00:12:53,565
So, I built up
a couple of clients,
303
00:12:53,649 --> 00:12:55,609
had a few things baking,
304
00:12:55,692 --> 00:12:58,403
and realized after a year
and a half of moonlighting
305
00:12:58,487 --> 00:12:59,821
that, you know what?
306
00:12:59,905 --> 00:13:01,448
Girl, you can do this.
307
00:13:01,532 --> 00:13:04,117
Like, this is the time
to take the leap.
308
00:13:04,201 --> 00:13:06,036
Anyone who knows me,
you come to my house,
309
00:13:06,119 --> 00:13:08,330
candles and flowers are
something that I always have.
310
00:13:08,413 --> 00:13:11,667
And when I launched,
I actually was unemployed,
311
00:13:11,750 --> 00:13:15,212
and I wanted to, like,
go to the store and buy candles,
312
00:13:15,295 --> 00:13:17,130
but when you're unemployed,
you gotta be very
313
00:13:17,214 --> 00:13:19,091
particular with what you decide
to spend your money on.
314
00:13:19,174 --> 00:13:21,051
And I was like,
"Why don't I just make candles?"
315
00:13:21,134 --> 00:13:22,302
And it was a lot
of trial and error,
316
00:13:22,386 --> 00:13:23,887
but I got the hang of things,
317
00:13:23,971 --> 00:13:25,472
and I decided
to launch the company.
318
00:13:25,556 --> 00:13:27,140
Whenever you're putting
anything out,
319
00:13:27,224 --> 00:13:30,644
it's always a fear
if people are gonna like it.
320
00:13:30,727 --> 00:13:33,939
I think just because we love something
doesn't mean
321
00:13:34,022 --> 00:13:36,108
everyone's reaction to it
is gonna be the same.
322
00:13:36,191 --> 00:13:39,278
And I remember spending
my savings, and I was like,
323
00:13:39,361 --> 00:13:42,155
this has to work,
because you can't go broke.
324
00:13:42,239 --> 00:13:43,073
[laughs]
325
00:13:43,156 --> 00:13:45,492
And that's the best time
for something to work,
326
00:13:45,576 --> 00:13:47,202
when your back is
against the wall and--
327
00:13:47,286 --> 00:13:49,121
I don't know, I just felt like...
328
00:13:50,205 --> 00:13:51,540
all in or nothing.
329
00:13:51,623 --> 00:13:52,916
This was going to be my business.
330
00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,335
I feel so empowered, I feel like,
331
00:13:55,419 --> 00:13:57,462
"Ooh, Melissa, you did that.
332
00:13:57,546 --> 00:14:00,507
Like, you can really create
lipstick in your kitchen."
333
00:14:00,591 --> 00:14:02,968
I decided that in order
for my business
334
00:14:03,051 --> 00:14:04,136
to give me 100%,
335
00:14:04,219 --> 00:14:06,346
I had to give it 100%.
336
00:14:06,430 --> 00:14:08,348
A lot of times women
start their own businesses
337
00:14:08,432 --> 00:14:10,893
while they already have
a full-time job.
338
00:14:10,976 --> 00:14:14,771
And so, tempering
or sort of striking the balance
339
00:14:14,855 --> 00:14:17,608
between your job,
and then throwing in
340
00:14:17,691 --> 00:14:20,194
maybe raising a family,
and, you know,
341
00:14:20,277 --> 00:14:22,571
doing your side hustle,
which, you know, you wanna grow
342
00:14:22,654 --> 00:14:26,283
into a big business,
the side hustle often suffers.
343
00:14:26,366 --> 00:14:30,454
So, finding a way to sort
of even keel that energy out
344
00:14:30,537 --> 00:14:34,082
a little bit more, and dedicate
a little bit more time
345
00:14:34,166 --> 00:14:37,336
to taking a bit more of a risk,
346
00:14:37,419 --> 00:14:39,004
putting a little bit
more energy into it--
347
00:14:39,087 --> 00:14:41,340
And I know we're already doing,
like, a million things, right?
348
00:14:41,423 --> 00:14:44,801
But that's the one thing I think
that holds a business back.
349
00:14:44,885 --> 00:14:47,513
After doing PR for about a year,
350
00:14:47,596 --> 00:14:52,226
I had this idea, like, I wanna
create a destination online
351
00:14:52,309 --> 00:14:54,478
for Black women
to tell their stories.
352
00:14:54,561 --> 00:14:58,106
Black women who are building brands
and building legacies.
353
00:14:58,190 --> 00:15:01,818
I want a place for us
to come and inspire each other,
354
00:15:01,902 --> 00:15:04,404
get advice from, get guidance from.
355
00:15:04,488 --> 00:15:06,240
There's a lot of loneliness
356
00:15:06,323 --> 00:15:08,450
behind the scenes of entrepreneurship.
357
00:15:08,534 --> 00:15:12,538
And each and every time a woman
is honest about her experience,
358
00:15:12,621 --> 00:15:16,041
the highs, the lows,
the challenges, the successes,
359
00:15:16,124 --> 00:15:18,460
and all of the murkiness
in between,
360
00:15:18,544 --> 00:15:21,964
she is fueling
another woman to keep going
361
00:15:22,047 --> 00:15:25,384
and encouraging another woman
to push beyond
362
00:15:25,467 --> 00:15:26,927
whatever challenges she's facing.
363
00:15:27,511 --> 00:15:28,887
So, when I got laid off
in April 2010,
364
00:15:28,971 --> 00:15:30,764
I was feeling restless
at my job.
365
00:15:30,848 --> 00:15:32,307
But I was not gonna quit,
366
00:15:32,391 --> 00:15:34,434
because I like knowing
where my money's coming from,
367
00:15:34,518 --> 00:15:36,436
I like benefits,
insurance, you know?
368
00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:37,896
And again, shoe habits.
369
00:15:37,980 --> 00:15:39,857
You know, these shoes
not gonna buy themselves.
370
00:15:39,940 --> 00:15:42,192
I was basically pushed
to take that leap of faith.
371
00:15:42,276 --> 00:15:44,152
So, I kept on writing.
372
00:15:44,236 --> 00:15:47,698
But I never took
writing seriously.
373
00:15:47,781 --> 00:15:50,158
I didn't take it
as this is your gift,
374
00:15:50,242 --> 00:15:51,243
this is what you're supposed
to be doing,
375
00:15:51,326 --> 00:15:52,703
this is your purpose.
376
00:15:52,786 --> 00:15:56,164
I didn't know writers
who were kind of tangible.
377
00:15:56,248 --> 00:15:59,459
Like, I knew the Toni Morrisons
and the Terry McMillans,
378
00:15:59,543 --> 00:16:02,087
but they felt like aspirational,
but not reachable.
379
00:16:02,171 --> 00:16:03,255
They were novelists.
380
00:16:03,922 --> 00:16:07,467
For me, I was like, okay,
writing is not something
381
00:16:07,551 --> 00:16:09,636
that I think I can make a career of,
'cause I don't know anybody
382
00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:13,265
who's doing it who's not,
like, super fancy.
383
00:16:13,348 --> 00:16:16,894
And it was definitely one of those
384
00:16:16,977 --> 00:16:19,980
"if you don't know it,
you can't see it for yourself."
385
00:16:20,063 --> 00:16:23,859
For me, it was really important
to let people know what is available.
386
00:16:23,942 --> 00:16:26,695
You know, whether that means
it's within my world
387
00:16:26,778 --> 00:16:28,697
or other people's world
and making those connections,
388
00:16:28,780 --> 00:16:31,074
but almost giving them
permission
389
00:16:31,158 --> 00:16:32,576
to be able
to enter those worlds.
390
00:16:32,659 --> 00:16:34,578
Because I think that's part
of the problem as well,
391
00:16:34,661 --> 00:16:35,913
is that we're not aware.
392
00:16:35,996 --> 00:16:38,665
So, what I try to do within
my own industry is bring,
393
00:16:38,749 --> 00:16:41,710
you know, younger women
of color to participate
394
00:16:41,793 --> 00:16:43,170
in some of the activities
that I'm doing.
395
00:16:43,253 --> 00:16:45,589
For them to see
that something exists
396
00:16:45,672 --> 00:16:46,882
where they can participate,
397
00:16:46,965 --> 00:16:48,467
and maybe that'll, you know,
have a spark.
398
00:16:48,550 --> 00:16:50,802
Any time I tell my girls
someone is gonna come
399
00:16:50,886 --> 00:16:53,388
to the school
or we're gonna take a visit,
400
00:16:53,472 --> 00:16:54,932
they get so excited.
401
00:16:55,015 --> 00:16:57,851
And part of it is because...
402
00:16:57,935 --> 00:16:59,520
they don't often see that.
403
00:16:59,603 --> 00:17:01,980
We've had our girls go
into Essence,
404
00:17:02,064 --> 00:17:04,024
and they are like,
405
00:17:04,107 --> 00:17:06,360
"I've never seen
so many Black women
406
00:17:06,443 --> 00:17:08,654
who are just amazing,
407
00:17:08,737 --> 00:17:11,198
who are nice,
who have office jobs."
408
00:17:11,281 --> 00:17:13,450
And the majority of them
have never been
409
00:17:13,534 --> 00:17:15,786
in an office to begin with.
410
00:17:15,869 --> 00:17:17,246
So, to see something
411
00:17:17,329 --> 00:17:19,873
from us, by us, for us
412
00:17:19,957 --> 00:17:23,919
that includes them, my girls,
413
00:17:24,002 --> 00:17:26,880
they get to see what
they can do for their future.
414
00:17:26,964 --> 00:17:30,843
And I can't tell you how
heartwarming that is, you know,
415
00:17:30,926 --> 00:17:33,095
because for many of them,
you ask them,
416
00:17:33,178 --> 00:17:34,805
"What do you wanna do
with your life?"
417
00:17:34,888 --> 00:17:37,516
And, you know,
they'll be limited and say,
418
00:17:37,599 --> 00:17:39,017
"Well, I don't know yet,"
419
00:17:39,101 --> 00:17:41,812
or "I think
I wanna go to college."
420
00:17:41,895 --> 00:17:43,522
And then when they step
into these places
421
00:17:43,605 --> 00:17:44,773
or they meet different people,
422
00:17:44,857 --> 00:17:45,899
then they're saying,
423
00:17:45,983 --> 00:17:47,484
"Well, I wanna be a blogger."
424
00:17:47,568 --> 00:17:49,444
"I wanna be a writer."
425
00:17:49,528 --> 00:17:51,280
"I can see myself
being an engineer."
426
00:17:51,363 --> 00:17:53,448
Just for the mere fact
that someone made themselves
427
00:17:53,532 --> 00:17:55,659
present in this space.
428
00:17:55,742 --> 00:17:58,537
The times when I would doubt
whether I should be writing,
429
00:17:58,620 --> 00:18:01,790
I would always get some type
of a note that would tell me,
430
00:18:01,874 --> 00:18:03,250
"Nah, you're supposed
to be writing."
431
00:18:03,333 --> 00:18:05,210
Like, I remember
one of the first notes
432
00:18:05,294 --> 00:18:06,837
I got from a reader,
433
00:18:07,462 --> 00:18:09,590
she was in the waiting room
with her mother
434
00:18:09,673 --> 00:18:11,216
as her mother
was getting chemotherapy,
435
00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:14,845
and reading my blog
was the only reason why she wasn't crying.
436
00:18:14,928 --> 00:18:17,264
And I was like,
"Oh, my God, okay.
437
00:18:17,347 --> 00:18:18,515
So, this is making a difference."
438
00:18:18,599 --> 00:18:21,101
And I got another note
from somebody who was like,
439
00:18:21,185 --> 00:18:23,187
"You know, I've been
in a depressive episode
440
00:18:23,270 --> 00:18:25,272
for the last six months,
and your blog is literally
441
00:18:25,355 --> 00:18:26,565
the only thing
that's made me smile."
442
00:18:26,648 --> 00:18:28,483
My finances were in great shape,
443
00:18:28,567 --> 00:18:30,319
and then I got to Miami.
444
00:18:30,402 --> 00:18:34,406
And that's when I just
fell off the financial wagon.
445
00:18:34,489 --> 00:18:37,576
Miami is an exciting city,
I got sucked into it, you know?
446
00:18:37,659 --> 00:18:39,077
To be in Miami,
you kind of wanna look
447
00:18:39,161 --> 00:18:40,454
like you're supposed
to be in Miami.
448
00:18:40,537 --> 00:18:41,747
So, I started focusing on that.
449
00:18:41,830 --> 00:18:44,666
I had a lot of credit card debt
from clothing,
450
00:18:44,750 --> 00:18:46,835
I had Remy Weave
when I lived in Miami.
451
00:18:46,919 --> 00:18:49,213
And then I got
into a bad relationship,
452
00:18:49,296 --> 00:18:50,797
and that was the thing
453
00:18:50,881 --> 00:18:53,175
that flipped my finances
totally upside down.
454
00:18:54,176 --> 00:18:57,179
I was 21 years old,
living in Miami, living my life,
455
00:18:57,262 --> 00:19:00,974
and I met this guy,
and it turned out to become
456
00:19:01,058 --> 00:19:03,268
physically, emotionally,
and financially abusive.
457
00:19:03,352 --> 00:19:05,771
I remember one time my abuser,
458
00:19:05,854 --> 00:19:08,148
he pulled a gun out on me,
and it was loaded.
459
00:19:08,232 --> 00:19:10,150
And he was like,
"I will kill you right now."
460
00:19:10,234 --> 00:19:11,276
And just--
461
00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:13,904
I saw the life leave him.
462
00:19:13,987 --> 00:19:16,823
I hadn't spoken to my mother
in months at that time,
463
00:19:16,907 --> 00:19:18,534
but I called her.
464
00:19:18,617 --> 00:19:20,911
I was like,
"Mom, I'm ready to come home."
465
00:19:20,994 --> 00:19:22,996
And so, I called my mom--
466
00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,082
I'm getting emotional.
467
00:19:25,165 --> 00:19:27,793
[sobbing] I called my mom,
I was like, "I'm ready to go."
