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

Hi Monique, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career? Maybe you can share a story (or stories) that illustrate the things they did right and the impact they had on you and your journey.

My parents did the right thing by introducing me to Jesus. As their presence in my life lessened over time, my relationship with the Holy Spirit deepened, fueling my faith in my passions and reinforcing my self-confidence in ways I never imagined.
As a minister’s child, I spent countless hours in church—often begrudgingly. Skipping services, holiday events, or Bible studies was never an option. At the time, I resented it. But as I grew older and familiar relationships faded, those lessons remained. When I was sad, I remembered, “Jesus wept,” too. When I felt unseen, I held onto the truth that Jesus died for me. When I had nothing, I trusted that Jesus restores.

My parents instilled in me the value of faith—not just in God, but in myself. They taught me to move through the world with confidence, knowing that no matter what I face, I am never alone.

Monique, 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?

I am Monique Gill, a Marquis Who’s Who Creative Producer, Film Director, and Founder of Moknowsbest, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth through film education. My journey into filmmaking began after my parents’ divorce, which led me from Houston, TX, to Stone Mountain, GA. At Stephenson High School, I found my voice through the lens—producing live shows, competing in local technology fairs, and developing a visual language that helped me not only perceive the world but also redefine my place within it.

Inspired by my own experiences, I founded Moknowsbest with the mission to encourage youth to exemplify emotional maturity and self-awareness through filmmaking. Our flagship program, The Bluest Space Youth Film Intensive, is a six-session documentary film production course designed to help participants express their emotions through film. This tailored mentorship program serves as a creative platform to reduce negative emotions, build self-esteem, and foster empathy—reshaping how young people perceive their worth in society while equipping them with marketable skills.

We’re excited to expand our film services to support future youth initiatives and collaborate with new clients. Our team specializes in product marketing and prioritizes powerful visual storytelling, offering brand storytelling, video production, and high-quality photo branding for short films, commercials, and brand narratives.

With a focus on authenticity, audience engagement, and creative execution, we transform your vision into impactful, emotionally driven content that creates a lasting impression. Let’s create something extraordinary together!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Great question! A lesson I had to unlearn was that perfection equals success. For the longest time, I believed everything I created or worked on had to be flawless to be valuable. Its not just about looking good. It’s also about doing good and feeling good as well.

The backstory? It came from years of being praised for doing things “perfectly” in school and at home. I became afraid of making mistakes because I thought it would result in shame or make me seem less capable. This mindset made me overthink everything, and it slowed me down, made me avoid risks, and, honestly, sucked the joy out of creating.
I had to unlearn that “perfection” isn’t the goal—progress is. A pivotal moment was when I saw how much more authentic, impactful, and relatable my work became when I allowed myself to be human—imperfections and all. It taught me that vulnerability and growth carry far more weight than chasing unattainable perfection.

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

The initial capital to fund our first youth film intensive program came by way of crowd-funding through the Fundrazr online platform. We ran a vigorous social media campaign in which we raised $4,070 in contributions and in-kind donations to provide participants’ filmmaking kits. We were down to the wire, with five kids registered. It was really a grand slam for all the proponents to come together and make for a great first summer session.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.moknowsbest.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moknowsbest.atl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Moknowsbest.ATL
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moknowsbest-inc/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@moknowsbest_atl