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

Monika, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

The launch of my digital products and what I call Champion Season really came from a moment of realization in my journey as an entrepreneur.

Last year around early May, I actually created my digital products after taking a class that encouraged us to launch quickly. The idea was to build it and put it out into the world. But something in me just didn’t feel aligned with that approach. I’ve been in business for over two decades, and I didn’t want to release something just to say I had a digital product. I wanted what I created to represent my real experiences, the lessons I’ve learned, and the success that has been substantiated in my life.

So instead of rushing to launch, I paused. I kept hearing the word strategy. I knew that when I introduced these products, they needed to have depth and meaning behind them.

Earlier this year, everything started to make sense. I realized I was entering my 23rd year in business, and interestingly enough it was happening around the 23rd day as well. Seeing those numbers kept reminding me of Michael Jordan and the mindset of a champion. That’s when the idea for Champion Season was activated.

Champion Season became more than just a launch. It became a declaration of the season I was stepping into after 23 years of building, learning, and growing in business.

From there, the strategy started to take shape. I decided that March would be the time to launch because March represents movement. It felt like the right moment to transition from preparation into action.

I also introduced a creative element into the brand by using a caricature of myself as the mascot for the Digital Champion Season series. It added personality to the platform while still representing me and the journey behind it.

Once the vision was clear, the process became about execution. We created visuals, refining the messaging, building the digital series framework, and preparing my audience for whats coming.

The launch wasn’t about pressing a button. It was about aligning timing, strategy, and purpose.

Champion Season represents taking 23 years of experience and turning it into tools that help others build, grow, and move into their own season of success.

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 Monika Willis, and I’m the founder of Moments with Mo®. I’m a celebrity hairstylist, hair wellness specialist, speaker, and entrepreneur with over 23 years in the beauty industry. What started as a passion at a very young age eventually turned into a career that has allowed me to work across multiple spaces — from salon services and hair education to film, television, and entrepreneurship.

My journey into this industry actually started when I was a teenager. I began doing hair at a very young age and quickly realized that it wasn’t just about styling — it was about helping people feel confident, seen, and restored. Over the years, I continued developing my craft, building my clientele, and expanding my knowledge of hair care, hair wellness, and the science behind healthy hair. That commitment eventually opened doors for me to work with celebrities and contribute my work in film and television, earning credits that many hairstylists only dream about.

Through that experience, I realized that the beauty industry is about much more than appearance. It’s about transformation, confidence, and empowerment.

Today, my work through Moments with Mo® sits at the intersection of beauty, wellness, entrepreneurship, and personal development. I provide luxury hairstyling services, hair wellness education, and now digital resources designed to help people grow personally and professionally. Recently, I expanded my brand with the launch of my digital product series, which includes tools, frameworks, and lessons based on my real-life experiences in business and life.

The problems I solve for my clients vary depending on where they meet me in my work. In the salon, I help women restore the health of their hair while also giving them a luxury experience that makes them feel confident and cared for. In my educational and digital work, I help people understand the mindset, discipline, and strategy it takes to build something meaningful and sustainable.

What sets me apart is that everything I teach or offer comes from lived experience. I’m not speaking from theory, I’m speaking from over two decades of building, navigating challenges, evolving as a professional, and continuing to grow.

One of the things I’m most proud of is longevity. Being able to say I’ve been in business for 23 years is something I don’t take lightly. That represents resilience, discipline, and a commitment to continuous growth.

I’m also proud of the evolution of my brand. Moments with Mo® has grown into more than just hairstyling. It’s becoming a platform where beauty, business, healing, and purpose intersect.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and my brand, it’s that everything I create comes from a genuine place of service and impact. Whether someone experiences my work through a hairstyle, a conversation, a speaking engagement, or one of my digital products, my goal is always the same. Leave people better than I found them, hair mind body and spirit.

That’s what Moments with Mo® represents: turning moments into something meaningful, transformational, and lasting.

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

One of the most powerful turning points in my journey came when I realized my career was bigger than the chair.

For years, hairstyling was the center of my professional identity. I built my reputation through skill, consistency, and the relationships I developed with my clients. Being behind the chair taught me discipline, creativity, and the importance of serving people well. But over time, I began to notice something deeper happening in my interactions with clients.

People weren’t just coming for their hair, they were coming for conversation, encouragement, perspective, and sometimes healing. The chair became a place where people shared their life stories, struggles, dreams, and transitions. In many ways, it became a space for transformation beyond beauty.

That realization shifted my perspective. I began to understand that what I carried wasn’t just a technical skill, it was the ability to impact people’s confidence, mindset, and sense of identity.

From that point forward, I started expanding my vision. Instead of limiting my work to services, I began developing platforms like Moments with Mo® where beauty, wellness, business, and personal growth could intersect. That shift allowed me to move into speaking, education, and creating digital resources designed to empower others.

Looking back, that moment taught me an important lesson: sometimes the gift you start with is only the doorway to the greater purpose you’re meant to walk into.

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

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was believing the image people presented instead of paying attention to their actions.

For much of my life, I naturally gave people the benefit of the doubt. If someone presented themselves as supportive, genuine, or aligned with my values, I tended to accept that at face value. I believed in extending grace and seeing the best in people.

But over time through both business and personal experiences, I learned that presentation and character are not always the same thing. Some people know how to create an image that feels trustworthy, even when their behavior tells a different story.

That realization forced me to develop a deeper level of discernment. I had to learn that kindness doesn’t mean ignoring patterns, and grace doesn’t mean overlooking red flags.

What I unlearned was the habit of explaining away inconsistencies. What I learned instead was to trust what people consistently show me.

As I often say now:
“Character reveals itself through patterns, not promises.”

That lesson has helped me build stronger boundaries, protect my peace, and make wiser decisions in both my personal life and my work as an entrepreneur.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MomentsWithMO.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moments_withmo?igsh=cWNkYW8zd2t3eWlv&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A2qYYjoek/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: https://momentswithmo.styleseat.com