Business of the Beat Podcast Quarterly RoundUp

As we lean into Q3, I am excited to spotlight the 11 exceptional guests who joined us on the Business of the Beat podcast in Q2!? Each guest illuminated crucial themes including community involvement, health equity, sustainable and ethical beauty, inclusivity, resilience, and growth. Together, these discussions spanned various facets of entrepreneurship, innovation, and impact within the industry.?

Here are some key takeaways! :

• Amanda Young , Marketing and Philanthropic Manager for Kendra Scott Southeast Area, highlights the importance of community involvement and shares her journey from retail to leadership while promoting Kendra Scott's philanthropic efforts and DE&I initiatives. Download episode: Fostering Community Empowerment. Follow @KendraScott or visit https://www.kendrascott.com/?

• Melissa R. Hibbért , President of BrainTrust Founders Studio , reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, sharing insights from her transition into the beauty consultancy industry and her collaborations with industry icons. She and Kendra discuss the importance of partnership and alignment in entrepreneurship, emphasizing the transformative power of collaboration and Melissa's passion for supporting founders and shaping the industry's future. Download episode: Part 3 Where Are They Now: Abundance and New Beginnings. Follow @MelissaHibbert and @btfoundersstudio

• Orlena Nwokah Blanchard , Founder and CEO of Wondertree Skin, shares pivotal moments from her journey, including her role in creating the Crown Act, launching Seven Elements Group, and overcoming personal health challenges that inspired her to develop a skincare line for marginalized communities. With Wondertree Skin's culturally inspired mango citrus fragrance, Orlena aims to empower Black women through the Moringa Health Equity Initiative, promoting longer, healthier lives and a personalized approach to beauty. Download episodes: The Beauty of My Roots Part 1 and Part 2. Follow @WonderTreeSkin or visit https://wondertreeskin.com/??

• Aja Frierson , Founder of Habit Cosmetics , shares her journey into clean beauty, highlighting her commitment to sustainability and innovative materials like bamboo. She discusses the challenges of building an ethical beauty brand, the importance of representation in entrepreneurship, and her dedication to community initiatives that reflect her values of beauty and ethics. Download: Building a Sustainable Future. Follow @HabitCosmetics or visit https://www.habitcosmetics.com/??

• Roger Dupé , Founder and CEO of Melyon , shares his journey from aspiring soccer player to successful model and entrepreneur, emphasizing his experiences as a Swedish-born individual of West African descent in the fashion industry. He discusses the challenges of being a black model, the lack of inclusivity in beauty products, and his dedication to creating Melyon, a skincare line tailored for darker complexions with a commitment to natural ingredients and high-end aesthetics despite industry obstacles. Download episode: Keep Your Focus. Follow @OfficialMelyon or visit https://www.melyon.co/?

• Mia Johnson , Founder and CEO of The Glamatory and Grind Pretty , shares her journey from a corporate IT job to a successful beauty entrepreneur, highlighting challenges like financial setbacks and the impact of COVID-19. Emphasizing resilience and adaptability, Mimi discusses her growth strategy through data analysis and collaborations, while also focusing on her nonprofit, Grind for Good, which supports mental health and moms with children on the spectrum, inspired by her own experiences as a proud Autism Mom. Download episode: Find A Way Or Make One. Follow @Grind Pretty or visit https://grindpretty.com/

• Cindy Tawaih, Chief Healing Officer of Diva By Cindy, recounts her journey from nursing to entrepreneurship, driven by a passion for beauty and perseverance despite setbacks. She discusses transitioning from salon owner to creating Diva By Cindy, a brand dedicated to restoring beauty and supporting domestic violence survivors, including initiatives that bring treatments to homeless shelters and launching a vending machine business to expand her reach. Download episode: The Heart of Beauty. Follow @DivaByCindy or visit https://divabycindy.com/?

• Leona D. , Founder and CEO of UZIMA , shares her transition from academia to entrepreneurship, driven by a desire to address the unique needs of textured hair. Her journey, shaped by her Kenyan immigrant background and academic research on implicit bias, led to the creation of Uzima, a brand focused on empowering Black women and revolutionizing hair care, with an emphasis on education, inclusive product formulations, and research-driven innovation. Download episode: Rooted in Innovation. Follow @Uzima.Co or visit https://uzima.co/?

• Kene Onuorah , Founder and CEO of Comme Homme , shares his personal journey of hair loss, emphasizing the emotional impact and eventual acceptance of baldness. Through Comme Homme, he empowers men in their hair loss journey and offers valuable insights into entrepreneurship, including the importance of perseverance, staying true to one's vision, and creating supportive spaces like his podcast, Bald 2 Bold, to revisit experiences and promote confidence in baldness. Download episode: Finding Strength in Vulnerability. Follow @CommeHommeCo or visit https://commehomme.com/

• Rhonda Daniels , Co-Founder and CEO of Natural Radiant Life , shares her journey from selling pickles as a child to becoming a successful entrepreneur, highlighting her career in the skincare industry and the launch of her first beauty business in 2001. In 2020, she co-founded Natural Radiant Life, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, community support, strategic financial management, and her participation in Amazon's Black Business Accelerator for growth and customer retention. Download episode: The Radiance Within. Follow @NaturalRadiantLife or visit https://naturalradiantlife.com/?

• Ceata E. Lash , Founder of The PUFFCUFF , in part 1 shares how her journey began with embracing her natural curls and creating a new hair tool to alleviate headaches caused by conventional accessories, leveraging her engineering connections to develop a prototype. She details her evolution from a side hustle to a business launched on Amazon in 2014, overcoming challenges through resources like the SBDC, strategic networking, and partnerships with major retailers, leading to her winning the President's Innovation Award from Sally Beauty. In part 2 Ceata discusses the challenges of patent protection and shares strategies for product diversification, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and customer engagement for business growth. She highlights the successful launch of her new product line, the Cuffet, and the need for effective financial management and partnerships while remaining resilient and committed to supporting future entrepreneurs. Download episodes: Part 1 The Value of Connections and Part 2 The Value of Connections. Follow @ThePuffCuff or visit https://thepuffcuff.com/?

If you missed any of these episodes, subscribe to @Business of the Beat and tune in now on Apple Podcast, Pandora , Spotify for Creators , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to leave a rating and review!?

For more stories from Business of the Beat, order The Beauty of Success: Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Target today.?

In Community,

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson