How did a Gen Z-founded skincare brand disrupt a billion-dollar beauty industry? In this episode of Mini Marketing, we’re breaking down the rise of Topicals—a brand that turned mental health, meme culture, and skin acceptance into a viral movement. From packaging that feels like pop art to campaigns that prioritize real people over perfection, Topicals didn’t just launch products—they launched conversations.

We’ll explore how Topicals built a cult-like community, shifted the narrative around beauty standards, and used cultural intelligence to dominate social media.

Plus: What YOUR brand can learn from their playbook — and one action item to apply today.

This concludes Season 5 of the Ghetto CEO® Podcast.

Thank you for growing with us. Season 6 is dropping soon so be sure to stay locked in. Follow us on Instagram @ghettoceopodcast

Need help building a brand that breaks the internet and the rules? Visit RareNecessity.com.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when a celebrity hairstylist trades the salon chair for a chef’s apron?

In this episode of the Ghetto CEO Podcast, host Monrae sits down with Gocha Hawkins, Atlanta-based entrepreneur, author, and CEO behind a growing hospitality brand—including multiple restaurant locations, a viral gourmet product line, and a retail footprint with major expansion plans.

Gocha opens up about:

• Going from 30 years in cosmetology to launching in the restaurant industry

• The hard lessons she learned transitioning industries from scratch

• The moment she went into “Album Mode”—cutting off distractions to master her new craft

• Building company culture and team retention in the high-turnover hospitality space

• Creating a product line to monetize her brand beyond the kitchen

You’ll also hear real talk about:

✅ Payroll stress and profit margins

✅ Learning business systems through trial and error

✅ Leading as a hands-on CEO and wife

✅ Scaling with strategy, discernment, and divine timing

Whether you’re pivoting industries or scaling your brand, this episode is a blueprint for reinvention and longevity in business. If you’re in your own album mode—this one's for you.

Subscribe for more raw CEO conversations every Thursday at 7PM EST

🔗Need a campaign that actually converts? Visit RareNecessity.com

🛠 Want to market faster with custom GPT tools? Go to MarketingByMonrae.com

#GhettoCEOPodcast #GochaHawkins #FromSalonToStartup #HospitalityEntrepreneur #BlackWomenInBusiness #ChefCEO #MarketingWithMonrae #AtlantaBusiness #EntrepreneurJourney #AlbumMode #RareNecessity

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What does it look like to truly build a spiritually aligned, scalable business — and still protect your peace? On this episode of the Ghetto CEO Podcast, host Monrae sits down with Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon, powerhouse CEO of Incredible One Enterprises, transformational speaker, and marketing strategist behind over $1.3 Billion in client results.

In this vulnerable and power-packed episode, Dr. Darnyelle shares how she:

• Rebounded from bankruptcy and built an 8-figure brand

• Combines divine alignment with high-level strategy

• Sets boundaries and protects her nervous system as a leader

• Scales with systems and team—without grinding herself into the ground

• Navigates betrayal and business breakdowns with integrity and wisdom

You’ll also hear real talk about:

✅ Managing team setbacks

✅ Operating in your own economy (not the world’s)

✅ The difference between being a “church girl” and a “God girl”

✅ Replacing grind with grace through infrastructure

Whether you're an entrepreneur in burnout or a CEO in alignment, this episode is your blueprint to scaling with faith, systems, and soul.

Whether you’re hustling in Album Mode or building a legacy, this episode will shift your mindset and protect your mission. Tap in. New episodes drop every Thursday at 7 PM EST! Listen on the go: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BS...

 

🚀 Powered by Rare Necessity Digital Agency

🎯 Grab your execution bundles + ChatGPTs: marketingbymonrae.com

📲 Follow us on IG: @ghettoceo

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

On this episode of Ghetto CEO, we sit down with Daija Hopson, a powerhouse finance expert and former COO of Blakk Smoke, to talk about the million-dollar mistakes that shaped her legacy—and didn’t cost her a dime. From personal bankruptcy to building multi-million dollar brands, Daija shares how she turned losses into lessons and bounced back even stronger.

Now the founder of Luxury Tax Pros and Luxury Credit Company, she’s helping entrepreneurs and families take control of their credit, finances, and future. This is more than a comeback—it’s a blueprint.

In this episode:

•How bankruptcy helped her rebuild her credit and confidence

•What she learned managing multi-million dollar operations

•The financial mistake most business owners make

•Why your business’s money isn’t your money

•The importance of slowing down, structuring smart, and locking into your season

This is your sign to stop winging it and start moving like a CEO.

Listen on the go: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BS...

