Keep It Positive, Sweetie

Episode: Fearless Faith: A Candid Conversation w/ Monique Rodriquez
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Monique Rodriguez, Founder & CEO of Mielle Organics
Air Date: May 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is a deeply uplifting and candid conversation between host Crystal Renee Hayslett and Monique Rodriguez, founder of the global beauty brand Mielle Organics. Monique shares her inspiring journey from labor and delivery nurse to beauty industry mogul, focusing on resilience, faith, healing, and finding purpose through pain. The conversation touches on topics such as childhood influences, the loss that catalyzed her entrepreneurship journey, advocating for Black women in healthcare, building a business and legacy, managing criticism, and the power of fearless faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fashion, Identity, and Family Roots

• Fashion as Expression: Both Monique and Crystal discuss how their mothers influenced their sense of style, viewing fashion as self-expression and a part of their identity.
• Quote: "Fashion has become a part of your personal brand… people may look at it as a personal brand, but it’s really me." – Monique [02:44]
• Memorable Moment: Laughs about rarely wearing jeans, emphasizing embracing one’s genuine personality over image on social media.

2. Growing Up on Chicago’s South Side

• Monique reflects on how growing up in both rough and hopeful environments shaped her resilience and ability to thrive in diverse settings.
• Exposure to both poverty and opportunity taught her how to navigate different rooms and situations.
• Quote: "Chicago… it’s what built the character and the grit inside me. The best entrepreneurs also come from Chicago because Chicago is a different breed." – Monique [06:05]

3. Restraint and Self-Discipline in Business

• Challenges of handling criticism, trolls, and public misconception—balancing authenticity and maintaining professionalism as a leader and example to others.
• Quote: "Southside Monique has to stay back there… I’m also a representative of God’s kingdom, for my kids. But it's tempting." – Monique [08:20]
• Both guests share stories of clapping back on social media, and then deleting comments out of conviction and personal growth.

4. The Story Behind Monique’s Book

• Purpose: Her book, "The Glory in You," is intended as a roadmap, mentorship resource, and an act of transparency about the valleys as well as peaks of entrepreneurship and faith.
• Quote: "I wanted this book to be like, I'm your big sister… giving you all the wisdom, the knowledge… not just the Instagram highlights, but the tough moments." – Monique [10:34]

5. From Tragedy to Purpose: The Loss that Changed Everything

• Monique bravely details the loss of her son, Milan, pointing out the medical system's failures and the health disparities Black women face.
• Her insider knowledge as a nurse could not prevent the tragedy, intensifying her advocacy for Black women in healthcare and representation in the field.
• Quote: "My level of education couldn’t save my son." – Monique [15:54]
• She decided to leave nursing, cut all ties with the field for her mental health, and use her pain to fuel her purpose.

6. Navigating Health Care as Black Women

• The importance of self-advocacy, seeking culturally competent care, and the role of Black care providers. Both discuss the challenges and emotional toll of medical mistrust.
• Monique urges listeners to find doctors who will listen, not dismiss, and take care with treatment plans.
• Timestamps: [19:44] – Crystal shares her own experiences and anxieties around care.

7. Stepping Into Entrepreneurship

• After leaving nursing, Monique discusses her early forays into entrepreneurship (MLMs like Avon, Mary Kay), driven by a lifelong desire, despite not seeing role models in business as a child.
• Her faith pushed her past fear, especially after tragedy: "What's the worst that could happen? The worst has already happened." – Monique [23:44]
• Built Mielle Organics from scratch, initially shipping products from her basement with her husband Melvin.

8. The Power and Responsibility of Dreaming Big

• Both discuss the spiritual importance of audacious dreams—"it's an insult to God" not to believe big.
• The ripple effect: Fulfilling one's calling brings opportunities and inspiration to others; “When you don’t fulfill your dream, you’re disappointing the people who he's assigned to your gift." – Monique [26:49]

9. Love, Partnership, and Building with Family

• Monique and Melvin’s journey: high school sweethearts now co-business owners. She shares wisdom on relationships—valuing partners who hold you accountable and share vision.
• Discuss the challenges of working together, maintaining individuality, and modeling healthy conflict resolution for their children.
• Quote: "Life is not the absence of conflict… it's how you respond to it." – Monique [32:42]

10. Business Growth and Entering Retail

• The road from kitchen table to national retail: organic growth, the first big break with Sally Beauty came to them, not vice versa.
• Quote: "It was like God ordained… we had no clue it would sell the way it sold." – Monique [35:39]
• Candid discussion of struggles behind the scenes (“on the outside, sales were through the roof, but underneath… financials were horrible." [40:17]) and learning to navigate funding, investment, and business patience.

