Meet Lakisa Cherelle, a South Philadelphia native, Temple University Alumnus, successful momtrepreneur and the walking definition of a Self Made Babe! After working in the corporate world for 6 years, Lakisa realized that working 40 hours every week to build someone else’s legacy was not fulfilling or likely to create generational wealth.
While still working full time, Lakisa established a nonprofit organization (Black Boys Matter INC.) and a real estate investment group (Real Estates LLC). It was then, that Lakisa realized her purpose, her natural ability to create and establish!
In 2019, Lakisa took another step to solidify her presence in entrepreneurship. Self Made Babe was established in efforts to help like-minded entrepreneurs build on their passion and launch their business!
Today we had the opportunity to chat with Lakisa about her journey!
Tell us something about yourself?
Well, I’m just a normal girl who was born and raised in an impoverished neighborhood in South Philadelphia. The more I matured, the more I knew that I didn’t want to be a product of my environment. After graduating high school, I attended college and got pregnant with my oldest boy during my sophomore year. I dropped out for about 2 years and then decided to go back. Shortly after, I graduated with a B.A. from Temple and then an M.A. from the slippery rock. (I couldn’t attend this graduation because I was giving birth to my youngest son. There’s something about college that causes me to get pregnant. That’s why I’m not going back lol)
I’ve worked in corporate for about 8 years now and it was around year 6, (after receiving two degrees) when I realized that working in corporate was no longer for me. At that point, my mindset began to shift from wanting to work for a paycheck and pension, to wanting to create generational wealth and financial freedom for myself, my family and my heirs.
What does your work entail?
Self Made Babe is a one-stop-shop for all new entrepreneurs looking to grow their brand and build their business. We offer services and products for every level of entrepreneurship at affordable rates. For those who have an idea and want to legitimize it, we assist with start-up paperwork, partnership agreements, business plans and other business forms. For those who have already formalized their business, we assist with graphic designs such as logos, business cards, flyers, etc.
We offer customized social media content such as puzzles, Instagram highlights, custom posts and web banners.
We offer (physical) marketing material such as stickers, labels, tags etc.
We also offer brand exams and consultations which allows clients to get information and assistance with forming and structuring their ideas and their business.
What motivated you to start a company in the first place? How did you get inspired to shape your career within brand, design and consulting?
Self-made babe is a business that I did not intend to create, I was kind of thrown into it. I started my first business, a non-profit in 2018 with no prior business experience. I read a lot, I talked to people and I was able to apply what I learned and start a business successfully. In that season, I was introduced to my natural ability to retain and apply information. My natural ability to create and establish. Note, I said that I was introduced to it, however, I still did not believe in it.
My boyfriend at the time saw this in me and brought it to my attention. During a conversation, he said “yo, you should really do this branding thing. You’re super dope at it.” I never really thought about it and I think- no, I know that my biggest reservation was that I did not think that I had the authority or the pull to tell someone what to do with their business. After all, I had just started mine, who was going to listen to me? What I want to share with everyone who is holding back because of this same fear is that in order to teach a number 1, you only have to be a number 2! Look at it like this, even if you only read 3 chapters of a 50 chapter book, you still have more knowledge from that book and can teach something new to someone who hasn’t read it at all.
So anyway I still had no interest in branding. A few months later, one of my friends at the time suggested that I start a branding business, in addition to me getting calls from people to assist them in starting their businesses. This is when I began to give it thought because more than 1 one person had told me the same thing, more than one person saw this “thing” in me.
I had a conversation with God and basically said “God, if you send me some sort of confirmation, I will start YOUR branding business and I will do it with full force and full authority.”
Not even a week later my friend’s brother reached out to me. He said he was in need of assistance with setting up a non-profit that he was attached to with an A-List celebrity. I did the non-profit and then I established Self Made Babe.
What does designing your own life mean to you after you have decided to work for yourself?
Designing my own life means absolutely everything. It is one of the main reasons that I began to pursue entrepreneurship. Working 5 days a week and only having 2 days to myself just doesn’t sit well with my spirit. Working to the retirement age of 66 and only having potentially 10-15 years left to live on my terms doesn’t sit well with me. Living paycheck to paycheck and relying on a pension is not something that is fulfilling to me.
Designing my own life means that I have the ability to set my daily schedule and maneuver throughout the days, weeks and months on my own terms.
