Michèle Mianza is a multi-skilled woman who has worked within the brewing and food industry for 2 years specializing in quality control analyst, The cosmetic industry for 4 years specializing in sales, team building and marketing. She is in charge of Yajte, a non-profit organization promoting Young Talents and Entrepreneurs worldwide. With her biotechnology background, Michèle is very passionate about new technologies.
Michèle is a dedicated person who is willing to hustle through the struggles to be the best at what she does because she believes that passion is proven by dedication. She has been making her own website with nearly 15K visitors per month since 2017. She defines herself as a newborn web developer in charge of 2mk Healthcare, the smart solution to quickly find nearby healthcare professionals or benefit from first aid in an emergency.
”I started 2mk Healthcare to connect patients and their relatives to healthcare professionals, so they can more easily in case of an emergency alert nearby health services through our digital tools, access healthcare and manage their health journey.” Michèle Mianza
The platform dedicated to monitoring patients with chronic diseases. 2mk HealthCare is the interactive platform manager, which aims to connect patients with chronic diseases with healthcare professionals and their family members or loved ones.
Purpose: The aim of the 2mk Healthcare platform is to improve the daily monitoring and management of the patient’s health using digital tools (Website, Web Application, and Connected Bracelet). In other words, digitizing the monitoring of chronic diseases. This link will be possible thanks to the connected bracelet that the patient will carry on him and who will be able to send the information as real to the platform as well as to the health professionals and other people of reference.
How did you get started, how did you come up with the idea?
The idea behind 2mk Healthcare came from a very sad moment It all started with a sudden impulse I had, after seeing a young girl with sickle cell anemia having a crisis at the mall, while I was waiting for a friend who had to take my painkillers from the pharmacy to calm my endometriosis crisis.
While I was in severe pain, the young girl on the other side was also between life and death. It was a wake-up call for me to alert her relatives and the available health services near the location for medical treatment.
After this incident, I immediately began my research on chronic diseases and investigating the business idea in order to offer strategic solutions that meet the needs of patients and their loved ones.
This was midway through 2017, and I started pitching it to my friends and families. The feedbacks were positive, We officially launched in 2018.
Actually, my associate and I are enjoying the entire process. Think Big, Start Small, Move Fast.
What investment did you need to make in order to start?
We all know that a basic application costs around $25,000 and It’s not a secret that the average cost of app development varies depending on geographical location.
So, I started with very little capital. It was my money saved from multiple sources of income. I began with as little as $500 to $2,000.
Can just anyone become a member of this app?
Yeah!!! Anyone can become a member. The world has changed, the technology has advanced, and all of us live in the mobile era including healthcare professionals.
2mk Healthcare App is a great source of information and it allows users to improve quality of life and more.
Who do you recommend the app membership for?
- People with chronic and rare diseases
- Elderly and people with disabilities
What do you like about what you do?
I love a lot of things about what I do as an entrepreneur:
- The freedom to be self-employed, the freedom to create and do what I want when I want or to live and work in a different place when I want.
- The hope to change the world with my vision
- The anticipation. It’s like playing basketball and You have no idea if it will be early or late to score and possibly not at all.
- Finally, the person I have to become in the process of entrepreneurship.
Every industry is experiencing a wave of digitization. What do you think will separate the winners from the losers in health tech?
Every entrepreneur will give you a different answer, but I will definitely mention four:
- Knowledge
- Creativity
- Strategy
- Hard work
What is a common misconception people have about what you do?
- First Misconception: App development takes little time. This is not true. Generally, app development requires at least 4 to 12 months.
- Second Misconception: We should develop a paid App.
Personally, I think It’s not a good idea to charge for our new app because the majority of users are on the lookout for free apps. But if we aim at generating revenue, it is better to start with in-app advertisements. - Third misconception: Adding more features is beneficial. I think it is not important to add extra features that aren’t necessary at all.
The purpose shouldn’t be making our app stuffed with unimportant features. Instead, focus on making our app user-friendly (easy to use and operate).
What is most challenging about what you do?
- Getting everything in place especially for our product was complicated. I am not from a technical background, I had to learn a lot and collaborate with experts to launch our prototype.
- Not having enough role models to look up to and funds. But guess what, if you’re determined to make a dream reality, you will smash any obstacles you get in your way.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
Helen Hayes: “The expert at anything was once a beginner.”
My advices:
If it’s something you’re passionate about, Start Now, Start small and don’t sit around waiting for funding, hoping someone else will come along to help you execute your idea.
You need to enjoy what you do. If you view your venture as something solely for the purpose of amassing wealth, it’ll be more difficult to truly enjoy.
Do not wait until your product or service feels perfect. If you wait, someone else will already be doing a better job of helping your customers solve their problems.
If you are lucky enough to have a job, do not quick your job to start a business unless you have multiple sources of revenues
Find a way to be unique and add value to people
Lastly, Believe in yourself !
How would you describe your leadership style and what has made it so effective?
My strengths as a leader are effective:
- Leading from the front
- Délégation
- Communication
I always take action demonstrating what needs to be done and why and also try to delegate tasks to whoever is best equipped to perform well in the task in order to eliminate mistakes and end up saving time as a project advances.
Busy startup entrepreneurs have lots of demands on their time and are often pulled in lots of different directions, do you have any tips for effective time management and what to focus on first?
- Firstly set your goals
- Plan your month, week, and days based on the goals you have set for yourself, and the work that needs to be done.
- Know your priorities
- Take time to clarify what your priorities are and schedule the time to do your most important tasks when you are most productive.
- Track your time throughout the day to increase productivity. It’s can keep you focused on the task you’re working on right at that moment or give you a picture of exactly where your time is being spent.
- Lastly, Delegate by determining what tasks you can pass on that are not essential for you to do personally.
How do you stay motivated?
- I create a morning routine
- I set personal goals
- I read books and newsletters
- I listen to podcasts for entrepreneurs
- I focus on the positives and I enjoy small rewards.
What traits do you look for when building a team?
- Firstly, Commitment. Being committed to our vision will help us get through turbulent times.
- Secondly, communication. I think, the best teams are always open to feedback and actively promote positive communication.
Any advice for entrepreneurs on moving beyond a failure?
If you are an entrepreneur, you need to get comfortable with failure because it is inevitable and happens even to the best of us!!!
My advices:
- Do not be hard on yourself
- Take the time to mourn your losses
- Rediscover yourself
- Rediscover other aspects of your life you may have neglected.
- Surround yourself with people who genuinely care about your well-being
- Take the time to learn and to build up knowledge in the areas that led to your venture’s failure
- Lastly, Reinvent yourself
What are your goals/dreams for the future?
As the future of 2mk Healthcare, We will be going through various improvements and additions, the most notable will be to launch our connected bracelet “Connectcare “with the goal of being the leading marketplace of its kind in Europe and Africa.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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