468
00:19:27,876 --> 00:19:29,461
And she's like, "Okay."
469
00:19:30,754 --> 00:19:32,172
[sighs] Sorry.
470
00:19:35,843 --> 00:19:36,927
[sighs]
471
00:19:37,010 --> 00:19:39,304
I don't ever cry
when I tell this story.
472
00:19:42,140 --> 00:19:45,143
It took me years to untangle
the financial mess.
473
00:19:45,227 --> 00:19:48,313
I was still in college
and I wasn't really fully employed, and--
474
00:19:48,397 --> 00:19:50,274
But I had still been taking on debt
to support us.
475
00:19:50,357 --> 00:19:52,442
I was the sole provider
in the household.
476
00:19:52,526 --> 00:19:54,570
And it did come out
he was stealing money from me.
477
00:19:54,653 --> 00:19:56,071
Like, he would take my card
when I was asleep.
478
00:19:56,154 --> 00:19:58,782
As a result,
I had two broken leases,
479
00:19:58,866 --> 00:20:01,410
he had committed fraud
with my PayPal account,
480
00:20:01,493 --> 00:20:03,036
all my credit cards
were maxed out.
481
00:20:03,120 --> 00:20:05,247
My finances were in shambles.
482
00:20:05,330 --> 00:20:08,250
Like, picture shambles,
that was my finances.
483
00:20:08,333 --> 00:20:11,170
My Fab Finance started in 2013.
484
00:20:11,253 --> 00:20:13,463
It was my accountability partner
when I decided
485
00:20:13,547 --> 00:20:15,924
I was gonna untangle the mess
from the abusive relationship.
486
00:20:16,008 --> 00:20:19,428
Things are better,
and it led to probably
487
00:20:19,511 --> 00:20:22,347
one of my greatest creations,
which is My Fab Finance.
488
00:20:27,394 --> 00:20:29,605
[Lauren] What we know about
Black women is that we're doers.
489
00:20:29,688 --> 00:20:32,983
So, over the span of ten years,
from 2002 to 2012,
490
00:20:33,066 --> 00:20:37,779
Black female entrepreneurs
grew their revenue 104%.
491
00:20:37,863 --> 00:20:40,240
A hundred and four percent,
over ten years.
492
00:20:40,324 --> 00:20:41,950
It is unprecedented, it's unheard of.
493
00:20:42,034 --> 00:20:44,828
And that just speaks to the work
that we're doing in our communities.
494
00:20:44,912 --> 00:20:50,083
I was very fortunate
that it could grow organically,
495
00:20:50,167 --> 00:20:53,420
because I didn't have
another option.
496
00:20:53,504 --> 00:20:55,005
I couldn't get a loan.
497
00:20:55,088 --> 00:20:58,884
So, everything that I did
with the business
498
00:20:58,967 --> 00:21:00,427
needed to be successful
499
00:21:00,511 --> 00:21:01,637
so that I would have money
500
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,138
to reinvest in the next thing.
501
00:21:03,222 --> 00:21:04,806
So, you do one flea market,
502
00:21:04,890 --> 00:21:06,266
you get the sales from that,
503
00:21:06,350 --> 00:21:09,102
now you can go buy supplies
for the next craft fair,
504
00:21:09,186 --> 00:21:10,521
and you get the sales from that.
505
00:21:10,604 --> 00:21:11,438
And then you can go--
506
00:21:11,522 --> 00:21:12,648
And you just keep reinvesting
507
00:21:12,731 --> 00:21:14,191
and doing that
over and over again.
508
00:21:14,274 --> 00:21:16,860
That growth was constantly
being reinvested,
509
00:21:16,944 --> 00:21:20,280
and there was no other way
for me to exist.
510
00:21:20,364 --> 00:21:25,327
From day one, The Lip Bar
was fully funded by me,
511
00:21:25,410 --> 00:21:27,037
and I worked
for a year and a half
512
00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:28,914
while The Lip Bar
was still operating.
513
00:21:28,997 --> 00:21:33,377
It really made me feel empowered
to know that, you know,
514
00:21:33,460 --> 00:21:36,672
I didn't necessarily have
to seek out funding to do this,
515
00:21:36,755 --> 00:21:39,216
and I was able to really work
with what I had
516
00:21:39,299 --> 00:21:41,635
to get my dream
and my vision started.
517
00:21:42,386 --> 00:21:44,137
[Gwen] We're not getting
the funding
518
00:21:44,221 --> 00:21:46,765
that a White counterpart will get.
519
00:21:46,849 --> 00:21:48,976
The banks are not as excited
520
00:21:49,059 --> 00:21:50,602
to give us money, you know?
521
00:21:50,686 --> 00:21:52,479
So, it's our money,
our own money,
522
00:21:52,563 --> 00:21:53,438
we're not, you know,
523
00:21:53,522 --> 00:21:56,191
we're not building our restaurant
off other people's money,
524
00:21:56,275 --> 00:21:58,986
whereas a lot of our
White counterparts can do that.
525
00:21:59,069 --> 00:22:01,613
And so, it's harder for us, and,
526
00:22:01,697 --> 00:22:04,491
and it seems like
that most Black businesses
527
00:22:04,575 --> 00:22:06,451
are doing it on their own.
528
00:22:06,535 --> 00:22:08,495
They are pooling their money together
529
00:22:08,579 --> 00:22:10,831
or, you know,
digging into their savings,
530
00:22:10,914 --> 00:22:14,293
and, you know, we want a piece
of that pie too,
531
00:22:14,376 --> 00:22:16,503
so that's what we're trying
to figure out.
532
00:22:16,587 --> 00:22:18,463
You know, how do we get
some of that money?
533
00:22:22,801 --> 00:22:25,262
The first time I ever heard
of Shark Tank,
534
00:22:25,345 --> 00:22:29,224
we were doing a pop-up
with Harlem Fashion's Row.
535
00:22:29,308 --> 00:22:33,228
Everyone is coming to our room, because,
you know, when you see someone
536
00:22:33,312 --> 00:22:35,439
with blue lips coming out,
it's like, wait.
537
00:22:35,522 --> 00:22:37,608
And then when you see
multiple people with blue lips,
538
00:22:37,691 --> 00:22:39,484
it's like, what's in that room?
539
00:22:39,568 --> 00:22:41,111
So, a producer from Shark Tank
540
00:22:41,195 --> 00:22:43,113
walked into that room and said,
541
00:22:43,197 --> 00:22:44,198
"Here's my business card.
542
00:22:44,281 --> 00:22:45,782
You should apply
for Shark Tank."
543
00:22:45,866 --> 00:22:47,201
I had never heard of the show.
544
00:22:47,284 --> 00:22:50,162
So, my creative director
for The Lip Bar, Rosco Spears,
545
00:22:50,245 --> 00:22:51,830
decided that we would apply.
546
00:22:51,914 --> 00:22:53,040
And three months later,
547
00:22:53,123 --> 00:22:54,958
here we are on Shark Tank.
548
00:22:55,042 --> 00:22:57,336
I was so taken aback
549
00:22:57,419 --> 00:23:00,297
by the fact that they weren't
even really willing
550
00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:02,257
to talk to us about business.
551
00:23:02,341 --> 00:23:05,052
From the second that we said
we were a cosmetic company,
552
00:23:05,135 --> 00:23:06,720
none of them were interested.
553
00:23:06,803 --> 00:23:10,766
Instead of actually talking
to us like the business owners
554
00:23:10,849 --> 00:23:16,063
we were and we are,
they complimented our dresses.
555
00:23:16,688 --> 00:23:21,026
They said we would never get
market share from the big guys.
556
00:23:21,109 --> 00:23:25,113
They told us that these blue
and purple lip colors, you know,
557
00:23:25,197 --> 00:23:27,282
number one, were unattractive,
558
00:23:27,366 --> 00:23:31,537
and that if the bigger companies
wanted to do those colors,
559
00:23:31,620 --> 00:23:35,290
they would do that and then crush us
like the colorful cockroaches that we are.
560
00:23:35,374 --> 00:23:36,208
[rewind sound]
561
00:23:36,291 --> 00:23:39,002
...crush us like the colorful cockroaches
that we are.
562
00:23:42,548 --> 00:23:44,049
[Renae] One of the many reasons
we're not getting
563
00:23:44,132 --> 00:23:46,468
the financing we need
is quite simple.
564
00:23:46,552 --> 00:23:49,429
We're being overlooked
because in most cases,
565
00:23:49,513 --> 00:23:52,140
people lend money
to people who look like them.
566
00:23:52,224 --> 00:23:53,892
[Gwen] Part of it
might be some--
567
00:23:53,976 --> 00:23:56,144
We gotta get
in front of the right people,
568
00:23:56,228 --> 00:23:59,690
but I also do feel like it is
a racial thing, you know,
569
00:23:59,773 --> 00:24:02,067
about resources
being available to us.
570
00:24:02,150 --> 00:24:06,196
It's really tough being a woman
in business having to
571
00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,491
talk to men about this beauty brand
572
00:24:09,575 --> 00:24:11,118
that they don't
really understand,
573
00:24:11,201 --> 00:24:13,453
they can't relate,
they've never used these products.
574
00:24:13,537 --> 00:24:14,997
But at the end of the day,
575
00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:16,957
these are the men
who are, like, pulling the triggers
576
00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:18,166
and pressing the buttons,
577
00:24:18,250 --> 00:24:21,670
and making the green light
happen for you.
578
00:24:21,753 --> 00:24:24,673
A lot of times people will ask,
579
00:24:24,756 --> 00:24:27,134
"Oh, was there a moment
where you wanted to give up?
580
00:24:27,217 --> 00:24:30,012
That you just said,
'Oh, I can't do this?'"
581
00:24:30,095 --> 00:24:34,016
And after being in business
for over 20 years,
582
00:24:34,099 --> 00:24:36,894
there are so many
of those moments,
583
00:24:36,977 --> 00:24:38,604
because it's hard.
584
00:24:38,687 --> 00:24:40,105
And it's scary,
585
00:24:40,189 --> 00:24:43,192
and it's very precarious,
586
00:24:43,275 --> 00:24:45,652
and there's so much
that you discover
587
00:24:45,736 --> 00:24:47,988
as you're doing it
that you don't know.
588
00:24:48,071 --> 00:24:51,074
So, I definitely have had
many moments over the years
589
00:24:51,158 --> 00:24:53,160
where I just felt like,
"Okay, this is crazy, I can't--
590
00:24:53,243 --> 00:24:54,661
I can't do this anymore."
591
00:24:54,745 --> 00:24:57,414
A year into doing all of this,
592
00:24:57,497 --> 00:24:58,916
still couldn't find
a full-time job,
593
00:24:58,999 --> 00:25:00,042
but I was
on LinkedIn every week,
594
00:25:00,125 --> 00:25:02,419
like, let me find a job.
595
00:25:02,503 --> 00:25:07,799
Finally, I got a job doing
social media for a major brand.
596
00:25:07,883 --> 00:25:09,343
Pretty good pay.
597
00:25:09,426 --> 00:25:11,470
I go in the office day one,
598
00:25:11,553 --> 00:25:13,472
I sit there,
I'm doing PowerPoint.
599
00:25:13,555 --> 00:25:17,017
By 1 p.m., I felt like
the walls were closing in on me.
600
00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:18,602
[laughs]
I was like--
601
00:25:18,685 --> 00:25:20,270
I wanted to slide off the chair
602
00:25:20,354 --> 00:25:21,647
onto the ground
and just lay there.
603
00:25:21,730 --> 00:25:22,856
I was like this is--
604
00:25:22,940 --> 00:25:25,400
I don't think I'm cut out
for this anymore. I think--
605
00:25:25,484 --> 00:25:27,986
I need to make this whole working
for myself thing work.
606
00:25:28,070 --> 00:25:30,280
I'm building My Fab Finance
and everything is going great,
607
00:25:30,364 --> 00:25:33,158
and then I get connected
with Russell Simmons.
608
00:25:33,242 --> 00:25:35,619
And I went in
and I interviewed him,
609
00:25:35,702 --> 00:25:36,787
and it was a great interview.
610
00:25:37,371 --> 00:25:39,623
But after that interview
I had to go back to work.
611
00:25:39,706 --> 00:25:41,792
So, I walk into my job,
and they're preparing
612
00:25:41,875 --> 00:25:43,836
for a staff meeting,
a team meeting,
613
00:25:43,919 --> 00:25:45,003
and my boss says,
614
00:25:45,087 --> 00:25:46,380
"Oh, hey, Tonya, welcome back.
615
00:25:46,463 --> 00:25:48,841
Can you print out
these agendas for this meeting?"
616
00:25:48,924 --> 00:25:51,760
And I'm not the person
617
00:25:51,844 --> 00:25:53,762
who thinks
I'm bigger than things,
618
00:25:53,846 --> 00:25:55,639
but in that moment
all of it just hit.
619
00:25:55,722 --> 00:25:57,307
I was like,
"I have a master's degree.
620
00:25:57,391 --> 00:25:58,433
We have an intern.
621
00:25:58,517 --> 00:25:59,768
I just sat down
with Russell Simmons,
622
00:25:59,852 --> 00:26:02,062
and you're asking me
to print out agendas?
623
00:26:02,145 --> 00:26:03,021
I'm done."
624
00:26:03,105 --> 00:26:05,315
Here at Essence,
we're always trying to find
625
00:26:05,399 --> 00:26:07,901
the pulse of Black women
working in Corporate America.
626
00:26:07,985 --> 00:26:09,987
And we teamed up with Catalyst,
627
00:26:10,070 --> 00:26:13,031
which is a research firm,
to commission
628
00:26:13,115 --> 00:26:14,867
the "Black Women in the Workplace" study,
629
00:26:14,950 --> 00:26:17,911
which pretty much takes
the temperature of all women
630
00:26:17,995 --> 00:26:20,664
at all levels
working in Corporate America.
631
00:26:20,747 --> 00:26:22,165
And what we found from this study
632
00:26:22,249 --> 00:26:25,002
is that 54%
of Black men and women
633
00:26:25,085 --> 00:26:27,462
report feeling
like they have to be on guard.
