”Life handed me a few good cards, several challenging ones, and some legit hurdles”
Tanna Donalson
I am Tanna Donalson. Life handed me a few good cards, several challenging ones, and some legit hurdles I had to learn to embrace. All of that created a pretty unique path for me. I have a story to tell, but in fact, we all do. My desire to write even a snapshot of my journey comes from the fact that I know every woman can relate. Any woman who knows that her spirit has big dreams and ambitions and feels like a caged animal but doesn’t know how to set herself free… she needs to know that there is an army of women who have gone before her who can rally around her and help her make her dreams come true. With the right support and the right inspiration, her dreams can one day come to fruition and she can unleash her gifts on this world that needs everything she has to offer.
Until I was 32, I grew up and spent my life in Oklahoma. Now, I am 38, and for the last six years of my experience, I have been on a massive journey to bring my dreams to light. This journey has and continues to truly make me feel that I am becoming what I was created to be. I am a Certified Physician Assistant and spent roughly 12 years in Emergency Medicine. During this time, I learned the grand majority of what I know about medicine, the hard way! I did not have many hands to hold, a trustworthy mentor, or even a family member who was in medicine to guide me, swap stories with, or cry with at the end of the day. During the 2nd half of the decade I spent in the ER, I began to feel this deep, undeniable yearning for something greater, more fulfilling.
For a long time, I did not know what that meant. I would learn a new skill, travel to a new place, meet new people, and do things that scared me to try to satisfy that yearning…. but it never did. While I was still living in Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to work with a doctor, plastic surgeon, mentor, teacher, and father-like figure, Juan Brou. It was then that I slowly began to discover the immense creativity that lived inside me, and the wheels started turning. Long story short, I have now not only opened my own medical spa in Denver Redbud Medical Spa, but also have helped several other doctors, PA’s, NP’s, and nurses do the same thing. In addition, I have networked and made connections with so many driven, amazing people and as a result have licensed a technology created by NASA and started another company called Aspire Medical Technologies where I am the CEO, and working to bring a groundbreaking, novel medical technology to market that will change the future of Trauma and Orthopedic Medicine and save limbs and lives for decades to come.
”Nobody taught me business or showed me the ropes.”
At Redbud, I offer Injectables including Botox and dermal fillers, chemical peels, multiple laser procedures, Beauty Counter, pelvic floor health for women, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Nobody taught me business or showed me the ropes. Nobody warned me when I was making decisions that ultimately caused me more trouble than anything else. I learned nearly all of it by trial and error. Once I realized that I had figured out how to successfully run and manage a business on my own, the word got out and now I have begun consulting even more and am helping women follow their dreams and open their own businesses. It is one of the joys of my life to be able to pass down all I have researched and learned about opening businesses to these women, so they can learn from my mistakes and bypass all the roadblocks I ran into.
Inner strength was the magic
In 2018, I left the ER after a difficult divorce and was working tirelessly to figure out how to manage my spa, other part time jobs I was working as well as raising two kids. I had to come to grips with the hard truth that nobody was able to rescue me and I was going to have to dig deep and find the most grit I could come up with so I could not just stay above water, but I could thrive, grow and become even more successful despite difficult circumstances.
I was surrounded by love, support, advice, wisdom, and all the emotional resources a girl could want, but really, what I needed was to change my narrative about myself and adopt a new belief system about who I was and what I could accomplish. I had to mute the mediocre thoughts and negative input and begin to dream and believe wonderful and great things for my life. I knew I had what it took to grow my businesses to the next level and beyond. Shifting my mindset was not much of a process, it was a conscious decision made in a moment where I just decided to be firm and determined because I was tired of believing in lesser things for myself. I worked hard to fight the lies, the false stories, unsupportive comments, judgments, and anybody else’s opinions that could waste my energy and ultimately not bring life. I was ready to deal with anything that got in the way of my dreams. I realized how much control we have over our minds. I am not a victim inside my own life; I have been handed a challenging deck of cards and what I chose to do with them – that’s the beauty – that’s the creativity, and that’s my story. Beauty from ashes and a redemptive story.
I could have EASILY crumbled at any one point, but I didn’t. My faith was very pivotal through all of that and still is, but I also have to say that being surrounded by strong women has been immeasurably powerful. They pulled me out of bed in the morning, and they pushed me when I wanted to quit and reminded me what this journey was all about. They kept me focused not on the prize at the end, but on the beauty of the journey as I continue to become more myself, the authentic, unashamed, best version of me.
Near to destinations
My chosen mindset has been such a gift in so many ways. It has continued to deliver success, by opening doors to networking and collaborative opportunities as well as build life giving relationships with like minded people. As a result, I have become a part of an incredible community of providers at a lovely place we call Nurture in Denver, CO. I am beginning to settle into my life while simultaneously witness how my gifts fit into the world and watch my businesses and ideas manifest and come to fruition. On the hard days when my flesh just wants to recluse and do something easy, all I have to do is look in the eyes of my two remarkable children who, just by looking at me, motivate me and remind me that I can move mountains and that quitting isn’t an option. I now have a life coach, an incredible financial team, a handful of extraordinary mentors who push me, a family who loves me, and this irreplaceable army of women surrounding me. I would not be half the woman I am without all the people and support I have mentioned.
Future focus and vision
My vision for all my business endeavours is to use each business platform bring value to every conversation, listen well so that I can hear the cries of people and aim to empower anyone who crosses my path to be the best version of themselves. My dream is for everyone to be confident and share their gifts with a world who needs the positivity and light. Because in the end, its not really about all the businesses I start, the wealth I acquire, or how I changed the world. It’s about love, relationships and how my life was a testimony to others that there is no ceiling to their potential, no matter what the world throws at us.
Check www.redbudmedicalspa.com more information about Tanna’s Medical Spa
![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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