We recently connected with Stephanie Mbelu and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission of Doyenne Consulting is to empower women-led small businesses with tailored strategies to increase their efficiency, accelerate their business growth, and achieve tangible success.

It’s especially important to me to help women-led businesses with their operations because they are less likely to get the funding and support they need to operate effectively or even stay open at all. When dealing with limited resources, efficiency can make or break the business. Additionally, more often than not, women are running their businesses while still caring for their families. In that case, efficiency becomes just as much about quality of life as money.

One of my first clients was a woman building a beauty brand while married and raising five children. She was homeschooling two of them. Her time was just as important, if not more so, than the money she needed to make in her business. I was casually talking to her about her recruiting process, and I realized I could help her streamline the process and save time on hiring and onboarding. It was and continues to be important for me to support her and the 20 women she employs in making the money they need to support themselves and their families.

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 passion is helping women excel in their businesses so that they can live fuller lives.

When I graduated college, I went to work for the YWCA. Its mission is “eliminating racism and empowering women.” It was there, working 12-hour shifts in the women’s domestic violence shelter, that I learned that the number one predictor of when a woman can live a life free from violence is when she is financially able to do so. My experience early in my career ignited my passion to help women gain financial freedom and independence.

As a soldier in the United States Army Reserve, I have had the privilege of serving my country and learning that I can do more than I ever imagined. After over 21 years of experience with the Federal Government, both as a soldier and a civilian, I have come to see the value of standardization, automation, flexibility, professionalism, and just plain getting it done. However, I have also had to work in an environment that is not always welcoming to women of color. I want to help women build companies that run well and appreciate what women in leadership bring to the table. These are some of the reasons I started Doyenne Consulting. I want to equip other women with the knowledge and support to move forward in their businesses.

I identify gaps and transform complicated processes into clear strategic systems and free up time and energy for my clients so they can truly step into their role as CEO. As the systems expert, I provide streamlined, customized solutions that alleviate operational stress and optimize business operations. By implementing the right solution for each client, I ensure businesses are not just efficient but excellent.

My services include one-on-one strategic planning sessions, operations audits, and business operations management.

My services are for business owners who are overwhelmed with the complexity of their business operations and are ready to get clear on a better way to execute their vision and fall back in love with their business.

A business can survive on hustle and grit, but to grow and make more money without sacrificing the quality of your services, you need systems and teamwork.

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

I had to unlearn the meaning of professional. As a woman of color in the Army, professionalism meant not being able to show up as my authentic self. That doesn’t work when it comes to running my own business. It’s taken me a while to learn that as a business owner, I must professionalize my business in a way that is in keeping with my values and feels authentic for me. This is also something I help my client with too. I help them build professional, smooth-running businesses that support the beliefs they value and the lives they want to live.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I’ve found the most success meeting potential clients face-to-face at networking events or speaking engagements. Plus, the referrals that come from those connections have been a game-changer for me. It’s amazing how powerful word-of-mouth can be when it comes to growing your business. However, this year I’m going to lean into social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: doyenneconsulting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doyenneconsulting/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-m-4ba48431/