634
00:26:27,546 --> 00:26:31,049
People are super vigilant about
the way they're being perceived
635
00:26:31,133 --> 00:26:34,178
and the way that people
are sort of taking them in.
636
00:26:34,261 --> 00:26:36,305
So, what the study also found
is that that vigilance,
637
00:26:36,388 --> 00:26:37,806
every day
when you come to the office
638
00:26:37,890 --> 00:26:41,226
and you feel like you have to change
who you really are
639
00:26:41,310 --> 00:26:42,686
and constantly be on guard,
640
00:26:42,769 --> 00:26:45,480
has effects on your health,
mentally and physically.
641
00:26:45,564 --> 00:26:47,316
I think
for Black women entrepreneurs,
642
00:26:47,399 --> 00:26:49,193
where it requires
so much of ourselves
643
00:26:49,276 --> 00:26:50,819
and so much of our time,
644
00:26:50,903 --> 00:26:52,654
having mental wellness
and having a hold
645
00:26:52,738 --> 00:26:54,364
of our mental health
is really important.
646
00:26:54,448 --> 00:26:55,782
Because here's the thing, right?
647
00:26:55,866 --> 00:26:58,493
Regardless if you are
a millionaire or not,
648
00:26:58,577 --> 00:27:00,287
we all have--
649
00:27:00,370 --> 00:27:01,455
Some of us have trauma,
650
00:27:01,538 --> 00:27:03,081
some of us have to deal
with depression,
651
00:27:03,165 --> 00:27:06,001
anxiety, PTSD,
mental health issues,
652
00:27:06,084 --> 00:27:07,669
and we have
to take care of that.
653
00:27:07,753 --> 00:27:10,047
That doesn't mean it's
like a quick fix, but it means, like,
654
00:27:10,130 --> 00:27:12,841
all right, like,
"I really wanna succeed
655
00:27:12,925 --> 00:27:15,385
and I really wanna be great in this,
and I'm really passionate,
656
00:27:15,469 --> 00:27:18,180
but I've got some work
I need to do on myself too.
657
00:27:18,263 --> 00:27:20,182
And how am I really going
to help other people
658
00:27:20,265 --> 00:27:23,101
if I'm not actually
taking care of myself?"
659
00:27:23,185 --> 00:27:25,187
I actually recently
did this thing with my family
660
00:27:25,270 --> 00:27:26,647
where I asked them all
for feedback
661
00:27:26,730 --> 00:27:28,524
'cause I'm trying to, like,
work on my self-development
662
00:27:28,607 --> 00:27:30,275
and making sure
I'm spending more time,
663
00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,361
like, thinking about
Chioma the person,
664
00:27:32,444 --> 00:27:33,904
not just Chioma
the entrepreneur,
665
00:27:33,987 --> 00:27:35,739
or, like, Chioma the sister,
Chioma the friend.
666
00:27:35,822 --> 00:27:38,867
Um, so, trying to be more
holistic in how I view myself.
667
00:27:38,951 --> 00:27:40,536
And my feedback, overwhelmingly,
668
00:27:40,619 --> 00:27:42,204
from every person
in my life was like,
669
00:27:42,287 --> 00:27:43,956
"You need to take
better care of yourself.
670
00:27:44,039 --> 00:27:45,374
We see that you're
always working,
671
00:27:45,457 --> 00:27:46,959
or you're, like, always stressed
672
00:27:47,042 --> 00:27:48,669
and you're always, like,
you're always going,
673
00:27:48,752 --> 00:27:51,255
and you need to pause
and have some of that time to be like--
674
00:27:51,338 --> 00:27:52,589
Like, have some Chioma time,
675
00:27:52,673 --> 00:27:54,591
like, meditate,
like, do some yoga,
676
00:27:54,675 --> 00:27:57,469
like, you know, go to the salon,
like, relax a little bit."
677
00:27:57,553 --> 00:27:59,221
That's probably,
like, an American thing,
678
00:27:59,304 --> 00:28:00,931
maybe a New York thing too,
where you're just, like,
679
00:28:01,014 --> 00:28:03,934
you feel like you need to be
doing something all the time.
680
00:28:04,017 --> 00:28:05,185
So, I think that's one
of the things--
681
00:28:05,269 --> 00:28:07,521
And it gets magnified
with entrepreneurship
682
00:28:07,604 --> 00:28:10,065
because your success or failure
depends upon your input.
683
00:28:10,148 --> 00:28:12,609
So, I think, like, one of the biggest
costs is that you always--
684
00:28:12,693 --> 00:28:14,361
You kind of feel guilty
if you're not working.
685
00:28:14,444 --> 00:28:20,826
Therapy is, to date,
the greatest investment
686
00:28:20,909 --> 00:28:24,246
I have ever made in myself.
687
00:28:24,329 --> 00:28:29,251
And when I tell you the kind
of peace and contentment
688
00:28:29,334 --> 00:28:31,962
that I have in my life
because of the therapy.
689
00:28:32,045 --> 00:28:37,134
I understand my feelings,
and, oh, business, you know?
690
00:28:37,217 --> 00:28:39,011
And I'm not intimidated anymore,
691
00:28:39,094 --> 00:28:42,181
and I have learned
to sort of accept praise.
692
00:28:42,264 --> 00:28:44,224
You know, people tell--
we're always like,
693
00:28:44,308 --> 00:28:45,851
"Oh, no. Oh, no."
694
00:28:45,934 --> 00:28:48,812
You know, learning how
to say thank you
695
00:28:48,896 --> 00:28:51,440
and be proud of myself.
I struggled with that.
696
00:28:51,523 --> 00:28:53,817
Like, not being proud
of the work that I was doing,
697
00:28:53,901 --> 00:28:55,485
almost like,
"Well, this is what I'm supposed to do.
698
00:28:55,569 --> 00:28:57,571
I'm Super Woman."
699
00:28:57,654 --> 00:29:02,409
And so, I love, love, love psychotherapy,
700
00:29:02,492 --> 00:29:04,453
and, um, I don't--
701
00:29:04,536 --> 00:29:06,246
I said maybe I'm naive
and I don't know
702
00:29:06,330 --> 00:29:11,084
about what's supposed
to be taboo, but it's good.
703
00:29:17,674 --> 00:29:19,968
[Gwen] In terms
of female entrepreneurs
704
00:29:20,052 --> 00:29:21,386
and Black women entrepreneurs,
705
00:29:21,470 --> 00:29:24,348
I feel like we are
in this female moment right now.
706
00:29:24,431 --> 00:29:26,016
People are starting to realize,
707
00:29:26,099 --> 00:29:28,477
"Wow, they-- they got something."
You know?
708
00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,104
"These women,
they're doing their thing,
709
00:29:31,188 --> 00:29:32,814
and they're making it happen."
710
00:29:32,898 --> 00:29:36,151
Like, they're, you know,
they're quitting their jobs.
711
00:29:36,235 --> 00:29:38,153
I feel like, too,
there's this thing
712
00:29:38,237 --> 00:29:41,698
about women
in Corporate America, too.
713
00:29:41,782 --> 00:29:42,866
You kind of--
714
00:29:42,950 --> 00:29:45,285
you know, you're getting passed over
for a promotion,
715
00:29:45,369 --> 00:29:47,538
you're getting overlooked,
and it's like, "You know what?
716
00:29:47,621 --> 00:29:48,997
I can do this on my own."
717
00:29:49,081 --> 00:29:51,333
And so, it's very--
718
00:29:51,416 --> 00:29:54,878
Like, just, female empowerment
thing happening right now.
719
00:29:54,962 --> 00:29:56,421
And I think it's just
only gonna get bigger.
720
00:29:56,505 --> 00:29:59,091
One of the most common mistakes
721
00:29:59,174 --> 00:30:04,346
is that we try to do it all,
and that leads to burnout.
722
00:30:04,429 --> 00:30:07,724
We have all of these blind spots
723
00:30:07,808 --> 00:30:09,852
and we find ourselves
being frustrated.
724
00:30:09,935 --> 00:30:11,270
So, we're very hands on,
725
00:30:11,353 --> 00:30:12,938
that's how we started
the business in the first place,
726
00:30:13,021 --> 00:30:15,148
but then we kind of shoot
ourselves in the foot
727
00:30:15,232 --> 00:30:16,733
because we're not so good
728
00:30:16,817 --> 00:30:19,069
at sort of divvying out responsibility
729
00:30:19,152 --> 00:30:20,654
and knowing when it's time
730
00:30:20,737 --> 00:30:22,990
to sort of bring on more people
on your team.
731
00:30:23,073 --> 00:30:26,535
And as their businesses grow,
it sort of outpaces
732
00:30:26,618 --> 00:30:28,996
the threshold
that they can sustain.
733
00:30:34,710 --> 00:30:36,670
The Super Woman complex is real.
734
00:30:36,753 --> 00:30:39,298
I see it amongst
so many of my clients,
735
00:30:39,381 --> 00:30:41,133
so many of my colleagues,
so many of my friends.
736
00:30:41,216 --> 00:30:44,469
And I think the idea
that we have to do everything,
737
00:30:44,553 --> 00:30:46,513
we have to be the best parents,
738
00:30:46,597 --> 00:30:48,265
be the best children
to our parents,
739
00:30:48,348 --> 00:30:49,391
be the best friends,
740
00:30:49,474 --> 00:30:50,851
and have this amazing,
thriving business.
741
00:30:50,934 --> 00:30:52,561
I mean, I think we want
all of this, right?
742
00:30:52,644 --> 00:30:55,314
But part of it is that we think
we can do it all.
743
00:30:55,397 --> 00:30:57,316
We don't need any help.
We got this.
744
00:30:57,399 --> 00:30:59,943
Yeah, I agree, the idea
of this invisible cape is--
745
00:31:00,027 --> 00:31:02,738
it's generational,
it's cultural, it's diaspora.
746
00:31:02,821 --> 00:31:04,072
You know, it's--
747
00:31:04,156 --> 00:31:06,491
We don't really know
how to be another way,
748
00:31:06,575 --> 00:31:09,661
and it is only through the lens
of other women who understand
749
00:31:09,745 --> 00:31:12,915
what that struggle looks like,
and pass the baton, and go,
750
00:31:12,998 --> 00:31:15,459
"You can relax here"
or "You gotta amp it up here."
751
00:31:15,542 --> 00:31:17,085
We need help
and we need support.
752
00:31:17,169 --> 00:31:19,713
We need to be able to reach out
to others for that.
753
00:31:19,796 --> 00:31:20,839
The biggest issue
754
00:31:20,923 --> 00:31:22,508
is that we have trouble
saying no.
755
00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:25,260
It's like, "Oh, you need that?
Sure. You need--"
756
00:31:25,344 --> 00:31:27,596
You know, like,
"You need to do that other thing,
757
00:31:27,679 --> 00:31:30,641
you need to have that call
till midnight? Yeah, fine." You know?
758
00:31:30,724 --> 00:31:32,100
Balance, like--
759
00:31:32,184 --> 00:31:36,104
It's necessary to just
take time for yourself,
760
00:31:36,188 --> 00:31:38,232
put the cape down for a moment.
761
00:31:38,315 --> 00:31:40,067
We also need to be able
to set boundaries.
762
00:31:40,150 --> 00:31:42,611
And sometimes it's like,
if you can't say no to other people,
763
00:31:42,694 --> 00:31:44,655
can you at least say yes
to yourself?
764
00:31:44,738 --> 00:31:46,406
You know,
there's this sort of like,
765
00:31:46,490 --> 00:31:47,991
"Eff it, I'll do it" thing
766
00:31:48,075 --> 00:31:51,578
that we always feel
like we have to do it, you know?
767
00:31:51,662 --> 00:31:56,083
And I don't know if and when
we ever give ourselves
768
00:31:56,166 --> 00:31:57,251
a moment to, like,
769
00:31:57,334 --> 00:31:59,002
who takes care of the caretaker?
770
00:31:59,086 --> 00:32:01,797
So, for me, I have always had
771
00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,758
that syndrome
of doing everything.
772
00:32:04,842 --> 00:32:08,720
From being a single parent
and going through a divorce,
773
00:32:08,804 --> 00:32:11,890
having to really fill
all the roles,
774
00:32:11,974 --> 00:32:13,100
it's been difficult.
775
00:32:13,183 --> 00:32:15,519
And I used to take it on
776
00:32:15,602 --> 00:32:16,937
kind of like
with a badge of honor,
777
00:32:17,020 --> 00:32:19,356
like, "Yes, I can do it. I can do it.
I can make it all happen.
778
00:32:19,439 --> 00:32:22,317
I can get to my son's games.
I can get to work.
779
00:32:22,401 --> 00:32:23,944
I can do everything
for my house.
780
00:32:24,027 --> 00:32:25,487
I can still build my business."
781
00:32:25,571 --> 00:32:27,030
But then there comes
a certain point
782
00:32:27,114 --> 00:32:28,615
when you have
to let something go.
783
00:32:28,699 --> 00:32:30,117
I can't do everything
all at once.
784
00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:31,577
So, for me, I compartmentalize.
785
00:32:31,660 --> 00:32:34,913
It's like, what is
most important right now?
786
00:32:34,997 --> 00:32:36,665
Anything else
that is not important
787
00:32:36,748 --> 00:32:38,792
right this second
can go on the list.
788
00:32:38,876 --> 00:32:40,294
And sometimes the list changes,
789
00:32:40,377 --> 00:32:42,004
sometimes your top five
are this,
790
00:32:42,087 --> 00:32:43,213
and sometimes those things
791
00:32:43,297 --> 00:32:45,132
move down
in order of importance.
792
00:32:45,215 --> 00:32:46,967
But for me, personally,
793
00:32:47,050 --> 00:32:48,468
I exercise the power of no.
794
00:32:48,552 --> 00:32:51,388
Sometimes it's a "No, thank you."
795
00:32:51,471 --> 00:32:53,515
Sometimes it's a "No."
796
00:32:53,599 --> 00:32:56,185
Sometimes it's, um,
"No, I can't do that."
