Business of the Beat

Keta Burke-Williams, the visionary founder of the conscious fragrance brand Ourside, shares her inspiring journey of creating a brand that celebrates diverse stories and fosters community connections. She reveals how scent became a form of escape and self-care, leading her to establish Ourside. Keta highlights the significance of community and mentorship in her entrepreneurial path and details the meticulous process behind launching a successful brand.

Keta delves into the "test and learn" approach in business, discussing the balance between striving for perfection and embracing iterative improvement. She emphasizes the critical role of retail for fragrance brands, explaining her strategic partnerships with Credo Beauty and Bergdorf Goodman to position Ourside as a luxury offering.

Addressing the unique challenges Black founders face in the luxury market, Keta underscores the importance of strategic partnerships and sustainable growth. She highlights the necessity of patience, readiness, and building a supportive community before pursuing rapid expansion.

Keta also shares practical tips for increasing fragrance longevity and expresses her excitement for Ourside’s future, including the development of new scents and potential new product formats like candles.

Follow @Ourside.NYC or visit https://ourside.nyc/. Use code BOTB for 10% off Ourside products!

Tune in to learn more from Keta and Kendra!

Kenya Carter, the visionary founder of Shapes Clothing, explores her inspiring journey from North Tulsa to the heights of fashion design. Kenya shares how a childhood love for art and fashion evolved into a dynamic career through unexpected twists and bold decisions. From running a salon with her sister to discovering fashion through a serendipitous show in Las Vegas, Kenya's story is a testament to the power of taking risks and embracing new opportunities.

We delve into Kenya’s unique path, including her experience juggling family responsibilities while attending fashion school and how she leveraged her background in advertising and human relations to excel as an image consultant. Kenya’s journey highlights the importance of using one's talents to uplift others and how diverse experiences can culminate in a fulfilling career. Kenya’s reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her career and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Visit https://www.buildintulsa.com/programs/w-e-build and stay tuned for part 2!

Follow @KenyaCarter or visit https://shapesclothing.com/

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In the gripping Part Two episode with Wendy Berry and Eugenia Marshall, the visionary co-founders of ConditionHER, listeners explore the profound challenges and triumphs they’ve experienced on their entrepreneurial journey. Wendy and Eugenia dive into the emotional and psychological impacts of building a business, particularly during health crises and global disruptions.

Wendy opens up about ConditionHER’s journey through the pandemic, detailing the dual-edged sword of a sales boost followed by the realization of an unsustainable trend. She candidly discusses her personal battle with breast cancer and the broader implications for women who face such struggles in silence. Wendy’s story sheds light on the often-overlooked challenges women encounter and the importance of open dialogue and self-care.

Eugenia Marshall contributes to the conversation, sharing how the pandemic and Wendy’s health issues impacted their business operations. She emphasizes the critical role of Wendy’s pre-pandemic groundwork and strategic shift to a wholesale model in sustaining ConditionHER during challenging times. Eugenia highlights the value of cultivating partnerships with experts and the strength of their collaborative efforts.

Wendy and Eugenia also reflect on recent developments at ConditionHER, including their successful pivot to working with aestheticians and the positive impact of industry conferences.

Follow @conditionHER or visit https://conditionher.com/. Use code: Kendra for 50% conditionHER!

Tune in to learn more from Wendy, Eugenia, and Kendra!

ConditionHER

In this engaging first part of our two-part series, Wendy Berry and Eugenia Marshall, the dynamic co-founders of ConditionHER, share their inspiring journey. Eugenia, Chief Human Resources Officer at NKSFB, and Wendy, who transitioned from a marketing career at Warner Brothers to full-time entrepreneurship, opened up about their unique paths and the serendipitous moments that led them to start ConditionHER.

Wendy recounts her career shift from Minnesota to California and her collaborative relationship with Eugenia, which began through mutual social activities and a memorable shoe incident. The duo explains how ConditionHER was born from Wendy's personal experience and market research in 2012, despite initial skepticism. The name "ConditionHER" emerged as a symbol of empowerment, leading them to secure their URL and trademark and embark on their entrepreneurial journey.

Eugenia and Wendy delve into the importance of recognizing the right people who come into our lives, and how divine timing plays a role in entrepreneurial success. Wendy reflects on the challenges of facing a market competitor and shares how Adam Grant's book "Originals" inspired them to persevere. They discuss the early days of bootstrapping their business, managing limited resources, and balancing their personal and professional lives. Stay tuned for part 2!

Follow @conditionHER or visit https://conditionher.com/. Use code: Kendra for 50% conditionHER!

Tune in to learn more from Wendy, Eugenia, and Kendra!

ConditionHER

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Amanda E/J Morrison, Co-Founder & CEO of Julie Products Inc. Discover Amanda's transformative journey from a structured career in finance at Goldman Sachs to pioneering entrepreneurship in consumer-facing industries. Prior to Julie, Amanda co-founded Mented Cosmetics, a trailblazing brand addressing the beauty needs of people of color.

Amanda shares deep insights into the genesis and mission of Julie Products Inc., a groundbreaking pharmaceutical company reshaping women's health education. She reflects on her entrepreneurial evolution, navigating the challenges of startup environments, and the pivotal role of embracing abundance mindsets in driving impactful decisions.

Critiquing the gaps in reproductive health education, Amanda illuminates Julie's pivotal role in providing accessible information and innovative products. She passionately addresses misconceptions surrounding emergency contraception versus abortion medication, advocating for accurate education and equitable accessibility, particularly among younger demographics.

