Dionne Phillips, Founder and CEO of D’Lashes by Dionne Phillips, returns to Business of the Beat for Part 2 of the Where Are They Now Series. Dionne first joined in Season One of Business of the Beat and is featured in Kendra’s new book, The Beauty of Success: Start, Grow and Accelerate Your Brand. Dionne shares her remarkable story of battling cancer while navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Despite facing setbacks and legal issues, Dionne's unwavering positivity and resilience shine through as she discusses her experience over the last two years and the support she received from her community, including celebrity clients. Listen in as Kendra and Dionne delve into topics such as managing stress, health insurance issues, and the importance of financial protections for entrepreneurs. Discover how Dionne's journey has shaped her perspective on life, business, and the power of relationships. Throughout the episode, Dionne offers valuable advice for prioritizing health and pursuing goals in the face of adversity.

Follow @DLashes or visit https://www.dlashes.com/

Tune in to learn more from Dionne and Kendra!

#DLashes #SurvivingAndThriving #CommunitySupport #FinancialProtection #HealthPriorities

This week Arlan Hamilton, trailblazing investor, author, and founder at Backstage Capital and HireRunner.co joins Business of the Beat. Arlan reflects on her past struggles and triumphs while sharing the importance of self-care, particularly for black women navigating the demanding world of entrepreneurship. Both Kendra and Arlan candidly share their experiences, emphasizing the need for balance and healthy habits to sustain their high-performance levels in the entrepreneurial arena. They explore the concept of being "Olympic-level entrepreneurs" and their responsibility of paving the way for others in the industry. They discuss Arlan’s groundbreaking book, Your First Million: Why You Don’t Have To Be Born Into A Legacy Of Wealth To Leave One Behind, and its accessibility and practical advice, offering aspiring entrepreneurs invaluable guidance on their path to success. Arlan emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge and resources to uplift others in their entrepreneurial journey.

Join Arlan's upcoming event, Your First Million Live, happening in Los Angeles, CA April 9-12th, where current and future millionaires will converge to gain practical insights and tools for financial success.

Follow @ArlanWasHere or visit https://www.yourfirstmillion.live/ to get your tickets.

Tune in to learn more from Arlan and Kendra!

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brianna Arps, the visionary founder and CEO of MOODEAUX, a fragrance label that's disrupting the industry with its authenticity and innovation. Made for the unapologetically outspoken rebel inside us all, MOODEAUX is grounded in the belief that self-expression is the best self-care. Ditching tradition and introducing a new standard of longer-lasting, skin-nurturing, earth-friendly scents, MOODEAUX is redefining the fragrance experience. In this episode, Brianna shares her remarkable journey from beauty editor to entrepreneur, revealing how a job loss sparked her entrepreneurial spirit and led to the creation of MOODEAUX. Delving into her deep fascination with fragrance and the scientific intricacies that drive her passion, Brianna reflects on the challenges of entrepreneurship, including the importance of self-belief and continuous learning.

Together, they explore the significance of black representation in the fragrance industry and Brianna's role in founding Black in Fragrance, a support network for black perfumers. Brianna also discusses her recent accomplishment of being one of Beauty Matter Next 2023 grant recipients, highlighting her commitment to driving innovation and diversity in the beauty industry. Get ready to be inspired by Brianna's unwavering determination, creativity, and commitment to building a brand that celebrates diversity and authenticity in the world of beauty and fragrance.

Follow @MOODEAUXOfficial or visit https://moodeaux.com/

Tune in to learn more from Brianna and Kendra!

#BlackInFragrence, #MOODEAUX, #FragranceInnovation, #UnapologeticRebel, #BeautyEntrepreneur

Hosted by 3x founder and award winning industry thought leader Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, the Business of the Beat podcast focuses on the business of beauty through the experiences of BIPOC founders, executives, influencers, and operators who are in the pro

Camille Bell, the visionary Co-Founder and CEO of Pound Cake, a multi-award-winning pro-Black, pro-fat, and pro-queer cosmetics company, takes us through the captivating journey of building this revolutionary beauty brand. Camille sheds light on the challenges she faced, addressing issues of representation and racism within the industry. Delving into Pound Cake's product development, she shares experiences with labs and the deliberate choices made to foster inclusivity. Camille discusses short-term plans, unveils upcoming product launches, and shares long-term aspirations of global expansion. Notable achievements include being a two-time Allure 'Best Of Beauty' winner and securing a remarkable $1 million grant from Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition competition in 2022. Join in this illuminating conversation as Pound Cake Cosmetics redefines beauty standards and paves the way for inclusivity.

