Many content creators focus on sales, but the ones who put the most emphasis on fostering relationships beyond their platforms are the creators driving innovation. Storytelling is an art, but it takes vulnerability and absolute authenticity to turn it into a service. It’s also about purpose—the purpose to connect, inspire, and uplift. The most successful entrepreneurs are the ones attracting customers through their stories, provoking new ways of communicating and connecting.

In celebration of International Women’s Month, we’re sharing the entrepreneurial journeys of two content creators turned business owners—Barbie Brignoni and Mikayla Shocks—who built successful businesses through their work as storytellers and community builders. As the Creative Director at Noni Collective, Barbie Brignoni lends her expertise to purpose-driven Latinx brands journeying to reach their highest potential, while outwardly embracing her natural beauty—to help others do the same—as the co-founder of Regen Curl. Content Creator and entrepreneur Mikayla Shocks founded SOL SISTER, a jewelry brand inspired by her soul sisters—inclusive of her 3 daughters and tight knit community of strong young women. Showing up as her authentic self (as a mother and business owner) on social media has allowed her to build a community where others can show up exactly as they are, too. 

Ahead, both tell a broader narrative of how they uncovered an entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovation through the lens of their stories.

Barbie Brignoni

Prior to becoming a fulltime content creator and entrepreneur, you worked a 9-5 in the fashion industry. What inspired you to open up and share your creative pursuits with others, and why do you think it has resonated with so many young women?

I think even before I worked in a 9-5 job in the Fashion Industry, I had a very clear vision of wanting to be of service to others through fashion. I have always been a very spiritual person and I believe God pushed me in a direction to help inspire other girls and connect with them on a deeper level. I didn’t know how I could achieve that exactly but with time it started happening organically through conversations about personal style, embracing one’s natural beauty (in my case my curls), and learning about sustainable/conscious practices.

You launched Noni Collective, a space where you provide conscious consulting to Latinx Creators building purpose driven brands. What was the lightbulb moment for Noni Collective, and how did you lean into your entrepreneurial spirit to launch it to success?

When I was doing my Masters Degree in Creative Direction for Fashion Brands, I realized that there was so much more to a brand than just a nice typography and color palette, there is a mission and a compelling story behind it that aims to inspire a behavior or a shift in mindset. During my studies I learned how to dig deeper and find a  brand’s true purpose and how to fill a white space in the market with this purpose, and how to articulate it in a way that feels authentic to the brand’s experience. I realized how valuable this knowledge was for building my own brand and how little information there was out there for indie designers and emerging brands. I realized that I had to do something about it and so I decided to share all my knowledge by offering consultations and creative direction to emerging brands and upcoming fashion/beauty entrepreneurs in order to help them build purpose-driven brands and achieve their highest potential.

"When the question you’re asking yourself is “How can I look more like that?” you create a world that limits your abilities, you immediately prevent your creativity from exploring the unknown because your focus lies in the already known and done. Instead, when you ask yourself “How can I continue to embrace my own uniqueness?”

You strive to inspire girls to “live unapologetically, dream endlessly, and own their style confidently.” How are you using your platform as a vehicle for women’s empowerment?  

Those words have always been like a mantra for me throughout my personal journey. These words have served as a compass and have allowed me to: be vulnerable and completely open about my curly hair journey and my healing journey; continue being unapologetically myself even when I’ve faced cyber bullying; chase my dreams of living in NYC.

All these tests have become my testimony. These pivotal moments have allowed me to connect with more and more women who aspire to achieve similar things in life.

Your impact as a mentor is undeniable—How do you create an environment that fosters meaningful connections?

Wow! That’s a great question! I believe in loving unconditionally and being of service. I see my community of women as sisters and as a big sister IRL, I try to fulfill my role in each of their lives the best way that I can. I believe that by pouring knowledge, blessings, a word, whatever it is that they need in their cups, life rewards me with a bigger cup with bigger blessings. By fostering this dynamic within my community I show them to do the same for others.

Who has made the biggest impact on your journey?

During my many ups and downs battling anxiety and depression, a dear friend of mine, Danila, who is a mental health advocate, reminded me once about the importance of being grateful. During one of our conversations, she shared with me her simple gratitude practice. When I began implementing gratitude in my daily routine, I really began to see things change around me.

I also believe that authors Erwin McManus and Marianne Williamson have definitely shaped who I am and how I choose to see the world.

What have you learned from your community? 

I think they have taught me that humility is the biggest act of bravery. And I say the “biggest” because it takes so much courage to dismantle one’s ego and be humble with people you don’t know. They have taught me to not be afraid to send a positive DM to someone you admire and to let them know that they’re doing great things.

As a creative entrepreneur, how do you hope to drive innovation through the stories you tell?

Another great question. The answer is by believing in one’s own power, embracing one’s uniqueness and avoiding comparison at all costs. I always say “When the question you’re asking yourself is “How can I look more like that?” you create a world that limits your abilities, you immediately prevent your creativity from exploring the unknown because your focus lies in the already known and done. Instead, when you ask yourself “How can I continue to embrace my own uniqueness?” You immediately spark excitement, imagination and innovation and your creativity takes you to a world where possibilities feel endless. As a creative entrepreneur, I believe in finding and building upon your WHY, your values, and most importantly trusting your soul.

What advice can you share for women who want to connect with their entrepreneurship spirit?