Drawing from her experiences in healthcare investing, Amanda discusses her journey driven by curiosity and a dedication to fostering innovative solutions. She underscores the influence of her upbringing and commitment to continuous learning on shaping her approach to business and healthcare advocacy. Amanda emphasizes the critical importance of informed decision-making, education, and championing women's reproductive rights.

Follow @Julie or visit https://juliecare.co/

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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Julee Wilson, the pioneering Beauty Editor-at-Large at Cosmopolitan and the first Black Beauty Director in the magazine's history. Julee shares her journey of breaking barriers, telling diverse stories, and supporting her community. Julee reflects on her career challenges, including overcoming self-doubt and embracing her power. Her career journey underscores the importance of recognizing one's worth, not feeling stuck in a job, and having a supportive network. Throughout the episode, Julee emphasizes the themes of support, empowerment, and resilience. She candidly talks about the struggles and vulnerability behind her achievements, advocating for openness about those struggles to foster community and understanding. Julee’s commitment to service and leadership is showcased through her involvement in various boards and mentoring.

Follow @MissJulee or visit https://www.cosmopolitan.com/author/225442/julee-wilson/

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Jemila Bwanhot, the visionary Founder and CEO of Alimaj Essentials, and winner of the 2024 Earth Day Beauty Award, shares her transformative journey from Nigeria to the U.S., overcoming postpartum hair shedding, and delving into the world of natural hair care. Drawing from her heritage and a passion for holistic beauty, Jemila founded Alimaj Essentials, emphasizing the science behind her award-winning formulations.

Jemila discusses the importance of understanding when to seek external financing while maintaining a focus on reinvesting in her business. She introduces her flagship product, the Herbal Rejuvenating Hair Mix—a zero-waste, biodegradable powder that nourishes hair—along with her Elixir, a blend of seven botanical oils, and her scalp-focused shampoo and conditioner. With a commitment to environmental responsibility and effective hair care, Jemila's products feature mild surfactants and ingredients like green tea and peppermint for a unique sensory experience.

Highlighting her philosophy that "beauty is heart deep," Jemila explores how this belief fosters customer confidence and self-perception. She shares her excitement for Alimaj Essentials' future, aiming to become a top-selling brand in major retailers, and underscores the power of community and collaboration in the beauty industry.

Follow @Alimaj_Essentials or visit https://alimajessentials.com/

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Dr. Shoná Burkes-Henderson, Manager, Product Research Organization and Product Experience Center at Mary Kay Global, shares her inspiring journey from an internship at Mary Kay to a distinguished career in environmental chemistry, and her eventual return to Mary Kay in various leadership roles. Shoná delves into the significance of mentorship, community, and maintaining a work-life balance in achieving success and navigating career pivots.

She highlights Mary Kay's inclusive and empowering environment, with a commitment to diversity in hiring and customer engagement.

Shonáelaborates on her role, focusing on understanding consumer perceptions and needs throughout the product life cycle, and the importance of diverse perspectives in product development. She explores the industry's shift towards greater inclusivity, especially post-George Floyd, and the challenges of ensuring product efficacy across different skin types in various markets. She also shares her excitement about her recent election to the board of directors for the International Society of Biophysics and Imaging of the Skin, reflecting on her growth within the organization and revealing her favorite Mary Kay product, the Timewise 3D Age Fighting Moisturizer, highlighting its aesthetics and effectiveness.

Follow @MaryKayUS or visit https://www.marykay.com/en-us/

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In part two, Ceata E. Lash, Founder of The PuffCuff LLC, discusses the intricate challenges of patent protection, particularly against international copycats and large corporations; ultimately sharing a playbook of when and how to diversify your product offering. To stay competitive, Ceata delves deep into her new diffusion collection, the Cuffet, ensuring the line did not alienate existing loyal customers. This strategic move has successfully placed her products in numerous CVS and HEB stores.

Despite facing obstacles such as high marketing costs and the complexities of retail readiness, Ceata underscores the importance of strategic planning and genuine customer engagement for business sustainability and growth. She explores the nuances of entrepreneurship, focusing on the challenges of innovation and scaling a business. Ceata discusses how imitation, while flattering, underscores the superior quality of the original creator's expertise.

She highlights crucial aspects of financial management and finding the right equity partners to scale her business, aimed at a broad market of curly-haired individuals. Despite setbacks, Ceata remains resilient, fueled by impactful customer stories. Looking ahead, she aspires to support future entrepreneurs by offering guidance without financial burden and emphasizes the value of connections and community support.

Follow @ThePuffCuff or visit https://thepuffcuff.com/

Tune in to learn more from Ceata and Kendra!

In this two part series, Ceata E. Lash, Founder of The PuffCuff LLC, shares her inspiring journey, which began unintentionally when she stopped chemically straightening her hair and embraced her natural curls. Facing headaches from conventional styling accessories, she envisioned a new hair tool. Leveraging her engineering connections at her community college job, she developed a prototype.

Ceata recounts how her product, initially a side hustle, evolved into a full-fledged business launched on Amazon in 2014. She delves into the challenges of educating customers about her unique product and the importance of utilizing available resources, such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and a supportive patent lawyer.

Throughout the episode, Ceata discusses the value of perseverance, recognizing signs, and the differences in business startup approaches across cultures. Her determination and strategic networking led to retail success, including partnerships with major retailers like Sally Beauty, Target, TJ Maxx, and HSN. Ceata's path to winning the President's Innovation Award from Sally Beauty and the lessons she learned along the way are also highlighted. Stay tuned next week for part 2 of this dynamic conversation.

Follow @ThePuffCuff or visit https://thepuffcuff.com/

Tune in to learn more from Ceata and Kendra!