Solo Mandi Update + Building Mielle Organics and a Billion‑Dollar Legacy with Monique Rodriguez (Replay)
About this episode
Mandi updates listeners on her life and book while re-airing an impactful interview with Monique Rodriguez about building Mielle Organics and navigating challenges as a Black woman entrepreneur.
Mandi pops in with a quick life and book update, shares details about the upcoming Brown Ambition Career Reboot Challenge , and then re‑airs one of the most powerful conversations in the BA archive: her interview with Mielle Organics CEO and founder, Monique Rodriguez. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to turn grief into purpose, build a global brand from your kitchen, and navigate the backlash that comes with selling your company as a Black woman, this episode is for you. You’ll hear: • How Monique went from nursing to experimenting with hair oils in her kitchen after the devastating loss of her infant son, Milan—and how that grief became the seed for Mielle Organics. • The story behind Mielle’s sale to Procter & Gamble, why Monique chose to stay on as CEO, and what has and hasn’t changed since the deal. • The criticism Black women founders face when they sell to big conglomerates, and how Monique handles assumptions about “selling out,” formula changes, and being “just the face” of the brand. • How she uses faith, submission, and…
People in this episode
Host: Mandi
Guest: Monique Rodriguez
Topics covered
- entrepreneurship
- grief
- career development
- Black women in business
- legacy building
- personal growth
Keywords
- Mielle Organics
- Monique Rodriguez
- entrepreneurship
- grief
- Black women founders
- career reboot
- legacy
- hair care
- Procter & Gamble
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Mielle Organics, Procter & Gamble
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