We caught up with the brilliant and insightful SJ McMillan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

SJ, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

MelanList was founded to reinforce financial activism within the Black community. MelanList defines financial activism as the act of intentional and regular support of businesses that share the consumer’s values and or culture. When our company was created, our focus was on how to inject more capital into the community. MelanList is counting on the Black community to save itself and is the most honorable and vital place to begin strengthening Black wealth. One of the seven days of Kwanzaa is Kujichagulia – Self Determination. We exhibit this trait daily to show the Black community its greatest strength is within. We understand the best place to invest our money is with those who will feed it back into Black commerce.

MelanList invests in the community in two ways: 1) Business Development and Investing 2) Free and Paid Community MeliMoney Challenges

Our company profits return back to the Black community in the same two ways above building stronger layers of Black wealth and trust between its members. We believe the greatest return is expanding the minds of Black people to recognize and seek out our excellence and expertise.

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?

Hi Everyone! I’m SJ McMillan, CEO and Founder of MelanList. This business was started July 2020 as a tangible and actionable solution in connecting the Black diaspora to its booming business sector.

MelanList is the name of elevated business practices in the Black community. We want to make it easy for everyone to demonstrate their commitment to the Black community.

For Businesses, we offer credentialing, development services, and investing. Our Business Partners are at least 50 percent Black-owned, have or seek to obtain at least a 50 percent Black workforce, and participate in at least 2 community events per year.

For the community, we offer money challenges where MelanList pays the shopper back when they buy Black by winning our MeliMoney challenges. What does that look like?

Every month we release a free challenge at no charge. For example, September is the month for Black cleaning supplies. Purchase a Black cleaning product, enter and complete the challenge – winner gets $75*. For free! Now if you’re interested in kicking it up, join as a MelanList Patron for $10 a month and get access to exclusive challenges up to $1000 a quarter for members only.

We want people to start putting their money where heart is™ and using financial activism as the first and easiest step to building up Black commerce. We are proud to be the trellis connecting earth and sky in Black business. When you join MelanList, you join a community of individuals proving with their loudest voice – their dollar – that they support and will take responsibility for improving the standing of Black economics. Join the Jamaa today!**

*Winnings delivered eGiftcard
**Jamaa – Swahili for “your people, kinfolk”

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Convenience is an illusion. In the United States, we are conditioned to run to our nearest big box store or order the item online for whatever is needed. That behavioral ritual siphons trillions of dollars out of the Black community. Just because that store is close by does not mean that the people working there value you, your dollar, or anything you stand for. It doesn’t mean those products were made with you in mind. Some people don’t see this as an issue yet intentionally is everything. Making the conscious decision to shop where I am catered to, where I feel welcomed, and where I am energized has been surprisingly challenging. With this came detoxing Anti-Black and discriminatory concepts, thoughts, or ideals that unconsciously and subconsciously stop Black people from effortlessly supporting one another the way they do white businesses. MelanList is here to help anyone who wants to support Black businesses through this journey.

Any advice for managing a team?

Culture starts with the leaders. Everyone else will mirror how the executives handle themselves. If a frantic, distrustful C Suite leads an organization, panic and distrust is the culture they are producing. If an understanding CFO acts with humility and compassion, accepting and normalizing the human experience at work is the culture they repeat. Carefully selecting team members that resonate and appreciate the organization’s core values along with regular alignment sessions will ensure leaders develop in tandem with the culture. The healthier the company culture is, the higher the morale. Don’t make culture an afterthought! How decisions are made every day is the culture. If you and your organization have missed the mark and want to evolve your company culture, try KeepWOL. www.keepwol.com

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melanlist.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/melanlist
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/melanlist
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/melanlist
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYxWaiJyaPJQDYpldUSUVdA
• Other: email: [email protected]