Today we’d like to introduce you to Mershele Brown.
Hi Mershele, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My entrepreneurial journey began in Ohio, where I first learned the value of hard work delivering newspapers and riding an ice cream bike.at 12yrs old/ Those early years, combined with my time in Junior Achievement, 4-H, and competitive sports, laid the foundation for the business leader I would eventually become.
Life moved quickly, and after graduating high school and becoming a mother, I channeled my ambition into cosmetology school. By the age of 24, I took a leap of faith and opened my first salon. That single spark grew into a fire; I have since successfully opened five additional salons, proving that dedication and a clear vision can turn a dream into a multi-location reality.
As my business grew, so did my calling to pour back into others. I returned to school to earn my Educator’s License and stepped into my roles as a mentor, evangelist, and influencer. My commitment to leadership was recently recognized with two nominations for an Honorary Doctorate degree in Leadership and Business.
However, my journey hasn’t been without its storms. As a cancer survivor and delivered from a lot of other things like drugs and alcohol, I have a profound appreciation for the “antidote” to life’s challenges. This inspired me to host The Antidote Show testimonies from trials to triumph and author my book, The Conversation Peace which puts us back tat the table of conversation and communication. Beyond the screen, I am passionate about gathering women for “Empower Me: What’s the Tea?”—a meetup held every first Saturday of the month. These sessions are built on Truth, Testimony, and Transformation, helping women navigate their own paths with faith and confidence. Today, I am focused on using my voice and my platform to heal, lead, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has certainly not been a smooth one, but I have learned that while trials and tribulations are a part of life, they do not define the end of my story. My greatest challenge came when I was diagnosed with cancer. It was a season that tested every bit of my resolve, but it was also the season where my faith became my foundation.
The Word of God teaches us that we will go through trials, but it also teaches us how to have unwavering faith through it all. When I received my diagnosis, I made a conscious decision not to come into agreement with what the doctors were saying about my future. Instead, I chose to stand on the promise that “by His stripes, I am healed.” This allowed me also to lean on my family and closest friends for support.
Navigating the demands of being a business owner and a mother while fighting for my health was a significant struggle, but believing that I was already headed toward victory changed my perspective. This journey of resilience is what eventually birthed The Antidote Show and my book, The Conversation Peace. I am a living testimony that you can face the fire and come out not just a survivor, but a leader equipped to empower others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others? I am most known for my ability to guide others through their most difficult “transitions.” In the world we live in today, there is a desperate need for leaders who understand the complexities of abandonment and mental health issues. Because of my own journey as a survivor and a leader, I specialize in mentoring those who feel overlooked or broken, providing them with the tools to find their own “Conversation Peace.” What sets me apart is my holistic approach. Whether I am behind the chair in the salon, on stage for The Antidote Show, or hosting our monthly “Empower Me: What’s the Tea?” meetups, my goal is always the same: to use my testimony to prove that healing is possible. I am most proud of the fact that I didn’t just build businesses; I built a platform to empower women to move from their past trials into their God-given purpose. Can you talk to us about how you think about risk? My approach to risk involves assessing the cost—understanding what is required and what is at stake—and then making a firm commitment to move forward. If the outcome isn’t what I expected, I don’t view it as a defeat because I gained the most valuable thing: knowledge. I would rather fail knowing I gave it my all than live with the “what ifs” of never having started. One of the greatest risks I took was opening my first salon at just 24 years old while navigating the responsibilities of motherhood. Many would have seen that as an impossible gamble, but I saw it as a necessary step. Standing on my faith and choosing to “do” rather than “try” is exactly how I went from that first shop to owning five salons and eventually transitioning into full-time ministry. For me, risk isn’t about being reckless; it’s about having the courage to act on your convictions. Contact Info:
Today, my life is a beautiful blend of faith and service. I dedicated myself to full-time ministry while continuing to practice hair part-time. My specialization has shifted from just transforming outward appearances to transforming the inside the heart through mentorship and influence.
I have always considered myself a risk-taker because I don’t believe in “trying.” To me, saying you are “trying” to do something often creates a mental safety net that leaves room for failure. My philosophy is simple: you either do it or you don’t.