My children and family will not be able to inherit my job or my degrees if I were to die today or tomorrow; but they would certainly be able to inherit my businesses, properties, and my blueprint. Designing my own life gives me the ability to create financial freedom and abundance for myself, my children, my children’s children and their children as well. Generational wealth does not come from working in corporate alone, it comes from designing your own life and living on your own terms.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
Keep going! Rome was not built in a day. Don’t get caught up in how many followers you have or who you think is supposed to support you. The reality is, none of us are entitled to anything. Our family and friends are just that; and while it would be nice for them to support our business endeavors, they are not required to. They owe us nothing. The only person responsible for elevating your business is you. So keep marketing, keep posting and keep promoting your business as your life depends on it because in all actuality it does. If you’re starting from nothing, keep going, build as you go. If your market seems over-saturated, keep going. They may have the same products but they will not have the same sauce. If you have few followers, keep posting, your tribe will find you. If things seem out of alignment and absolutely nothing makes sense, keep going. Whatever you do, just keep going.
Usually, startups have either zero or a very low budget. Which tools should these startups use for an effective branding agency?
For starters, they should contact us at Self Made Babe:-) Essentially, that’s what we do, help start-ups establish their brand at an affordable rate.
They do have a few other options for building brand awareness. Some of these include Canva where they can create flyers, social media posts, ebooks, and much more; Mailchimp which helps small businesses market to their audience and build subscribers list.
Zoom, which is a platform where business owners can interact with their audience through video and chat. Google also has custom business emails starting at $6/month per user. Of course, never underestimate the power of good customer service. This will create the best type of effective promotion for your business, word of mouth.
Why is a brand design and consulting important for every business?
Both are important for various different reasons. Your brand design is important because it essentially is the voice and the face of your business. Many people believe that your brand is limited to your slogan, logo, and/or your theme colors. While this plays a part, your brand is so much more than that alone. Your brand design is also related to whatever quality of customer service you may offer. It is related to your presentation in your packaging. It is related to your knowledge regarding the services you may provide. It is even related to the content that you post and share on social media. Your brand is what you use to tell your “business” story. It is what you use to attract clients and an important part of scaling your business.
If you are a new business owner, brand consulting is important so that you can not only receive input on your business and ideas from a different perspective, but you will also receive the necessary guidance and feedback to successfully launch and build. You may have questions regarding paperwork, or need assistance on creating content, or may not be aware of the resources available to you as a new business owner; This is why consulting is and will always be an important part of starting a business.
In which branch of digital marketing do you have the strongest skills?
I’m blessed to have many skills and many strengths. If I had to narrow them down, my top 3 would be the skill of writing, resourcefulness and my ability to learn and apply information at a quicker pace than others.
Writing is something that I’ve always been strong at since childhood. I wrote speeches for pretty much all of my graduations lol. I’ve always been the friend that helped with senior projects, resumes and even admission letters for grad school. (When the boys get out of line, I also help my girls come up with some crafty text messages lol.) I never really viewed this as strength until I started my business. Strong writing skills have given me the ability to create content that resonates with my tribe, It gives me the ability to write ebooks and workbooks. It gives me the ability to apply for grants if need-be. Strong writing not only allows me to do this for my business, but it allows me to assist clients with their endeavors as well.
Resourcefulness is another one of my strongest skills. The ability to find things out, the ability to gather information and maintain a substantial amount of knowledge is a skill that is so underrated. There are times when I’ve had no experience in a given situation, but in about 20-30 minutes, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge. This is important because it allows me to assist my clients on projects and questions that neither of us may have encountered before. This skill also allows me to gain new information regarding my business.
Not only am I able to obtain new information, I am able to understand and apply it immediately.
Can you tell us in 5 steps how it went to start a brand design and consulting firm?
For me, the 5 steps to starting a business are pretty much the same across the board.
- Form your business. Whether you choose to form an LLC or corporation, the 1st step is to legitimize your business. Be sure to apply for your EIN as well.
- After your business is formed, your next step is to secure your business email. This is done at step 2 because your business name is not reserved until you have successfully filed your LLC or corporation. Imagine purchasing an email account to later find out that your business name is not even available. This is also number 2 because it forwards you the opportunity to get all business correspondence sent to and archived in one place moving forward.
- Purchase your website domain. Even if you are not prepared to have the website done, it is still important to secure the domain so that it can be readily available.
- Get your logo created. You will soon begin to introduce and market your brand to the world. To do so professionally, you will need a face for your brand, your logo!
- Social media! Secure social media accounts and prepare to post!
What advice do you have for the busy businesswoman when it comes to dating?
I know that it’s difficult. I know that it seems as if finding the perfect one is next to impossible. If you’re anything like me, I know at times you want to throw the whole male (or female) species away and just marry your business lol.(Just kidding)
But I also know that love is intended to be a beautiful thing. I know that we are purposed to be with someone who is equally yoked. Someone who compliments us and helps push us further into our purpose. My advice is, be patient, your human is on his/her way. Until they do show up, take this time to build yourself, build your business, and focus on your happiness and wholeness so that when he/she does arrive, you are able to fully receive them and their love.
![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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