We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Akilah Releford Gould a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Akilah, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I feel very blessed to have parents that are heavily involved in my businesses. They are truly my biggest cheerleaders and I wouldn’t be where I am in business nor have the confidence needed to succeed as a founder without them. My parents have always stressed the importance of “the sky is the limit” and that nothing is out of our reach. They want to be involved and participate in all aspects of building the business, and as a young founder, this kind of support is priceless. When I first started my skincare brand, Mary Louise Cosmetics, I told my dad and he had all hands on deck from the very beginning. He helped to formulate our hero product, Miracle Serum (which is still our best seller today), went to my manufacturing meetings with me, and guided me on many projects surrounding the business.

Akilah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey began in the dorm rooms of Howard University, where I founded Mary Louise Cosmetics. It all started with a personal need—I was frustrated that my skincare routine couldn’t effectively address my concerns. With the help of my dad, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create a solution. Together, we developed our first product, the Miracle Serum, specifically formulated to combat acne scars, dark spots, razor bumps, and hyperpigmentation. Mary Louise Cosmetics was born from a desire to revive time-honored beauty rituals and transform them into fun, clean products for a new generation. This is what truly sets us apart from our competitors, as we use our customer base and skincare traditions that we all know and love, as inspiration for our formulation philosophy.

Beyond Mary Louise Cosmetics, I also ventured into the world of winemaking. I’m the founder of Lucky Girl Rosé and serve as the creative director for Casa Locé Farm and Winery and Bloom Ranch, both of which are family-owned. Launching my own rosé had been a dream of mine for some time, and when my family acquired the winery two years ago, it felt like everything fell into place. Initially, I wanted to create something special for just my family and friends, but as the process unfolded, I realized I had crafted something exceptional—a zero-carb, zero-sugar rosé with flavors and aromatic notes that I love, like candied cherry, strawberry, rhubarb, and wildflowers.

I take great pride in being able to explore different creative avenues and bring joy to others through my work. Whether it’s skincare or winemaking, my passion lies in creating products that people love and that genuinely make a difference in their lives.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I first launched Mary Louise Cosmetics while still in school, I had no connections in the beauty industry. Stepping out of my comfort zone to put myself out there was daunting. Returning home to Los Angeles, I faced the dual challenge of navigating both the beauty and business worlds simultaneously. The road was anything but easy—I encountered countless rejections, from retailers who didn’t want to carry the brand to influencers who weren’t interested in trying the products. Even other business founders were hesitant to meet with me. As a young founder, these setbacks were tough to handle. But looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for the resilience those experiences instilled in me. Each ‘no’ ultimately pointed me in the right direction and shaped the success of Mary Louise Cosmetics as it stands today. I learned invaluable lessons from those early rejections, and they taught me the perseverance needed to thrive in this industry.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Becoming a mom led to a profound shift in my mindset. When I first gave birth to my daughter, I thought I would have to take a backseat to work in general. However, I soon found myself more engaged in my career than ever before. The key was realizing that blending my work projects with my daughter’s routine was far more effective than trying to juggle two separate schedules. By aligning my day with hers, I’ve become a more focused founder and a more present mom, helping me prioritize my time. This unexpected pivot has turned out to be the best motivating force in both my personal and professional life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marylouisecosmetics.com
• Instagram: @akilahrelefordgould
• Other: www.luckygirlrose.com
  @marylouisecosmetics
  @luckygirlrose

Image Credits

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