🚀 Powered by Rare Necessity Digital Agency

🎯 Grab your execution bundles + ChatGPTs: marketingbymonrae.com

📲 Follow us on IG: @ghettoceo

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this powerful episode of the Ghetto CEO Podcast, Monrae sits down with beauty industry mogul and Grind Pretty founder Mimi Johnson to talk about what it really looks like to bounce back from loss. From shutting down her beloved Glambatory during the pandemic to facing financial hurdles in building her latest festival, Mimi shares how mindset, faith, and obedience helped her keep going.

We talk:

• Losing it all — and choosing to rise anyway

• Pushing through doubt and debt with purpose

• Building business and community as a CEO

• Why faith is a CEO’s secret weapon

• Album mode, mixtape mindset, and what’s next for Grind Pretty

This one’s for every entrepreneur in the trenches who needs a reminder that God sees you, and your purpose is still in motion.

Whether you’re hustling in Album Mode or building a legacy, this episode will shift your mindset and protect your mission. Tap in.

New episodes drop every Thursday at 7 PM EST!

Listen on the go:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ghetto-ceo/id1679176054

 

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BSj8wtycIdb9hGgyFMHWb?si=0aedb82133784562

 

🚀 Powered by Rare Necessity Digital Agency

🎯 Grab your execution bundles + ChatGPTs: marketingbymonrae.com

📲 Follow us on IG: @ghettoceo

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Ashley Walters, powerhouse attorney and founder of The Walters Law Group, joins Season 5 of Ghetto CEO: Album Mode with a jaw-dropping story of resilience, purpose, and legal game. In this episode, Ashley shares how she faced a shocking cancer diagnosis, underwent chemo, and still showed up for her clients—even from a hospital bed with a second monitor and legal briefs in hand.

We talk about:

Why her husband told her, “You can’t have cancer two days in a row”

Working through chemo while leading a successful law firm

How she helps CEOs scale and protect their businesses legally

The importance of structuring your business for where you’re going, not where you are

How to legally prepare to actually grow—from IP protection to employee risk

Why your contracts, trademarks, and delegation matter more than vibes

👩🏾‍⚖️ Whether you’re hustling in Album Mode or building a legacy, this episode will shift your mindset and protect your mission. Tap in.

🎥 New episodes drop every Thursday at 7 PM EST!

👉 Listen on the go:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ghetto-ceo/id1679176054

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BSj8wtycIdb9hGgyFMHWb?si=0aedb82133784562

🚀 Powered by Rare Necessity Digital Agency

🎯 Grab your execution bundles + ChatGPTs: marketingbymonrae.com

📲 Follow us on IG: @ghettoceo

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode of Ghetto CEO News, Monrae breaks down how Beyoncé didn’t just drop Cowboy Carter—she launched a strategic, culture-shifting funnel that most brands could never pull off.

No press run.

No interviews.

No TikTok challenges.

Just silence, rollout, merch, and movement.

Monrae analyzes how Cowboy Carter became a masterclass in brand equity, audience control, viral timing, and funnel-building—without saying a word.

You’ll learn:

• The real strategy behind Beyoncé’s silent marketing

• How her funnel moved fans from curiosity to conversion

• Why most brands can’t launch in silence

• What “Album Mode” means for CEOs, not just creatives

• How to apply Beyoncé’s launch structure to your next campaign

• Why silence is powerful—but only when you’ve built the groundwork

This isn’t just marketing. It’s cultural disruption. And this breakdown gives you the playbook Beyoncé used—even if you’re not Beyoncé.

🎙️ Watch the full episode now:

https://youtu.be https://youtu.be/a_hD2x5xND4

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BSj8wtycIdb9hGgyFMHWb?si=0aedb82133784562

🧠 Want to launch like this?

Get Monrae’s full ChatGPT Bundles and start building campaigns that convert: https://marketingbymonrae.com/pages/birthday-sale

#CowboyCarter #BeyonceMarketing #AlbumMode #MonraeBreaksItDown #MarketingStrategy #LaunchPlanning #DigitalMarketingPodcast #FunnelStrategy #GhettoCEO #CultureMarketing #LegacyOverLikes #BrandEquity #MarketingBreakdown #CreativeCampaigns #SilentLaunchStrategy #BeyonceFunnel

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode of Ghetto CEO: Album Mode, media personality Jazzy McBee gets real about what it means to evolve, unplug, and obey the call to your next level — even when you don’t know exactly what that looks like.

