Today we’d like to introduce you to Mayah Williams.
Hi Mayah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I applied for a business and entrepreneur scholarship known as the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Koch Scholars Program. In 2017, I was selected to receive $20,000 towards my undergraduate education plus an all- expense paid trip every year for the next three years to attend a business conference in Washington, DC. At the student business pitch, I won second place out of hundreds of students. So, I made it my duty to make my business idea into my platform for when I ran for Miss Junior at Allen University.
I got involved with working on political campaigns during the 2020 Presidential election along side my reign as Miss Junior. As I got more involved in the community, I had the opportunity to meet so many different powerful leaders. I have met Mayor Benjamin, Judi Gaston, Michelle Kwan, Representative Gilda-Cobb Hunter, Representative Terry Alexander, Senator Ronnie Sabb, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Bernie Sanders, and even President Joe Biden. I had the opportunity to donate to the Obama Foundation and received an autograph thank you letter from Barack and Michelle Obama. I made it my business to enter into law school to learn more about politics and business law.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of my struggles were finances. I created my brand while I was a campus queen in college. During my reign, I was very busy with school, work, internships, and curricular activities that my business was not able to operate to its full capacity. I did not officially establish the business until 2020 and I did not get an official domain until recently.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Shortly after leaving DC, I created Roots of Royalty. Roots of Royalty is a brand that was established to empower the community. As a part of my empowering journey, I donate a percentage of paraphernalia sales to organizations who I believe will lead to the betterment of the society in which we live. Roots of Royalty focuses on mental health, professional development, unity, human rights, education, youth mentorship, and women’s health and empowerment. I hope one day to develop these into different departments in an actual office.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I had very little support in undergrad and having an e-commerce business is difficult to run when the goal is marketing a business to a certain audience. The likes and shares discourage me because I feel unheard and unseen. I do give credit to my mentor, Attorney Nancy Rhoads, who successfully helped me get into law school. She’s given me the tools to learn new skills and venture off and be a leader. I want to thank my sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and also a host of family and friends. My sweet friend Marcedes Preston of Detroit, Michigan had the opportunity to speak on behalf of the business idea I presented to our team because no one else agreed that it was a good idea, but she was all for it and gave the idea of starting off e-commerce. We showed them how the Midwest do! Us Ohioans love our Michiganians. Don’t we ?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/mayahwilliams
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayah.amorai
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayah-williams-b-a-42673a166
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@amorai.creole?si=TDdRiavt1wTvVpUv
