We had the good fortune of connecting with Folasade Ogunsola and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Folasade, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always been very entrepreneurial in spirit. When I was in high school I would sell candy bars to my classmates and then on the weekends I would sell handbags and jewelry at the local flea market. By the time I got to college I was selling hair extensions with my sister on my school’s campus. When I graduated from college like a rising number of millennials and gen z’ers I couldn’t find a job. I applied for months on end with no luck in landing a career in corporate. So I put on my thinking cap and got the bright idea out of desperation and nowhere else to turn, to launch my own business. It was the only answer I could find to solve my financial problems. So from there I rolled up my sleeves, created an Instagram account for my brand and started selling products on Etsy. My brand at the time Gxld Room was a custom jewelry site. It instantly took off on social media and became a hit. I made $70k+ in my first year of business. After a couple years in business my brand fell off due to my then poor money management skills. I was great at marketing a brand but terrible with the accounting and financial side of things. That was my very first solidified brand and LLC. I learned so many life lessons from that experience. Fast forward to today I am much wiser and experienced in business administration. I now know the true value of having systems in place with running a company. I have now launched my second business named Meshed Earth. It is an online health and wellness marketplace. My thought process behind launching this brand was to provide quality, natural health products to the black community. I have been in the planning stages of this brand for the past 2 years, making sure that everything is in place and that the stage is set for it to flourish. It has taken a long road to get to this point but I’m so excited to see where things go for this new venture of mine. I have amazing expectations and so far the feedback has been great so I’m really happy about that!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Being a business owner has taught me a lot about patience and hardwork. You have to work hard to see results and you have to be patient enough to witness the results of your hard work unfold. What sets me apart from others is my unclenching faith in God. I owe all of my past, present and future successes to Him. Every business idea that I have ever had has come from Him. He plants the vision in my head and I just manage to see it through. Entrepreneurship can be a scary and lonely road, but if you stay focused you will eventually see the fruits of your labor. I have had many challenges on this journey from losing literally everything that I own in business to now years later rebuilding and getting everything back plus more. Throughout it all, my faith has kept me aligned and has kept me sane from not giving up. I want whoever is reading this article to be inspired and to hear my story and see what someone who loves the Lord can accomplish in this modern day and age.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For a fun time in Houston I would take my bestfriend to breakfast at Escobar Cafe, which is a newly opened black-owned coffee shop. We would indulge ourselves in an iced coffee, and my fave food on the menu which is their chicken & waffles. Next because I love any chance for a cute IG pic, I would take them to The Museum of Fine Arts or Candytopia to take some fun selfies in front of the art installations. Then we would head on over to the Galleria Mall to do a little shopping. Lastly, we’d end the evening for dinner at the Turkey Leg Hut for some fun, Tik Tok worthy mentionable food!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I recently moved to Houston, Texas and have stumbled upon a community of successful black entrepreneurs, professionals and students through the organization remnant144. I haven’t known them long, but they have already become such a great support system. Such as Kenya Escobar, Wille Sallie, Brian Cooper, Sharonda Richardson, Zerry Hogan, Tiffany Hall, Halle Spivey, Doreen Desir and so many more members. They are truly heaven sent and a wealth of mentorship/knowledge in the corporate and entrepreneurial sphere. Shoutout to you guys for all of your support!!

Website: www.meshedearth.com

Instagram: @meshedearth

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadeogunsola/

Twitter: @meshedearth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meshedearth/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7QPo1wzcRW1_yS187iOEA

Other: My personal Instagram @folasaderoyal

Image Credits
@meshedearth @folasaderoyal

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