797
00:32:56,268 --> 00:32:59,021
And sometimes it's just like,
"Mm-mm, no."
798
00:32:59,104 --> 00:33:01,106
Because if you don't,
799
00:33:01,190 --> 00:33:02,983
you'll find
that you overextend yourself,
800
00:33:03,066 --> 00:33:04,985
and then what ends up happening,
you suffer.
801
00:33:05,068 --> 00:33:08,113
So now, I do make time
for other people,
802
00:33:08,197 --> 00:33:09,990
I do make time for my business,
803
00:33:10,073 --> 00:33:11,658
but I also make time for me.
804
00:33:11,742 --> 00:33:13,660
Self-care is just this, like,
magical term
805
00:33:13,744 --> 00:33:16,705
that people
don't really know what it is.
806
00:33:16,788 --> 00:33:19,458
And wondering is it yoga?
807
00:33:19,541 --> 00:33:21,293
Is it meditation? Is it eating?
808
00:33:21,376 --> 00:33:22,878
Is it drinking wine?
Like, what is it?
809
00:33:22,961 --> 00:33:26,381
And I think that self-care
810
00:33:26,465 --> 00:33:30,677
is definitely more,
I believe, like, emotional.
811
00:33:30,761 --> 00:33:33,055
It is boundary setting.
812
00:33:33,138 --> 00:33:38,268
You know, self-care is, like,
not letting people bulldoze you,
813
00:33:38,352 --> 00:33:42,397
and not letting people make your--
their emergencies yours.
814
00:33:42,481 --> 00:33:44,233
Self-care is--
815
00:33:44,316 --> 00:33:49,571
Most people are surprised
that I don't do non-business things
816
00:33:49,655 --> 00:33:51,323
outside of business hours
817
00:33:51,406 --> 00:33:55,827
that aren't, like,
ultra-pressing cash things.
818
00:33:55,911 --> 00:33:59,248
I do not do interviews
after six o'clock,
819
00:33:59,331 --> 00:34:01,750
I do not do meetings,
820
00:34:01,834 --> 00:34:03,544
and I don't do them on weekends.
821
00:34:03,627 --> 00:34:04,586
It's, like, you know what?
822
00:34:04,670 --> 00:34:05,629
It can wait.
823
00:34:05,712 --> 00:34:07,548
And that is just
a self-care thing for me
824
00:34:07,631 --> 00:34:10,342
that, like,
I cannot allow business
825
00:34:10,425 --> 00:34:13,262
to run my life into the ground.
826
00:34:14,888 --> 00:34:18,642
At all times we are living
this Black girl experience,
827
00:34:18,725 --> 00:34:20,519
and it-- it--
828
00:34:20,602 --> 00:34:22,938
There's a myriad of hats
that we have to wear.
829
00:34:23,021 --> 00:34:25,190
It's the hat of knowing
what battle to pick,
830
00:34:25,274 --> 00:34:28,902
and what battle to fight,
and when we're even fighting.
831
00:34:28,986 --> 00:34:31,154
It's understanding
that we do need help.
832
00:34:31,238 --> 00:34:33,240
Looking at mental health differently,
833
00:34:33,323 --> 00:34:36,118
seeing a lot of our young
and older people
834
00:34:36,201 --> 00:34:38,328
going through mental breakdowns,
and knowing,
835
00:34:38,412 --> 00:34:42,207
yeah, it's not just that Johnny
or Tommy wasn't right.
836
00:34:42,291 --> 00:34:44,001
It's-- there's this stigma
837
00:34:44,084 --> 00:34:46,587
that we're supposed
to carry the weight
838
00:34:46,670 --> 00:34:48,422
of all of these other issues
839
00:34:48,505 --> 00:34:50,799
that everybody else in the world
gets to pop a pill for.
840
00:34:50,883 --> 00:34:53,010
I mean, it's been proven.
841
00:34:53,093 --> 00:34:55,762
There's statistics,
pharmaceutical reviews,
842
00:34:55,846 --> 00:34:59,600
that have been proven
to show that Black people
843
00:34:59,683 --> 00:35:01,268
can have the same diagnosis
844
00:35:01,351 --> 00:35:03,979
as someone that is not Black
or a person of color,
845
00:35:04,062 --> 00:35:07,024
and they are given
a lower form of medication
846
00:35:07,107 --> 00:35:11,361
because the idea is we can
tolerate higher forms of pain.
847
00:35:11,445 --> 00:35:13,155
-It's heartbreaking.
-It's crazy.
848
00:35:13,238 --> 00:35:15,324
That's a cape that we need
to be able to take off.
849
00:35:15,407 --> 00:35:17,576
It's like, just 'cause we can
carry the weight of the world
850
00:35:17,659 --> 00:35:19,536
-doesn't mean that you should let us.
-No.
851
00:35:19,620 --> 00:35:22,289
When you're an entrepreneur
and you're onto something,
852
00:35:22,372 --> 00:35:24,541
and you feel like things
are really great,
853
00:35:24,625 --> 00:35:27,294
then you feel like,
"Okay, I can open up another one."
854
00:35:27,377 --> 00:35:29,087
And then our pop-up was--
855
00:35:29,171 --> 00:35:31,548
I mean, I'm grateful
that we did just the pop-up
856
00:35:31,632 --> 00:35:34,510
and didn't, like, quite open up 100%,
857
00:35:34,593 --> 00:35:37,471
because that was one of the hardest things
we ever did,
858
00:35:37,554 --> 00:35:39,139
having to manage two locations.
859
00:35:39,223 --> 00:35:41,725
I mean, it was really hard
and discouraging,
860
00:35:41,808 --> 00:35:45,270
and there was times when Gwen
and I would do a whole shift
861
00:35:45,354 --> 00:35:47,231
because the kitchen called out.
862
00:35:47,314 --> 00:35:49,233
So, we would be there
from 9 to 11,
863
00:35:49,316 --> 00:35:51,777
and then we'd be so beat,
we're at the counter,
864
00:35:51,860 --> 00:35:53,403
just waiting
for the cleaner to come in.
865
00:35:53,487 --> 00:35:54,988
[whispering] And then
the cleaner don't show up.
866
00:35:55,072 --> 00:35:55,906
[chuckles]
867
00:35:55,989 --> 00:35:58,492
-So...
-And then we had to scrub after--
868
00:35:58,575 --> 00:36:01,245
I mean, that day, I was shot.
I was like--
869
00:36:01,328 --> 00:36:02,955
[laughing] I was ready
to throw in the towel,
870
00:36:03,038 --> 00:36:05,249
'cause I was like,
I am not doing this every day.
871
00:36:05,332 --> 00:36:07,876
Like, this was going on
a lot, and I--
872
00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,379
And then it'd be something
happening over here,
873
00:36:10,462 --> 00:36:11,755
and I'm like, "What you want me
to do about it?
874
00:36:11,839 --> 00:36:12,673
I'm on the grill."
875
00:36:12,756 --> 00:36:14,842
-[Gwen laughs]
-So, it was a learning experience.
876
00:36:14,925 --> 00:36:16,885
So that's how you win
in this business.
877
00:36:16,969 --> 00:36:18,178
You just learn
from each mistake,
878
00:36:18,262 --> 00:36:19,471
and you just keep growing
879
00:36:19,555 --> 00:36:22,140
and be getting stronger
and stronger as you go.
880
00:36:22,224 --> 00:36:23,600
[Renae] Let's be real.
881
00:36:23,684 --> 00:36:25,811
When a Black woman
launches a business,
882
00:36:25,894 --> 00:36:27,938
she's not
just empowering herself,
883
00:36:28,021 --> 00:36:30,691
she's uplifting her family
and her entire community.
884
00:36:30,774 --> 00:36:33,569
Research has shown
that Black entrepreneurship
885
00:36:33,652 --> 00:36:36,905
is linked to a decline
in violence amongst our youth.
886
00:36:36,989 --> 00:36:39,366
When you support
a Black woman-owned business,
887
00:36:39,449 --> 00:36:42,160
you can be helping a mom
put food on the table,
888
00:36:42,244 --> 00:36:45,706
pay a mortgage,
or cover her child's college tuition.
889
00:36:45,789 --> 00:36:47,875
For these reasons,
we cannot afford
890
00:36:47,958 --> 00:36:50,419
to exclude our men
from the conversation.
891
00:36:50,502 --> 00:36:52,337
It's imperative
that they support us
892
00:36:52,421 --> 00:36:55,174
and help move the dial
for women entrepreneurs
893
00:36:55,257 --> 00:36:59,219
as partners,
investors and champions.
894
00:36:59,803 --> 00:37:02,514
I'm very inspired by Black women
895
00:37:02,598 --> 00:37:03,849
that are doing their thing.
896
00:37:03,932 --> 00:37:05,767
It started with my mother,
897
00:37:05,851 --> 00:37:07,936
my grandmother, like, my aunts,
898
00:37:08,020 --> 00:37:09,396
all of them are strong women.
899
00:37:09,479 --> 00:37:10,981
And I think one thing
900
00:37:11,064 --> 00:37:12,900
that people fail to understand
901
00:37:12,983 --> 00:37:16,028
about entrepreneurship
is entrepreneurship is a marathon.
902
00:37:16,111 --> 00:37:18,739
It ain't a sprint, you know,
and in a marathon,
903
00:37:18,822 --> 00:37:20,324
you need people on the sidelines
904
00:37:20,407 --> 00:37:23,702
cheering you for all of them
26 point whatever miles it is.
905
00:37:23,785 --> 00:37:28,957
And as Black men,
it is of the utmost importance
906
00:37:29,041 --> 00:37:31,668
for us to stand side by side
with sisters,
907
00:37:31,752 --> 00:37:33,795
whether it be
a platonic relationship,
908
00:37:33,879 --> 00:37:36,048
romantic relationship.
It could be your little sister,
909
00:37:36,131 --> 00:37:38,008
It could be your aunty.
It could be your mother.
910
00:37:38,091 --> 00:37:39,259
It could be your friend.
911
00:37:39,343 --> 00:37:41,345
It could be someone
that you don't even know.
912
00:37:41,428 --> 00:37:43,555
But if we don't, as Black men,
913
00:37:43,639 --> 00:37:45,974
support Black women,
then who will?
914
00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:48,352
Gordon, thankfully,
915
00:37:48,435 --> 00:37:52,231
has always been
very, very supportive of me
916
00:37:52,314 --> 00:37:54,066
and of Carol's Daughter.
917
00:37:54,149 --> 00:37:59,613
He actually very proudly wears
the name Mr. Carol's Daughter.
918
00:37:59,696 --> 00:38:00,864
He likes that.
919
00:38:00,948 --> 00:38:02,449
He likes that I have my thing,
920
00:38:02,533 --> 00:38:03,992
and he has his thing,
921
00:38:04,076 --> 00:38:08,205
but he's always been very,
very supportive of the business.
922
00:38:08,288 --> 00:38:10,832
And honestly,
there wouldn't be one
923
00:38:10,916 --> 00:38:12,501
if it hadn't been for him,
924
00:38:12,584 --> 00:38:16,088
because he is much
more gregarious than I am.
925
00:38:16,171 --> 00:38:19,925
When we would do flea markets
and craft fairs and things,
926
00:38:20,008 --> 00:38:21,927
and sell,
he was the one
927
00:38:22,010 --> 00:38:24,096
that got the customers
to come over and try it.
928
00:38:24,179 --> 00:38:27,516
Once they came to the table
or into our booth
929
00:38:27,599 --> 00:38:29,893
and engaged me in questions,
I would answer,
930
00:38:29,977 --> 00:38:32,521
I would talk, you know,
I would have something to say.
931
00:38:32,604 --> 00:38:35,566
But I couldn't walk up
to a total stranger and say,
932
00:38:35,649 --> 00:38:37,442
"Smell this, try this,"
you know?
933
00:38:37,526 --> 00:38:40,028
And he was the one who did that.
He was like,
934
00:38:40,112 --> 00:38:42,781
"My wife makes this great stuff.
Come check it out."
935
00:38:42,865 --> 00:38:44,366
So, yeah, very supportive.
936
00:38:44,449 --> 00:38:48,453
In the late '90s,
things, you know, grew a lot
937
00:38:48,537 --> 00:38:50,789
with the business, they changed
a lot with the business.
938
00:38:50,873 --> 00:38:52,666
-And... it was hard.
-Every morning...
939
00:38:52,749 --> 00:38:54,334
-It was hard, it was hard.
-...we would have--
940
00:38:54,418 --> 00:38:56,962
When you're waking up
and there's people ringing the doorbell,
941
00:38:57,045 --> 00:38:59,006
and you're like,
"Is it really... [sighs]
942
00:38:59,089 --> 00:39:01,049
Hi, no, no.
It's okay. Come on in.
943
00:39:01,133 --> 00:39:02,676
Y'all want some coffee?"
944
00:39:02,759 --> 00:39:04,219
Yeah, well, we should--
945
00:39:04,303 --> 00:39:07,181
Register is not even on yet or--
whatever, you know. "Just come in."
946
00:39:07,264 --> 00:39:10,225
And then, you know, folks are coming in,
"Morning." [knocks on table]
947
00:39:10,309 --> 00:39:12,186
"Hi, Miss Florencia. Hi, Miss--
948
00:39:12,269 --> 00:39:14,605
Hello, Sarah. Good morning, Abbey.
How you doing?"
949
00:39:14,688 --> 00:39:16,023
Folks just come in and they put--
950
00:39:16,106 --> 00:39:19,401
And then like it starts humming
and it's a thing.
951
00:39:19,484 --> 00:39:20,777
And that's just your life.
952
00:39:20,861 --> 00:39:22,988
That's what you do.
953
00:39:23,071 --> 00:39:26,533
And yeah. So, when everything
finally moved out, I was happy.
954
00:39:26,617 --> 00:39:27,576
[laughs]
955
00:39:27,659 --> 00:39:29,745
He-- [laughs]
956
00:39:29,828 --> 00:39:32,706
did a dance
from the third floor
957
00:39:32,789 --> 00:39:34,833
all the way down
to the first floor...
958
00:39:34,917 --> 00:39:36,210
-Yes, I did.
