Good
afternoon Nailah:
My name is
Quanda R. Graves, a journalist for the California Crusader Newspaper in
conjunction with Until TV and EIN and I want to thank you for allowing me to
interview you.
How
did you know you wanted to become an entrepreneur? I
have known I wanted to be an entrepreneur since I was in elementary school,
when they taught us the meaning of the word. There is something so incredible
about being in charge of your own path, your own business. I didn’t know then
that along with the title of “entrepreneur” comes a lot of responsibility. Only other entrepreneurs truly understand
what it takes to build a business from nothing, to have employees and families
depend on you. As your business grows that responsibility increases. Still, I
wouldn’t trade what I do for any job I have ever had. There is a freedom that
comes with entrepreneurship. I get to decide how I live, how I devote my time,
where I invest my energy.
I'm
so happy to know that you won Queen Boss, I was rooting for you all but when you
won; it was simply amazing. When you won you expressed that you did it, you
made it and you didn't have a degree. Why did you feel the need to express
that? Thank you! It was so gratifying to have so many people rooting
for me to win Queen Boss. The other contestants were amazing women with great
businesses so winning was a real accomplishment. We are still in contact months after the show
ended, which is a testament to the power of women supporting each other in
business. It was more than a “competition.”
Why did I mention that I didn’t have my degree? That’s a good question.
I was raised to value education. I planned to get a degree, but while I was at
Howard University, I had an “aha moment” as Oprah would describe it. I realized
that instead of spending money I didn’t have to pay for an education I wasn’t enjoying,
I could be investing in my dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Why wait? But
that decision was hard for my family to accept – at least at first. They all
came around eventually and have been very supportive. Still, somewhere deep
down, I must have felt the desire to justify leaving college. Winning a major
competition felt like validation.
You
expressing that, sparked more of a fire inside of me as well as others and I'm
without a degree but people often look down on those who don't have one.
Now, that you've gotten this far without one, do you think it's needed for
the long run or if it ain't broke don't fix it? I believe that we all have our purpose, mine is to run my family
tea business. Others need to search their own hearts for that purpose. I
understand that I don’t possess all the answers, that I don’t know everything I
need to know to run my business to its fullest potential. That is why I seek
answers and input from a wide array of mentors. I have a really good support
network of people who know things that I do not. I ask advice and then weigh
the information against what I know about my company and where I want it to be
in the future. A college degree may not be for me, but I am always learning and
seeking knowledge. To me that is essential in business and in life.
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| CCN - Nailah Ellis Brown Queen Boss Winner pg. 3 |
How
did you get started in the research of knowing where to begin, how to begin and
get started for your business?That’s a great question! I jumped in and started my business
without really knowing what was needed. That has worked for me, but it hasn’t
been easy. Fortunately, I have had great mentors along the way. In the
beginning, I connected with Michigan State University’s Product Center and got
some great support that enabled me to take my product from one brewed in my
mom’s kitchen to one that could be commercialized and sold in stores anywhere.
Always look for resources that can make your journey easier and offer expert
advice.
Was
getting on Queen Boss a strategy to raise more awareness to Ellis Island Ice
Tea considering you were already on the Forbes 30 under 30 list to watch?Yes, the appeal of the show was that it was nationally televised
– and there was a monetary prize for the winner. Every business can benefit
from the exposure offered by television. What I got from the show that I didn’t
expect was a network of sister entrepreneurs whose support I still count on.
The other contestants were there for me even after the show aired.
What
was your biggest challenge on Queen Boss and why? The
social media competition was one I was really nervous about. Managing social media for my business is the
last thing I want to do and have handed over to others whenever possible. So
when they gave me that as a challenge, I was really nervous. But for me a
challenge is a challenge and I have to do my best. I always want to win. When I
have to, I can think outside the box and be creative, which ended up being the
case with the Serena Williams jewelry line Instagram competition. I imagined
myself as someone who would be viewing the post and came up with something I
thought they would find beautiful. I guess it worked!
How
does your father feel about what you've done so far in regard to his recipe? I’m
sure he is proud of me, but the recipe was actually my Great-Grandfather Cyril
Byron’s. My father just shared the information with me. I know my whole family
is happy that I’ve had the level of success that I’ve had and they are behind
me as I try to make Ellis Island Tea into a beverage national brand.
You've
accomplished so much and I'm pretty sure you have not even begun to meet all of your feats just yet. But at this time, what do you do to relax, regroup
and start your day?I try to start every morning with my daughter Aaliyah, keeping
things as normal as possible. I bring her to school then try to spend some time
at the gym before heading into the office. Finding a balance while raising a
child and maintaining a marriage hasn’t been easy, especially lately as we’ve
begun expanding into airports and are about to launch in Midwest Sam’s Club
locations. There is a lot of work and travel involved in building this company.
But, at the end of the day, I am doing it for my family and I try to make sure
they get my attention too. Curling up on the couch next to Rob and reading to
Aaliyah is what I live for, but don’t always have time to spend doing. Making
my family tea is about making a better life for my family. I try to always
remember that.
What
is the next step for you and Ellis Island Ice Tea? We’re
about to launch in airports around the country, which is so exciting. HMSHost,
one of the country’s largest airport concessionaires, has agreed to put Ellis
Island Tea in 14 airports from coast to coast, and in a major New Jersey
shopping mall. That opportunity is huge and has unbelievable potential for
Ellis Island Tea. Our target customer is an adventurer, someone who seeks new
experiences and loves the exotic – which is everything Ellis Island Tea has to
offer. Airports are full of explorers!
We’re also about to launch in Sam’s Club locations in the Midwest, which is an
amazing opportunity as well. Sam’s Club representatives have been great about
helping position us for success even before we hit he cooler shelves. We just
need to seize the opportunity.
Could
you share with us your favorite quote or something like your wise words of
wisdom? My favorite saying is “Pray like everything depends on God, Work
like everything depends on you.” I live a faith-based life. With God, anything
is possible. But God expects us to do our own work, not sit and hope. Every
decision I make for my company, my family, my future is made after praying for
God’s wisdom and guidance. He has never let me down.
Nailah,
congratulations on being the QUEEN BOSS WINNER!!!!! CCN and I would like to
congratulate you on your accomplishments for Ellis Island Ice Tea and we wish
you much success in the near future. May you keep us in mind for future
exclusives. This is has been Quanda R. Graves with California Crusader Newspaper,
Until TV and EIN and I thank you for this interview.
Thank you!!!
#FunFact: After this interview, I found that Nailah Ellis-Brown's deal with Sam's Club went through in the Midwest. Wonderful! CCN Salutes you!
