Meet Khadejah Davis, an extraordinary entrepreneur who does it all. With a background as a nurse, motivational speaker, author, and owner of multiple businesses, Khadejah is a true inspiration. She’s dedicated to helping others change their mindset, overcome challenges, and achieve remarkable success.
Khadejah manages a busy life as a nurse manager while also running a successful restaurant franchise, Juici Patties, and investing in real estate. Her passion for creating jobs and teaching others how to build a lasting legacy sets her apart.
Her latest book, “The Multipreneur’s Playbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Success,” shares her secrets to managing multiple businesses effectively. It’s packed with practical advice and strategies to help entrepreneurs thrive in today’s competitive world.
Khadejah’s journey teaches us resilience and determination, showing that with the right mindset, anyone can achieve their dreams. Her book is a game-changer for anyone looking to succeed in business and make a meaningful impact in the world.
What inspired you to become a multipreneur, managing multiple businesses simultaneously?
My business partner, Jamel Douglas, initially inspired me to become an entrepreneur by creating an environment that nurtures growth, expands opportunities, and influences my mindset in a positive way.
Being a multipreneur has been a deeply fulfilling experience for me, both personally and professionally. It requires strong time management, organizational skills, and leadership abilities to effectively manage multiple businesses. This constant challenge pushes me to continuously improve, expand my network, and collaborate with talented individuals from various industries.
What truly attracts me to being a multipreneur is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in different areas. Each of my businesses serves a unique purpose and addresses specific needs in the market. This allows me to contribute to various sectors, whether it’s through providing innovative solutions or creating job opportunities.
Overall, being a multipreneur has allowed me to not only achieve personal growth and fulfillment but also make a positive difference in the world around me. I am excited to continue this journey, leveraging the support of my business partner and embracing the challenges and opportunities that come my way.
What strategies have you found most effective in scaling your restaurant franchise, Juici Patties?
As a franchisee, my main focus is on following the established processes and systems set by the franchisor. This ensures consistency in the quality of our food and service, which is important for building customer trust.
I also prioritize building a strong brand presence through effective advertising and promotion. This helps us establish a positive reputation and attract loyal customers.
Supporting and training our team members is another key aspect of our franchise. By providing them with the necessary tools and resources, we empower them to successfully operate their own locations.
We carefully select our restaurant locations based on market research to ensure we are positioned in areas with high customer potential.
Lastly, we seek collaborations and partnerships with other businesses and industry experts to gain valuable insights and support for our franchise’s growth.
By focusing on these strategies, we drive the growth and success of Juici Patties.
In your experience, what are the key qualities or skills that every successful entrepreneur should possess?
In my experience as a multipreneur, I believe that successful entrepreneurs should possess a unique blend of key qualities and skills. Firstly, they must have a strong sense of self-motivation and determination. This drive is what enables them to overcome obstacles and persevere in the face of challenges.
Secondly, successful entrepreneurs are excellent problem solvers. They have a keen ability to identify and analyze problems and then come up with innovative solutions. This skill is crucial in the ever-changing business landscape where new challenges and opportunities constantly arise.
Thirdly, effective communication skills are essential for entrepreneurs. They must be able to articulate their vision, persuade others to join their cause, and build strong relationships with customers, partners, and employees.
Furthermore, successful entrepreneurs possess a growth mindset. They are open to learning, willing to take risks, and embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. This mindset allows them to adapt to changing circumstances, pivot when necessary, and continuously improve their business strategies.
Finally, a successful entrepreneur knows the importance of building a strong team. They understand that they cannot achieve success alone and surround themselves with talented individuals who complement their own skills and strengths. They are also skilled at delegating tasks and empowering their team members to take ownership of their work.
How has your background as a registered nurse influenced your approach to entrepreneurship and leadership?
My background as a registered nurse has influenced my approach to entrepreneurship and leadership in several ways. Firstly, it has taught me the importance of empathy and compassion, which I apply when connecting with people in business. Secondly, my nursing experience has honed my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, allowing me to address challenges effectively. Additionally, my nursing background has instilled in me resilience and adaptability, enabling me to embrace change in the business world. Moreover, teamwork and collaboration, essential in healthcare, are values I bring into my entrepreneurial ventures. Lastly, my experience as a nurse has provided me with leadership skills, allowing me to lead with integrity and create an inclusive work environment.
Can you share some tips on maintaining a healthy work-life balance with a demanding schedule?
Set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Designate specific times for work and make sure to disconnect and focus on personal activities outside of those hours. This separation helps create a sense of balance and prevents work from taking over all aspects of life.
Planning and organization are key to managing a demanding schedule. Use tools such as calendars, to-do lists, or productivity apps to prioritize tasks, set realistic deadlines, and manage your time efficiently. This way, you can avoid unnecessary stress and ensure that you have time for both work and personal commitments.
Learning to say no is an invaluable skill. While it’s important to be helpful and supportive, taking on additional responsibilities can quickly overwhelm your schedule. Evaluate your workload and commitments before taking on more tasks, and don’t be afraid to decline if it’s not feasible or aligns with your priorities.
What role does mentorship play in your life, both as a mentor and mentee?
Mentorship plays a vital role in my life as both a mentor and a mentee. As a mentor, I have the chance to share my knowledge, experiences, and insights with others who are looking for guidance and support. It allows me to give back to the community and help others grow and succeed.
On the other hand, as a mentee, mentorship gives me valuable guidance and expertise from someone who has already been through what I am going through. It helps me see things from different angles, learn from their mistakes, and use their knowledge and connections to speed up my own growth and development. As a result, my book “The Multipreneur’s Playbook: A Comprehensive Game Plan for Success” was written and released this year.
Overall, mentorship is a win-win relationship where both parties can learn and improve. It helps us grow personally and professionally, boosts our confidence, and creates a strong support system. Whether I’m a mentor or a mentee, mentorship has had a big impact on shaping my journey as a multi-business owner.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to embrace failure and see it as an opportunity for growth. When I was younger, I was often afraid of making mistakes or failing at something. I would hesitate to take risks or try new things because I was afraid of the potential negative outcomes. However, over time, I realized that failure is not something to be feared but rather a valuable learning experience. It is through failure that we learn what works and what doesn’t, and it helps us develop resilience and problem-solving skills. By embracing failure and seeing it as a stepping stone to success, I would have been more willing to take risks, explore new opportunities, and learn from my mistakes.
Find out more about Khadejah Davis on her website: www.khadejahdavis.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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