We were lucky to catch up with Monique Muhammad recently and have shared our conversation below.
Monique, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One thing we always find fascinating is how differently entrepreneurs think about revenue growth and cost reductions – both can be powerful ways to improve profitability. What do you spend more of your time and energy on?
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?
In the world of business and influence, I am also known as Monique Je’, CEO. I am a single mom of one young woman who is 22 years old. I am the Founder of the 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, Code Pink Productions Inc., a 20-year Breast Cancer Survivor, and I have been the Founder & CEO of The One Nine Group Inc., a professional & financial services/income tax preparation business for over 25 years. I am a former salon owner and a current Texas cosmetologist license holder. I am a retired (since 2000) High school educator/coach (Track & Basketball) for over 15 years in the Chicagoland area.
Currently, I am the Founder & CEO of the Premium CBD Brand, Sixty-Six Life Essentials Corporation, and the current talk show host of the YouTube Channel “Monique Je'” and Podcast “The Weekly Wine Down with Monique Je'”. I am a certified Life Coach & Business Coach, a Motivational Speaker with expertise in overcoming adversity in your thoughts and finances to achieve personal happiness and success.
In 2020, I was named one of the 10 Plano Magazine “Boss Girls” and earned the “Change Maker” designation from Blue Sky Talk Non-Profit Organization. In 2022, I was awarded Atlanta Georgia’s Galentine’s Day Gala Motivation Maven award, Living Magazine’s Leading Woman for McKinney/Prosper areas, the Junior League of Collin County Women of Influence Business Leader of the Year, and was a Top 4 Finalist for D CEO Magazine Micro Organization Leader of the Year.
I provide courses and workshops in my areas of expertise through my online Monique Je’ Academy as well as in-person workshops for individuals and groups aspiring to become business owners, current business owners, and beauty industry licensed professionals. I released my second self-published self-help book of its series, “POWER PASSION PURPOSE & PRAYER” on September 15, 2021. My books are available on Apple iBooks and Amazon as Digital and Paperback. In 2022, I released my own Solutions App that is available now in the Apple & Google Play App Store called “Ask MO MO Knows,” which is designed to provide quick answers to simple yet complex questions related to daily life and business issues of which I have knowledge and expertise.
I’m an only child raised by a single mom on the Southside of Chicago who knows that my successes come because of the village of women and men that I was blessed to have in my life, which is why my goal is to work with the underserved, especially young girls and women, to show them, as I have learned, how to overcome the adversity that growing up in humble beginnings can bring. Overcoming adversity & teaching others how to do the same is my absolute passion and purpose. I strive daily to walk in it to help others through my God-given gifts and talents. I’m known for being a problem solver with a heart of gold, and my mission in life “is to work hard daily to leave a positive impact on the world and every life I am blessed to touch.”
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I was 32 years old, I had just welcomed my first biological child, who was 1 year old, and was also serving as the foster mom of two girls, aged 15 and 17. At that time, I was solely an entrepreneur, diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer. Additionally, one week later, my mom, who I am the only child of and who was also single, was diagnosed with colon cancer. This was an extremely challenging time because, as a 100% entrepreneur (working as both a cosmetologist and an accountant) and a single mom, I had to continue working every day while undergoing chemotherapy for 6 months, followed by 3 months of radiation treatment. During this period, my resilience and determination to live for my children became my primary focus and motivation to fight for my life.
I requested any help that my friends could offer to be directed towards my mom, as she was older and alone, and I was unable to assist her due to undergoing chemotherapy myself. Despite the immense difficulty of balancing work commitments with medical treatments, I refused to give up because I knew that I had reasons to live and lives to impact with my story of triumph and faith. I was unwavering in my belief that my story would transform from a test into a testimony.
This journey began in 2003, and now, by the grace of God, I am here 21 years later, providing support to others through my nonprofit organization, Code Pink Productions Inc. Specifically, our Code Pink Warrior program offers financial and emotional support to warriors and survivors of breast cancer.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I realized that I can serve people best when I stop feeling guilty about my growth and success as a young woman from the inner city. As a child raised by a single mom in the inner city of Chicago, I have a deep connection with struggle. Despite this, as I worked hard to improve my life, I often held myself back or felt guilty about surpassing my humble beginnings. It finally dawned on me that as someone who loves to share and help others, I would often share all the opportunities I had with my friends and even assist them in creating their own. However, if they didn’t seize these opportunities or take advantage of the knowledge I offered, it wasn’t my responsibility to slow down to accommodate them.
With this realization, I began to live by my motto, “Everyone isn’t going where you’re growing,” and started moving forward in my mission and purpose of helping and inspiring those who truly need and want the assistance and services I provide.
Contact Info:
- Website: HTTPS://moniqueje.com
- Instagram: @moniquejeceo
- Facebook: Facebook.com/coachmoniquejeceo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniqueje?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: @moniquejeceo
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@MoniqueJeCEO?si=7t1d2Ct-fpscdpqv
Image Credits
So so City Photography & Golden Light Studios for photo credits.