-...with no clothes on.
959
00:39:36,293 --> 00:39:37,586
Yes, I did.
960
00:39:37,669 --> 00:39:41,215
"It's my house,
and there's nobody here.
961
00:39:41,298 --> 00:39:42,758
It's my house,
and there's nobody here."
962
00:39:42,841 --> 00:39:44,551
I could walk into any room
and not be like,
963
00:39:44,635 --> 00:39:46,637
"Oh, are there ladies?
Oh, no, there's no ladies in here."
964
00:39:46,720 --> 00:39:47,721
I can just walk around.
965
00:39:47,804 --> 00:39:48,889
[laughs]
966
00:39:48,972 --> 00:39:50,098
Oh, look at that.
I don't have to worry about--
967
00:39:50,182 --> 00:39:51,808
"Oh, is this is my-- Oh, no, no.
968
00:39:51,892 --> 00:39:52,935
No?
969
00:39:53,018 --> 00:39:53,894
Is this my room, too?
970
00:39:53,977 --> 00:39:55,395
Yeah."
971
00:39:55,479 --> 00:39:56,522
[laughs]
972
00:39:56,605 --> 00:39:59,274
I think it was a fairly reasonable thing.
I had put up with a lot.
973
00:39:59,358 --> 00:40:01,485
[Khiry]
Well, before any of the candle things,
974
00:40:01,568 --> 00:40:03,028
Denequa was just an inspiration to me
975
00:40:03,111 --> 00:40:03,946
when I first met her.
976
00:40:04,029 --> 00:40:05,572
I love to see you get up
in the morning,
977
00:40:05,656 --> 00:40:06,698
just getting ready to work.
978
00:40:06,782 --> 00:40:08,617
You're always
beating me to the punch.
979
00:40:08,700 --> 00:40:10,827
She's always up before me.
No matter what.
980
00:40:10,911 --> 00:40:12,788
Even if I get up at seven
o'clock, she'll be up by six.
981
00:40:12,871 --> 00:40:15,832
To see her actually build something
from the ground up, it's amazing.
982
00:40:15,916 --> 00:40:18,126
Anybody just comes up
with the idea of just making candles,
983
00:40:18,210 --> 00:40:20,587
but the fact that you put
your energy, your love into it.
984
00:40:20,671 --> 00:40:22,047
And these are in people homes,
985
00:40:22,130 --> 00:40:24,341
and they able to smell
the hard work that you put in.
986
00:40:24,424 --> 00:40:26,927
It's, um,
it's an amazing feeling.
987
00:40:27,010 --> 00:40:30,055
I support her 1,000%.
988
00:40:30,138 --> 00:40:32,516
[Denequa] To be a Black woman,
to have support from your partner
989
00:40:32,599 --> 00:40:34,685
just because sometimes
they could be intimidated
990
00:40:34,768 --> 00:40:36,645
by a woman who's successful.
991
00:40:36,728 --> 00:40:39,940
So, to have someone
who I don't necessarily feel--
992
00:40:40,691 --> 00:40:42,609
-He doesn't feel threatened...
-No.
993
00:40:42,693 --> 00:40:44,736
...but more so is like a--
994
00:40:44,820 --> 00:40:47,155
Not a cheerleader,
but like my biggest--
995
00:40:47,239 --> 00:40:49,283
-Number one fan. Number one fan.
-Number one fan, yeah.
996
00:40:49,366 --> 00:40:51,785
My family and friends
997
00:40:51,869 --> 00:40:54,413
have absolutely
come through for me.
998
00:40:54,496 --> 00:40:56,623
And especially
since I lost my husband.
999
00:40:56,707 --> 00:40:59,251
So, that is--
1000
00:40:59,334 --> 00:41:00,460
That's so important to me,
1001
00:41:00,544 --> 00:41:03,255
and I couldn't do it
without them.
1002
00:41:03,338 --> 00:41:08,010
And so, this whole thing has
actually even made me appreciate
1003
00:41:08,093 --> 00:41:10,888
my friends and family
even more.
1004
00:41:10,971 --> 00:41:14,433
[Fifi] And as entrepreneurs
we make it work. We--
1005
00:41:14,516 --> 00:41:16,602
She's a single mom now,
you know?
1006
00:41:16,685 --> 00:41:19,605
And things have changed
both of our lives,
1007
00:41:19,688 --> 00:41:21,690
and, you know, with the loss
of her husband,
1008
00:41:21,773 --> 00:41:23,483
and it's been really hard.
1009
00:41:23,567 --> 00:41:25,194
But--
1010
00:41:25,277 --> 00:41:26,278
I, um...
1011
00:41:26,361 --> 00:41:28,030
[whispering] Sorry. Damn.
1012
00:41:28,113 --> 00:41:31,658
I don't want
her husband's passing
1013
00:41:31,742 --> 00:41:34,453
to be the reason why our--
1014
00:41:35,537 --> 00:41:37,623
You know,
that the fire is lit under us
1015
00:41:37,706 --> 00:41:39,374
and we're full speed ahead.
1016
00:41:39,458 --> 00:41:42,461
But what it has done
is just made us, like,
1017
00:41:42,544 --> 00:41:46,131
seriously just focus
'cause my girl has to be okay.
1018
00:41:46,215 --> 00:41:48,383
And I feel pressure,
1019
00:41:48,467 --> 00:41:53,388
but I also feel
an enormous amount of drive
1020
00:41:53,472 --> 00:41:56,725
to make sure
that she's gonna be okay.
1021
00:41:56,808 --> 00:42:03,148
And nothing's gonna stop me
until we get there, so--
1022
00:42:10,822 --> 00:42:14,326
[Renae] Our counterparts love
our money but not us so much,
1023
00:42:14,409 --> 00:42:17,120
which is evident with
the alarming rates of injustice
1024
00:42:17,204 --> 00:42:18,997
that we still face
in our country
1025
00:42:19,081 --> 00:42:20,332
and the lack of investments
1026
00:42:20,415 --> 00:42:21,875
poured back
into our communities.
1027
00:42:21,959 --> 00:42:26,004
If we spend $1.2 trillion
1028
00:42:26,088 --> 00:42:28,590
with those who appreciate us
the least,
1029
00:42:28,674 --> 00:42:30,175
why can't we make
a more conscious effort
1030
00:42:30,259 --> 00:42:32,135
to spend with our own?
1031
00:42:32,219 --> 00:42:34,346
I have a line of T-shirts
with my sayings on it
1032
00:42:34,429 --> 00:42:37,391
because, as a writer,
one of the things
1033
00:42:37,474 --> 00:42:40,352
that makes me stand out
is my use of different phrases
1034
00:42:40,435 --> 00:42:43,230
and how I bend language
and play with it.
1035
00:42:43,313 --> 00:42:45,315
So, one of the phrases
that I use is,
1036
00:42:45,399 --> 00:42:46,984
"Giver of no Dambs."
1037
00:42:47,067 --> 00:42:49,319
And I use B instead of N
in "Damns"
1038
00:42:49,403 --> 00:42:51,864
just because I feel
like it rolls better
1039
00:42:51,947 --> 00:42:53,365
and it looks better.
1040
00:42:53,448 --> 00:42:55,158
So, one of these shirts
1041
00:42:55,868 --> 00:42:57,953
ends up on the finale episode
1042
00:42:58,036 --> 00:42:59,746
of Insecure, season one.
1043
00:42:59,830 --> 00:43:01,707
Issa is wearing it.
1044
00:43:01,790 --> 00:43:03,041
And everybody freaks out.
1045
00:43:03,125 --> 00:43:07,462
It is the epitome
of, like, Black girl magic
1046
00:43:07,546 --> 00:43:09,715
and, like, the Voltron
of Black women,
1047
00:43:09,798 --> 00:43:12,759
how we are so dedicated
to supporting each other.
1048
00:43:12,843 --> 00:43:14,011
Like, they didn't have
to do that.
1049
00:43:14,094 --> 00:43:15,179
That was amazing.
1050
00:43:15,262 --> 00:43:16,597
And the shirt says,
"Awesomely Luvvie" on it.
1051
00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:18,974
I still get messages
from people who were like,
1052
00:43:19,057 --> 00:43:20,142
"I was watching Insecure.
1053
00:43:20,225 --> 00:43:21,602
Issa is wearing your shirt."
1054
00:43:21,685 --> 00:43:25,147
Issa is so committed
to bringing her people with her,
1055
00:43:25,230 --> 00:43:26,356
and I think
that's one of the things
1056
00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:27,733
I love the most about her.
1057
00:43:28,817 --> 00:43:31,153
[Renae] Is collaboration
the new competition?
1058
00:43:31,236 --> 00:43:32,070
Absolutely.
1059
00:43:32,821 --> 00:43:36,825
Pulling together our financial,
creative and social resources
1060
00:43:36,909 --> 00:43:39,870
sets us up for success
and allows us to gain access
1061
00:43:39,953 --> 00:43:42,206
in a way that may not
have been possible before.
1062
00:43:42,289 --> 00:43:45,667
We're excited to, like,
welcome Melissa and other, you know,
1063
00:43:45,751 --> 00:43:49,630
female entrepreneurs and just,
you know, share and help one another.
1064
00:43:49,713 --> 00:43:54,176
We've talked about two fun things we could
do in partnership together, so it's--
1065
00:43:54,259 --> 00:43:56,053
-I totally see that event happening.
-Yeah.
1066
00:43:56,136 --> 00:43:59,431
So, it's really--
it's really fun to have the support
1067
00:43:59,515 --> 00:44:02,351
and other like-minded women
in the city.
1068
00:44:02,434 --> 00:44:04,311
[Anika] Yeah,
we're kind of taking over a little bit.
1069
00:44:04,394 --> 00:44:06,021
There was, like, a recent article
1070
00:44:06,104 --> 00:44:09,066
about women entrepreneurs
in the state of Michigan.
1071
00:44:09,149 --> 00:44:12,569
One of our local magazines
was talking about the undercover,
1072
00:44:12,653 --> 00:44:14,780
-like, we're kind of the sneak attack...
-Right.
1073
00:44:14,863 --> 00:44:17,199
...women entrepreneurs
kind of coming through.
1074
00:44:17,282 --> 00:44:18,367
[Melissa] Forbes put that out.
1075
00:44:18,450 --> 00:44:20,410
-I think I just posted that.
-[Anika] Was it Forbes?
1076
00:44:20,494 --> 00:44:21,662
And actually, my caption was
1077
00:44:21,745 --> 00:44:24,206
-"Sneaking. We did it." Yes.
-Sneakin'!
1078
00:44:24,289 --> 00:44:29,127
You know, it is really, again,
our responsibility
1079
00:44:29,211 --> 00:44:32,631
to direct our dollars
to support one another,
1080
00:44:32,714 --> 00:44:35,551
to open businesses that, you know,
we can support.
1081
00:44:35,634 --> 00:44:38,720
So, we're, like,
just super excited to be able
1082
00:44:38,804 --> 00:44:41,306
to raise our hands and say,
"Us, too."
1083
00:44:41,390 --> 00:44:42,724
[Melissa] I'm part of it.
1084
00:44:42,808 --> 00:44:45,352
We met through a mutual friend
1085
00:44:45,435 --> 00:44:47,980
who hosted another event
in the space.
1086
00:44:48,063 --> 00:44:51,024
We hit it off
the second that we met.
1087
00:44:51,108 --> 00:44:52,568
I think that's why
the collaboration
1088
00:44:52,651 --> 00:44:54,695
felt so natural for us.
1089
00:44:54,778 --> 00:44:57,906
And when we pull together these
brands, it's really us, right?
1090
00:44:57,990 --> 00:44:59,658
Because a company is just
1091
00:44:59,741 --> 00:45:01,660
the people
who are behind that brand.
1092
00:45:01,743 --> 00:45:04,746
The candles that she makes are
amazing because she makes them.
1093
00:45:04,830 --> 00:45:06,582
And the same--
I feel like with the space.
1094
00:45:06,665 --> 00:45:08,250
People walk in and go,
"This is a beautiful space."
1095
00:45:08,333 --> 00:45:10,210
But energetically,
and when they meet me--
1096
00:45:10,294 --> 00:45:11,128
It feels right.
1097
00:45:11,211 --> 00:45:14,047
It feels right and things click.
1098
00:45:14,131 --> 00:45:15,757
Something also, too, that we--
1099
00:45:15,841 --> 00:45:18,427
The commonality, I guess,
amongst us is that
1100
00:45:18,510 --> 00:45:21,430
we wanna create something
that we wish existed.
1101
00:45:21,513 --> 00:45:22,931
-Uh-huh.
-And I think that that's--
1102
00:45:23,015 --> 00:45:25,517
When that's the foundation
of it, we kind of--
1103
00:45:25,601 --> 00:45:26,727
It just was like a no-brainer.
1104
00:45:26,810 --> 00:45:28,729
[Shell]
And that for me is the key
1105
00:45:28,812 --> 00:45:30,105
in everything, in my business,
1106
00:45:30,189 --> 00:45:31,648
in the core values
that we lay out.
1107
00:45:31,732 --> 00:45:33,150
It's about community.
1108
00:45:33,233 --> 00:45:34,610
That is what--
1109
00:45:34,693 --> 00:45:39,198
That's, for me, I hope the legacy is
of this, of what I do.
1110
00:45:39,281 --> 00:45:40,699
It's building that community.
1111
00:45:40,782 --> 00:45:43,452
And this idea of Black women
not being able to do things together,
1112
00:45:43,535 --> 00:45:44,369
it's like--
1113
00:45:44,453 --> 00:45:45,913
The reason
there's even civilization
1114
00:45:45,996 --> 00:45:48,749
is because Black women
came together and said,
1115
00:45:48,832 --> 00:45:50,709
"One can be on the left,
one can be on the right."
1116
00:45:50,792 --> 00:45:54,296
You know, literally,
we have pushed civilization forward.
1117
00:45:54,379 --> 00:45:56,131
So, we've always
been able to get along.
1118
00:45:56,215 --> 00:45:58,592
It's just not what mainstream media
wants to
1119
00:45:58,675 --> 00:46:00,302
-present and push out there.