11. The Art & Faith of Letting Go (Exit to P&G)

• Deep dive into navigating offers, the leap of faith required in selling (or not selling) a business, and God’s role in guiding decisions.
• Monique shares powerful testimony about journaling her vision—writing “Mielle will be acquired by P&G” before it was even in motion—and the confirmations that followed.
• Quote: “These are decisions that I prayed on and that God has revealed to me… When you’re criticizing me, you’re ultimately criticizing the one who put me on this earth to accomplish the purpose." – Monique [51:07]

12. Handling Public Criticism and Staying True

• Responding to backlash over acquisition and viral “controversies” (false claims about product safety).
• Monique’s handling: faith, resilience, focusing on those inspired and positively impacted, educating her community, and not letting naysayers take her peace.
• Quote: "The people who already have it made up in their mind to misunderstand me… there's nothing you can do or say. I’m only gonna address it once." – Monique [55:47]

13. Authenticity, Mentorship, and Leaving a Legacy

• Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: Authenticity, building genuine relationships, dating your customers, operating with integrity, and keeping faith at the center.
• Quote: “No one can beat you at being you.” – Monique [57:53]
• Vision for the collective legacy: normalizing Black business success, creating opportunities for others, and using her platform to inspire the next generation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |-----------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:44 | Monique | "People may look at it as a personal brand, but it’s really me… I am such a girly girl." | | 06:05 | Monique | "Chicago… it's what built the character and the grit inside me." | | 08:20 | Monique | "Southside Monique has to stay back there… I’m also a representative of God’s kingdom." | | 10:34 | Monique | "I wanted this book to be like, I'm your big sister… the wisdom, the knowledge I’ve learned."| | 15:54 | Monique | "My level of education couldn’t save my son." | | 19:44 | Crystal | "I was so nervous… I want to look across that room and see someone that looks like me." | | 23:44 | Monique | "What's the worst that can happen? Because the worst has already happened." | | 26:49 | Monique | "When you don’t fulfill your dream, you’re disappointing the people who he's assigned to your gift and your calling."| | 32:42 | Monique | "Life is not the absence of conflict… it's how you respond to it." | | 35:39 | Monique | "It was like God ordained… we had no clue it would sell the way it sold." | | 41:02 | Monique | "We were not paying ourselves so people can come to work… People don’t hear that." | | 51:07 | Monique | "When you’re criticizing me, you’re ultimately criticizing the one who put me on this earth."| | 57:53 | Monique | “No one can beat you at being you.” |

Important Timestamps & Segment Highlights

• [05:29] Growing Up in Chicago: Childhood experiences and their influence
• [10:34] Writing the Book: Purpose and who it's for
• [13:22] Loss and the Medical System: Pivotal life event
• [20:03] Healthcare Advocacy: Importance for Black women, lessons shared
• [21:44] Early Entrepreneurship: MLM, the seed of business ambition
• [23:44] On Moving Forward After Tragedy: Faith over fear
• [32:28] Marriage & Business: Learning to bump heads & grow together
• [35:09] Mielle’s Big Break: The first retail deal and partnership roles
• [40:17] Overcoming Financial Struggles: Honest look at ‘the hard years’
• [44:01] Selling the Business: The faith and strategy behind selling
• [47:59] Procter & Gamble Acquisition: The vision, faith, and response to backlash
• [55:47] Viral Backlash: Navigating internet criticism and misinformation
• [57:53] Entrepreneur Advice: Authenticity, relationship over transaction
• [59:49] Legacy Building: Vision for impact, modeling faith-driven success
• [62:49] ‘Positive Outcomes’ Q&A: Setting boundaries vs. being a “doormat”

Tone & Language

The conversation is warm, honest, faith-centered, and full of practical wisdom. Both women balance vulnerability with a sense of humor and determination. The language is conversational but deep, with frequent references to faith, God, and community uplift.

Takeaways & Final Thoughts

• Monique’s narrative is a blueprint for overcoming adversity with faith and purpose.
• She encourages women to advocate for themselves, believe big, find their voices, and to see business as a way not only to prosper, but to uplift others.
• The legacy of Mielle is not just product-based but about shifting culture, creating wealth, and normalizing Black excellence in entrepreneurship.

"Your dreams don’t have an expiration date… There’s no limit you can put on God." – Monique Rodriguez [59:49]

For anyone craving an uplifting, practical, faith-forward roadmap for building something from the ashes, this episode is both a balm and a beacon.