Seagram’s Escapes —a malt-based beverage brand—brought together the best and brightest Black female entrepreneurs from around the country. Powerful speakers included reality TV star Cynthia Bailey, haircare products CEO Monique Rodriguez, actress & influencer Khadeen Ellis, and moderated by Africa Miranda. In conjunction with Rolling Out—an African American-owned creative media company— the women dropped major truth bombs on how to set up a successful business. By giving insights and tips, it was the perfect end to International Black Women’s History Month.
Who Attended
Key Highlights
Cynthia Bailey
Cynthia Bailey may be known for her on-screen persona, but not much is said about her humble beginnings. Her mother worked in a sewing factory, while her father plied his trade in an auto factory. But it was her grandmother, Mae Frankie Ford, who had been “the first female black entrepreneur in [her] life.”
Those priceless lessons remained with her to this today. She was quoted as saying: “I’m not afraid to fail; I’m not afraid to fall on my face. I’ve lived most of my life uncomfortable. I’ve always had that ambition; let me just see what happens because if you do nothing, nothing happens.”
“If you do something, even if what you do doesn’t work it, it’s going to lead you to something that is going to work out.” And the results have been impressive indeed. Cynthia’s journey with Seagram’s Escapes began in 2018. Her bespoke Peach Bellini beverage has become a huge staple. In addition to that success, she has become the brand’s ambassador.
Khadeen Ellis
Khadeem is not only business savvy, but she is equally adept within the academic sphere. She graduated with a major in Broadcast Journalism and a Master’s in Speech Communication, Rhetorical Studies, and Performance.
That solid foundation has set up her current success. She has an award-winning podcast entitled ‘Dead Ass with Khadeen & Devale.’ Working alongside her husband, it has garnered over 10 million downloads. That is merely one of a handful of ventures. Khadeem spoke on how each journey is unique.
She remarked: “If you are deliberate about the way you want to achieve your goals, then you are ultimately setting yourself up for success. People measure success in different ways. For me, I measure success in happiness. It is the freedom to do things you want to do, not have to do.”
Monique Rodriguez
Rodriguez is the CEO of Mielle Organics. She says the key to doing something often lies in the motivation behind it. And for Monique, it was for the sake of her children. Every parent wants their family to be comfortable, and through her organic oils, she has set up a lucrative venture. But the key to it all was belief.
She said: “When you think of building a business, there’s no straight path to success, it’s a rollercoaster. When the rollercoaster drops all of a sudden, you have to have that foundation to build upon as well as humility. My superpower is having that foundation of faith and humility.”
Reception
Seagram’s Escapes brand manager Lisa Texido was buoyed by the success of the panel. She commented: “The insight that the panelists provided at the inaugural Empowerment Tour was valuable, sharp, and inspiring.”
“We’re proud to bring events to life that champion and empower women, and it’s rewarding to sponsor a panel that provides solutions to our community as we all navigate through this unpredictable and challenging climate.”
Upcoming Events
The offshoot of that success has led to other panels. We can expect to see new women sharing their knowledge on their respective industries. The forthcoming panels are set to take place at the appointed times below:
- Saturday, April 24, 7 p.m. EST – RIDE Conference: Business & Entrepreneurship
- Saturday, May 29, 7 p.m. EST – Design & Dialogue: Chefs and Mixologist Edition
- Saturday, June 26, 7 p.m. EST – Star Studio: Roast & Toast – Comedians Edition
You can check out the full discussion right here.