-Project.
1120
00:46:00,385 --> 00:46:02,304
It's like,
if we do not pull it together,
1121
00:46:02,387 --> 00:46:05,098
come together as the collective,
1122
00:46:05,182 --> 00:46:06,600
who else is gonna do it for us?
1123
00:46:06,683 --> 00:46:10,229
Like, we have to, we must.
It's imperative.
1124
00:46:10,312 --> 00:46:11,313
Yeah.
1125
00:46:11,396 --> 00:46:15,025
The idea of collaboration
over competition.
1126
00:46:15,108 --> 00:46:18,445
There's something really special
going on, and it's not just us.
1127
00:46:18,529 --> 00:46:20,405
It is a collection, um,
1128
00:46:20,489 --> 00:46:23,742
a collective of Black women
within an eight-block radius,
1129
00:46:23,825 --> 00:46:26,161
and we're sending business
to each other.
1130
00:46:26,245 --> 00:46:27,996
We're getting business.
1131
00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:29,581
It's just so magical.
1132
00:46:29,665 --> 00:46:31,250
I'm a fan of nepotism
at this point,
1133
00:46:31,333 --> 00:46:32,709
especially when it comes
to Black women.
1134
00:46:32,793 --> 00:46:35,045
I think one of my hobbies
is defending Black girls
1135
00:46:35,128 --> 00:46:38,465
and, two, supporting Black women,
and just Black businesses in general,
1136
00:46:38,549 --> 00:46:41,301
'cause I think
we need to prioritize that.
1137
00:46:41,385 --> 00:46:43,679
If we are going to get
on better footing,
1138
00:46:43,762 --> 00:46:45,681
we actually have to be
very focused about that.
1139
00:46:45,764 --> 00:46:49,184
And I think that's what White people
have been able to do for centuries.
1140
00:46:49,268 --> 00:46:52,145
Like, they've been doing that,
where they've just been
1141
00:46:52,229 --> 00:46:54,565
insulating their support
to themselves.
1142
00:46:54,648 --> 00:46:56,024
Why don't we do the same?
1143
00:46:56,108 --> 00:46:58,068
And especially now,
1144
00:46:58,151 --> 00:47:02,281
when there's so many good people
who are doing good things.
1145
00:47:02,364 --> 00:47:04,533
Now is the time when we need
to really push them forward
1146
00:47:04,616 --> 00:47:05,701
and push them upward.
1147
00:47:05,784 --> 00:47:07,119
Opportunities that I've gotten
1148
00:47:07,202 --> 00:47:08,787
and people I've met
1149
00:47:08,871 --> 00:47:10,372
is because other people
have made it a point
1150
00:47:10,455 --> 00:47:12,708
to push me forward in that way.
1151
00:47:12,791 --> 00:47:16,378
And I think we need
to make that priority.
1152
00:47:16,461 --> 00:47:17,629
And here's the thing,
1153
00:47:17,713 --> 00:47:19,631
you're not just gonna put your name
behind somebody
1154
00:47:19,715 --> 00:47:21,550
just because they're your friend.
1155
00:47:21,633 --> 00:47:23,760
But if they're your friend
and they're doing good stuff
1156
00:47:23,844 --> 00:47:26,096
and you trust them,
and you trust their work,
1157
00:47:26,180 --> 00:47:27,723
why not put your name
behind them?
1158
00:47:27,806 --> 00:47:31,018
[Renae] It is our responsibility
to push us forward.
1159
00:47:31,101 --> 00:47:32,686
We still have some way to go,
1160
00:47:32,769 --> 00:47:35,355
but there is definitely
a shift happening.
1161
00:47:35,439 --> 00:47:37,774
There are some powerful men
and women in the industry
1162
00:47:37,858 --> 00:47:39,526
rewriting the narrative.
1163
00:47:39,610 --> 00:47:40,444
For example,
1164
00:47:40,527 --> 00:47:43,405
let's take Richelieu Dennis
of Sundial Corporation.
1165
00:47:43,488 --> 00:47:47,701
His $240 million portfolio
of personal care brands
1166
00:47:47,784 --> 00:47:51,663
was recently acquired
by consumer goods giant Unilever.
1167
00:47:51,747 --> 00:47:53,582
The sweetest part of the deal?
1168
00:47:53,665 --> 00:47:57,461
Sundial paid it forward with
the development of the New Voices Fund,
1169
00:47:57,544 --> 00:48:00,631
which is investing
$50 million
1170
00:48:00,714 --> 00:48:04,218
to empower us,
women of color entrepreneurs.
1171
00:48:04,301 --> 00:48:07,930
When Black businesses decide
to merge with other brands
1172
00:48:08,013 --> 00:48:11,683
or get acquired to help
elevate their brands,
1173
00:48:11,767 --> 00:48:13,560
a lot of times in our community,
1174
00:48:13,644 --> 00:48:15,103
we get in our emotions.
1175
00:48:15,187 --> 00:48:16,104
We take it personal.
1176
00:48:16,188 --> 00:48:18,815
In October of 2014,
1177
00:48:18,899 --> 00:48:22,361
Carol's Daughter
was acquired by L'Oréal USA.
1178
00:48:22,444 --> 00:48:25,197
The backlash
from the acquisition
1179
00:48:25,280 --> 00:48:30,077
was people not understanding
why you sell,
1180
00:48:30,160 --> 00:48:32,621
looking at it as I'm a sellout,
1181
00:48:32,704 --> 00:48:34,748
people do anything for a check.
1182
00:48:34,831 --> 00:48:38,335
There was press
prior to the acquisition
1183
00:48:38,418 --> 00:48:41,338
because we had filed bankruptcy
1184
00:48:41,421 --> 00:48:45,843
in order to close five stores
that weren't productive.
1185
00:48:45,926 --> 00:48:48,720
So, the spin was,
you know, that,
1186
00:48:48,804 --> 00:48:50,389
"Oh, Carol's Daughter
files bankruptcy."
1187
00:48:50,472 --> 00:48:52,391
So, people think
that you're out of business.
1188
00:48:52,474 --> 00:48:54,643
And then the sale was, like,
1189
00:48:54,726 --> 00:48:57,938
my last-ditch effort
to sort of, like, save myself.
1190
00:48:58,021 --> 00:49:00,691
You know, my company is
in the toilet so, you know,
1191
00:49:00,774 --> 00:49:02,609
I had to get
a check from someone
1192
00:49:02,693 --> 00:49:05,612
to keep my head above water,
which is not how business works.
1193
00:49:05,696 --> 00:49:09,199
L'Oréal is not going to acquire
something that's falling apart.
1194
00:49:09,283 --> 00:49:12,703
When brands decide to merge
with another larger brand
1195
00:49:12,786 --> 00:49:14,746
or if they're acquired,
1196
00:49:14,830 --> 00:49:17,916
there's some beauty behind it
that we have to appreciate.
1197
00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:20,711
One, this person
is setting themselves up
1198
00:49:20,794 --> 00:49:22,963
for success in the future.
1199
00:49:23,046 --> 00:49:25,591
They are creating
generational wealth,
1200
00:49:25,674 --> 00:49:28,343
which a lot of us
don't even think about.
1201
00:49:28,427 --> 00:49:31,638
And some entrepreneurs
are creating their exit strategy.
1202
00:49:31,722 --> 00:49:34,349
They have to think
about what their life is gonna look like
1203
00:49:34,433 --> 00:49:37,728
as an entrepreneur
10, 15, 20 years from now.
1204
00:49:37,811 --> 00:49:40,480
I understand where people's anger
and angst comes from
1205
00:49:40,564 --> 00:49:42,858
because we don't have
a lot of experience in this.
1206
00:49:42,941 --> 00:49:46,236
We don't have a lot of business owners
that go through this arc.
1207
00:49:46,320 --> 00:49:49,072
You know, if someone sells
their company to Facebook
1208
00:49:49,156 --> 00:49:52,576
for $42 million, people go,
"Woo, yay. That's great."
1209
00:49:52,659 --> 00:49:54,369
But if we sell something,
we're selling out.
1210
00:49:55,078 --> 00:49:59,541
I had to counteract
all of that negative press,
1211
00:49:59,625 --> 00:50:03,003
and I decided
to use it as a teaching moment.
1212
00:50:03,086 --> 00:50:04,713
People in other communities,
1213
00:50:04,796 --> 00:50:06,632
you know,
when they build businesses,
1214
00:50:06,715 --> 00:50:08,133
a lot of them are building them
1215
00:50:08,217 --> 00:50:12,179
for the purpose of flipping them
and starting something else.
1216
00:50:12,262 --> 00:50:14,640
Entrepreneurship
and owning a business
1217
00:50:14,723 --> 00:50:16,391
is not till death do us part.
1218
00:50:25,609 --> 00:50:28,111
So, in 2015,
Black women-owned businesses
1219
00:50:28,195 --> 00:50:31,406
generated $54 billion in revenue.
1220
00:50:31,490 --> 00:50:34,284
Not million. 54 billion.
1221
00:50:34,368 --> 00:50:36,161
There's an amazing woman,
Jessica Matthews,
1222
00:50:36,245 --> 00:50:37,871
who started an energy company.
1223
00:50:37,955 --> 00:50:40,958
She got seven million
and Series A funding
1224
00:50:41,041 --> 00:50:44,753
for everyday items that generate energy
in your home.
1225
00:50:44,837 --> 00:50:47,464
So, a soccer ball that can later
charge your iPhone.
1226
00:50:47,548 --> 00:50:50,259
When you think about representation,
people are often thinking
1227
00:50:50,342 --> 00:50:52,469
about how many women
are in the tech space.
1228
00:50:52,553 --> 00:50:55,722
You know, I believe
only 17% of startups
1229
00:50:55,806 --> 00:50:57,850
are actually founded by women.
1230
00:50:57,933 --> 00:50:59,685
Or people might look
at how many Black people
1231
00:50:59,768 --> 00:51:00,853
are in the tech space.
1232
00:51:00,936 --> 00:51:02,646
Of all the women-led startups,
1233
00:51:02,729 --> 00:51:06,817
only .04%
are run by Black women.
1234
00:51:06,900 --> 00:51:09,570
So that means
within that small group already
1235
00:51:09,653 --> 00:51:11,280
of startups
that were run by women,
1236
00:51:11,363 --> 00:51:15,284
only .04% are actually
run by women of color,
1237
00:51:15,367 --> 00:51:16,451
particularly Black women.
1238
00:51:16,535 --> 00:51:19,413
Basically,
it's one of these stats, right?
1239
00:51:19,496 --> 00:51:22,916
It's almost so low
that you can't even use a percentage.
1240
00:51:23,000 --> 00:51:27,087
I believe that there are
26 Black women
1241
00:51:27,171 --> 00:51:29,173
who have ever raised
more than $1 million
1242
00:51:29,256 --> 00:51:30,757
for their tech startup.
1243
00:51:30,841 --> 00:51:33,844
There's a real
missed opportunity,
1244
00:51:33,927 --> 00:51:34,845
in my opinion,
1245
00:51:34,928 --> 00:51:36,555
for women of color,
1246
00:51:36,638 --> 00:51:38,557
particularly Black women,
to take lead
1247
00:51:38,640 --> 00:51:40,893
and solve the problems
that we so intimately know.
1248
00:51:40,976 --> 00:51:42,561
Every time we get on our phones,
1249
00:51:42,644 --> 00:51:44,062
every time
we get on our computers,
1250
00:51:44,146 --> 00:51:45,939
people are making money
off of us
1251
00:51:46,023 --> 00:51:49,359
and it's not us being the producers,
but the consumers.
1252
00:51:49,443 --> 00:51:51,945
So, I make it my business
to tell my scholars,
1253
00:51:52,029 --> 00:51:53,864
"You don't even have
to look at just coding.
1254
00:51:53,947 --> 00:51:55,324
Look at design.
1255
00:51:55,407 --> 00:51:57,242
Look at starting
your own social media company,
1256
00:51:57,326 --> 00:51:58,535
'cause that's the way to go."
1257
00:51:58,619 --> 00:52:01,163
Like, there are things that are
being created every single day
1258
00:52:01,246 --> 00:52:02,623
that we have no idea about,
1259
00:52:02,706 --> 00:52:05,292
which goes back to why
we teach them entrepreneurship.
1260
00:52:05,375 --> 00:52:07,461
For an entire year
for seventh grade,
1261
00:52:07,544 --> 00:52:12,216
our scholars take a course
in which they learn
1262
00:52:12,299 --> 00:52:14,468
all the parts
about making a business,
1263
00:52:14,551 --> 00:52:17,429
creating a business plan,
having to develop a pitch.
1264
00:52:17,513 --> 00:52:20,557
And they actually have
to compete against each other.
1265
00:52:20,641 --> 00:52:22,893
And it's good
because they work in teams,
1266
00:52:22,976 --> 00:52:25,312
but they also get to learn
1267
00:52:25,395 --> 00:52:28,065
that you have to collaborate
with one another.
1268
00:52:28,148 --> 00:52:29,233
And if you're gonna compete,
1269
00:52:29,316 --> 00:52:33,654
it's not for the purpose of making
someone else feel less than who they are,
1270
00:52:33,737 --> 00:52:36,323
but how can your product be better,
1271
00:52:36,406 --> 00:52:39,826
if not something that other people
are gonna wanna invest in?
1272
00:52:40,619 --> 00:52:43,455
One of the obstacles that I face
as a woman in business
1273
00:52:43,539 --> 00:52:46,667
is thinking that you have to be
an expert at something
1274
00:52:46,750 --> 00:52:48,710
to be able to do it.
1275
00:52:48,794 --> 00:52:51,880
I think it's something
that a lot of us are raised with.
1276
00:52:51,964 --> 00:52:53,423
You know,
if you're not schooled properly,
1277
00:52:53,507 --> 00:52:55,092
if you didn't go to, you know, college.
1278
00:52:55,175 --> 00:52:57,052
And oftentimes
it's really just a matter of,
1279
00:52:57,135 --> 00:52:59,263
you know,
having the guts to do it, you know?
