International Women’s Month Series

Only child. Daughter of two scientists. Now majority owner of the longest-standing multicultural advertising agency in the United States.

Monique Nelson is the Executive Chair and majority owner of UWG Inc., recently named Multicultural Agency of the Year for 2026. Since acquiring UWG in 2012, she's expanded the agency into Canada and Africa and co-founded Black Week, celebrating culture, creativity, and commerce. She's been at UWG for 19 years.

What I love about this conversation is how Monique traces everything back to her upbringing. Her parents were scientists who taught her that you can do just about anything as long as you have a plan. Put out a hypothesis, then plot your path.

Her grandmother was an entrepreneur. West Indian. Day job plus five more. Monique spent summers with her in Houston checking on properties, learning to drywall, hang shelving, use a level. They did the hard work in the morning, then something fun after. That became her formula: eat the peas first because peas suck cold.

Her path to UWG wasn't planned. She was at Motorola when everything shifted at once. Divorce. Industry disruption. And the pull to go home and be near her parents while she still could. A dinner with a friend led to an interview. She was captivated by the founder, Byron Lewis, and the mission he had built. And then the COO said the thing that changed everything: I think you could run this place.

Monique did it backwards by traditional standards. Bought the business, then got married, then had kids. No regrets. Her husband knew exactly what he was getting into.

On leadership, she breaks it into three modes. Leading. Bossing. Listening. And listening, she says, is where most friction comes from when it's missing.

Her advice: be coachable. Ask for help. And do the hard things first so you can enjoy what comes after.

P.S. Monique is one of my dearest friends. I've watched her journey for years, and I'm so proud to share her with you.

Connect with Monique:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monique-nelson-1082b9/

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