Latest / Black Business Live Podcast / Businesses Making Waves: Meet Felicia Wright of Mygani!

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Businesses Making Waves: Meet Felicia Wright of Mygani! · Black Business Live Podcast

• 0:03
  Tolu: So we are going to be sharing some stories from one member who has been part of our community since we started. I'm talking way back in 2022 during COVID. Felicia Wright was one of the business owners who said, yes. I would love to be part of the All Things Black and Beautiful platform. And today, it's grown to become more than the All Things Black and Beautiful, but now we have the Black Business Network.
• 0:31
  And last time we had a a screen, a recording, Felicia's product was given as a gift to one of our guests, and before we knew it, her product was, being showcased at the New York Fashion Week. So join me to welcome Felicia Wright, the founder of Mygani LLC, and she'll be telling us a little bit more about her brand. Welcome, Felicia. It's good to see you.
• 0:58
  Felicia: Good to see you too. How are you?
• 0:59
  Tolu: We are good. Thank you. Good. What's it like over there in Jacksonville?
• 1:05
  Felicia: It's good. It's supposed to be fall but it's like 90 degrees today so that's Florida.
• 1:13
  Tolu: Yeah. It's the same here in Texas anyway so
• 1:15
  Felicia: Okay.
• 1:16
  Tolu: We can't complain. Always steamy. Always steamy. Love it. Love it.
• 1:22
  Right. Felicia, we are so excited to have you today because, you know, we've not been we've not stopped buzzing about your brand. You know, I've I've I've followed your product for the last few years and, you know, lot of quality, we love everything about about Mygani. Can you tell us a little bit more?
• 1:40
  Felicia: Yes. So Mygani, and I'll I don't know if a lot of people know this, but the name of the brand, Mygani, is actually an acronym combining the words my god and I. That's what it stands for. I'm not sure if a lot of people know that. And my husband actually came up with that name years ago.
• 2:00
  And for me, at the time, my background is in graphic design. I knew that I just wanted I wasn't really sure what I was gonna do as far as a business or being an entrepreneur, but I knew I always wanted to, you know, lead with integrity, relationship building, and just being authentic. But as the years have grown, using my expertise in graphic design twenty five plus years, I decided that I wanted to do, something with my experience in that area. So I designed, excuse me, images that reflected in a positive way women and girls that look like me. And now I have a daughter, who actually turned 13 this year.
• 2:46
  So the brand has evolved. I know I initially started out just providing services to different organizations, you know, graphic design services, branding, things of that nature. And then I launched my product line back in, 2015. So it's been ten years now. Things have really been going well.
• 3:07
  I've been blessed, you know, in a lot of areas to be in rooms where I never thought I would be. And thank you so much, Tolu Akindunni, for, you know, introducing my brand to different people. It's interesting because people ask me about the, New York Fashion Week, you know, opportunity, and I was trying to explain to some people that I know people see a lot of things online, but that was kind of something that organically happened. You know, when you build relationships with people and, you know, you have a respect for each other, things, you know, evolve over time. So that was kind of like and I think you said 2022 is when we initially met.
• 3:46
  I know we haven't actually met in person. You know, we know a lot of people, you know, online through social media. So I know that we've grown our relationship over the years, and I'm I'm just very appreciative of the opportunity. And again that kind of happened organically and because of relationships that I've built over the years.
• 4:04
  Belva: That is so amazing Felicia. Thank you for sharing. First of all, love the intention that you use for your name and your logo. Yes. And your products are amazing, so thank you so much One for sharing them as well with of the things that I wanted to know was what was your reaction when you found out that Doctor.
• 4:24
  Put your brand, Mygani, in the Cheryl magazine and you realized that you're gonna be in every gift bag at New York Fashion Week.
• 4:34
  Felicia: Right. I was very super excited and just very humble because, you know, people don't have to do things for you. And, again, for me, I know I try to be intentional about being authentic and building relationships with people and just very thankful that even though I wasn't physically in the room or in these spaces, that my brand is still being able to, you know, be spotlighted and highlighted in a positive way in these spaces. And I know I'm a, I guess you could say, a huge fashion girl, and I love accessories, handbags, which is kind of why I got into the area where I'm at now. So I actually was in New York twice over the last year and a half.