1280
00:52:59,346 --> 00:53:02,850
So, I think if you just
empower yourself and others
1281
00:53:02,933 --> 00:53:05,102
to just have a go at it, right?
1282
00:53:05,185 --> 00:53:06,979
Oftentimes, you'll find
what you're really,
1283
00:53:07,062 --> 00:53:09,106
not only good at,
but passionate about.
1284
00:53:09,189 --> 00:53:11,608
And that's usually
the driver for success,
1285
00:53:11,692 --> 00:53:14,528
more so than a formal education,
as an example.
1286
00:53:14,611 --> 00:53:17,906
The key thing here is to not see
1287
00:53:17,990 --> 00:53:20,200
the entrance into tech
as a Black woman
1288
00:53:20,284 --> 00:53:22,995
as something where you're waiting
for someone to open the door.
1289
00:53:23,078 --> 00:53:25,914
This is a time for us
to begin to build our own table.
1290
00:53:25,998 --> 00:53:28,333
For example,
I started my own tech company.
1291
00:53:28,417 --> 00:53:29,960
I did not build my tech company
1292
00:53:30,043 --> 00:53:31,962
downtown in New York
or in Silicon Valley.
1293
00:53:32,045 --> 00:53:34,590
I built it up in Harlem
because I wanted to make sure
1294
00:53:34,673 --> 00:53:37,843
we were surrounded by, one,
the world that represented
1295
00:53:37,926 --> 00:53:39,553
the market
we're trying to serve,
1296
00:53:39,636 --> 00:53:41,305
and also we were creating
a safe space
1297
00:53:41,388 --> 00:53:42,764
for people who look like me
1298
00:53:42,848 --> 00:53:45,392
and people
who didn't look like me
1299
00:53:45,475 --> 00:53:48,061
to come together
and create the future that we want.
1300
00:53:48,145 --> 00:53:51,023
You know, it's funny. People ask me,
"How did you get into science?"
1301
00:53:51,106 --> 00:53:53,192
You know, "How did you
start playing around in the lab?"
1302
00:53:53,275 --> 00:53:54,860
And I keep telling them,
1303
00:53:54,943 --> 00:53:56,528
it is significantly harder
1304
00:53:56,612 --> 00:53:59,323
to give myself,
like, a gel manicure
1305
00:53:59,406 --> 00:54:00,949
than it is to solder a PCB.
1306
00:54:01,033 --> 00:54:03,160
I think we need
to start to...
1307
00:54:03,243 --> 00:54:06,371
just change the way
we talk about science
1308
00:54:06,455 --> 00:54:08,332
and change the way
we think about ourselves
1309
00:54:08,415 --> 00:54:10,417
when it comes to actually
engaging in science
1310
00:54:10,501 --> 00:54:12,211
and engaging in technology.
1311
00:54:12,294 --> 00:54:14,254
If you actually look
at the definition of science,
1312
00:54:14,338 --> 00:54:15,797
it means the study of life,
1313
00:54:15,881 --> 00:54:18,091
which means if you're living,
you're halfway there.
1314
00:54:18,175 --> 00:54:19,718
And Lord knows,
we as Black women,
1315
00:54:19,801 --> 00:54:21,261
we are living out here.
1316
00:54:21,345 --> 00:54:23,722
We are making do
with very little.
1317
00:54:23,805 --> 00:54:25,140
And that's invention.
1318
00:54:25,224 --> 00:54:28,685
And so, I think once we realize
that we're already scientists,
1319
00:54:28,769 --> 00:54:29,895
that we're already inventors,
1320
00:54:29,978 --> 00:54:32,814
that we're already technologists
out in these streets,
1321
00:54:32,898 --> 00:54:34,066
it's just gonna be a question
1322
00:54:34,149 --> 00:54:35,817
of whether or not
we wanna capitalize on that.
1323
00:54:42,074 --> 00:54:45,244
[both] We are SASS-E Todds.
1324
00:54:45,327 --> 00:54:47,663
[Myla] SASS-E Todds stands for
1325
00:54:47,746 --> 00:54:51,792
Stephanie and Samantha Smith
Empower Toddlers.
1326
00:54:51,875 --> 00:54:54,002
I was looking
for a reason and a way
1327
00:54:54,086 --> 00:54:55,754
to spend more time
with my daughters.
1328
00:54:55,838 --> 00:54:58,173
So, the girls, they had gotten
1329
00:54:58,257 --> 00:55:00,551
a fashion kit from their aunt.
1330
00:55:00,634 --> 00:55:03,220
And so, they were in the room,
1331
00:55:03,303 --> 00:55:05,138
drawing away, sketching away,
1332
00:55:05,222 --> 00:55:07,975
and I took a look
at their pictures and I said,
1333
00:55:08,058 --> 00:55:10,936
"Wow, these
are some amazing designs."
1334
00:55:11,562 --> 00:55:13,397
And I said, "You know, I think
1335
00:55:13,480 --> 00:55:16,567
that we can, you know,
make this into something."
1336
00:55:16,650 --> 00:55:18,402
[both] I think
we're a good team.
1337
00:55:18,485 --> 00:55:21,864
[Samantha] I kind of know
how to draw like my sis.
1338
00:55:21,947 --> 00:55:23,532
[Stephanie]
She's still working on it,
1339
00:55:23,615 --> 00:55:26,493
but her drawing
is looking pretty better
1340
00:55:26,577 --> 00:55:28,495
since she was three.
1341
00:55:32,374 --> 00:55:35,294
We just go with the flow
on SASS-E Todds.
1342
00:55:35,377 --> 00:55:38,463
And so, there's no pressure
to design,
1343
00:55:38,547 --> 00:55:40,132
there's no pressure to draw.
1344
00:55:40,215 --> 00:55:41,592
The girls, when they feel
1345
00:55:41,675 --> 00:55:43,552
like they're
in the mood to create,
1346
00:55:43,635 --> 00:55:44,928
then they create.
1347
00:55:45,012 --> 00:55:47,931
This experience is meant to be
a teachable moment.
1348
00:55:48,015 --> 00:55:50,184
It's meant to be fun,
1349
00:55:50,267 --> 00:55:53,103
and it's meant to help them
to garner life skills
1350
00:55:53,187 --> 00:55:54,855
that will help them
in the long term,
1351
00:55:54,938 --> 00:55:56,648
seeing them have
that sense of confidence,
1352
00:55:56,732 --> 00:55:58,108
knowing they can do anything.
1353
00:55:59,401 --> 00:56:02,487
It is like we're doing teamwork,
1354
00:56:02,571 --> 00:56:05,199
like working together as a team.
1355
00:56:07,409 --> 00:56:09,912
What I would like to see
for SASS-E Todds in the future
1356
00:56:09,995 --> 00:56:13,332
is I would like to see
the brand grow with my girls.
1357
00:56:13,415 --> 00:56:16,418
But I would also like
to expand it
1358
00:56:16,502 --> 00:56:20,672
so that it's a platform
for other children to create.
1359
00:56:20,756 --> 00:56:23,175
I feel great
when other people are wearing
1360
00:56:23,258 --> 00:56:25,052
my designs of SASS-E Todds.
1361
00:56:25,135 --> 00:56:28,555
It makes me feel happy
and my feelings
1362
00:56:28,639 --> 00:56:33,727
are like smiley faces
and hearts shooting out.
1363
00:56:33,810 --> 00:56:34,895
[laughs]
1364
00:56:34,978 --> 00:56:36,104
[Myla] I want them to believe
1365
00:56:36,188 --> 00:56:39,066
that they can do anything
in this world
1366
00:56:39,149 --> 00:56:41,485
and there's nothing
that can stop them but them.
1367
00:56:41,568 --> 00:56:43,195
Lavender purple.
1368
00:56:43,278 --> 00:56:45,572
Wow, cute.
1369
00:56:51,745 --> 00:56:53,956
"I fear that too many of us
think of giving back
1370
00:56:54,039 --> 00:56:55,916
as an option instead
of an obligation.
1371
00:56:55,999 --> 00:56:58,460
And I judge some of us
for not being brave enough
1372
00:56:58,544 --> 00:57:01,171
to commit
to being truly beneficent.
1373
00:57:02,339 --> 00:57:05,592
I've never had to worry about
where my next meal is coming from
1374
00:57:05,676 --> 00:57:08,887
or if I'm gonna have a roof
over my head tonight
1375
00:57:08,971 --> 00:57:12,432
or if the clothes on my back
will suffice to keep me warm.
1376
00:57:12,516 --> 00:57:13,642
And for that,
1377
00:57:13,725 --> 00:57:15,853
I'm richer than 75% of the people
in the world.
1378
00:57:17,312 --> 00:57:20,107
This is why I feel
like we're failing in existence.
1379
00:57:20,190 --> 00:57:22,901
The fact that my having
the most basic things I need
1380
00:57:22,985 --> 00:57:25,696
makes me an exception
rather than the rule,
1381
00:57:25,779 --> 00:57:28,615
is how I know we're not
doing enough for mankind.
1382
00:57:29,616 --> 00:57:32,035
There's still children
who are starving or homeless,
1383
00:57:32,119 --> 00:57:35,330
and kale is an accepted vegetable
that people actually pay to eat.
1384
00:57:36,290 --> 00:57:39,877
We've gone wrong somewhere,
folks, and I'm judging us."
1385
00:57:39,960 --> 00:57:42,838
Basically, my journey has shown
1386
00:57:42,921 --> 00:57:46,175
how, when you put it
kind of in the universe,
1387
00:57:46,258 --> 00:57:47,718
it does conspire
to make it happen.
1388
00:57:47,801 --> 00:57:49,553
I mean, I had one of those years
1389
00:57:49,636 --> 00:57:52,890
that even I couldn't
have written up for myself.
1390
00:57:52,973 --> 00:57:56,018
You know,
I got to be on Oprah's list.
1391
00:57:56,101 --> 00:57:57,853
I got to interview
Shonda Rhimes.
1392
00:57:57,936 --> 00:57:59,855
Got to hit the New York Times
Bestseller List.
1393
00:57:59,938 --> 00:58:01,315
And I think, it just affirmed
1394
00:58:01,398 --> 00:58:02,900
what I've been doing
for such a long time.
1395
00:58:03,525 --> 00:58:05,152
It reminded me
of the times when I was like,
1396
00:58:05,235 --> 00:58:06,820
"Why am I doing this?"
1397
00:58:06,904 --> 00:58:08,614
Because when I thought
no one was listening,
1398
00:58:08,697 --> 00:58:11,909
or when I thought I was
a class clown of blogosphere,
1399
00:58:11,992 --> 00:58:13,410
I get an e-mail that's like,
1400
00:58:13,493 --> 00:58:18,081
"Hey. So, Oprah Winfrey
is doing a SuperSoul 100 List,
1401
00:58:18,165 --> 00:58:20,834
which is,
she's picking 100 people
1402
00:58:20,918 --> 00:58:22,669
who she thinks
are elevating humanity.
1403
00:58:22,753 --> 00:58:23,795
And you are one of them."
1404
00:58:23,879 --> 00:58:25,672
And I freaked out!
I freaked out.
1405
00:58:25,756 --> 00:58:28,008
I was like,
"Wait. Oprah knows who I am?
1406
00:58:28,091 --> 00:58:30,135
She actually knows who I am
in, like, real life?"
1407
00:58:30,219 --> 00:58:33,222
I give credit
to the work that I've done,
1408
00:58:33,305 --> 00:58:35,974
but I also understand
that a lot of it is God's grace,
1409
00:58:36,058 --> 00:58:38,393
'cause there are talented people
1410
00:58:38,477 --> 00:58:40,562
who never get the platform
that I have.
1411
00:58:40,646 --> 00:58:42,731
And there are
some really gifted people
1412
00:58:42,814 --> 00:58:46,151
who are struggling
every day to pay their bills.
1413
00:58:46,235 --> 00:58:49,029
So, I can't give full credit to,
1414
00:58:49,112 --> 00:58:51,573
like, just my gift
or just my hard work.
1415
00:58:51,657 --> 00:58:55,869
I think I am being pushed forward
by something outside of myself,
1416
00:58:55,953 --> 00:58:58,038
something that is greater than me.
1417
00:58:58,121 --> 00:59:00,666
So, I give credit to that, too.
1418
00:59:00,749 --> 00:59:05,921
And I'm ultimately hoping
that my path being like this
1419
00:59:06,004 --> 00:59:09,258
and not straight,
and not as easy,
1420
00:59:09,341 --> 00:59:11,760
but me, whatever success
I have now,
1421
00:59:11,844 --> 00:59:13,595
I'm hoping to make
somebody else's life easier.
1422
00:59:13,679 --> 00:59:16,139
Like, somebody who comes
behind me shouldn't have
1423
00:59:16,223 --> 00:59:18,809
to work as hard as I do
to get the success I have.
1424
00:59:18,892 --> 00:59:19,977
That's the real goal.
1425
00:59:20,060 --> 00:59:23,897
Like, 'cause if what I'm doing
is strictly ending here,
1426
00:59:23,981 --> 00:59:25,607
that's a waste
of time and energy.
1427
00:59:25,691 --> 00:59:29,152
Like, it needs to be
for something greater.
1428
00:59:29,236 --> 00:59:33,156
So, I'm hoping there's a young Black girl,
young Nigerian girl,
1429
00:59:33,240 --> 00:59:38,328
or just somebody who one day
felt like she was too different.
1430
00:59:38,412 --> 00:59:40,247
And I'm hoping she looks at me
and is like,
1431
00:59:40,330 --> 00:59:42,499
"Luvvie is doing that?
I can do that. I got it."
1432
00:59:51,967 --> 00:59:55,929
Shark Tank never made me feel
like I was on the wrong path.
1433
00:59:56,013 --> 01:00:00,517
If anything, Shark Tank gave me
a lot of momentum to push through.
1434
01:00:00,601 --> 01:00:04,646
It put so much fire and rage in me
to keep going.
1435
01:00:04,730 --> 01:00:08,317
This is my life's work,
and there's purpose behind it.
