If you’ve got an important mission ahead and want to make your message stand out, get you heard and get noticed for all of the right reasons, HoneyBe You is for you!
HoneyBe’s here to get you super clear on the things you want to communicate. Then show you how to put together a content plan for bossing your business speak so there is a strategy behind it. You don’t have to spend hours thinking about it… getting nowhere. HoneyBe will show you how to find and own your voice in your work life.
So the next time someone says ‘What can you do?’, rather than stumble over words and fumble for clarity, you can give to ‘em straight up!
HoneyBe will save you hours of time, with ready-to-run structures, break down complicated concepts and make those daunting career tasks effortless and enjoyable!
Meet Melissa Pearce, it’s her mission to empower women in their careers to be their absolute best by harnessing the power of communication.
A passion to produce the highest quality growth and awe inducing results is my bag!
What was the thought process behind starting HoneyBe You?
HoneyBe You was born out of the need for innovative approaches to the dull as dishwater career communication resources out there… uninspiring and inadequate.
Too often we aren’t equipped with the tools to communicate with clarity and control when packaging our potential at work.
This was me! Nervous to speak up in meetings or dreading making a presentation to professionals in my field. Would I get my message across in enough detail? Would I ramble on and sound weak and without conviction?
And it wasn’t just me! Family, friends and colleagues; strong, successful women crumbling at the thought of delivering a presentation or composing a cover letter. I wanted to change this.
What are you currently working on?
A course in being BAE… A Bad Ass Editor!
It’s resources to get you in control whether you are writing a personal statement, an email, crafting your CV or prepping a presentation or script.
One of the pillars of great communication, particularly written, is good control. Polished, purposeful and proud.
You know your s**t, so show it! Don’t bury your potential under poor grammar and get your message missed under messy mistakes. It’ll make sure you call out any bad habits or simply firm up on some fundamentals. If they did teach you this at school, you might have forgotten it!
Can you open up a little about your work and career?
I love my work and after fourteen years of teaching, that hasn’t changed although I wasn’t one of those little girls who registered her teddies whilst playing schools. Discovering dinosaur fossils and getting the scoop as a journalist were my aspirations back then! I now realise that teaching is my vocation and I am endlessly passionate about it… you need to find something that makes you feel this.
What personal strength was useful to you in your career?
Remaining responsive. As a teacher, being ready to rethink and recalibrate when necessary is incredibly useful and essential! Being willing to evolve by seeking feedback in all forms and being unafraid to take on advice has ensured I am constantly learning and improving.
Do you have any tips for those who want to renew their life/start a new job?
Begin… put one foot in front of the other and repeat! Keep moving forwards.
Like so many of us, COVID was a massive catalyst for me and the changes that I wanted to make.
If there’s something that you’ve really been thinking about, trust your genius and go for it. I love that the Romans believed that all people had a guiding spirit that attended them through their lives and they called this ‘genius’.
I believe those pivotal, potential moments of change are guided by your genius. Do it!
What is a skill that all women should learn and why?
Communication skills play a great role in deciding your success in your career or profession and women who possess good communication skills do better in the workplace (and life generally!). FACT.
All women should possess the tools to communicate with clarity and control. They should be able to capture exactly what they want to convey and captivate their audience in the process!
What advice has impacted you the most?
‘You may delay, but time will not.’ Such wise words from Benjamin Franklin.
It also reminds me of one of my grandfather’s many mantras! ‘Procrastination is the thief of time.’ Anon
Don’t look back with the wish that you would have done something differently or acted sooner. We are all guilty of putting things off because we aren’t ready. We don’t feel equipped or focused. Or bothered! Take action… time won’t wait.
If you could give one piece of advice to future students, what would it be?
Have the courage to begin. Be brave and keep moving forward. No matter the size of the step or whether you are certain it’s the right thing.
A former US President said ‘Imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time.’ (Harry S.Truman) and this quote really stayed with me. Just do something… research, make a call, send an email or strike up a conservation about it.
If you had an extra six hours a day, what would you do?
Workout more! Spend quality time exercising my body and mind. Perhaps a long walk or a bike ride followed by some toning.
I would also relish the time to spend with family and friends. The chance to make longer visits, catch-ups and phone calls would be amazing.
![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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