• 5:18
  The first time, I was part of the Goldman Sachs black women in business program. And then, again, I was part of the Harlem World fashion show fashion retreat, which was in New York. So I'm just very love all things fashion and creative. So that was a really, huge deal, and I was super excited and just also very just humble again because I'm not physically there, but my brand is still able to be in these spaces, in a positive way.
• 5:49
  Tolu: Absolutely. And you touched on the power of connections, the power of authenticity, and the power of networks there. And that's what what really we're all about is building those connections and that community so that we can support each other and we can sponsor each other as well in rooms where we're we're not present. So that thank you for sharing that, Felicia. You're welcome.
• 6:09
  And I know you're also now exploring some very interesting areas. So you've you've launched the new, the round shaped purses. Can you tell us a little bit more about those?
• 6:19
  Felicia: Yes. So the last, I guess, two years, I'm not I won't say I'm a huge sports fan. I know my husband is really big on, you know, football, and, of course, it's football season. But what attracted me and my dad, when I've grown up, my dad always loved sports. So while I'm not a huge, huge sports fan, why I sit and watch, one of the things that I noticed over the last two years, especially in women's sports, kinda starting with the WNBA, just the power of, I guess, influence and representation, not just on the court, but also off the court in a positive way and even tying fashion into that.
• 6:59
  So earlier this year, I launched, around crossbody, and I'll show you guys an example of it. But one of the areas that I am exploring and looking and getting into is women's sports, specifically women's basketball. And I'm starting with colleges, HBCU because that kind of that demographic aligns with my, brand currently. And I I don't know if you guys can see this.
• 7:24
  Tolu: Yeah.
• 7:25
  Felicia: This is one of the this is our large brown crossbody. So you can see it's a basketball on the front. And I don't know if you guys can meet these words, but I took a tape kind of like a a twist on our our affirmation.
• 7:43
  Tolu: Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Lovely.
• 7:45
  Felicia: Girls win or self confidence, and this is the term that we use a lot right here, the naturally confident Mhmm. In regards to our brand and what it means. But with this particular bag, what I'm looking at doing is partnering with different women's specifically starting with women's basketball, and the colors can be changed, you know, so the team so it can be customized. Mhmm. For me, it aligns with my brand because I'm all about, you know, empowering women and girls in various ways no matter, you know, what they're doing.
• 8:20
  And, again, a lot of what I see and what I've seen over the last two years with the women athletes is not just what they're doing on the court, but also off the court as well in a positive way.
• 8:30
  Belva: That is so amazing and I mean, just empowering other women, young girls, and just women period. This is such an amazing space for you to be in and we know that there's quite a few opportunities coming up here in Dallas. Right? In 2026, Dallas will be sponsoring or one of the cities is sponsoring the FIFA
• 8:50
  Felicia: Right.
• 8:51
  Belva: Coming up. And so are you going to be doing some networking here in Dallas as well?
• 8:57
  Felicia: Possibly. I am looking at it. I know I've always well, I'm always looking for different opportunities outside of where I am, you know, in Florida just to explore different opportunities and expand expand the reach of, the brand, so I'll definitely be looking into it. So you guys might see me there.
• 9:14
  Tolu: Yay. Yay. Well, the good news is that the FIFA World Cup is going to be hosted across the whole of North America. So even in Canada, you know, the East Coast, the West Coast, the Mexico. So, you know, for every business owner out there, particularly if you're in the manufacturing, the accessory manufacturing business, or in your fashion space, this might be your moment to explore new products and services.
• 9:40
  So so, but no, thank you so much. Thank you so much, Felicia, for just sharing about your brand. If you're interested in purchasing any of Mygani's products, the website is www.mygani.com and on there, you'll find you. There was you were even recently showcased by Tabitha Brown, I believe, or not recently. I think that was a few years old now where
• 10:02
  Felicia: Yes. Tabitha Brown. That was two years ago. Two years ago. And it was actually right it was the the last week in August, which is Black Business Month.
• 10:13
  So that was super exciting because when I got selected, I couldn't tell anybody, and then I didn't know when it would actually air. But, Tabitha Brown, she has a platform on social media. Specifically, I think it's on Instagram, but then I know it's, she also shares it on Facebook and YouTube. But where she spot spotlights and highlights black owned businesses, small businesses. And so I was blessed with the opportunity for her to be able to spotlight three of my products.
