We recently connected with Mashaunda Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Mashaunda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

The name of my company came from the partnership of my Co-CEO NisaF. Early in her career she was often called the Walkin’ Bag and I was called the Walkin’ Business. Together we wanted to create a company that can represent and please all aspects of the entertainment industry (music, movies, fashion, entrepreneurship).We want everyone to understand that they themselves no matter where they are, are a Walkin’ business. Promoting independence, self confidence and hustling. This being said we founded Walkin’ Bag Entertainment

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?

My name is Mashaunda aka ShaundaJ. I am from Linden, New Jersey. I went to Montclair State University for undergrad and graduate school. I have an entertainment company called Walkin’ Bag Entertainment. It symbolizes the ability that anybody in their own entity wherever they are can be their own business; they can be an entrepreneur. Today we are working to not only make our brand known in the tri-state area but known worldwide. We represent musicians, actors, athletes, and even have a clothing line currently selling items more on the athletic side. Something that sets my company apart from others is the fact that my partner is my blood cousin and we work together. So many times we have been told that we are lucky to have each other in this field. Other entrepreneurs find it almost impossible to find someone who can support them and be on the same page about business and their goals.

What I am most proud of is that it has grown and evolved so much in the last 4 years. We started off selling merchandise out of the truck of a car and now we have celebrities owning our clothing and knowing who we are as company.

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

A story that can illustrate my resilience is that fact tht I am the youngest of my mother’s children, first to get a Bachelors degree and first to get a Master’s degree. i have broken many generational curses and I pride myself on that. I have been homeless as well but never let any of this break me. My life story is something I will one day write a book about. I just thank God I do not look like what I have been through.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Honestly, I am still funding my business out of pocket. My co-CEO and I still have 9-5 jobs and work daily. We believe in ourselves so much that we risk the financial loss or gain.

Contact Info:

• Website: walkinbagent.com
• Instagram: @shaunda_j
• Twitter: @walkinbagent
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCMZL0XnJp4EuP806PuuRRZA

Image Credits
Walkin’ Bag Entertainment Logo Walkin’ Bag Entertainment merch NisaF single cover “A Dub” Available on all platforms