Think business is a boys club or is it for privileged kids born into money? Think again!
This club is for anyone. Societal norms are being challenged by many entrepreneurs coming from all walks of life. I was ridiculed when I first started by friends and family challenging “what do you even know about starting a business?”. It was also suggested I won’t be taken seriously because I am female. Stats and people’s unwelcome opinions were not going to define what I did next.
Let me take you back to the start. I was born into an abusive marriage which quickly turned into a divorce. My mom, while extremely hard working, had to leave the relationship with nothing but the clothes on our backs. We had to rely on the system to get by. I knew my home was different than the average from a very young age. My friends’ parents lived together but mine didn’t and my Dad abandoned us very quickly.
As a teenager, I became a statistic just like everyone suggested I would. I ran away at 16 and have never moved back because of a mentally abusive stepfather. By the age of 21, I got married and had a child. I was going to show the world I was different than what society expected of me.
I failed. We were broke just as society suggested we would be. My ex-husband and I were so young we had no idea what we were doing and by the age of 31, I was divorced with a daughter.
From an unforeseen circumstance in the marriage, I was forced to stand on my own two feet and build myself up to someone I had never been before. It was a blessing in disguise when I look back now I am grateful. If I didn’t find the courage I truly was going to be a “societal norm” that gets wrote off. I got myself into counseling because I knew healing was going to be paramount to growing so I got started.
I had hit rock bottom so badly not just financially but mentally as well
I had nowhere to go but up. I looked around and no one inspired me. I took a step back from all of my friends and family. I challenged my 9-5 job (the one everyone told me was a real job) and crunched the numbers. I was working for less than minimum wage after paying for childcare and gas. I had nothing to lose so I quit and maxed out my last credit card to take a lash course.
The thought of making money by helping others feel beautiful inspired me. I looked at my daughter and knew with every fibre of my body this was the real start to my life. This was 6 short years ago.
I began doing mobile lashes house to house because I couldn’t afford to rent a room
I started making enough that I was able to support my monthly payments, pay some debt and save enough to pay for a brow course and expand. I got a room and I was off – I was now a business owner! I kept setting goals and crushing them – setting new ones and crushing those as well. Year over a year my dream has expanded and I know it will never stop. I am so blessed.
I now own Cosmopolitan Academy an academy in the beauty industry
An academy in the beauty industry that has not only grown across Canada but is entering into the US as we speak. I founded the Graceful brand which is a full line of products to compliment the courses we teach and our most proud component that has been added to the Cosmopolitan brand is the #cosmogivesback initiative. It’s an initiative the company does to send women from Women and Children Shelters through our Eyelash Extension Course free of charge, assisting these women with confidence, independence and financial freedom at such a trying time. The seven-figure company keeps growing and I’m having a blast being a part of the team! I continuously challenge myself to learn new things, grow as an individual and have fun with my family.
Not only have I found success in business but by challenging my core and breaking societal norms
I have found love with a man who has since blessed me with a baby boy and taken on a father role in our home with my daughter Gracey. David reminds me daily (without him even knowing it) how grateful I am that I didn’t succumb to society’s expectations of who I was supposed to be statistically. If I had of I would be missing out on many great successes with him and my children being the greatest success of all.
The confusion, the heartache, the dedication and the long hours, in the beginning, I’d take all over again if it led me to where I am today. For those starting don’t allow society to tell you who you will end up being. If you don’t have much money that’s ok, all you have to do is lose the fear and put one foot in front of the other. Only you get to define yourself. You get to decide your destiny. You have to put in the work and the effort but trust me it’s worth it babe!
![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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