Hi everyone I'm Hillary Kerr, the co-founder and chief content officer of who

what where and this is Second Life a podcast spotlighting women who have

truly inspiring careers we're talking about their work journeys what they've learned from

the process of setting aside their doubts or fears, and what

happens when they embark on their second life.

Today on the show, I'm speaking with the founder and CEO of Myel Organics, the one and only Monique Rodriguez.

Though Monique always had an interest in beauty, she initially opted for stability, starting her career as a registered nurse in the labor and

delivery unit at a high-risk hospital.

Monique spent eight years in the medical field, but, after experiencing a tragic life event, she returned to

her passion for beauty as a means of healthy distraction. She began experimenting

with hair product formulations in the kitchen,

sharing her personal hair care journey, and the science behind certain ingredients on social media.

But when her followers began urging her to bottle and sell the hair care mixture she was creating at home.

Monique realized that her side project had the potential to serve women beyond her immediate

sphere. In 2014, she launched Myel with one product, a mint almond hair

oil and a year later, her product sold out in 95 Sally Beauty stores.

Since then, Myel has grown to include 10 collections,

arrived on shelves in over 100,000 stores in the US, and in 2023 was acquired by Procter and Gamble, marking the largest

exit ever for a black female beauty founder, Monique's persistence and ability to lead with passion is truly inspiring,

and I'm so excited for you to hear from her today.

Now, on Second Life, it's Monique Rodriguez.

All right, Monique.

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