Gloria Ward is an Entrepreneur, Revenue Strategist, Author, and New Thought Leader who has been at the forefront of helping Women and Women Business owners learn, grow and profit.
She’s the revenue strategist that small businesses turn to for guidance. For more than 12 years, clients have enjoyed the confidence, humor, and relatable step by step strategies of her business advice and tactics. Her Company The L.E.A.P. Group LLC is a personal development and business education company that inspires and empowers women to win the game of life and build a million dollar business from scratch.
Gloria is a software engineer by trade. Receiving her bachelors and masters in Computer Science from Clark- Atlanta University, Gloria caught the entrepreneur bug and started a small IT firm where she started out building and fixing college kids computers and went on to managing and designing computer networks and software for fortune 100 companies.
With the success of her IT firm, she found herself in the late 2000’s delving into digital marketing and social media. She found a business mentor who took her under his wing and went on to produce E-books, and digital courses that generated over one million dollars in revenue.
It was Gloria’s passion for business and down to earth approach that has made her the most sought out female entrepreneur of her era. Gloria is a Big lover of music and lives in Atlanta Georgia, where she’s is a mom of two four legged creatures.
Visit www.imlovingme.net for more from the #SelfLove movement.
What inspired you to start The I’m Loving Me Project?
Hearing the amazing stories of ordinary women who were doing extraordinary things. I’ve always been blessed to be around powerful women who also had trauma, struggles, and even battled with low self-esteem. Their stories encouraged me to take a hard look at myself and influenced me to make positive changes in my life. I said, “We need to hear the stories of women who have overcame challenges in their life and are making strides to change whether it is business or personal. I wrote the entire plan on a notepad and the I’m Loving Me project was born.”
Where do you get your inspiration for your project?
Listening to the stories of so many women as it relates to the trauma that they have experienced in their life. I would listen to their stories and see that they have achieved many amazing things in their life but they were stuck on making real progress because the trauma and the lack of self-love was holding them back. Personally, I also looked in the mirror at myself. I was a successful entrepreneur but was suffering personally as it related to my self-esteem. Even though I looked okay on the outside, I was constantly battling with myself about being good enough and successful enough.
Who are you focusing with The I’m Loving Me Project?
I’m focusing on women who said enough is enough, I know I have a lot more to give to the world than what I’m doing now and just looking for some help to change. Either they need help with changing their mindset, or changing their business.
Can you tell us what we can expect from The I’m Loving Me Project?
More stories from powerful women, workshops, retreats, and plenty of love from me and my self-love experts. What makes our project different is we really focus on change and results. We will definitely be on the road soon spreading self-love around the world.
Can you give 2 advice from your project to our readers?
- You’re not alone- Even though you think your situation is unique, trust me, there’s a woman out there who has experienced your struggle. Don’t think you have to go through things alone, there’s plenty of people who are willing to help. Reach out.
- Every day you wake up is the universe telling you, you have purpose – A lot of people are walking around not knowing what their purpose is in life. If you’re waking up every day and keep asking yourself “What am I good at?” eventually you will figure it out and when you do, that’s when you have to act and get busy. The world needs what you have to offer.How can women become sooner aware of their potential? Like I answered in the previous question, you have to start asking yourself empowering questions “What’s becoming apparent or prominent in my life?” “What does success look like to me?” “What do other people say I’m good at?” Once you start to ask yourself questions, you will start to get hints. Look at your home library, what type of books do you mostly have? That’s what you’re interested in.
What other advice can you give?
In everything you do, make sure you love and choose yourself first. It sounds like a selfish act but it’s not. You can’t give someone something you don’t have. When you love yourself, your confidence, self-esteem and the way you view the world is so unique, you can’t help but to pass on that love to others.
What sacrifices have you had to make during life to become the woman you are now?
Let’s just say I ate noodles many of nights and put a lot of strain on my marriage to get to where I am now. It wasn’t easy and I had to make some adjustments but I’m happy with where I am now.
How do you think modern women can be more fulfilled in their lives?
Self-love. Period. You have to know who you are and not allow anyone to change that. Be comfortable with who you are.
In general, how can a person love themselves again after going through a hard time? It takes time depending on the situation. The good thing is, you always reach a point where you just get tired of being in the situation you’re in. You get tired of being sad, feeling discouraged, and having low self-esteem. When you reach that point, that’s when you know you’re ready to change. At that point, reach out, find someone to talk to and start working through your issues and come up with a success plan. I promise you, once you learn how to deal with your trauma or difficult situation, the sky’s the limit.
![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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