Genia’s Jammin Juice (GJJ) was founded by Kendra Graham-Paulk, a healthcare compliance executive with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Kendra was motivated to find a healthier way of living and to reverse her family’s medical history and comorbidities. GJJ offers fresh cold-pressed juices made with raw organic produce and it’s available to be delivered right to your door! The company was created with Kendra’s grandmother Eugenia in mind, who battled numerous health issues. GJJ is on a mission to influence others to make healthier choices and adopt a more holistic approach to health and wellness.
In addition to her professional career, Kendra is also affiliated with several community organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the NAACP, the Urban League, and the Boys & Girls Club of America. She is a mentor with Big Brothers & Sisters and is passionate about ensuring high school students understand their options beyond the twelfth grade. Kendra believes in equality for people of color and has strong ties with the NAACP in Pasco and Volusia counties.
In this interview, we speak with Kendra, Founder and CEO of Genia’s Jammin Juice, who discusses her inspiration for starting the business and her efforts to promote healthier lifestyles within the Black American community. She shares her approach to continuing education and staying abreast of the latest health trends, as well as her perspective on balancing her roles as CEO and health coach. The interview also covers her views on the future of holistic health and wellness, the importance of self-care, and her marketing strategies. Finally, she emphasizes the significance of partnerships and collaborations, as well as her efforts to make her products and services accessible to a diverse range of customers.
What inspired you to become a healthcare professional and start Genia’s Jammin Juice?
The path to launching Genia’s Jammin Juice wasn’t primarily motivated by my professional career in healthcare. Starting GJJ 2 years ago was initially born from my own self-discovery of adopting a healthier lifestyle. I also began to recognize that there was a need to cultivate a broader awareness and behavior of adapting a healthier lifestyle within the Black American community. Seeing my grandmother, other family members and people in our communities deal with comorbidities and disparities really motivated me as well to bring forth Genia’s Jammin Juice.
My intended professional career was driven by my activity and involvement as a young adult in team organized sports. I played sports all throughout grade school and there a passion for wellness, sport medicine, physical therapy and athletics were developed! Training really intrigued me to pursue a career in the healthcare field. However, I found another passion within the field which is Health Administration and Regulatory Compliance Law.
How do you continue to educate yourself on the latest health trends and incorporate them into your business?
Annually I participate in continuing education courses. With that said, I acquired two certificates: Certified Juice Therapist and Certified Health Coach with the National recognized Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and other accredited Health and Wellness programs, it allows me to keep abreast of the latest holistic medicine and wellness trends. The first year of starting the business it was important for me to build relationships and credibility with potential customers and clients; By doing so I was able to find better ways to serve the community and specific needs. That strategy mixed with continual education, health coaching programs, business coaching, enhanced wellness activities and personal research, I created a formula that works!
How do you balance your roles as a CEO and a health coach?
The Health coach program is currently not one of the offerings of the Genia’s Jammin Juice brand. The Health coach offering will be introduced in 2024, and so as a result I am not working in this dual capacity. However, the balancing act between professional, personal and entrepreneurship in concert with one another is the nature and beauty of being a woman. I am fulfilled that I can multitask very well, stay consistent and accomplish any task I set my mind to.
Can you share a success story from one of your clients who has benefited from your products and services?
The overall success I’ve seen thus far in the services GJJuice provides is promoting the awareness and adaptation of healthy living. What I can say is the most significant success story is the first time customer who has never experienced all natural juice and their facial expression on how pleasantly good the juice is and wanting to carry out a 5 day long detox to remove toxins and promote potential weight loss.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in starting their own health and wellness business?
As cliche as it sounds, find your unique purpose and don’t give up. It is important to follow your own path. Do not let others deter you from your goals and aspirations. The process can take time but it is absolutely worth it.
How do you prioritize self-care while running a business?
The key to self-care is establishing boundaries for “Me” time. Self-care is very important to me, which I have integrated into my daily routine. I have a personal trainer who holds me accountable, which I meet with 4 times a week and on my off days I find time to decompress by doing yoga or simply walking. If I foresee that my schedule will be crazy, I will block my calendar to ensure I do not forget my “Me” time.
What do you see as the future of holistic health and wellness?
I see holistic health and wellness to become the primary choice healthcare option. Since the pandemic there is much more awareness, information and education of natural and holistic wellness.
How do you stay connected with your customers and receive feedback on your products and services?
I am huge on excellent customer service and responsiveness, so I personally connect with all of my customers to confirm their order was received, or if the order was satisfactory and if they have any questions.
Can you discuss your marketing strategy for Genia’s Jammin Juice?
The company is 2 years old and within the first 2 years of the company’s establishment, the marketing focus has been to expand the footprint, increase brand awareness and provide valuable information to customers. There has been a significant aim to create content on social media. My photography content creator (James P Photography) and social media management (Parrisgraphicdesign) have been phenomenal in establishing one of a kind multi-media content. Additional strategies include: Participating in local/regional Pop-Up shops and being a sponsor with local health related events such as MeStrong 5k and Girl be Free, a Women’s Health awareness expo; and grass roots approach with word of mouth and direct promotional marketing.
Can you tell me about a successful partnership or collaboration that Genia’s Jammin Juice has had?
The greatest collaboration I’ve seen thus far has to be my friends and family. Their unwavering support has allowed the brand to excel within a short amount of time. In addition, they have alway agreed to participate in local events where GJJ is a vendor or sponsor and in addition to being content models when needed. My creative team, James P Photography, Parris Graphic designs, Statia Photography and Jantell’s Events and Consulting, all black owned businesses, have brought forth my vision and even challenged me to think outside of the box in my intended direction which has promoted a strong support system as well partnership.
How do you ensure that your products and services are accessible to a diverse range of customers?
As noted previously, I travel to participate in local markets of all kinds. This physical appearance and interaction with potential and interested customers allows me to interact with a wide range of demographics of all backgrounds.
What are your long-term goals for Genia’s Jammin Juice?
The long-term goal is to become a community leader and advocate within my hometown in promoting health and wellness by developing consistent programs and events to keep the community active and informed. And lastly to acquire a brick and mortar location in my hometown as well as a mobile juice bar.
How do you balance profitability and ethical business practices?
There will never be a question nor a balance on deciding profitability and ethical business practices, as my professional background on Compliance and Ethics will always result in conducting business in an ethical manner.
Can you discuss any upcoming product or service releases for Genia’s Jammin Juice?
Yes. I am excited to report that a new line of herbal teas will be introduced to the menu on or before September 2023. The line of herbal teas is called DRose Herbal Tea, which is named after my mother who absolutely introduced me to drinking tea.
How do you measure the impact and success of your company’s mission to promote holistic health and wellness?
This is a multi-layer impact whereby there will be increased sales, local recognition, product offerings, local/regional and community partnership and sponsorships will evidence the impact against the GJJ mission.
![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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