We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Le’Marqunita Lowe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Le’Marqunita , thanks for joining us today. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?

During my undergraduate year at Bowling Green State University, I studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a bold me because I flew alone, I didn’t know the language, and it was my first time in a new country by myself. Due to the long flight, I was extremely exhausted, hungry, and dehydrated when I arrived to my dormitory. I seriously was about to faint! In the dormitory their were cooks. Since I didn’t know how to speak Argentinian Spanish, I had to use body language to try to communicate that I was feeling sick, hungry, and dehydrated. No one understood me. Seconds later the cook came out with a pitcher of water, rice, bread, and a native dish. She gave it to me for free. She smiled at me. Even though I didn’t understand her Spanish, or she didn’t understand my English, she knew that I needed help and offered it.

Le’Marqunita , 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 name is Le’Marqunita Lowe. I am a native of Cleveland, Ohio. I have been living in my home the Bay Area for the past decade. Being an indie author is my first journey into entrepreneurship. I have always wrote books, plays, and comics since I was a kid. I published my first book before I graduated high school.

I have a handmade vegan cosmetics company called Mercury III. I have a sustainable fashion boutique called Black & Cremè. Mercury III officially launched online in 2015 with a calling to bring handmade, vegan, and healing products back into the health/beauty world. Our belief stems from the mantra healing is in the hands, and already manifested in the body.

Black and Creme is a Black-owned and woman-owned re-education, sustainable, and eco-awareness online retail boutique that provides a platform for sustainable designers, small businesses, local California designers, and international fair trade organizations to sell their products on our boutique. We also have our own in-house curated jewelry collection.

I am a former pageant Queen who held the titles for Miss Palo Alto, Miss Elite California Earth, and Miss Black US Ambassador California. I am the executive director of a new pageant system launching this year. Currently, I am a third year PhD Student. After I complete my PhD program, I will be publishing history textbooks and launching a textbook company.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My move to California is a story that reminds me how brave, strong, and resilient I am. When I moved to California I didn’t have my own apartment or job. My sister let me live with her for several years to help me get back on my feet. Moments I was not living with my sister I couched hopped between different homes. These moments of instability was what shifted my struggle into action. I found a job, went back to school for my Master’s degree, and officially launched my first business.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to learn is that big is not always better. As an entrepreneur, we are always taught to scale fast, get traction fast, and seek funding fast. While those things are important, they are not sustainable if you don’t have the core infrastructure or operations in place to sustain a business. I’ve discovered for me that slow and strategic growth leads to the best results. Slow does not mean work is not being done. Slow can sometimes mean you are being intentional with every business move to create something sustainable for both the present and future.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blackandcreme.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/blackcreme_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackcremeboutique
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blackcreme
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackandcreme?_t=8bQMzspPi2Q&_r=1