We recently had the chance to connect with Mwanje Thompson and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Mwanje , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building—something most people never see—is the confidence and belief inside young people and creators who cross my path. Whether I’m in the classroom, at church, or working through my media companies, I’m constantly pouring into people behind the scenes.
I’ve learned that the most important things you build aren’t always physical products or public accomplishments—they’re mindsets, discipline, and direction. I take pride in building up students who don’t think they’re good enough, entrepreneurs who are scared to start, and community members who need someone to see their potential. Those small moments don’t make the highlight reel, but they create real impact.
It’s slow work, invisible work, and sometimes emotional work, but helping someone shift their belief about what’s possible—that’s the thing I’m proudest of building, even if no one notices it happening in real time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Mwanje Thompson, and I’m a media entrepreneur, educator, and community builder based in Milwaukee. I lead several creative ventures—including Audio Moguls Media, RichXCultured, and Midwest Startup Ventures—all centered around empowering storytellers, elevating Black voices, and helping young people discover their brilliance through media, technology, and entrepreneurship.
By day, I teach business, podcasting, and AI at Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, where I use real-world creative tools to help students build apps, brands, podcasts, and startups. Outside the classroom, I serve on the executive board of NABJ-Milwaukee, working to strengthen the pipeline for local journalists and content creators.
What makes my work unique is how it blends community impact, tech innovation, and cultural storytelling. I’m building a Milwaukee-based media ecosystem modeled after platforms like Blavity—one that gives creators access to tools, mentorship, and opportunities to grow. From developing apps like PodBLK, to producing podcasts, to helping young entrepreneurs launch their first business, my mission is simple: use media, mentorship, and technology to create pathways that didn’t exist for us before.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding our media network, producing new storytelling projects, and continuing to build platforms that help people—especially youth—use their voice, own their narrative, and step confidently into their future.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
The people who taught me the most about work are my parents, Regginald and Nicole Thompson, and my grandparents, Marie and Bernell Thompson. Each of them played a different role in shaping how I understand discipline, responsibility, and purpose.
My father, Regginald, taught me what consistency really looks like. He showed me that real work isn’t loud—it’s steady, dependable, and done with integrity, even when nobody is watching. My mother, Nicole, taught me resilience and creativity. She showed me how to make something out of nothing, how to push forward even when life doesn’t hand you the ideal conditions.
My grandparents, Marie and Bernell Thompson, brought the foundation. Their lives were examples of humility, strength, and sacrifice. They taught me that work is bigger than a job—it’s about taking care of your family, serving your community, and doing things with pride. From them, I learned to value people, honor my roots, and understand that my work should always leave something better than I found it.
Together, they built my work ethic. They instilled in me a sense of purpose, a commitment to excellence, and a belief that if you show up with heart and consistency, doors will open.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I would tell him: You’re not behind—you’re becoming. Everything you feel, everything you’re wrestling with, and everything you think disqualifies you is actually shaping you into the person you’re meant to be.
I would tell him that his sensitivity is not a weakness, it’s a gift. His curiosity will take him further than his fear. And all the moments where he feels overlooked or misunderstood will one day become the reason he can connect with people so deeply.
I’d remind him that the world he dreams about building—the creativity, the leadership, the impact, the voice—will come, but he doesn’t have to rush or pretend to be stronger than he is. He just has to keep going, keep learning, and keep trusting that God doesn’t waste anything.
And most of all, I’d tell him: You’re doing better than you think. Give yourself grace. You’re going to grow into someone you can be proud of.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies my industry tells itself is that you have to be “big” to matter. In media and content creation, there’s this narrative that if you don’t have millions of followers, a huge studio, or a national platform, you’re not successful. But the truth is, impact isn’t measured in scale—it’s measured in connection. A voice that reaches 50 people with purpose can be more transformative than a platform that reaches 5 million with noise.
Another lie is that you need permission. Many creators, especially Black creators, are conditioned to believe they need the right sponsorship, the right brand deal, the right cosign before they can start. But some of the most important work we do happens before anyone acknowledges it. Waiting for validation keeps too many stories from being told.
And the last lie is that you have to leave your community to grow. I don’t believe that. I’m building in Milwaukee on purpose. My work proves that creativity, innovation, and opportunity aren’t limited to major coastal cities. You can build powerful ecosystems right where you are, and you can change the trajectory of a whole community by choosing to stay.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I made people believe in themselves again. I hope they say I used every gift God gave me—teaching, creating, building, storytelling—to open doors for others and remind them of their value. That I never hoarded knowledge, opportunities, or encouragement, but shared them freely because I wanted the next generation to stand taller than I ever could.
I want people to say I loved my community deeply and showed it through action. That I built platforms, programs, and spaces that helped young people find their voice, entrepreneurs find their confidence, and creators find their path. That I didn’t just talk about change—I built it brick by brick, person by person.
Mostly, I hope the story people tell is that I lived a life bigger than myself. That I poured into people, uplifted others, and left them with more hope, more direction, and more belief than they had before they met me. If that’s the story, then I’ll feel like my time here meant something.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://audiomoguls.app/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mwanje/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwanje/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@audiomoguls
Image Credits
Madison Williams
Dexter Hilson
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