From feeling the pull to move on, to locking in for clarity, Jazzy shares how fasting, faith, and silence prepared her for one of the biggest opportunities of her life: co-hosting The Big Tigger Morning Show on V-103, the #1 morning show in Atlanta.

Topics Covered:

• How Jazzy landed her co-hosting role at V-103

• The power of unplugging for clarity

• Fasting, faith, and preparing in silence

• Avoiding burnout in high-visibility roles

• Building your brand beyond your platform

• How to lead in media without losing yourself

• Why legacy is louder than being booked and busy

Follow Jazzy McBee on IG: @jazzymcbee and listen to her weekday morning on V-103 with Big Tigger from 6-10 am

This episode is for the CEO who feels like she’s outgrown her current season, knows there’s something greater coming, and is learning how to say no, set boundaries, and lock in — without guilt.

🎙️ Watch now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rv4lCoeg2iU

Want to listen on the go? Listen now on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/xk/podcast/ghetto-ceo/id1679176054

🎧 Listen to our album mode playlist now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BSj8wtycIdb9hGgyFMHWb?si=0aedb82133784562&nd=1&dlsi=41265c740c6a48ae

Subscribe for more raw conversations, real CEO strategies, and unfiltered growth.

New episodes drop every Thursday at 7 PM EST.

#JazzyMcBee #GhettoCEO #AlbumMode #MediaPersonality #V103Atlanta #FaithBasedEntrepreneurship #BurnoutRecovery #CreativeBoundaries #FastingForClarity #CEOHealing #PublicLeadership #LegacyOverLikes

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode of Ghetto CEO, Candace Holyfield—better known as The Six Figure Spa Chick—opens up about the pain, pressure, and power behind building a million-dollar movement in the spa industry.

From losing over $1 million and her entire team of 7 years, to rebuilding her brand from the ground up, Candace shares how she navigated grief, betrayal, burnout, and the weight of being "the strong one" in every room. She talks candidly about therapy, trust issues, healing, and what it really takes to build a legacy while breaking down in silence.

This is not just a story about spa success—it's about surviving personal loss, rebuilding a movement, and redefining what rest, trust, and leadership look like for high-achieving Black women.

If you're a beauty entrepreneur, a service-based CEO, or a visionary who’s ever had to lead while secretly falling apart—this episode is for you.

Topics Covered:

How Candace lost $1M and rebuilt her empire

The pressure of always being the strong leader

Healing from betrayal in business

Building a movement while broken

Why safe spaces are non-negotiable for CEOs

Creating community with purpose

Shifting from hustle to healing

What Album Mode looks like after you crash

Balancing motherhood, marriage, and business

Why rest is the ultimate ROI

Connect with Candace:

Instagram: @sixfigurespachick

Subscribe to Ghetto CEO for real conversations on leadership, legacy, and the real work behind building a business.

New episodes every Thursday at 7 PM EST.

#SixFigureSpaChick #CandaceHolyfield #GhettoCEO #BeautyEntrepreneurship #ServiceBasedBusiness #MillionDollarSpaBrand #AlbumMode #LeadershipAndHealing #BlackWomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurBurnout #SafeSpacesForCEOs #ScalingAfterLoss

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode of Ghetto CEO, Monrae shares the raw and powerful truth behind her success as a marketing expert, entrepreneur, and CEO. Interviewed by Lauren Elise from her team.

She opens up about navigating personal losses, finding balance between love, business, and leadership, and what it really means to enter Album Mode — a season of focus, silence, and next-level growth.

Monrae discusses how discipline, healing, and strategy helped her scale her brand while staying grounded in her purpose. If you are a visionary, entrepreneur, or leader who feels called to something bigger but are struggling with balance or breakthrough, this conversation will resonate deeply.

Topics covered:

• The true meaning of Album Mode

• How to build in silence

• Scaling a business while healing

• Building a brand with discipline and intention

• Entrepreneurship and personal growth

• Navigating success, love, and leadership

• Rebuilding after setbacks

• Faith, healing, and CEO mindset

• How to sustain growth without losing yourself

Connect with Monrae:

Instagram: @marketingbymonrae @rarenecessitymarketing

Website: www.marketingbymonrae.com www.rarenecessity.com

Connect with Lauren:

Instagram: @iamthelaurenelise

Subscribe to Ghetto CEO for more conversations on business leadership, personal evolution, and scaling with purpose.

New episodes every Thursday at 7 PM EST.

#AlbumMode #MarketingByMonrae #EntrepreneurshipJourney #FaithAndBusiness #CEOHealingJourney #ScalingWithPurpose #LeadershipAndLove #BusinessGrowthStories #GhettoCEO

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ghettoceo/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands