1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Morning. 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: Everybody is dej Envy Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne, the gud We 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 2: are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 2: the building. Yes, indeed have Miss Monique Rodriguez. 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: Welcome, Thank you. How are you feeling this. 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 3: Morning, I'm great. How are you doing well? 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: Doing well? 8 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 4: She's also got a new memoir out now, The Glory 9 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 4: and Your Story, Activating a fearless faith to change your life, your. 10 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: Career in the world. 11 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 4: Yes, yes, now you turned a kitchen recipe into a 12 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 4: multimillion dollar brand. 13 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 3: Yes. 14 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 4: What was the moment you realized you weren't just selling products, 15 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 4: you were actually building a movement. 16 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I went into this knowing that I 17 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 3: was building a movement. 18 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 4: You know. 19 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 3: I created this brand out of necessity. You know, I 20 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 3: felt that there was a lack of relatability in the 21 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 3: haircare space. There was a lack of great products, healthy 22 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 3: products for women that look like me, and I wanted 23 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 3: to fill this boy, but I always operated with a 24 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 3: multimillion dollar mindset, operated with the mindset of like, I'm 25 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 3: going to be on the shelf with these bigger brands 26 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 3: one day eventually, and the day that we launched, which 27 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 3: was May twenty third, our anniversary is actually next week, 28 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 3: and we sought out of every oil that we had, 29 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: and we had a small amount of inventory, about one 30 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 3: hundred bottles because I was a small business, didn't know 31 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 3: that it was going to take off the way that 32 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 3: it did. And the day that we launched, we sought 33 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,279 Speaker 3: out of every single product. And I knew at that moment, 34 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 3: like I'm onto something because I knew that it was 35 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 3: a need for it. 36 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,839 Speaker 4: I loved the multimillion dollar mindset. Explain that to people 37 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 4: for those who may not have one. 38 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I think success is when I talk 39 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 3: about like activating fearless faith to change your mind. Success 40 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 3: is all about mindset. And you know, I grew up 41 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 3: basically in the hood, right, you know. I didn't come 42 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 3: from a lot, but I always dreamed big. And I 43 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 3: would look at other successful people and say, oh, they're 44 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 3: successful because they're lucky. And I knew that I had 45 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 3: to change my mindset and shift thinking that no, they're 46 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: not just lucky. They worked for it, right, you know. 47 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 3: They had to step out and be bold and go 48 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 3: after their dreams and pursue their purpose. And I shifted 49 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 3: my mindset from thinking that I didn't deserve success to 50 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 3: thinking that I do deserve it. And I realized that 51 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 3: once that started to shift my level of thinking and 52 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 3: I operated from a level of abundance and not lack. 53 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 3: More things flowed to me. 54 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 2: Now, in twenty fourteen, you were a registered nurse. Yes, 55 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 2: So what made you say, you know what, this is 56 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: not for me? And what put you to mind frame. 57 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: To actually create these products? Right? 58 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: Because people could say, you know, they could take a 59 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: product and sell it, but you actually had to make it. 60 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: You had to try it. I'm sure it didn't work 61 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: right away the first time. I'm sure your daughter was 62 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 2: sitting back then. I'm sure you burnt your hair a 63 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 2: couple of times even trying it out. 64 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 3: I don't think I birthed it, but you know, she 65 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 3: was a definitely a guinea pig. 66 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 2: So talk about that procedure and how that came about. 67 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. So, actually, so I was a labor and delivery 68 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: nurse and I was a nurse for eight and a 69 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 3: half years. And I became a nurse because my mom 70 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 3: encouraged me to be a nurse. She was very traditional, 71 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 3: you know, go to school, go to college, do you 72 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 3: need to do get a real job so you can survive. 