Meet Dr. Denise Y. Mose. She found herself in this very position, plus found herself “bored”. She needed something new in her life, a change. After a conversation with a friend, she was informed about an opportunity to travel to China and teach. Little did Denise know that this was the very adventure she needed to further self discover, experience a new culture and ultimately get back in alignment with her passion. “Blind Faith: My Life-Changing Journey in China” is her latest book as she is already an Award-Winning Author of 3 other publications.
This is a coming of age book from the eyes of a seasoned individual that will speak to an array of “dream seekers” who are on a journey of self-discovery. As the book synopsis states “Blind Faith is believing that your dream can happen no matter how crazy it may seem. Denise Mose takes you on her personal journey of being frustrated as a Professional Educator and does something drastic to find “more” meaning in life. She drops everything and moves to China! Hear her explain why it was the best thing she ever did.”
When asked about her new book, Denise states “This book is for someone who wants a shift in their life. That person who is scared and feels like they don’t have the answers they need at that very moment. I want them to know it’s okay to go for something that seems crazy! Your inner voice and universe will come together for you!” While on this journey to China, Denise serves as the “Professor in Residence” for a year in Shanghai, China at the George English School in 2015 where she taught English, Western Culture, Etiquette, Traveling, and Communications. She also had the opportunity to travel to the following places: Bangkok, Beijing, Korea, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Liushi, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Yeoqing, Taiwan and Dubai. In addition to Denise being an Educator, Award-Winning Author, and Game Changer, she is also an Entertainment/Fashion/Travel Correspondent who has been seen on platforms such as ESSENSE, ESPN, TV One, NBC, New York Magazine, Bounce TV and more.
How would you describe Blind Faith?
Blind Faith is an unwavering belief in yourself no matter the situation or the outcome. My book is all about how I dropped everything and immersed myself in a totally foreign culture to reclaim my mojo! In 2015, I lost my enthusiasm for teaching and a good friend suggested I consider working abroad. The more I pondered, the more I loved it. But Asia? Fast forward a few weeks, I Skyped with the school director, negotiated my contract, secured my visa and hopped on a plane headed East! China was amazing and it was the drastic change I needed to find my spark. Having never traveled to China, no family there, no friends and relying on myself? Yes, that’s Blind Faith!
What was your background prior to launching a book and working as a professional educator?
Ok, so in another life I am a Celebrity Correspondent. I’m hired by a myriad of publications to produce, interview, write and post my adventures on the biggest Red Carpets in the world. From The Sundance Film Festival, Academy Awards, Grammys, Disney Dreamers Academy, Kentucky Derby, Essence Music Festival, 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, Wimbledon to New York Fashion Week, I’ve covered them all and more. I host a Fashion Column for the Florida Sun every Wednesday. I have three college degrees: Education (BS), Business (MBA), Business/Entrepreneurship (Ph.D).
How long did the launch take from concept to product?
The actually writing process was four months. My editor sent her revisions within three weeks. Then, my designer and illustrator emailed me their ideas. A solid distributor and manufacturer came on board to finalize shipping. Lastly, we created the website and prepared my debut. One calendar year was when we went from actual to factual! I’ve got the best team!
What does designing your own life mean to you after you have decided to work for yourself?
The fact that I control my personal narrative. Leaving my full time job was the scariest day of my life, but also the best! It means that each day will not be the same and I can decide how my future will look. There is no one to ask permission for a day off, sick day, come in late or leave early. I’m able to choose which projects I want or create new products for various audiences. I have freedom.
What is your secret to being an effective CEO in terms of building the company culture and values you need to make the company successful?
You must be a confident CEO. I built DYM GLOBAL with the sense of leaving a legacy. My secret is to have many streams of income and read everyday. The culture of my team is Youth. I hire Millennials and Gen Z Creatives! They are the pulse of what’s popular and current! I need that. Anyone I hire MUST have the skill set for their area of expertise. Personal Time-Management, Abreast of Social Media Trends, An up-to-date Passport, Three means of communication and Likability go into my hiring process. We laugh a lot and meet digitally three times a week. Overkill destroys good energy. My meetings are short and sweet!
What is the most interesting way you have earned money abroad? One thing which you don’t like about traveling?
The most interesting way I’ve earned money abroad has been my book sales. Several clients enjoy that it’s very easy to follow, funny and affordable. The one thing I don’t enjoy about traveling is other travelers who don’t adhere to the rules. Because of my SkyMiles, I board and unload first. Years of flying has given me this beautiful blessing.
Biggest cultural shock you have experienced while traveling? Funniest or most embarrassing travel moment?
My biggest cultural shock was seeing so many families living abroad from other countries. Most were there due to contract obligation, but many chose a different way to raise their children. This allows those kids to see the world and also become proficient in a few languages. My funniest travel moment was when I went to The Forbidden City. Because it’s rare to see Americans was one thing, but being an African American Female was a novelty. Several people wanted my picture and for me to hold their baby. They said it was for good luck.
What do you love about teaching?
When you see that light “turn on” for someone who was having trouble understanding a concept, that’s the joy! Teaching is my first love. My parents were teachers and it clearly rubbed off on their last child. They were my inspiration and still are to this day. My Mother passed away in 2005. My Father is the hippest 75 year-old you will ever meet.
Which destinations are at the top of your bucket list?
Being single and no children affords me a lot of time to travel. After seeing Dubai, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Thailand, China, Brazil, and United Kingdom I’m pretty good on my list. I can’t travel without my passport, good sneakers and gummy bears! Lately, The Serengeti, New Zealand, Greece and Switzerland are where I must traverse in the future.
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
Madison! She’s the coolest ten year old ever and is my niece. Often when I travel, I take her with me. We flew to the Grand Canyon last summer and toured all of Las Vegas. Then, we traveled to Washington, D.C., and Virginia. It’s cool to see these sites through her eyes. Plus, I’m totally taking credit for her sense of style.
Any advice for entrepreneurs on what to include (or not to include) in their pitch deck for investors?
Any pitch deck should be lively, colorful and not too long. You should include the following: Excellent First Impression, A Clear Idea, Show the Team with the Idea, Consistency in Presentation, Know Your Numbers and quote them with ease! Don’t include an “all or nothing” mentality. You want to keep them talking about you well after you’ve left the room.
Share us some tips for women who are in doubt of leaving their secure job and starting their own business.
Entrepreneurship is not for the weak at heart. You must be a Tiger. One, be honest with yourself. Do a thorough self-assessment of the skills you need to ascertain in order to build clientele. Second, increase your social media presence. You must be engaged in F.I.T. (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)! Seek experts who are in the field where you want to go. Find healthy ways to handle rejection — because it will come, I’m sorry. I go for a walk, drink water, and breathe in the fresh air instead of throwing my MacBook! Identify new business relationships, build them organically and follow-up with a date to meet. Lastly, set a realistic timeline to launch!
Check out more of Denise Y. Mose at https://www.drdenisemose.com
![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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