Her Story
About Monique
I am an entrepreneur and educator teaching marketing and business at the college level to up-and-coming entrepreneurs on how to start, market, and run a business. I am also a business coach for interior designers and creative entrepreneurs, teaching how to market and scale their business and transition from a 9-to-5 job into full-time entrepreneurship as a designer. I started in advertising working for agencies like Yahoo and Microsoft, then started my interior design business after buying a home and discovering my gift in decorating, went back to school for my interior decorating degree, and later started a coaching business with the Employee to Designer Framework to help others transition responsibly. I am most proud of receiving the mentorship award from the High Point Market Diversity Advocacy Alliance last year in 2025 for helping women embark on the entrepreneurship journey.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Monique
01What do you attribute your success to?
Ultimately God, because I set time aside for devotion and believe God is my CEO who guides me on what to do. My village of friends and family who support me, especially as an entrepreneur.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Save at least 10% of any money that passes your hands for a rainy day. Make sure your business is producing at least matching or exceeding your job income before leaving your job to avoid working with a gun to your head and to transition responsibly.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get clear on what your gift is, the thing you do well with the least effort, and focus on developing yourself in that area. Pursue your assignment or purpose, monetize it if making a career, have faith, believe in yourself more than anyone else, put in the work, and everything else falls into place.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is growing and marketing businesses in the interior design industry due to rapid changes with AI and social media algorithms, requiring constant adaptation to stay relevant. The biggest opportunity is that digital tools and AI level the playing field, allowing small businesses to reach large audiences with small budgets like $50-100 a month if they have a strong offer, product, service, messaging, and branding.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Putting God first in everything, believing in myself, having faith that what's for you will be for you. Working in integrity, being a kind person, giving back a portion of earnings. Living a healthy life by prioritizing exercise, breaks, healthy diet, and hydration without guilt, because health is wealth and you can't show up for others without taking care of yourself first.
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