Rooted in Self-Care: Meet Grant Winner Dr. Monica Riley of Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty
Behind every small business lies a story of courage, community, and conviction. For Dr. Monica Riley, founder of Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty, that story reached a powerful new milestone after receiving the $1,000 Flourish Media Small Business Grant during the 10th Anniversary Flourish Media Conference.
The grant, awarded during the February 20–21 event celebrating a decade of supporting women founders, recognizes entrepreneurs who are actively growing their businesses while contributing to the Flourish community.
We spoke with Dr. Monica about how this experience affirmed her vision, strengthened her confidence, and marked the beginning of a new season of growth for her business.
HOW DID WINNING CHANGE THE WAY YOU SAW YOUR BUSINESS?
Winning the Flourish Media Small Business Grant felt deeply affirming for my business and my purpose.
More than funding, it felt like being seen. This grant is a vote of confidence in my vision and in the 100 years of healing traditions rooted in my Afro-Indigenous legacy.
Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty was created to empower women—especially women over 40—to prioritize daily self-care and confidently embrace their belonging in the beauty and wellness space. The grant allows me to pour back into the community that inspired this work while continuing to expand the clean beauty space so that beauty is normalized as diverse, unique, and inclusive.
As we celebrate ten years of growth and resilience in the Flourish community, this support helps me move forward with even greater purpose—expanding our impact, scaling our vision, and bringing bold ideas to life.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO APPLY OR ATTEND ONE OF OUR EVENTS CONNECTING WOMEN TO CAPITAL?
In times like these, the funding pools for women of color founders can feel barren.
The financial landscape has changed dramatically since I founded my company ten years ago, and it continues to evolve every day. What drew me to Flourish Media was the safe space to learn about funding and capital.
Through the community, I’ve become more comfortable talking about money, finances, and the areas where I’m still learning. That openness has been incredibly empowering.
My Nana used to say, “You’ve got to commence to gettin’ or get got.” For me, the latter is simply not an option.
HOW HAS WINNING THE FLOURISH MEDIA SMALL BUSINESS GRANT IMPROVED YOUR MINDSET AROUND APPLYING FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES?
Winning the grant inspired my confidence in a powerful way.
I was recognized not only for my business, but also for my active participation within the Flourish community. Being acknowledged and supported reminded me that the work I’m doing truly matters.
For me, leading with compassion and service is my “why.” I genuinely care for my tribe, and this experience reinforced that community-centered leadership is valuable.
Feeling seen has strengthened my confidence to continue pursuing new opportunities for growth.
WHAT IS YOUR NEXT BIG MILESTONE WITHIN YOUR BUSINESS YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH?
My next big milestone is expanding my team.
During Q4 of 2024 and Q1 of 2025, our customer base grew by 62%, which has been incredibly exciting. That growth means that bringing on a social media manager and a customer service specialist is now within reach.
Building the right team will help us support our growing audience while continuing to provide meaningful products and experiences.
WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE BEEN WORKING ON IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT YOU WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW?
When January 2025 began, my mantra was simple:
“I’m going to thrive in 2025.”
Since then, the business has expanded into global partnerships, and I’m thrilled to share that we’re on the verge of becoming a featured brand partner with the SHEIN US Marketplace.
Our products have previously been featured with Macy’s, Nordstrom’s Eastern Region, and Amazon, but this opportunity would mark our first step onto the global stage.
It’s exciting and a little scary—but I’m a risk taker. I believe that sometimes you just have to leap and figure things out on the way down.
WHY SHOULD OTHER WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS APPLY FOR THE FLOURISH MEDIA SMALL BUSINESS GRANT?
Women business owners should absolutely apply for the Flourish Media Small Business Grant.
Not only does it provide financial support, but it also offers access to a powerful network of women entrepreneurs who uplift and support one another.
The biggest gift is realizing that once you join this community, you’re no longer building alone.
✨ Follow Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty and stay connected as Dr. Monica continues empowering women through wellness, clean beauty, and self-care rooted in tradition.
🌱 Are you ready for your next season of growth?
Apply for the Flourish Media Small Business Grant and connect with a community dedicated to helping women founders access capital and opportunity.
Apply here:
https://www.flourishmediaconference.com/fmc-scholarship