73 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 3: My mom was basically about survival. She had that mentality, 74 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 3: which no fault because most of our parents' generation, they 75 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 3: came from that type of generation. And even though when 76 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 3: I was younger, like I've always had this dream and 77 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 3: passion to be in the beauty space, my mom would 78 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 3: always tell me, like, it's cute, but you know, that's 79 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 3: not a stable career. So I kind of like put 80 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 3: my dreams to the wayside and pursue what my mom 81 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 3: wanted me to do. So it was never something that 82 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: I saw myself doing. So when I did graduate college 83 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 3: and I started work in labor and delivery, I knew, 84 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 3: I'm like, this is not a career path that I 85 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 3: want to do for the rest of my life. And unfortunately, 86 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 3: after doing that for eight years, I was pregnant with 87 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: my third child, my son, and unfortunately it was a 88 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 3: high risk pregnancy, bless you, and he passed away from complications. 89 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 3: And when you go through pain, it's something thank you, 90 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 3: something that's so traumatic. It's catapulted me to live life 91 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 3: on my own terms and not to live my life 92 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 3: on someone else's dream, which was my mom. Because you 93 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 3: only get one shot at life, and my pregnancy was 94 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 3: high risk also for my life, and I decided to 95 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 3: pursue my dreams, do something that I love, something that 96 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: was purposeful, something that I can wake up and feel 97 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 3: like I have fulfillment and enjoy doing. And I went 98 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 3: back to that love as a child being in the 99 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 3: beauty space, and I started creating. I'm a creative by nature, 100 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 3: and I would just go in my kitchen and mix 101 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 3: together like different ingredients and study and research like what 102 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 3: ingredients work well on our hair? And I started posting 103 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 3: it on social media and while people were following me 104 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 3: and thinking like, well, what is this girl doing, Like 105 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 3: she's posting all these recipes. It was really a creative 106 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: outlet for me to express myself and to take my 107 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 3: mind off of grief, the greed and process. Yeah, and 108 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 3: that's how Mayo became what it is. 109 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: Where did Mayo come from? 110 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 5: The name? 111 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 3: The name? Oh, so that's a great question. I love 112 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 3: answering that question. It's actually a combination of my kids' names. 113 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 3: So I have Mia, Gabrielle back there, Mackenzie Aril. My 114 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 3: son's name was Milan. It's a combination of all their 115 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 3: names and their middle names L. So they're my l's. 116 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: Yeah did they charge you? 117 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 3: They did, because I'm still paying for it today, Like 118 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 3: they are always asking for something, right, but you know 119 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 3: they get paid. 120 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: Well, how did you go? 121 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 4: I feel like I'm skipping steps and I want everybody 122 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 4: to go read the book The Glory in your story 123 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 4: go from the kitchen to actually getting your products on 124 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 4: the shelves. 125 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: What were the steps? 126 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 3: Like? 127 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: What did you do? Like? 128 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, so you know, my way of going into retail 129 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 3: was not a traditional way. I started in twenty fourteen. 130 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 3: We entered into retail in twenty sixteen, which number one 131 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 3: is very rare for a brand, a small black owned 132 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 3: business to start and not have any type of momentum 133 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 3: or leverage and to go into retail. So it was 134 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 3: very risky and my goal was to go into retail 135 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 3: year five. I wasn't even expecting to go into retail 136 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 3: the year that we did, but we had built up 137 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,119 Speaker 3: so much momentum and we had built up this great 138 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 3: community and it got the attention of the retailers. So 139 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 3: our first retail partner was Sally Beauty, and they heard 140 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 3: about us on social media, and of course retailers they 141 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 3: want to be a part of brands that can add 142 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 3: value to them. So you can't just go into a 143 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 3: retailer saying, oh, I want to put my products on 144 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 3: your shelf and expecting them to do the marketing for you. 145 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 3: You have to have something that you can bring value 146 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 3: or add to their shelf. And we were a brand 147 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 3: that was a disruptive brand and it caught their attention 148 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 3: and then they called us to have a meeting with them. 149 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 3: And it was so divine because when we got the 150 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 3: call to have a meeting with Sally's, their headquarters is 151 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: in Denton, Texas, we were actually there in Dallas for 152 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 3: my daughter's gymnastics competition, not there for any business media. 153 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 3: And I actually almost turned down a meeting because we 154 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 3: were there with our kids and we're like, well, we 155 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 3: don't have a babysitter to go into this corporate meeting. 156 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 3: And they wanted us so bad. They were like, bring 157 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,239 Speaker 3: your kids to this meeting. So they were like five 158 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 3: and nine at the time, and they did, and I 159 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 3: told them, like, you guys better not say anything going 160 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 3: there and sit with your hands folded, like don't move, 161 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 3: because this is a really big deal. And I went 162 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 3: in there with no presentation, just talked about my love 163 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 3: and passion for this space. And they tested us in 164 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: ninety five stores and they said, we're going to test 165 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 3: you out because you're a new brand, and we'll see 166 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 3: how the brand goes. We launched in February and every 167 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 3: store that we were selling in sewed out in less 168 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 3: than two hours. 169 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: It was just because of social media. 170 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 3: It was just because of social media Instagram at that. 171 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: Wow. 172 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, when you were in your early stages, that early grind, 173 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 4: what was harder getting capital or getting people to believe 174 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 4: a black woman could dominate the beauty space? 175 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: Yeah? 176 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 3: Actually both, you know, those were some of the challenges. 177 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 3: I say this all this. My challenges were I'm a 178 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 3: black woman and black women don't have access to capital. 179 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 3: And we actually bootstrapped our company from twenty fourteen until 180 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 3: twenty twenty, so we had no big name investors, you know, 181 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 3: no one that was I didn't have a rich uncle, 182 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 3: no one was handing us money. We built this from 183 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 3: the ground up and we took everything that we made 184 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 3: and invested that back into the business. And when you 185 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 3: are a small black owned brand, you know, we have 186 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 3: to like earn our trust with the community, and you know, 187 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 3: being someone that had no celebrity status, and you know, 188 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 3: I was a a regular everyday person, a nurse working, 189 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 3: so it was hard to convince people to believe that 190 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 3: what I was putting out there was actually a real 191 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 3: legit product that did well, you know on our hair. 192 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 3: But I just kept focus on the people that did 193 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 3: support me, the people that wanted to know more, that 194 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 3: wanted to be educated on their hair routine. And you know, 195 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,079 Speaker 3: it's it grows from there. Like your community and your 196 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 3: your evangelists are the best marketing tool that you can use, 197 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 3: and that's how the company grew. Like we didn't have 198 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 3: any money to invest in marketing, we really focused on 199 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 3: like serving people and being purposeful in our mission and 200 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 3: serving people were like great products, and I think that 201 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 3: people also felt my passion and knew like, Okay, she's 202 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 3: a nurse, Like she's not going to do anything to 203 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 3: damage or to to harm us, and like we can 204 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 3: see the results on her hair, so like we can trust. 205 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 3: But it took building a relationship. I think that when 206 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 3: you are building a brand, it's all about you're in 207 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 3: a relationship with your customers. You have to date them, 208 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 3: you have to get to know them. You have to 209 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 3: know their needs and understand who they are as you 210 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 3: know the consumers that you're serving, and then you overserve 211 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 3: right with your brand. And that's how Mayeo, you know, 212 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 3: sowed and disrupted the industry. 213 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 4: And did you. 214 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 5: Why did you decide to sell it to PNG, you know, 215 00:09:58,400 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 5: prop Down Gamble. 216 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a great quest us. So when we decided 217 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,559 Speaker 3: to sell, it was all about scale and global infrastructure. 218 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 3: When you are growing a brand, in order to scale, 219 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 3: it's all about access to capital and having the great 220 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 3: infrastructure and people to help execute your vision. And so 221 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 3: the thing is like we didn't need to sell. We 222 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 3: wanted to sell because we wanted to invest in innovation. 223 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 3: We wanted to have global reach, and we wanted to 224 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 3: be able to create more accessibility for the consumers that 225 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 3: we serve. You know, when you look at the Texture 226 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 3: Haircare aisle, it's a small space and our community, like 227 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 3: we complain that we don't have access to great products. 