In celebration of International Women's Day, Mastercard and Create & Cultivate are teaming up with prominent female leaders and business owners to share their #Priceless advice to inspire and elevate women entrepreneurs.

Monique Rodriguez, Founder and CEO, Mielle Organics

Monique Rodriguez is the CEO and founder of Mielle Organics, a Black-Owned global hair and skincare brand. Since founding the beauty brand in 2014, Monique has expanded her empire from one signature product to half a dozen collections. Mielle Organics has been distributed in more than 87 countries and can be found in more than 100,000 stores across the U.S.

The inspiration behind Mielle Organics was born through Monique’s journey of self-discovery after loss. After the passing of her son, she used haircare as an outlet to regain her natural roots and build a community for women to connect and share their stories.

In addition to her work with Mielle Organics, Monique is recognized as a leader in the business community as well as a role model for women of all ages. Gems from Monique on her experience as a Black entrepreneur in beauty, business, and more can be found on her ‘Secret Sauce to Success’ Podcast.

Below, Monique shares her #Priceless advice to inspire and elevate women in business.

What is one piece of advice you would give to women looking to turn their passion into purpose?

One piece of advice I would give to women looking to turn their passion into purpose is to remember your why. There will be amazing days and then there will be hard days where owning a business isn’t always glamorous. So it’s important to remember the why that’s attached to your vision, so you can push forward.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in business? How did you overcome them?

As a Black woman in business, I would say one of the most notable challenges I faced in the beginning of Mielle Organics’ founding was raiding funding. When my husband and I founded Mielle Organics, we backed the company with our own funds. We were later blessed to receive funding from investors, but as new business owners that area.

What is the most important message you have for women advancing their career or growing their business?

The most important message I have for women advancing their career or growing their business is to always remember no one can grow your vision like you can. If you have an idea or a plan, don’t allow yourself to be distracted from executing it.

What’s your perspective on the importance of mentorship? What advice do you have for women seeking mentorship or looking to become a mentor?

I believe that finding a mentor is very important. As you elevate to that next level in life or in business, it’s important to speak with someone who’s already where you want to be. Without a great mentor, new business owners end up working harder and not smarter.

What tips would you give women entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses, especially in our digitally evolving world?

Leverage social media to connect with your customers.
Develop a great team that understands your vision and knows how to creatively communicate that vision to your customers.
Develop quality partnerships that align with your vision and allow you to grow.

What’s next for Mielle Organics?

The next chapter for our business includes continuing to create opportunities that aid Black women succeed in business. Whether it’s through our recent Secret Sauce to Success Retreat or our partnered education program with the Newark Business Hub and Rutgers University, we are dedicated to creating new opportunities for women to thrive in our community.

In celebration of women in business, what are (3) small businesses you want to highlight to encourage others to shop, share and support?

Three small businesses I would like to highlight include:

Priceless advice for women in business in two words, or less: