Monique Rodriguez on Building a Business, Facing Adversity, and Trusting God
Monique Rodriguez is the founder and CEO of Mielle Organics, one of the fastest-growing hair products in the country; however, for Monique, it's her faith that matters most to her. As one of the few women of color in this industry, Monique has broken barriers that few people dream would ever happen. In a sit-down interview with Crosswalk Headlines, Monique is clear that without her relationship with God, none of this would be possible. In Monique's new book, The Glory in Your Story, she reveals the ups and downs and the full circle of how God made her into who she is today.
Crosswalk Headlines: Where were you when you knew that it was time to write a book?
Monique Rodriguez: I was in my car, and my dad had called me; he sometimes calls me randomly with these calls just to tell me like, I'm proud of you. I love you. During the call he mentioned it being a mere shock that he still can't believe that I've done and accomplished some of the things I've accomplished. He mentioned in the call that he wanted me to write a book sharing my experiences and all that I've accomplished.
CWH: Why do you think your dad wanted you to write the book?
MR: He was clear that he wanted people to see how I have built and lived out the American dream despite his own setbacks and mistakes, which I share in the book. At that moment, a light bulb went off in my head, and I knew I should write the book.
CWH: How did you walk through your dad's drug addiction growing up?
MR: We never had a bad relationship. I just had to come to terms at a very young age that his addiction is an illness. It's something that had a stronghold over him. I chose to look at his heart and the person he was outside of the addiction. So, I made that decision at a very young age. I talk about in my book the stereotypes of living with someone who's struggling with addiction, especially when you're growing up in the eighties; that type of addiction during that time was a whole other beast. I never had a bad relationship with him because I chose to make the decision to still honor my parents, no matter what.
CWH: What was the writing process for the book like?
MR: Writing the book was a very cathartic experience for me. The book was kind of like therapy for me. I felt like I was expressing my thoughts from my journal, so I didn't have to dig deep to think and recall how certain events took place. I felt like I was in the journal phase of my life when I would journal what was happening in my life.
CWH: Where does your work ethic come from? Starting a successful company can be hard to do.
MR: I don't necessarily think it's motivation because every day I wasn't motivated. I'm not motivated to work, but I have a set of disciplines that I feel every entrepreneur or every hard worker needs to push themselves when motivation is not there. I knew that there was a certain lifestyle and a certain level of freedom and flexibility that I wanted to have for myself and my family. I knew that discipline was the only thing that was going to equate to that freedom. My discipline equates to having this hard work ethic because it's purposeful, and I know that my purpose is much bigger than myself; when I take myself out of the equation and focus on the purpose and the discipline, that's what continues to drive me forth.
CWH: When you were starting the company, did you think it would be successful?
MR: I thought the company would be successful because I felt t was putting my all and everything into this. I know that my vision came from God, and He would equip me with all the resources necessary to build this company. I went into this space because I felt that there was an opportunity to use my platform, my love, and my passion for beauty that I had as a child to show representation.
Photo Credit: ©Instagram/@exquisitemo
Originally published April 30, 2025.
