She’s That Girl: Meet Author, Founder, and CEO, Monica Brown

Monica Brown is the Author of Only One: How to Be a Bad Ass Boss in Corporate America and the Founder and CEO of The Marcell Williams Entertainment Agency and 10:04 Media Productions.

Where does your boldness and confidence come from? 

My boldness and confidence have always been a part of who I am, even from a young age. Growing up, I was deeply influenced by my mother and grandmother, two incredible women who taught me the importance of self-love and living fearlessly. Their guidance and example left me with no choice but to embrace who I am and approach life with courage. I firmly believe that anything I can dream can and will come true, and that belief fuels my confidence every day.

When you’re faced with adversity, what motivates you to keep moving forward? 

When I'm faced with adversity, what motivates me to keep moving forward is my belief that adversity isn't inherently bad. I see it as a necessary part of life that builds character, courage, and confidence. Everything happens for a reason, and there's always a lesson to be learned from each challenging experience. Knowing and believing this keeps me grounded and focused. I try to live beyond the moment, never dwelling on things that didn't go my way. Adversity tests your commitment to achieving your goals and helps you change your circumstances for the better. My faith and my family are also powerful sources of motivation, giving me strength and purpose to keep pushing forward.

What is one goal you set and achieved that made you feel like “I’m That Girl”?  

LOL! I love this question! EVERY goal I’ve achieved makes me feel like “I’m that girl”!! Each accomplishment requires me to be very intentional about what I do, from the most minuscule task to big achievements… BUT, if I had to choose one thing for this question, I would say writing my book about my climb up the corporate ladder. I poured my heart and soul into that book, highlighting my triumphs and pitfalls, showcasing how I was able to maneuver as a Black woman in a predominantly white male industry. There were so many people that reached out to me to let me know how my book validated their feelings and inspired them to continue to move forward. When I wrote my book, my purpose was to share everything that I had experienced and to purge some of the negative emotions that stemmed from certain situations. I never thought that my words would influence and inspire so many people. And because of that, I KNOW that “I’m That Girl!”

My book, Only One: How to Be a Bad Ass Boss in Corporate America, is available for purchase on Amazon.com.

What has been the best advice you have been given to date? 

The best advice I’ve ever received was to never wait on anyone. My mentor at the time told me that waiting on other people will make you miss your blessings. No one has the ability to alter your path unless you give them that opportunity. For example, if there’s a networking event and I invited a friend to go with me and she cancels, do I stay home because she doesn’t go with me? Absolutely not! I would go because there might be someone there I need to meet, someone who could help me with a project or something important, or maybe we were just meant to meet. That advice changed my life! Now, my decisions are based on what I want, not on what someone else says or to accommodate somebody else. If I want to go, I’m going. If you decide to go with me, great; if not, that’s also great. But what I do is not based on what others do or their actions.

At what point did you look at your business and consider it a success? 

As it relates to my businesses, I am still defining what success looks like. Sometimes, the fact that I’m even pursuing a business can quantify as success. There are so many people who hold themselves back from trying new things or pursuing a dream or passion they’ve had for a long time. So, to even start a business and take that risk can be viewed as a success. On the other hand, success can also be defined by financial gain, recognition, and acceptance. Given all the business ventures I’ve started so far, the definition of success is still being written. But the fact that I’m able to move past the fear of what others call failure—that alone is what I would define as success in this moment.

How do you maintain a work-life balance? 

Work-life balance is never a 50-50 situation. Making time to spend hours and days with friends, family, or to travel is a very intentional process. Work can consume every minute of every hour of every day if you allow it. Sometimes, I work 80% of the time and only leave room for about 20% to accommodate other things. Then there are times when I need a mental break, and I want to spend time with my boyfriend and family. The beach is my happy place! A few times a year I try to make sure I’m able to put my toes in the sand and enjoy the serenity of the waves. Then there a days when I decide that I’m going to do absolutely nothing!! LOL Those are the best! 

So, I’m not sure if there’s really a true definition for work-life balance, but I know that there’s a time and a place for everything. My phone rings constantly which means I have to be very intentional  about how much time I’m spending on the hustle. My mental and emotional health, my family and my friends are just as important to me as chasing success! I always have to remember that I have to take care of me… ;-) 

Where can we our readers find you online?

IG @MsMonicaBee

TikTok @MsMonicaBee and @BumbleBaes3122