Her Story
About Mona
Mona Patel is the Founder and CEO of Thrive & Elevate, a marketing and brand strategy studio dedicated to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs build stronger brands through strategy, storytelling, and meaningful connections. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing, digital platforms, and customer engagement, Mona has developed a career centered on creating impactful brand experiences and helping organizations connect authentically with their audiences. Her expertise combines enterprise-level strategic thinking with a personalized approach focused on clarity, visibility, and long-term growth.
Before launching Thrive & Elevate, Mona held leadership roles across the hospitality, technology, and marketing industries. She spent nearly four years at Marriott International as Director of Digital Platforms & Strategy for Gaylord Hotels, where she led digital initiatives and strategic marketing efforts. Prior to Marriott, she built extensive experience at InterContinental Hotels Group in loyalty products, partnerships, digital marketing, and product management. Earlier in her career, she worked at AT&T in roles spanning finance, sales operations, analytics, and online marketing, developing a strong foundation in business strategy and customer-focused innovation.
Beyond her professional work, Mona is passionate about community building and empowering others. She founded South Asian Working Moms, an organization focused on supporting and uplifting South Asian working mothers through connection, professional growth, cultural engagement, and shared experiences. Through both Thrive & Elevate and her community leadership, Mona champions authenticity, collaboration, resilience, and continuous growth—believing that meaningful success comes from building relationships, creating opportunities, and helping others thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mona
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to growing up in a family that valued entrepreneurship, hard work, and perseverance. Watching my parents build their fragrance business taught me the importance of patience, dedication, and thinking creatively when facing challenges. They showed me that not every problem has a simple solution, and that adaptability and resilience are essential for overcoming obstacles. Those experiences shaped my mindset and gave me the confidence to navigate challenges with determination and a problem-solving approach.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my father, who has been one of my greatest mentors. His guidance, along with the support of my personal “board of directors” made up of six to eight trusted advisors, has played a significant role in my growth as a leader and entrepreneur. Their collective wisdom, encouragement, and accountability have helped me make thoughtful decisions, stay grounded, and continue evolving throughout my journey.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to not wait for everything to be perfect before taking action. Perfection can often become a barrier to progress, so it’s important to trust yourself, pursue your ideas, and be willing to learn along the way. Growth comes from taking risks, gaining experience, and continuously improving through each opportunity and challenge.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now is helping people gain clarity around who they are, what they stand for, and how they communicate their value. Many professionals assume others automatically understand what they do, but that message is not always clear from the outside. Whether you are a coach, entrepreneur, or leader, it’s important to communicate your purpose in simple, relatable terms and clearly explain how your work helps others. Creating that clarity builds stronger connections, trust, and opportunities for growth.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are service, authenticity, collaboration, resilience, and continuous growth. I believe that meaningful success is built on genuine relationships, supporting others, and creating opportunities for people to thrive. I am passionate about building communities, empowering women entrepreneurs, and helping others grow both personally and professionally. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, dancing, staying active through fitness, and spending quality time with my family.
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