We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Briauna White . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Briauna below.

Alright, Briauna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

There is a quote by an author

Chuck Palahniuk “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, but to leave behind something that will.” What I hope my legacy will be, is that I truly broke generational curses , by giving my family URBAN VIBES CANDLEs. I come from a working family, you always have to keep a nine to five, in order to pay bills, nothing more nothing less. My legacy will afford my family and future generations to explore any avenue they choose. whether it be entrepreneurship, acting, or technology. My legacy will be that your not limited to the past generations decisions, you don’t have to just work and die. You can create something that is your own, and the doors of opportunity are unlimited. I want the quote “if she can do it so can I” to be specifically associated with BRIAUNA and Urban Vibes. I also what known as mentor, for other entrepreneurs trying to figure, and that I made it easier for them to start there businesses, because what’s knowledge if you can’t share, and save others from making the same mistakes. Last but certainly not least, I want people to remember how I made their homes feels, with just a scented candle. I put so much love into making candles, and it’s truly because my source of peace, and I just hope that I can make others homes feel the same way

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am BRIAUNA, and I’m the owner of Urban Vibes Candles. I’m from North City, St. Louis. I specify North city, because often there is so much negativity surrounding North city, when mentioning St. Louis, however I wouldn’t be who I am had I not grown up there. Living in a urban community, inspired the name of my business. There are amazing, intelligent, and driven people that come from Urban areas. Despite what the news says there are some great Vibes in urban areas. 2021 was a very trying year for me, I went into a deep depression, and I had major surgery, and I quit my job of 7 years. I know what your thinking “girl you quit your job during a pandemic”. Yes I did!, I felt that I was on the brink of losing control of my life and started to have feelings of just no longer wanting to be here. It was that deep. So because I worked so hard for so many years I decided I would travel, and kick back because I eliminated the problem, life’s about to be lit for while,WRONG. After the vacations ended and the dust settled, I had to figure out what’s next? Where do I go from here? I knew I wanted to work for myself, but what would I do what would I offer, and as I pondered on those questions. I began to write out things I would be interested in. I literally had nothing, absolutely NOTHING. I’m a pretty simple girl okay. I dont do a lot I cant draw, sing, and even put clothing together, so what would I sale. So has my mind raced candles randomly popped in my mind, I absolutely love candles, no matter what store I’m in i buy a candle. Candles brought me so much peace, and set a whole vibe to my home. So I decide to do some intense research, and just like that my baby was born URBAN VIBES CANDLES. Because I was studying around the clock about candles and candle safety I noticed that many of the candles I was purchasing were really harmful for the environment, and harmful for babies and animal. Being the proud fur-mommy that I am I couldn’t have that. So I decided that I would use clean products, such a coconut soy wax , and non- toxic fragrance oils. Jars that can be recycled, or be reused. And eco- friendly wood-wicks. What I am most proud of is that Urban Vibes candles is for everyone, I have masculine scents such “That’s Bae” wood wick candle. We have sweet scents such “Sweet Thang” “ Lemon my Life” we have earthy / floral scents-“Hippie Vibes”. We even have aromatherapy candles for the those who like to mediate and get there minds right! “Unbothered” and “Thriving”. We have a wide array of selections with a urban fair.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

One of my favorite influencers on social media is KEV ON STAGE, he’s a comedian, actor and podcaster. He often speaks on his journey about how he would post at least one video a day for about five or six years, before one of his videos went viral. He now has his own studio, he’s a New York Times Best Seller, and he’s been nominated for two NAACP awards. He credits his success with staying consistent, even on the days he didn’t feel good, or something wasn’t going right, or even the days he felt defeated, he would still post at least one video. My following is still relatively small on social media, however if I were to offer anyone in business any advice, to do what Kev on Stage did, and that’s to stay consistent with your posting, don’t think to much, just post it. Don’t worry about likes, just keep posting, and watch the growth happen. I’ve noticed the more I post, and learn, the better the quality of my videos and photos become. When I stay consistent, my following starts to grow. Also not being shy to ask people I know to share and tell a friend to tell a friend. This business is my baby and I love telling others about it

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

There are two booked that really pushed me in entrepreneur mode, 1. The BIG LEAP – Gay Hendricks

Hendricks is a psychiatrist and life coach who explains how we often self-sabotage our own success with false beliefs developed in early childhood, he helps identify those false beliefs, so that we can that Big LEAP toward success. This book is a GREAT read, however trigger warning. I learned things about myself that I never addressed our loud, however it gave me the courage to leap and start my business and see it through.

The second book was pretty much the follow up to the BIG LEAP, I had discovered that there were habits holding me back, now I needed to get rid of them and that what I found in BADASS HABITS BY JEN SINCERO. This book gave me in deep process with tools and exercise on how to completely banish self-sabotaging behavior for good.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.urbanvibescandles.com/
• Instagram: urbanvibecandles
• Facebook: urbanvibescandles