We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Philomena Moncoeur a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Philomena, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success is one of those words that sounds universal but feels deeply personal. For some, it’s wealth. For others, it’s freedom. And for many of the women I’ve had the honor of walking beside—bold, brilliant women of color carving their lane in a world that wasn’t built for us—it’s about impact and legacy. So, what does it really take to be successful?

Let me share what I’ve learned—not from textbooks or TED Talks, but from sitting in boardrooms and breakrooms, hosting vision-building masterminds, and holding space for women who are dreaming loud in a world that tells them to whisper.

Success starts with clarity. Not the type that’s handed to you by a career counselor, but the kind you earn through experience, mistakes, and getting real with yourself. Success requires self-definition. If you don’t define it for yourself, someone else will do it for you—and chances are, they’ll sell you a version that leaves you burned out and uninspired.

No queen builds her empire alone. I used to think success was about proving I could do it by myself. That mindset nearly broke me. The turning point? The Visibility Mastermind—an event I co-created not just for business growth, but for soul revival.

I watched women walk in as strangers and walk out as collaborators. I saw tears turn into business plans and self-doubt transform into six-figure confidence. Your circle will either stretch your vision or shrink your capacity. Choose wisely!

I’ve found success lives in collaboration, not competition.

I’m Caribbean-American. I come from a lineage of people who made miracles out of almost nothing. My grandmother used to say, “You don’t wait for the table—you bring your own chair, your own plate, and season your own food.”

That grit lives in me. But so does grace. I had to learn that being successful didn’t mean running on fumes. Rest is not laziness. Slowing down is not failure. Grace allows you to be ambitious and well. It lets you course-correct without shame and shift without apology.

Success requires you to grind—but not at the expense of your spirit.

There was a time when I dimmed my light because I didn’t want to be “too much.” Too bold. Too loud. Too proud. But success doesn’t live in the shadows.

That’s why I took on the challenge of becoming the State President for Ms. Corporate America Florida competition. It’s to give women a stage, a spotlight, and a strategy. Visibility isn’t vanity—it’s currency. If no one knows your name, how can they invest in your brilliance? How can you make a positive impact on someone else?

But here’s the key: be visible without losing yourself. The real magic happens when you show up fully—as you are and as you want – that’s success!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As a Business Growth strategist, I fondly look at myself more like a Business Cheerleader who is Empowering Women to Build Bold, Profitable Brands. I have dedicated my life to helping women—especially women of color—build, brand, and boldly grow businesses rooted in purpose and power.

Working for an international advertising firm, I saw firsthand how entrepreneurs with world-changing ideas often lacked access, visibility, and systems to bring those ideas to market. Over my 20+ year career, I’ve helped thousands of entrepreneurs scale. During the pandemic, I stepped into the entrepreneurial world as a connector and strategist, hosting masterminds, launching events, and coaching women through launching brands that reflect not just their expertise, but their essence.

I work with entrepreneurs who are brilliant but hidden—experts in their craft who haven’t yet translated their talent into consistent income or influence. They may be overwhelmed by tech, unsure how to package their services, or struggling to get seen in saturated markets.

What makes me different is my holistic approach. I’m not just giving business advice, I’m creating ecosystems where entrepreneurs thrive.

My work is deeply rooted in cultural awareness, community building, and collaboration over competition. I bring both fire and finesse: the fierce ambition to help my clients win and the emotional intelligence to help them do it without losing themselves.

My recent events are a whole vibe: Think business bootcamp meets sister circle, where there are branding photo shoots, live panels, swag bags, actionable workshops, and plenty of moments for real connection.

I’m most proud of building platforms where others can shine. Whether it’s coaching a woman to launch her first business, helping a contestant confidently compete in the Ms. Corporate America Florida competition, or leading a mastermind that births six and seve-figure ideas, my joy is in the wins of the women that I serve.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn is overly preparing for a first-time meeting with a potential client or sponsor. Many will find this strange but I find that doing a ton of research on a potential client has its downfall.

For most of my corporate career, I wore “over prepared” like a badge of honor. I took pride in walking into a room with color-coded folders, printed pitch decks, competitor analysis, potential objections mapped out, and every possible question already answered in my head.

After all, I was a woman of color in business pitching large advertising campaigns. I was raised to believe that we don’t get second chances to make first impressions—and that we must always come extra prepared to be taken seriously.

I had to unlearn: over preparing for first-time meetings—especially with potential clients or sponsors—can sometimes work against you.

One day, I sat down assessing how I spent most of my working hours. I found that I spent countless hours preparing for pitch meetings only to have meetings go in a completely different direction; often times, I never even used my presentation and was awarded the deal.

The truth is: When I walked into a room, I was armed.

But what I didn’t account for? The energy. The confidence they had in me and my abilities.

Yes, I still prepare, but I also leave lots of room for presence and authentic conversations.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My reputation come from having genuine conversations with clients and my community. I take the time to talk with people, understand where they are, and how can I help.

One of my pet-peeves is when someone asks: How are you? But they keep walking and don’t wait for your answer. When I ask someone how are you? or How’s business? I truly want to hear their answer… This is where the golden nuggets are!

Another thing that has help my reputation is that I educate and don’t gatekeep resources. I make myself available as much as possible and if I’m unavailable, someone from my team are always there to help.

Contact Info:

• Website: IamPhilomena.com | FloridaMsCorporateAmerica.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philomena.moncoeur/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/Philomenabusinessadvisor
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/philomenam
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IamPhilomena