Apr 13 2025 29 mins
🗣️ Dr. Kimberly McGlonn shares her extraordinary journey from being abandoned by her parents at age 14 to becoming a PhD, educator, and founder of Grant Boulevard, the first Black-owned B Corp in the fashion space in North America.
Dr. McGlonn is an award-winning social entrepreneur whose work has been funded by Beyoncé and featured in major media outlets. As the founder of Grant Boulevard and Blk Ivy (a brand paying homage to Civil Rights Movement figures), she combines sustainable fashion with social justice, addressing climate change and criminal system reform through stylish, sustainably sourced clothing.
Dr. McGlonn opens up about her difficult childhood, the teachers who saved her, and how these experiences shaped her mission to create a sustainable fashion business that provides living wages to vulnerable populations. Her book "Build it Boldly" explores how personal identity can inform purpose-driven business practices.
Key Takeaways:
🗣️ From Abandonment to Achievement: Personal Tragedy to Professional Triumph
🗣️ The Fast Fashion Secret They Don't Want You to Know
🗣️ The Optimism Shield: A Mental Technique for Protecting Against Negativity
🗣️ Turn Pain Into Purpose: Using Personal Struggles as Your Greatest Strength
🗣️ Redefining Success in Business: People, Planet, Purpose & Profit
Chapters
00:00 - Meeting Dr. Kimberly McGlonn
00:27 - The Grant Boulevard Story and Family Journey
01:59 - Surviving Parental Abandonment at Age 14
03:03 - The Teachers Who Saved Her Life
03:10 - Alternative Paths Without Education
04:05 - The Trifecta of Resilience: Mentors, Reading, and Faith
06:12 - The Fighting Spirit That Kept Her Going
08:14 - From English Teacher to Social Entrepreneur
10:45 - Creating Grant Boulevard: A Sustainable Fashion Mission
13:42 - The Problem with Fast Fashion
17:06 - Practical Solutions to Combat Fast Fashion
18:54 - "Build it Boldly": The Book's Origin and Purpose
20:05 - Message to Young People Facing Hardship
22:59 - What It Means to Build Boldly
25:47 - What's Next and How to Connect
📲 Connect with Our Hosts:
Stacey: https://www.instagram.com/staceymgrant/
Mark: https://www.instagram.com/mark_lubragge_onair/
⭐️ Watch/Subscribe to Gurus and Game Changers on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@UCsRyuQWlLAYzM4IyJlF2IWQ
⭐️ Listen on any podcast audio platform
🔖 Dr. McGlonn's book "Build it Boldly": https://drkimberlymcglonn.com
📱 Follow on Instagram: @KimberlyMcGlonn and @build.it.boldly
#SustainableFashion #Resilience #Entrepreneurship #BuildItBoldly #PersonalDevelopment