Podcast Summary: Black Entrepreneur Experience

Episode: BEE 523 – How Orion Brown Built a Travel Brand the Industry Ignored
Host: Dr. Frances Richards, Chief Encouraging Officer
Guest: Orion Brown, Founder of Black Travel Box
Date: October 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Dr. Frances Richards sits down with Orion Brown, the visionary founder of Black Travel Box, to discuss her journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship. Brown shares her mission to empower travelers of color with personal care products tailored to their unique needs—a market long ignored by the mainstream industry. The conversation traverses Orion’s personal inspirations, her company’s pandemic pivots, lessons on authenticity, and the importance of mental health and self-care within the Black community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origin and Purpose of Black Travel Box

• Founding Story:
  Orion founded Black Travel Box in August 2017 as a passion project after years of struggling to find suitable personal care products during her extensive travels. She saw an unmet need for products that catered to the hair and skincare needs of travelers of color.
  • “If I’m going on a 10 day trip to Japan, how do I find products that actually work for my hair and my skincare needs? Because I certainly can’t find them when I’m in the country.” (Orion Brown, 01:23)
• Mission:
  The company focuses on products that are portable, TSA-friendly, safe, natural (with ingredients like shea butter), and culturally relevant—addressing the specific needs of the Black community.

2. Pandemic Pivots and Community Care

• Navigating COVID-19:
  Orion describes a series of “micro-pivots,” choosing not to discount her brand but to remain true to its mission. Her focus shifted towards self-care during lockdowns.
  • Launched a donation-based “Covid Relief Kit” for frontline workers, including their body balm and lip balm to combat the skin and lip problems exacerbated by PPE and constant handwashing.
  • “Self care is particularly important to our community. And while people aren’t able to travel right now, finding ways to provide that self care is something that we want to help encourage.” (Orion Brown, 02:58)

3. Challenges in Manufacturing

• Self-Manufacturing:
  Initial attempts to find manufacturers were met with bias and logistical challenges.
  • “One is language, like ‘we don't make products for Afro kinky hair.’ Having that sent back to me in an email... was definitely a very eye opening experience.” (Orion Brown, 04:57)
  • As a result, Black Travel Box began self-manufacturing in Denver, overcoming both cultural indifference and operational hurdles faced by Black-owned startups.

4. Black Mental Health & Self Care

• Advocacy for Mental Health:
  Orion is passionate about normalizing conversations around mental health in the Black community, organizing wellness events, and incorporating mental, physical, and spiritual self-care into her routine.
  • “I am very much focused on mental health and wellness... people can have a conversation about being diabetic. They can’t necessarily have those same types of conversations about being schizophrenic or bipolar or even just depressed.” (Orion Brown, 06:25)
• Personal Self Care Routine:
  Mentally: Regular therapy sessions.
  Physically: Balanced diet/exercise, e.g., walking stairs while listening to podcasts.
  Spiritually: Prayer, meditation, and acceptance.
  • “Self care really is a workout in will, especially if you’re type A... I try to focus on mental, physical and spiritual and at least have one thing that I’m doing consistently in each area.” (Orion Brown, 07:46)

5. Gratitude and Growth

• Reflections on COVID’s Slower Pace:
  Orion’s gratitude centers on time for introspection, reconnection, and personal growth.
  • “The isolation allows for... some really good reflective time. It’s allowed me to reconnect with people in my life… work through a lot of my own feelings.” (Orion Brown, 10:28)

6. Entrepreneurial ‘Aha’ Moment & Transition

• Realization of Success:
  Orion describes a pivotal moment at the Inc. 5000 event where industry recognition confirmed the need and potential of her business.
  • “The first thing out of her mouth was, ‘I know who you are, I know about your company.’ ...If that wasn’t a sign, I didn’t know what would be.” (Orion Brown, 12:31)
• Leaving Corporate Life:
  The transition was challenging—navigating new operational, tactical, and fundraising responsibilities.
  • “There’s an onus, you own it… The learning curve is steep… It’s very different when you’re not only doing the strategic planning, but you’re also doing the tactical execution.” (Orion Brown, 14:43)

7. How Listeners Can Support

• Follow and share @lactravelbox on social media (Instagram preferred)
• Shop at BlackTravelBox.com; frontline worker discounts available
• Direct outreach for community support and encouragement
  • “Continue to take care of yourself... Listen to each other, give each other five minutes and help support each other through a challenging time.” (Orion Brown, 16:25)

8. Biggest Achievements and Inspirations

• Meaningful Impact:
  Orion values positive feedback from the global Black community, serving unmet needs rather than chasing wealth.
  • “The biggest achievement... is getting letters, DMs, emails, LinkedIn notes from people globally saying thank you for making this. This is what we need.” (Orion Brown, 17:57)
• Admired Brands:
  Cites The Honey Pot Company as a role model for scaling a Black-owned brand to mainstream prominence.
  • “She’s created this... mainstream company. Natural ingredients, wonderful scale... That should be more commonplace.” (Orion Brown, 19:49)

