Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanady Enjoli.
Vanady, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t quite fit in. I was smart, but I was also an insecure girl ashamed of her single parent household, trying to overcompensate for having a father in prison. Being a chubby girl who preferred the arts, I looked different than those who liked the same activities as me, and somehow wasn’t “black enough” for those who did. Even still I was blessed to be raised by a mother who challenged me to have my own mind, and stand firm on my convictions, even if that meant standing alone. I was your typical latch key kid from the 90’s but fortunate enough to benefit from community members and teachers who always encouraged me to do my best and find constructive ways to cultivate my strong-willed mind and opinions.
I spent many years not understanding why God allowed certain things to happen, but my various life experiences have given me a unique outlook and several stories for what would become my podcast. My best friend and now business partner Shawn Karawa and I would often find ourselves discussing various topics over coffee or tea, usually spending several hours sharing our perspectives. After many years of toying with the idea of starting a business together, our pastors encouraged us to turn our dream into an actual reality.
In January 2019, the concept of Lipstick Coffee Jesus was born, a culmination of our favorite things. Our goal was not just to create another podcast but to have a platform that was honest, transparent, and breaks some of the stereotypes that have been associated with faith-based platforms. We also wanted to share our love of coffee and tea with the world and show we were not scared to break into an industry where many of the people do not look like us. Our motto is Bright Lipstick. Bold Coffee. All Jesus. Whether listening to our podcast or enjoying the perfect cup of coffee or tea, our goal is to encourage, challenge, uplift, and inspire.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Launching out has not been smooth sailing, but our motto this entire time has been God is with us. Through every obstacle, we have found grace and favor, and I am realizing true failure is the decision to stop trying or being too scared to try at all. Getting less than desirable results only means you examine your actions, note the successes, and adjust what is not producing. Being a reformed perfectionist, transforming my definition of failure and success was difficult but necessary in order to give the business a real chance to thrive. In addition, learning about media and podcasting, the ins and outs of a male-dominated coffee and tea industry, branding, advertising, marketing, and social media management has been quite the task. There has been a huge learning curve, but because of the pandemic, courses, classes, and resources have been accessible like never before. Just when it seemed like we were going to hit a wall, a door would open. People have unexpectedly sown into our business, taken their time to give us guidance and wisdom, and we have randomly encountered people who would turn into connections we could use for business. Of course, COVID 19 has been a struggle for everyone, but yet the podcast is still growing, and we are continuing to see growth although we had to cancel a full schedule of events for 2020. The word of the season is pivot, and thankfully we’re still here, finding new ways to connect and spread the word about who we are and what we have to offer.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lipstick Coffee Jesus – what should we know?
Lipstick Coffee Jesus is a multifaceted, faith-based lifestyle brand. Like most people, there are many layers to who we are and what we do. We specialize in what we like to call Monday – Saturday, Jesus. We are not dismissing Sunday, but most people find themselves in some place of worship on Sunday and we leave the preaching to the pastors. What happens after you receive that message and you are ready to conquer the world? What if you don’t fit the stereotypical “Christian” or “churchy” mold? That’s where LCJ comes in, showing two unique, modern women navigating life, the boardroom, and everything in between without having to “put our religion on a shelf”. It’s a place for those still looking for “their place”.
Every part of our name has a business component associated with it. Lipstick – we are currently working on our cosmetics line, which will debut in 2021, Coffee – we have a current product offering of several artisan small batch roasted coffees and ethically sourced loose leaf tea options, Jesus – we are currently hosting our first round of monthly small groups called Life & Lattes where we tackle various topics while also writing our first devotional. In addition, we have season 1 of podcast Lipstick Coffee Jesus which is available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, and our live show LCJ Live!, which airs on Facebook Live. We love meeting and connecting with people from all walks of life and having the opportunity to share their story and accomplishments with the world. We are not about the cliché “Jesus Band-Aid” and “cookie-cutter Christian” responses but rather a very realistic look at what is going on in our lives and in the world from a believer’s lens. We are not afraid of the tough conversations, being transparent, and here to show our struggles and mistakes in addition to our successes. We are proud to say that our podcast has now been broadcast in over 20 countries and counting.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Obviously, my best friend and business partner Shawn Karawa. Without her, LCJ would not be what it is today. I would like to thank my parents who encouraged my free thinking and didn’t tell me I talked too much. Also, I would need to thank my pastors, Bishop Perry W. Jenkins Sr, Overseer Vinceretta Jenkins, and Bishop J. Bernard Moore. It was their prayers and teaching that encouraged us to launch out into business, emphasizing not only the desire to be successful but the importance of good character and being impactful. We wouldn’t be where we are without the support and prayers of our family and friends, but I definitely want to also thank Winter Williams, who sat down with us to teach us all she knew about organization and building a brand, and Omari Fennell who helped us get our podcast started. I know I probably forget someone but please charge it to my head and not my heart—also, a special thanks to my sister-friend Brie Elise for this connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lipstickcoffeejesus.com
- Email: LipstickCoffeeJesus@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lipstickcoffeejesus19
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopLCJ
Image Credit:
R Thomas Jackson Photography
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