228 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 3: And my whole goal from the very beginning of building 229 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 3: Mayo was to build a global empire. And I know 230 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 3: that as founders, we did our best to take the 231 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 3: brand as far as we could with our resources. And 232 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 3: this is a normal trajectory of business. The goal of 233 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 3: building a brand is to either IPO or eggs, and 234 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 3: I've accomplished that goal. And the great thing about it 235 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 3: is I've been able to negotiate my contract to where 236 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 3: I'm still on board, I'm still making the decisions, I'm 237 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 3: still running the company, i still set the vision for it. 238 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 3: So it's a very unique structure that you know, not 239 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 3: everyone sees, and I know the community tends to be 240 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 3: scared of brands that are acquired, but it's really a 241 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,199 Speaker 3: great win for us, especially as a black brand, a 242 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 3: black girl from the South Side of Chicago. Right to 243 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 3: even have the opportunity to have a conversation a seat 244 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 3: at the table with the conglomerate like a PNG is 245 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 3: a huge win of it in itself, because we don't 246 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 3: get opportunities like that often. We don't see it all 247 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,959 Speaker 3: the time, And you know, I wanted to show the 248 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 3: possibilities of what's possible, like we can take the heat 249 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 3: us as founders. I can take the heat of breaking 250 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 3: glass ceilings because I know that I'm also paving the 251 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 3: way for my daughter's generation so she can build a 252 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 3: brand and create something great and have a successful exit. 253 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 3: Because we build thriving communities. When we build brands, scale 254 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 3: them exit, we build generational wealth, not just for us, 255 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 3: but for the community we serve. 256 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: Preach Monique. But let me tell you something. 257 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 4: One of the hardest things to do in life is 258 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 4: to explain business to people who ain't up. 259 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 3: Who don't understand business. That's the hardest thing. Wow, and 260 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 3: I don't understand. 261 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 2: How did that affect your business? 262 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: Right? 263 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 2: Because people see it differently. Where did you lose a 264 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 2: lot of people or people hating on it? Did it 265 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: mess business up? 266 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: How did that affect y'all? 267 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 3: No, when we soda didn't mess business up. And that's 268 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 3: the thing. Like when we made the announcement, you know, 269 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 3: I really took the time to try to educate the 270 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 3: community on the why, like why businesses scale up, Why 271 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 3: you know we become acquired, and it's to create generational 272 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 3: wealth and so we can have more access to help 273 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 3: our community. So I put this whole message out to explain. 274 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 3: And while we did have a huge amount of support 275 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 3: from the community, I mean, you know, like the bigger 276 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 3: you are, the more eyeballs are you, You're also going 277 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 3: to have people that don't like it, that don't understand it. 278 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 3: And I feel that if you know, there's so much 279 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 3: access to information out here, right, so if you really 280 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: want to know how business works, you can research it 281 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 3: right and you can take the time to listen when 282 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 3: someone's trying to educate you. And I say this all 283 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 3: the time, ignorance is a choice. Sure, you can choose 284 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 3: to be ignorant when you have information in front of you, 285 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:23,839 Speaker 3: and if you just choose to not pay attention to it, 286 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 3: then that is your choice and you have a right 287 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 3: to your choice. But I'm going to choose to focus 288 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 3: and educate those that want to be educated, that want 289 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 3: to understand the why, and also those that want to 290 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 3: start a business have an idea and what is the 291 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 3: trajectory of that. I want to show that by example 292 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: because it's not normal in our community. We have to 293 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 3: normalize this because when I did my deal, it was, oh, 294 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 3: you're a unicorn. Yeah that's almost great, but it's not 295 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 3: great because we don't want to be unicorns. We want 296 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 3: this to be a normal conversation for us. And so 297 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 3: it didn't hurt the brand. But you know, I think 298 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 3: it also comes with the territory. And I say this 299 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:03,959 Speaker 3: all the time. Two things if you don't want to 300 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 3: be copied, if you don't want to be great, I mean, 301 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 3: if you don't want to be copied or criticized, then 302 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 3: don't be great. Sure it was. 303 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: Did you say? 304 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 5: I'm sure you saw the TikTok trends of people saying 305 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 5: that they lost their hair after you did sell to PNG. Silently, 306 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 5: you know, did they have something to do with the formula? 307 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 5: They said, this is not the same male, this is 308 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 5: not the same formula. And people, you know, it was 309 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 5: a lot of people saying that they had lost their 310 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 5: hair behind And what would you say to that? 311 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 3: Yeah? And you know, hair loss is you know, traumatic 312 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 3: in it of itself, and I can empathize with anyone 313 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 3: that has suffered with hair loss. I myself has suffered 314 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 3: with postpartum shedding hair loss right, And I think I 315 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 3: want people to realize, like, this is the reason why 316 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 3: I created the brand, Right. I created this brand to 317 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 3: serve women with healthier products for their hair. When I 318 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: made the decision to partner with PNG, it was very intentional. 319 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 3: A lot of thought went into the decision making process. 320 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 3: This was not a fly by night decision, you know, 321 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 3: it was a lot of due diligence done on both ends, 322 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 3: my end and their ends. And we have to realize, 323 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 3: like when you think of PNG, a lot of the 324 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: products that are in our household are by PNG. They 325 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 3: are a brand that's been around for hundreds of years 326 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 3: that creates longevity, sustainability across generations with their brands. So 327 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 3: I would never sell to a company that I knew 328 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 3: that I thought would harm my creation. Like Mayel is 329 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 3: my baby. Mayel was birth out of heartbreak, Like this 330 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 3: is something that's near and dear to my heart. I 331 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 3: would never sell to a company that I thought was 332 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 3: going to ruin you know, my brand. So, and the 333 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 3: thing is, like people have to realize that I'm also 334 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 3: a nurse, right Like I lead with empathy, I lead 335 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 3: with compassion, I lead with caring about the community that 336 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 3: I serve. We would never put anything in our products 337 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 3: that are going to damage or disrupt any woman's hair. 338 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 3: And the people that are saying the formulas change, the 339 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 3: formulas have not changed. You know, if people would actually 340 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 3: take the time to see our products that were in 341 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 3: twenty twenty twenty twenty, right, and you look at now 342 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 3: since after the partnership, the formulats are still the same. 343 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 3: So the thing is like misinformation is spreads like wildfire, 344 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 3: and people don't take the time to like do their 345 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 3: homework and do their own due diligence before coming to 346 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 3: their own assumptions. But I can confidently say that our 347 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 3: products do not cause people's hair to fall out. 348 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: And also people just be hating. 349 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 4: You mean to tell me that after you get acquired 350 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 4: by product in gam before undisclosing mound, they know you 351 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 4: got that cake all of a sudden. It's just all 352 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 4: of these TikTok videos online people saying, yeah, the product 353 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 4: make my hair fall out all of a sudden. 354 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, it came out of nowhere. Come on, man, and 355 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 3: it's the same product. 356 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, come on. 357 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 3: And it's like I use the products. My daughter she used, 358 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 3: Look at her hair, HER's beautiful. Like we my family 359 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 3: uses the products Like this is I don't take this lightly. 360 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 3: And this partnership has always been led with honesty and transparency, 361 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: and I'm gonna be honest with you guys. What people 362 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 3: also don't realize is that when you are a smaller brand, 363 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 3: a lot of the things that you do can go 364 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 3: under the radar because you don't have a lot of 365 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,479 Speaker 3: eyeballs on you. I've seen brands that are smaller that 366 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 3: have products out and they don't even have the ingredients 367 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 3: listed on their products. Right when you are a bigger brand, 368 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 3: you can't do that. So the level of compliance and 369 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 3: processes and the level of strictness that we had to 370 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 3: be in compliant with to even talk to p ANDNG. 371 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 3: The safety regulations were like through the roof. So people 372 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 3: have to understand, like this is a large company, they 373 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 3: operate with the highest level of safetiness, right and they've 374 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 3: even helped us operate even more safer so people can 375 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 3: trust like these products are good to use. Nothing has changed. 376 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 3: We operate with the same level of integrity. Everything's the same, 377 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 3: other than we just have access to more and see all. 378 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 4: The brands that Procting and Gamble has just just my 379 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 4: stuff makes your hair fall out. 380 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: Allegedly the black women own products making it. The Gamble 381 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: been around for years. 382 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 2: I would also also say that every hair products not 383 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: for everybody. Like what you use in your hair that 384 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 2: might work for you or your daughter might not work 385 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 2: for me or my daughter. You know that doesn't mean 386 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 2: that it's it's it's all in people's hairs are different, Yeah, 387 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 2: and yours, like there's nothing that to work for you. 388 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 4: All proct and Gamble have been around forever and nobody's 389 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 4: made those complaints, but now all of a sudden, come on, man, 390 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 4: of course, do you think the black community puts too 391 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 4: much pressure on black owned businesses to be perfect and 392 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 4: they'll give grace to like other billion dollar brands that 393 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 4: don't ever even. 394 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: Show up for us? 395 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely, Like I mean we can see it all 396 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 3: the time, Like we see millionaires, billionaires that build companies 397 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 3: exit all the time, and we celebrate it. 398 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:56,719 Speaker 1: That's the point of business. 399 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 3: Like, that's the point of business. But when a black 400 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 3: person does it, like we tear them down. And the 401 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 3: thing is like, we gotta choose our heart, we gotta 402 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 3: pick our battles. We complain as a community that we 403 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 3: have a access lack of access to capital, mentorship, expertise, 404 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 3: But then when we're trying to create these avenues of 405 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 3: creating wealth so we can create access to capital, expertise 406 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 3: and mentorship, there has to be more of us to 407 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 3: do it. Then we tear it down. So either you 408 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 3: don't want the access or then when we do get 409 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 3: the access, you can't tear us down. Forgetting that access. 410 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 3: And that's why I said, we gotta choose our heart 411 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 3: as a community, because we can't have it both ways, 412 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 3: because what happens is we stifle our community when we 413 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 3: tear black brands down for doing what other cultures do 414 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 3: all the time. We stifle us because now it causes 415 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 3: fear in investors, It causes strategics to say, oh, now 416 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 3: you're more risky, so now I'm going to de value you. 417 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 3: So me, if I was a different culture, my value 418 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 3: could have been more if that risk wasn't there. So 419 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:09,719 Speaker 3: all we're doing is we're setting ourselves back because the 420 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 3: next mony Grodriguez that comes forward that tries to do this, 421 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 3: they're going to ask the question like because they asked me, 422 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 3: how is your community gonna feel about this? Right? And 423 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 3: now we have to come up with a whole strategic 424 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 3: plan on how to relay this message in an educational way. 425 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 3: When I ask them back, do you have to do 426 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 3: this with any other cultures? Their response was no, right, 427 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 3: sow dis. 428 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 4: You expound on that one, because I think what you're 429 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 4: speaking to is whenever it's something like this happens, right, 430 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 4: like you know, you do get acquired by p ANDNG. 431 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 4: The backlash from social media can be so bad that 432 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,840 Speaker 4: it makes these companies be like, whoa should we have 433 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 4: done that situation? 434 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: And they'll think about doing that, you know, to the 435 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: next person. 436 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 3: Right, And that's why it's important that when black brands 437 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 3: scale and are exited, we have to show up even 438 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 3: more as a community to support those brands because now 439 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,880 Speaker 3: they're looking at these brands as a case study. They're 440 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 3: looking at my L now as a case study of 441 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 3: like what happens when you're acquired and does the community 442 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 3: still ride for you? Do? Does the community still support you? 443 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 3: And again, if we don't support and they start to 444 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 3: see sales drop off, then it stifles opportunity for a 445 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 3: next entrepreneur that wants to scale. And that's the part 446 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 3: we have to realize. And again to your point, we 447 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 3: can't expect people that you know, don't understands, not in business, 448 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 3: to understand business. But again, like we're creating platforms like 449 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 3: this to help spread the word and to educate, right, 450 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 3: We're taking the time to educate you. So you should 451 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 3: say in your mind, I'm gonna support this black founded brand. 452 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 3: Like let's not just say we support black owned let's 453 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 3: also support black founded brands right, because we're all a community. 454 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 3: We're all in this together. In order for us to 455 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 3: create these thriving communities, we got to support us right. 456 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 3: Things that are made by us, created by us, not 457 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 3: just owned by us. Because you should have the freedom 458 00:21:57,880 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 3: and the opportunity to do whatever it is that you 459 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 3: want to do with your brand. If you want to 460 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 3: stay small and local you have a purpose to serve, 461 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 3: you should be able to do that. If you want 462 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 3: to stay online and serve just online consumers, you should 463 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 3: be able to do that. If you want to scale 464 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 3: and exit and be acquired or IPO, you should have 465 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 3: the freedom and flexibility to do whatever it is that 466 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 3: you want to do with your brand without being criticized. 467 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: I was going to ask, you know, besides Procter and Gamble, 468 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 2: what are other companies trying to acquire you? 469 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: And why did you choose Procter and Gamble. 470 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 3: So we were a hot commodity, so we had lots 471 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 3: of strategic companies that were like chomping at the bits 472 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 3: trying to acquire us. What made us choose Procter and 473 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 3: Gamble was because, you know, one of the biggest thing 474 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 3: was that there were people that looked like us that 475 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 3: were in high C suite level executive positions and decision makers, 476 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 3: so people that had an input or say and what 477 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 3: we were valued at had an input to say, like, yes, 478 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 3: this brand should be acquired. Were people that look like us, 479 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 3: and we also need those type of advocates on the 480 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 3: other side of the table that can stand up for 481 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 3: us and say, yes, this is a great investment. That 482 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:06,920 Speaker 3: was one thing. And then their mission of being focused 483 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 3: on good and their employees. The longevity of the people 484 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 3: that has been in that company for many years right 485 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 3: also shows that you know, this is a company that 486 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 3: has great value and they respected us as founders. They 487 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 3: did not want to take away from the DNA of 488 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,719 Speaker 3: the brand, They didn't want to disrupt the authenticity, and 489 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 3: they even put in our contract we want to keep 490 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 3: the Mayel magic. You guys are going to stay on bord. 491 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 3: You guys are going to see this vision through because 492 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 3: we didn't have to stay on board. That's another thing, 493 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 3: like I want people to understand, like we could have 494 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 3: sold the brand and left, but because we are passionate 495 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 3: about what we do, we wanted to continue on our 496 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 3: legacy in this vision and they allowed us to do so, 497 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 3: so they did not you know, say that we that 498 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 3: you guys have to sacrifice who you are in order 499 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 3: to growth. Growth does not mean you have to lose 500 00:23:56,040 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 3: your authenticity. And that's what stood out, you know, with them, 501 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 3: amongst the many others you know, that we had talked to. 502 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 4: You know, Yeah, you know, I think there's a lot 503 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,640 Speaker 4: of people feel like, well, a lot of founders get 504 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 4: pushed out when the big money shows up, so they 505 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,479 Speaker 4: just want to make sure that y'all still calling, you know, 506 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:14,719 Speaker 4: the shots, and it's not just a black face on 507 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 4: like a white white boardroom. 508 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 3: Yeah no, Like I'm on zoom calls pretty much every day, 509 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 3: still talking about my l and product innovation and development 510 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 3: and marketing and different events and activations and how we 511 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 3: can show up for the community. So you know, I mean, 512 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 3: of course, I am the face of the brand. I 513 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 3: created the brand, but I'm more than just a face. 514 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 3: I'm also the strategic vision behind it as well too, 515 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 3: so I have I make the final decisions on everything 516 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 3: that touches the consumers, and I do it because I 517 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 3: made it that way. So we put like those safeguards 518 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 3: in place to protect our brand, to protect our legacy. 519 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 5: And you do through with your husband, yeah, I was saying, 520 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 5: And it frees up a lot more of your time, 521 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 5: so you can do things like write your book and 522 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 5: then I'm sure delve into other business endeavors and things 523 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 5: like that. Because with PNG also, it's like like good 524 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,359 Speaker 5: partners for you, Like they take on the bulk of 525 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 5: the factory. You had to do all of this by yourself. 