1436
01:00:08,400 --> 01:00:10,736
And you may not understand it,
1437
01:00:10,819 --> 01:00:13,113
but you don't get
to diminish my thoughts,
1438
01:00:13,197 --> 01:00:16,033
my ideals, my hard work
and, you know,
1439
01:00:16,116 --> 01:00:19,369
my purpose that easily,
just because you don't understand it
1440
01:00:19,453 --> 01:00:22,664
and because you, frankly,
you're scared to get in this business.
1441
01:00:22,748 --> 01:00:25,334
So, I think it took
a lot of strength.
1442
01:00:25,417 --> 01:00:26,710
It took a lot of strength
1443
01:00:26,793 --> 01:00:29,880
and a lot of remembering
why I started
1444
01:00:29,963 --> 01:00:31,632
to keep going.
1445
01:00:31,715 --> 01:00:36,094
I think the fact that since Melissa
was willing to quit her job
1446
01:00:36,178 --> 01:00:39,139
and focus strictly on this brand,
1447
01:00:39,223 --> 01:00:41,058
that, like, she doesn't, honestly--
1448
01:00:41,141 --> 01:00:43,769
She knew nothing
about making lipstick at all.
1449
01:00:43,852 --> 01:00:45,145
Like, everything was self-taught.
1450
01:00:45,229 --> 01:00:49,733
So, the fact that she
was so inspired by this idea
1451
01:00:49,816 --> 01:00:53,362
of creating cosmetics
that were more health conscious
1452
01:00:53,445 --> 01:00:55,948
and creating something
for Black women, I was like,
1453
01:00:56,031 --> 01:00:59,326
"Of course, I'm down. Whatever.
We'll figure this out along the way."
1454
01:00:59,409 --> 01:01:01,662
It's a really big deal for us
1455
01:01:01,745 --> 01:01:04,289
that we're launching
in Target stores.
1456
01:01:04,373 --> 01:01:07,751
Like, the whole Target thing
came about from a blind e-mail.
1457
01:01:07,835 --> 01:01:11,964
And so, like, literally,
I e-mailed the buyer and was like,
1458
01:01:12,047 --> 01:01:14,424
"Your customers are shopping there
for their care products,
1459
01:01:14,508 --> 01:01:18,428
but not for their beauty
because you have nothing for them."
1460
01:01:18,512 --> 01:01:21,890
And so, she was like, "All right.
Well, you know, just send me samples--"
1461
01:01:21,974 --> 01:01:24,601
I sent her samples,
and she was like,
1462
01:01:24,685 --> 01:01:27,062
"Your packaging is amazing
and I really love the product.
1463
01:01:27,145 --> 01:01:28,564
I am using it."
1464
01:01:28,647 --> 01:01:31,859
And so, then I, like,
further pushed the story of, like,
1465
01:01:31,942 --> 01:01:33,610
why we stand for beauty
1466
01:01:33,694 --> 01:01:35,571
and why we stand
for women of color
1467
01:01:35,654 --> 01:01:40,200
and why representation matters
within the beauty industry.
1468
01:01:40,284 --> 01:01:41,743
And she was like,
"You know what?
1469
01:01:41,827 --> 01:01:42,786
I'm not supposed to do this,
1470
01:01:42,870 --> 01:01:44,079
but I'm gonna give you
a chance."
1471
01:01:44,162 --> 01:01:45,664
We're just really excited.
1472
01:01:45,747 --> 01:01:49,459
We're like the first indie brand
to launch in Target stores.
1473
01:01:49,543 --> 01:01:51,879
[women cheering]
1474
01:01:51,962 --> 01:01:54,548
If you go into Target,
you're gonna see The Lip Bar,
1475
01:01:54,631 --> 01:01:57,342
like, amongst the big guys,
like the Revlons,
1476
01:01:57,426 --> 01:01:59,636
the Maybellines,
the L'Oréals, the NYXs.
1477
01:01:59,720 --> 01:02:03,223
Like, these are
multi-million-dollar brands.
1478
01:02:03,307 --> 01:02:05,642
And so, like, for us
to have our three shelves
1479
01:02:05,726 --> 01:02:09,313
and them to take in, like,
almost 30 products is major.
1480
01:02:09,396 --> 01:02:13,108
It's amazing to work with her,
not only as a best friend,
1481
01:02:13,192 --> 01:02:15,027
but as business partners.
1482
01:02:15,110 --> 01:02:17,946
It's kind of crazy looking at her
as this business woman.
1483
01:02:18,030 --> 01:02:19,990
Like, I still can't understand
1484
01:02:20,073 --> 01:02:23,327
not only how
we're on Target shelves,
1485
01:02:23,410 --> 01:02:28,624
but how she's selling this lipstick
to women all across the world.
1486
01:02:44,681 --> 01:02:46,475
So, I think one
of the biggest misconceptions
1487
01:02:46,558 --> 01:02:47,935
about making money as a blogger
1488
01:02:48,018 --> 01:02:49,478
is that you have
to monetize your blog
1489
01:02:49,561 --> 01:02:50,812
or you have to get ad money.
1490
01:02:50,896 --> 01:02:53,106
That's how you're gonna make money
as a blogger.
1491
01:02:53,190 --> 01:02:56,485
When there are so many ways
to make money outside of that blog.
1492
01:02:56,568 --> 01:02:58,737
My blog became
kind of my business card.
1493
01:02:58,820 --> 01:03:01,156
It became, um--
1494
01:03:01,240 --> 01:03:03,951
It became a tool for me
to make money in other ways.
1495
01:03:04,034 --> 01:03:05,536
So, the first thing I did
1496
01:03:05,619 --> 01:03:07,329
was I created a printable
at that time.
1497
01:03:07,412 --> 01:03:08,789
And the printable
was downloadable,
1498
01:03:08,872 --> 01:03:10,332
and people
could purchase it online.
1499
01:03:10,415 --> 01:03:11,750
And it was
a financial organizer.
1500
01:03:11,834 --> 01:03:13,752
So that was the first time
I started making money.
1501
01:03:13,836 --> 01:03:15,754
And then I started doing
one-on-one coaching
1502
01:03:15,838 --> 01:03:18,006
because other people were like,
"Well, how did you do this?
1503
01:03:18,090 --> 01:03:19,466
How did you improve
your financial situation?"
1504
01:03:19,550 --> 01:03:21,635
And then speaking engagements.
1505
01:03:21,718 --> 01:03:24,263
Once I started doing speaking
engagements, my eyes were like,
1506
01:03:24,346 --> 01:03:25,430
"Oh, my God.
1507
01:03:25,514 --> 01:03:27,891
There is so much money
on this side of the fence."
1508
01:03:27,975 --> 01:03:30,978
And after I started to realize
the power of My Fab Finance,
1509
01:03:31,061 --> 01:03:32,187
then I made it my intention.
1510
01:03:32,271 --> 01:03:33,814
I started doing everything
with intention.
1511
01:03:33,897 --> 01:03:35,899
Like, "I want to reach people
in this manner,
1512
01:03:35,983 --> 01:03:37,150
and I want to be compensated
1513
01:03:37,234 --> 01:03:38,610
for reaching people
in this manner."
1514
01:03:38,694 --> 01:03:40,070
So, it was just really,
like, my vision
1515
01:03:40,153 --> 01:03:41,405
was just falling into place.
1516
01:03:41,488 --> 01:03:43,866
And so by the time
I left my nine to five
1517
01:03:43,949 --> 01:03:45,784
to do My Fab Finance full-time,
1518
01:03:45,868 --> 01:03:48,370
I had developed
four profitable revenue streams.
1519
01:03:48,996 --> 01:03:51,707
[woman] Ladies, join me in welcoming
Tonya Rapley.
1520
01:03:51,790 --> 01:03:53,834
[applause]
1521
01:03:53,917 --> 01:03:56,044
Having multiple ways
to make money is--
1522
01:03:56,128 --> 01:03:58,630
I think it's essential for everyone
who owns a business,
1523
01:03:58,714 --> 01:04:00,841
because at any given time,
the market can change,
1524
01:04:00,924 --> 01:04:02,384
the demand for your product
can change,
1525
01:04:02,467 --> 01:04:04,636
the way that you're marketing
your product can change.
1526
01:04:04,720 --> 01:04:06,346
If I didn't appeal
to millennials anymore,
1527
01:04:06,430 --> 01:04:08,265
like, how would I continue
to make money?
1528
01:04:08,348 --> 01:04:09,725
I would say those
are one of the things
1529
01:04:09,808 --> 01:04:10,934
that keeps me up at night.
1530
01:04:11,018 --> 01:04:12,686
It's like, "What happens if?"
1531
01:04:12,769 --> 01:04:14,646
And so,
by creating multiple streams of revenue,
1532
01:04:14,730 --> 01:04:16,481
I feel like it kind
of insulates you from that,
1533
01:04:16,565 --> 01:04:18,942
because, you know, like, "You know what?
this happened, I can go do this.
1534
01:04:19,026 --> 01:04:20,736
If that happened, I can go do this."
1535
01:04:20,819 --> 01:04:24,573
And that adds an additional
layer of security to you,
1536
01:04:24,656 --> 01:04:26,074
to your family, to your business
1537
01:04:26,158 --> 01:04:27,618
and knowing
that you could continue
1538
01:04:27,701 --> 01:04:30,287
to sustain yourself
in the unforeseen.
1539
01:04:30,370 --> 01:04:31,830
So I'm releasing my first book,
1540
01:04:31,914 --> 01:04:33,624
The Money Manual, this year.
1541
01:04:33,707 --> 01:04:36,460
And I feel so supported
by my team.
1542
01:04:36,543 --> 01:04:38,629
Everything, we're putting
all of our energy into it
1543
01:04:38,712 --> 01:04:40,047
to ensure
that it's a bestseller,
1544
01:04:40,130 --> 01:04:42,925
but also to ensure that it's helping
as many people as possible.
1545
01:04:43,008 --> 01:04:46,053
And I'm just excited
about all the opportunities.
1546
01:04:46,136 --> 01:04:47,554
It continues to blow my mind
1547
01:04:47,638 --> 01:04:48,889
where My Fab Finance
has taken me.
1548
01:04:59,691 --> 01:05:02,611
The acquisition by L'Oréal USA
1549
01:05:02,694 --> 01:05:06,573
for me was, and still is,
1550
01:05:06,657 --> 01:05:10,619
one of my biggest accomplishments,
1551
01:05:10,702 --> 01:05:12,412
professionally and personally.
1552
01:05:12,496 --> 01:05:16,083
[all] Congrats!
1553
01:05:16,166 --> 01:05:17,376
[Lisa] Because personally,
1554
01:05:17,459 --> 01:05:21,380
I knew what it took
to get me to that place
1555
01:05:21,463 --> 01:05:24,091
and to put me in that position
1556
01:05:24,174 --> 01:05:28,178
to be able to help that
to unfold and experience it
1557
01:05:28,262 --> 01:05:29,263
and live through it.
1558
01:05:29,346 --> 01:05:31,807
[cheering]
1559
01:05:31,890 --> 01:05:34,309
And then professionally,
1560
01:05:34,393 --> 01:05:37,229
to say that you went
from your kitchen
1561
01:05:37,312 --> 01:05:38,605
and $100
1562
01:05:38,689 --> 01:05:42,109
to being a part of
the largest beauty company in the world.
1563
01:05:56,707 --> 01:05:58,542
[Renae] With all of the strides
we're making,
1564
01:05:58,625 --> 01:06:01,170
there's still
so much more work to be done.
1565
01:06:01,253 --> 01:06:03,130
One of the things
I've committed to
1566
01:06:03,213 --> 01:06:04,131
through In Her Shoes
1567
01:06:04,214 --> 01:06:06,091
and its annual
holiday gift guide
1568
01:06:06,175 --> 01:06:07,926
is to simply
build awareness
1569
01:06:08,010 --> 01:06:10,095
of Black women-owned brands.
1570
01:06:10,179 --> 01:06:13,015
During the holidays
there's a significant increase
1571
01:06:13,098 --> 01:06:14,433
in the desire to buy Black,
1572
01:06:14,516 --> 01:06:16,852
but I want this to be something
we're committed to
1573
01:06:16,935 --> 01:06:19,938
and deliberate about
all year round.
1574
01:06:20,022 --> 01:06:21,648
The work I'm doing
with In Her Shoes
1575
01:06:21,732 --> 01:06:23,025
and She Did That
1576
01:06:23,108 --> 01:06:25,485
is so important to me
because it's providing
1577
01:06:25,569 --> 01:06:28,655
positive representation
for women of all ages
1578
01:06:28,739 --> 01:06:30,949
and allowing young girls
to see their reflections
1579
01:06:31,033 --> 01:06:33,035
in the women we're celebrating.
1580
01:06:33,118 --> 01:06:34,870
[Renae reading onscreen text]
1581
01:06:34,953 --> 01:06:37,706
[Renae continues]
"You are sisters, daughters, mothers..."
1582
01:06:37,789 --> 01:06:42,002
[continues to read onscreen text]
1583
01:07:05,609 --> 01:07:06,527
[both] She did that!
1584
01:07:06,610 --> 01:07:07,736
I did that!
1585
01:07:07,819 --> 01:07:09,780
-[both] We did that!
-She did that!
1586
01:07:09,863 --> 01:07:11,949
She did that!
Did I tell you she did that?
1587
01:07:12,032 --> 01:07:13,617
-She did that.
-I did that!
1588
01:07:13,700 --> 01:07:14,576
She did that!
1589
01:07:14,660 --> 01:07:16,078
She did that.
1590
01:07:16,161 --> 01:07:16,995
She did that!
1591
01:07:17,079 --> 01:07:18,163
I did that!
1592
01:07:18,247 --> 01:07:20,249
I did that.
Yes!
1593
01:07:20,958 --> 01:07:23,377
She. Did. That.
1594
01:07:23,919 --> 01:07:25,087
Bro, did you see?
1595
01:07:25,170 --> 01:07:26,255
Did you see?
1596
01:07:26,338 --> 01:07:27,256
She did that!
1597
01:07:27,339 --> 01:07:30,717
[uplifting music playing]