9. Critical Lessons and Influencers

• Lesson:
  Trust your gut instincts and avoid “analysis paralysis.”
  • “As an entrepreneur, you cannot waffle... Every minute you spend is taking a dollar out of your business.” (Orion Brown, 22:50)
• Key Influencers:
  Cites her supportive former partner and friends who embody resilient joy, as well as the resourcefulness learned from her mother.
  • “My mom was the most resourceful human being on the planet. She was somewhere between like an NSA agent and MacGyver.” (Orion Brown, 27:06)

10. Authenticity & Legacy

• Embracing Uniqueness:
  Encourages breaking free from trying to be “normal” and being true to oneself.
  • “We all think that everyone else is normal… But if you spend an entire day with me… I have quirks.” (Orion Brown, 25:58)
• Empathetic Legacy:
  Orion wants to be remembered for her deep empathy and tireless efforts to help others facing challenges and trauma.
  • “I want people to remember that… my heart for the challenges that people go through, my heart for the struggles... I can’t put into words the depth of empathy that I feel.” (Orion Brown, 30:32)

11. Worst Moment in Business

• Struggling with Brand Authenticity:
  Reflects on a low point pitching to Gimlet Media, where diluting her vision to please everyone led to a weak presentation.
  • “I was essentially pitching five different businesses at once instead of pitching my business, my vision… That was a low point… I had to really change my mindset from there and double down on the vision.” (Orion Brown, 32:41)

12. Unfulfilled Dreams & Passions

• Travel on the Horizon:
  Dreams of global travel experiences that provide perspective and rejuvenation, like visiting the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Giza.
  • “Those moving moments… help me center and re-ground myself in the humanity of being.” (Orion Brown, 35:35)

13. Essential Technology

• Team Trello:
  Credits Trello with helping organize her business visually; likens it to digital post-its for project management.
  • “I love Trello… it allows you to create a visual placard of all of the things that are in motion.” (Orion Brown, 37:53)

14. On Serving a ‘Niche’ Market

• Why Stay Focused:
  Orion chose to focus on an underserved market not for explosive growth, but to fill a real need.
  • “It may not make sense to everyone, but it’s not a money discussion, it’s a need discussion. The funny thing is, when you fill a need, the money does come.” (Orion Brown, 41:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Building for the Community:
  “Being able to serve that purpose is huge for me and I know what we do today... will influence what is we start creating these pathways and businesses that are truly inclusive.” (Orion Brown, 18:51)

• On Transitioning from Corporate:
  “The transition from corporate life, that plantation life to entrepreneurship at first was pretty rocky… The learning curve is steep.” (Orion Brown, 14:40)

• On Empathy as Legacy:
  “There’s an empathy that I cannot express. I can’t… there’s no way to put in words the depth of empathy that I feel for folks in situations where there’s been trauma.” (Orion Brown, 30:32)

Important Timestamps

• [01:12] – Orion introduces Black Travel Box and its mission.
• [02:21] – Discussing COVID-19 pivots and self-care for the community.
• [04:49] – Challenges with manufacturers and decision to self-manufacture.
• [06:21] – Importance of mental health discussions for the Black community.
• [07:45] – Orion’s personal self-care philosophy.
• [11:51] – The moment Orion realized her business had real potential.
• [14:40] – Transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship.
• [16:25] – How listeners can support Black Travel Box.
• [17:53] – Orion’s biggest business achievement: community impact.
• [19:49] – Brand admired: The Honey Pot Company.
• [21:55] – “Listen to your gut”—the lesson Orion wishes she’d known.
• [27:06] – Inspiration from her mother’s resourcefulness.
• [30:28] – Orion’s hope for her legacy: empathy in action.
• [32:41] – Worst business moment: losing focus in a key pitch.
• [35:35] – Lifelong dreams centered around travel and new experiences.
• [37:53] – Trello as an essential business tool.
• [41:45] – On building for a “niche” market with impact.

Fun Facts Lightning Round

(Sample Highlights)

• Last movie seen: Knives Out – “Daniel Craig is usually just cute, but in this, he was actually quite funny.” (Orion Brown, 42:30)
• Relaxing activity: Watching Netflix
• Favorite music: Beyoncé for her fierceness; RuPaul in her dance mix
• Go-to food: Kale and brussels sprout salad
• Favorite month: February (birthday month)
• Contact Info:
  • “Our company, Black Travel Box, is available online, BlackTravelBox.com, and on all social platforms, primarily Instagram, @lactravelbox… If you get bored and you like a little food porn, check me out on IG @TheLastyMuse.” (Orion Brown, 44:10)

Takeaways

Orion Brown’s story is a compelling blend of strategic business acumen, authentic mission-driven leadership, and personal resilience. Her unwavering commitment to serving a marginalized market, readiness to pivot during crisis, and emphasis on mental health and self-care underscore the broader impact Black entrepreneurship can have on both individuals and communities.

Connect:

• Website: BlackTravelBox.com
• Instagram: @lactravelbox
• Personal IG: @orionhelana | @TheLastyMuse