Meet Nia Ford

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nia Ford a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nia, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

’ve learned to be effective and successful by choosing authenticity over assimilation. When I’ve found myself as the only one in the room who looks like me, I remind myself that God created only one version of me—intentionally and with purpose. Being fearfully and wonderfully made means I don’t need to shrink, soften, or hide who I am to belong.

Instead of viewing difference as a barrier, I see it as an assignment. My perspective, experiences, and presence bring something to the room that would otherwise be missing. Walking confidently in who God called me to be allows me to show up fully, lead with integrity, and create space for others to do the same. Authenticity has not only been my anchor—it’s been my advantage.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At my core, I am a beauty service provider, educator, and brand builder committed to empowering women—both in how they see themselves and how they show up in the world. My work lives at the intersection of beauty, education, and legacy.

Professionally, I specialize in bridal beauty and high-touch makeup services, creating elevated, thoughtful experiences for women during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. What makes my work special is that my approach goes far beyond makeup application. Every service is rooted in intention, care, and helping women feel confident, seen, and fully themselves.

A foundational pillar of my brand is beauty education. I am deeply passionate about helping women become masters of their own glam—equipped with the knowledge to understand their features, skin, and personal aesthetic rather than relying on trends or constant professional services. Through 1:1 coaching, beauty bootcamps, and digital education, I teach women how to build personalized routines, understand color stories that enhance their natural beauty, and apply makeup in a way that feels authentic and sustainable for their everyday lives. Education, to me, is empowerment.

Alongside my service and education offerings, I am preparing to launch Nia Ford, a lip care line designed with intention, simplicity, and real-life use in mind. The line is focused on healthy, nourishing lip care while also serving a much larger purpose—creating tangible impact beyond beauty.

The lip care line is directly tied to the Zuri Maulana Initiative, a mission-driven program created to invest in the next generation of Black girls through employment opportunities, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial training. As the brand grows, the initiative will provide structured pathways for young girls to earn, learn, and build—transforming beauty purchases into tools for education, ownership, and long-term change. The goal is for every product sold to be a step toward creating opportunity and generational impact.

What excites me most in this season is building a beauty ecosystem that serves women holistically—through elevated services, accessible education, and products that change lives. Everything I create is designed to pour back into community, honor purpose over hustle, and remind women and girls that they are worthy of excellence, care, and investment.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three things stand out as the most impactful in my journey: intentional learning, proximity to aligned women, and staying grounded in my faith.

First, reading and continuous learning shaped the way I think and make decisions. Books exposed me to new frameworks, language, and possibilities before I ever experienced them in real life. They helped me expand my vision and sharpen my discernment, which is critical in business. Knowledge gives you options—and confidence.

Second, I made a conscious decision to surround myself with women who were already doing what I desired to do in my business and life—women earning at the level I aspired to, traveling freely, building healthy families, and living with intention. Exposure changes mindset. Being in rooms where success is normal reshapes what you believe is possible. Moving to Austin was pivotal for me because I encountered so many successful Black women—not just financially, but holistically. Seeing women thrive in business while also nurturing their marriages, families, and personal well-being helped me shift my definition of success and expand my expectations for my own life.

Third, staying grounded in my faith has been my anchor. Business can test your identity, patience, and trust. Faith keeps me rooted when outcomes are uncertain and reminds me that my worth is not tied to performance or productivity. Mindset plays a massive role in success, and faith has helped me maintain clarity, peace, and resilience through every season.

My advice to anyone early in their journey is to be intentional about elevating your circle—but do so with humility and the heart to give back selflessly. Seek proximity not just to receive, but to learn, serve, and contribute. Grace and gratitude will keep you grounded as your world expands.

Also, understand that failures are not final—they’re lessons. Pivoting is often easier than we make it. Don’t overthink yourself out of opportunities that could be life-changing. Trust your instincts, take the step, and allow yourself room to grow as you go.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth has been learning how to truly rest—and to view rest as a necessary discipline rather than a reward.

For a long time, I equated momentum with constant movement and believed that pushing through exhaustion was simply part of building something meaningful. This past year taught me that sustainable success requires rhythm, boundaries, and discernment. Rest has allowed me to think more clearly, make better decisions, and create from a place of alignment instead of urgency.

Choosing rest has also meant learning when to pause, when to say no, and when to trust that stepping back will not cause everything to fall apart. It required me to confront the fear that productivity equals worth and to replace it with the belief that clarity, peace, and obedience are just as valuable as output.

Practically, rest has helped me refine my vision, protect my creativity, and show up more fully—for my clients, my work, and myself. Spiritually, it has deepened my trust in God, reminding me that I am not the source—I am the steward.

This season of rest has been transformative. It hasn’t slowed me down; it has strengthened me. It’s taught me how to build with intention, longevity, and grace.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Felicia Reed Photography
Robert Hein

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