The real work starts within. Creating a ritual that prioritizes your emotional, spiritual, and physical health is key to long-term success. Also, you can not inspire others without doing the true soul work first. Think about it this way. When your flight is about to take off, the flight attendant always says “put your mask on first before helping others”. Well, your flight is about to take off, you are about to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, so you need to make sure you know exactly how to take care of yourself first if you ever plan on helping others. Do the soul work first and then take care of the rest, so prioritize your 10 minute meditation before your emails, prioritize your books before your screen time… find healthy habits that not only set you up for a productive day, but for a day filled with joy and gratitude.

Mikayla Shocks

After garnering a substantial following on Instagram, you decided to take a leap into the life of a full time content creator in 2016. What inspired you to open up and share your personal life with others, and why do you think it has resonated with so many young women?

I was a young college student who got pregnant unexpectedly, and it was a very isolating feeling. I couldn’t relate to any “typical” moms, and I didn’t fit in with any of my peers. My ultimate goal when I initially started sharing my life was to serve as a source of both inspiration and representation for other women who were in my position. I think this resonated with many young women because I was living proof that we, as women, have the ability to overcome, conquer, and achieve any goal we set out for ourselves, despite the odds being stacked against us.  

You have this undeniable ability to connect with your community through moments of real and raw relatability. How do you create an environment that fosters meaningful connections?

My platform and community are built on trust, honesty, and the vulnerability in sharing the struggles of my real life (and laughing at myself through it all). I have never been ashamed of being open about the hardships I’ve faced on my journey, and how it was those very hardships that led me to the life I live today. From having a newborn in college and living off of $60 monthly grocery budget, to the unfiltered realities of motherhood, to navigating life with an anxiety disorder, nothing is off-limits when it comes to my content.  My community has allowed me to show up as my authentic self, and in turn, has helped shape this incredible environment where others can show up exactly as they are too, without fear of shame or judgment.

In 2020 you launched Sol Sister, a lifestyle brand selling affordable clothing and water-resistant jewelry, custom designed by you! What was the inspiration behind the brand, and how did you lean into your entrepreneurial spirit to launch it to success? How have you combined your platform with Sol Sister to be a vehicle for women’s empowerment?  

As my presence on social media grew, my community began asking for a physical representation of my family.  I really wanted to create something that was not only unique, but that also carried deep meaning, while simultaneously helping others to feel more beautiful and confident in themselves. The entrepreneur in me wanted an item that could live independently from who “Mama Shocks” is and thus, SOL SISTER was born.  We started off by creating three custom pendants, two of which represented our daughters, and the third represented our family as whole. We started out by packaging orders in our garage but it has now grown into a full-scale business with over 130 SKUs!

Our main focus when it comes to our products is that they are high-quality and affordable.  My community is made up of young women, many of which who are in college or just starting off in “the real world” and likely do not have a lot of discretionary funds.  We want all women, despite your socioeconomic status, to be able to enjoy our products and feel beautiful.

SOL SISTER’s mission is to serve as a representation of strong, confident women, who stay unified and uplift one another.  We also want to lead the way as a socially conscious business. We regularly find ways to give back to women-run non-profit organizations and take a strong stance on important social justice matters that we believe in, many of which involve women’s rights.

"It’s [my community] who has made me feel most comfortable being my truest self. They have accepted me, my family, and all of our chaos with open arms and have truly shown me the power of women supporting other women, especially inside of the hypercritical-beast that is social media."

You often speak of the adoration and admiration you have for your own community of soul sisters—Who has made the biggest impact on your journey?

It may sound cliché, but my mom has been my inspiration and biggest champion. She and I have similar backgrounds in that she, too, had me at a very young age. I was raised as an only child and grew up watching her climb the ladder of success at her job. She never complained about our situation and always did everything she could to ensure I never wanted for anything.  At the same time, she always encouraged me and trusted me to make decisions for myself. When I made mistakes, she held my hand as I walked through them. She remains my biggest cheerleader and best friend, and truly embodies everything I want to be as a woman and a mother to my three daughters.

Every week you join your community on Instagram Live for “Unwined Wednesday” offering a place for unfiltered banter and connection. What have you learned from your community? 

My community thrives on genuine, organic  conversation, which is exactly what happens during my weekly lives. Unwined Wednesday has played a pivotal role in not only my growth on this platform, but also in building such a strong bond with my community. They never cease to amaze me.  They are enthusiastic, dedicated, funny and most of all, supportive. They cheer for not only me, but for each other and honestly, don’t judge.  Despite their personal challenges or differences, they are proof that it is possible to band together and support one another. 

It’s them who have made me feel most comfortable being my truest self. They have accepted me, my family, and all of our chaos with open arms and have truly shown me the power of women supporting other women, especially inside of the hypercritical-beast that is social media.

As a creative entrepreneur, how do you hope to drive innovation through the stories you tell?

When it comes to my content, I aim to take a much more in-the-moment, non-curated approach.  I think it helps serve as an example for others to help them foster their own community based on their real life. I hope it gives them the courage to take the leap and find their own purpose on this platform and inspires them to never try to be something they are not or be ashamed of where they came from.

What advice can you share for women who want to connect with their entrepreneurship spirit?

Find your passion – what inspires you – what makes you happy. Remember that success doesn’t happen overnight, and that sometimes your passion won’t pay the bills for a long time.  You must believe in yourself, stick with it, believe you can succeed, and have a clear vision of what you want to create. Don’t be afraid of failure, it happens to the best of us. Instead, use it as fuel to propel you to success.