526 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 5: Yeah at one point, you know, I'm sure you had 527 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 5: a team, but that's the part that they take on 528 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 5: as well. Like they make it I don't want to 529 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 5: say easier, but a little bit more easier to run 530 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 5: the whole shit. 531 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, Like they free up a lot of my mental capacity, 532 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 3: so I can have the mental capacity to make the 533 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 3: hard decisions, the decisions that matter. And you mentioned something 534 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 3: about manufacturing, like we still manufacture our own products, So 535 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 3: manufacturing was not even P and G doesn't manufacture our products, 536 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 3: That's what I'm saying, Like everything is still the same, 537 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 3: Like we still manufacture in Chicago, right where I'm from. 538 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 1: So yeah, and you built it with your hugband, right. 539 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 3: Yes, So my husband we've been together since I was sixteen, 540 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 3: on each other since we were twelve and thirteen, and 541 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 3: so we've literally like grown up together and when I 542 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 3: had this dream, he supported it from the very beginning. 543 00:25:55,800 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 3: Like he operates from a very logistical finance operations mind said, 544 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 3: and I'm the visionary, the creator, and like when you 545 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 3: just merge those two different sides of the brain, you know, 546 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 3: skill sets, like we've been able to build this, you know, 547 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 3: amazing company and be this dynamic duo because you know, 548 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 3: we both add different value to the company and different 549 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 3: skill sets. 550 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:19,959 Speaker 1: A lot of don't mix business in marriage. 551 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 5: You say that, I say the wedding rings says it 552 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 5: all that crazy. 553 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 3: Crazy yours is too, thank you said about mixing. 554 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: Business business with marriage. What do you think I mean? 555 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 3: I don't. I think you have to know, like what 556 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 3: works for you and your marriage. Like I've met some 557 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 3: married couples that are like, well, we can't work together 558 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 3: and they're happier not doing so, And that's totally fine. 559 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 3: I don't think there's no wrong or right answer. For us. 560 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 3: It works well for us because you know, the things 561 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 3: that he does for the company, I honestly don't even 562 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,679 Speaker 3: want to do. And of course he knew nothing about 563 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 3: hair care and products, so he couldn't really operate in 564 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 3: my space, and I think if you want to make 565 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 3: it work, you have to like take your egos out 566 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 3: of it. You know, you can't be in competition with 567 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 3: your spouse. And my husband, he was always big on 568 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 3: like pushing me to the forefront. He's like, listen, this 569 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 3: is your time to shine. Women. You guys have been 570 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 3: held back for so long, Like I'm okay with putting 571 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 3: you out there and letting you be at the forefront 572 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 3: and now just helping support you on the back end. 573 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 3: And I just think that it takes a real man 574 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:26,919 Speaker 3: to say, you know what, I'm okay with being behind 575 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 3: the scenes and you being out there and I'm gonna 576 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,959 Speaker 3: just support your vision and him not feeling like, well, 577 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 3: I'm the man, I'm the protector, like you can't be 578 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 3: out there. Like he was very comfortable saying I'm just 579 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 3: gonna support you, and he's done just that. And you know, 580 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,119 Speaker 3: my mentor told me, she's like, there will be no 581 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 3: may l if it wasn't for you, Melvin and you 582 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 3: or you you like you guys had to build this 583 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 3: together and you know it's I think it works for us. 584 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 3: And you just have to know like what works for 585 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:58,160 Speaker 3: you and have respect for each other, respect each other's 586 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 3: roles and lanes and and you know, just be aligned 587 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 3: with your vision. 588 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 1: Melviourne. He's also a black man too. 589 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 3: He's also a black man. Yesdriguez come from so his 590 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 3: mom is Puerto Rican. Oh yeah, you're black. 591 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:12,280 Speaker 1: He's black. 592 00:28:12,359 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 3: But all right, yeah, that's a great question. 593 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 1: Pick up the book right now. 594 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 2: The glory in your story. 595 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:21,640 Speaker 3: Man. 596 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: You are an inspiration, Monique, you and your husband Melvin. 597 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 4: I really respect what it is that y'all are doing 598 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 4: and have done, and I wish and pray for. 599 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 1: Much more successful. 600 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:34,880 Speaker 3: I appreciate that. Thank you so much. 601 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: Rodriguez. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning, Wake that ass 602 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: up in the morning. The Breakfast Club.