• 10:43
  It was our backpack. It was a laptop slash crossbody, and then also our bed one of our best sellers, which is I know what you gifted, Cheryl, the trolley trolley travel Yes. And so those three were promoted on there. And the interesting thing is a couple months later that same year, I was a vendor at the, Hallmark Mahogany event in Atlanta, Georgia, and she was the guest speaker or the key speaker. And, she was very intentional about coming around to every vendor table.
• 11:16
  So I got to meet her in person, and so that was really cool. And so I was I had the opportunity to tell her thank you and how I appreciated her, you know, sharing my brand online. That was a really, again, just so thankful for, to be able to be blessed and have these opportunities that, you know, sometimes you think about things and you have vision boards and ideas, but you don't really know how it's gonna come you know, how it will all come to fruition. And so that was just, again, very humbling, very grateful and just very thankful for those opportunities.
• 11:48
  Belva: I love that. Well, my favorite bag I have to tell you is the Wakanda bag. That one was so cute and I'm like, I need that on a t shirt. Need that on a backpack. It's so super super cute.
• 12:02
  Felicia: So Yeah. And the interesting thing about some of those, I know the one you're speaking of was the design was inspired by the first Black Panther movie. Mhmm. And it was and, again, I focus on women and girls. So it was the three main female characters in the movie.
• 12:19
  And then the bag that she gave to Cheryl, that image was inspired by the woman king. And so when I see these different things and sometimes, you know, ideas being a creative person and ideas pop into my head, I knew I wanted to capture those things because it's again, it's about representation, but in a positive way. And, you know, just something that's positive and representation of our culture and especially women.
• 12:47
  Tolu: Absolutely. Felicia, thank you so much. You've shared so much with us, we're just thrilled to have you in our community, and we'll continue to support each other. We can't wait to have you here in Dallas. We'll keep in touch, keep sharing information with each other, and do say hello to your little girl for us.
• 13:07
  Felicia: I will. Yes. She's not so little anymore, but, yeah, I would definitely say hello. She actually I'll just do a proud mom bragging moment. She was into the National Junior Honor Society last week, so she's in the eighth grade.
• 13:20
  She's 13 now,
• 13:22
  Tolu: Wow. Because she's a teenager.
• 13:23
  Felicia: Right. Yes.
• 13:27
  Belva: Well, lastly we'd ask, you know, you've been part of the network as Tolu said since the beginning. What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about joining the network and haven't done so just yet?
• 13:42
  Felicia: I would definitely say if you're thinking about it, you know, do your research, look into it, but having a network and platform like this is is essential to you know, it doesn't matter what type of business you have. Because what I always tell people is and doesn't matter the the type of business you have, but you always need support, you know, even if you're the only one, you know, kind of running it, you're doing multiple things. But a lot of what happens in business, so much as your skills and if you're good at it or what you're doing, but to have that support is key to keep it going. And as we have seen, you know, in the world and society, things are shifting and changing so much from COVID to, you know, just the way, you're able to get products from manufacturers to people buying less. So there's so many things that are going on.
• 14:33
  It's always good to have that support system to kinda figure out, you know, what you need to do next, whether it's a pivot or you need to change, you know, directions based on what's going on depending on what your business is. But having that support of, you know, like like minded people, especially women, maybe even moms that are going through similar things that you're going through, having that support is really key and, you know, you keep going and just staying positive. Because it does it can get frustrating. It can get overwhelming, but having that support system is is key to everything.
• 15:11
  Belva: Thank you so much for sharing that.
• 15:13
  Felicia: Welcome.
• 15:14
  Tolu: Thank you, Felicia.
• 15:16
  Felicia: Appreciate Thank you.
• 15:18
  Tolu: Take care. Take care.
• 15:19
  Belva: Bye now.
• 15:20
  Felicia: Alright. Bye.
• 15:22
  Tolu: So that concludes our community spotlights for today, and we will be doing more in the future. Just stay tuned. One of the reasons why we're doing this is because we wanna showcase the business owners who are in the grind, who are working in the trenches, who are building, who are scaling, not just those who are scaled, but those who are in the process as well. So stay tuned. You'll hear from us
• 15:44
  Belva: soon. Bye now.