Follow @PoundCake or visit https://poundcakecosmetics.com

Tune in to learn more from Camille and Kendra!

Amadou Doumbia, the visionary founder of Wuli Grooming, embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery, drawing inspiration from his rich multicultural background spanning West Africa, New York City, Asia, and Sydney, Australia. Confronted with the challenges of 2020 and furloughed from his hospitality job, he transcended the belief in individual success, opting for collaboration and seeking expertise beyond his own capabilities. Wuli Grooming, specializes in crafting natural, non-synthetic hair care solutions catering to diverse hair types. The brand's astute go-to-market strategy involved direct engagement with customers, initially targeting smaller markets and gradually ascending to premium events. Amadou's nerve-wracking decision to participate in Shark Tank showcased his confidence, grounded in a background in marketing and communications. Following the show's success, Wuli Grooming has flourished in the realm of direct-to-consumer sales. With ambitious plans for international expansion, the brand remains dedicated to embracing diverse hair textures and aspiring to inspire others in the dynamic beauty industry. The episode delves into Wuli Grooming's fascinating journey, accentuating collaborative efforts, triumphs over challenges, and the significance of celebrating small victories. It also highlights Amadou's confident rejection of a partnership offer on Shark Tank as a pivotal moment in the brand's trajectory and his recent accomplishment of being one of Beauty Matter Next 2023 grant recipients.

Follow @WuliGrooming or visit https://www.wuligrooming.com

Tune in to learn more from Amadou and Kendra!

Kyera Keenne, Founder of KyeraBrand - Makers of Look, Don’t Touch shares her journey from an executive assistant to embracing her love for music, overcoming discouragement about her singing voice, and discovering her passion for composing and songwriting. The episode details Kyera's personal hair journey, from societal pressures to embracing her natural texture and creating the "Look, Don't Touch" hair care line. The conversation also covers the development of her product and her book, Hair Symphony: The Step-By-Step Guide to Mastering Your Hair Type, emphasizing a holistic approach to hair care, mental health, and confidence. Kyera envisions a worldwide presence and expresses her purpose as an artist creating positive aesthetics. The overall theme revolves around empowerment through self-love, education, and alternative perspectives.

Follow @LookDontTouch_Hair or visit https://kyera.world/

Tune in to learn more from Kyera and Kendra!

#LookDontTouch

Leslie Roberson, Founder and CEO of the Black Beauty Collective, a beauty retailer that features exclusively black-owned brands, shares her diverse journey, including experiences as a veteran, HR manager, and model. The episode highlights Leslie's resilience in transitioning from the military to modeling and explores her entrepreneurial spirit inherited from her father. Addressing the lack of representation for black women founders in the beauty industry. Leslie emphasizes the importance of diversity and parallels her corporate advocacy in this space. The conversation covers challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs, especially in accessing capital, and Leslie shares her vision for supporting Black women founders in particular through the Black Beauty Collective, providing retail space, coaching and a path to scalability.

Follow @blkbeautycollective or visit https://blkbeautycollective.com/

Tune in to learn more from Leslie and Kendra!

Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, the founder, CEO and mastermind of Chillhouse, a groundbreaking wellness spa, products and accessories. Whether visiting their flagship in SoHo or replicating spa-like experiences in your home, Chillhouse provides a modern-day affordable alternative to indulging in your own wellness.

During this episode, Cyndi dives deep into her entrepreneurial journey as she draws inspiration from her upbringing in the spa industry, thanks to her mother's role as an esthetician, and identifies a crucial niche for an affordable and contemporary spa experience. Cyndi unveils the treasure trove of services offered at Chillhouse while underscoring the pivotal role of community and membership in weaving self-care seamlessly into people's lives. Cyndi illuminates the ever-evolving growth of Chillhouse's journey through the lens of community and membership, where her vision transcends traditional salon services, ultimately crafting an inclusive haven. Cyndi shares valuable insight and lessons into venturing into retail and their longstanding partnership with Target. Chillhouse is truly an enterprise that prioritizes community and the holistic spa experience above all else.

Follow @ChillHouse or visit https://chillhouse.com/

Tune in to learn more from Cyndi and Kendra!

This week Ceci Kurzman, Founder of OurX, a personalized program for total hair and scalp wellness, discusses her global upbringing, passion for music, and journey into the entertainment industry where she worked with iconic artists - such as Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, and Sade.

Ceci takes us through the birth of OurX emphasizing innovation, personalization, sustainability and above all else customer’s needs. She further shares her goal for OurX including breaking down systemic barriers, promoting diversity, and empowering Black-owned brands.

Follow @OurXHair or visit https://www.ourx.co/

Tune in to learn more from Ceci and Kendra!