We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sherrill Mosee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sherrill, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
While the term “imposter syndrome” has been around for a while, I only became acquainted with it about three years ago. When someone explained what it was, I must admit that I don’t experience imposter syndrome at all.
None of the terms associated with imposter syndrome—fraud, inadequacy, undeserving, lucking, and so on—describe how I feel about myself or the work I do. I’ve worked really hard over the years to get where I am today. I’ve invested in myself, spending time learning about my industry, networking with others who know more than me, and managing my finances. I don’t feel that I don’t deserve the rewards earned from my hard work. Through challenges and failures, I continue to push through to reach my goals. I celebrate my wins, pat myself on the back, and am proud of what I’ve accomplished with the help of others. I enjoy the work that I do, and I believe I deserve all that comes my way.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a problem solver who loves tinkering, creating, and figuring things out. In 1998, I founded a nonprofit organization to assist low-income single mothers in college with childcare expenses. My motivation stemmed from my mother’s experience as a single mother, who was denied the chance to continue her education due to a lack of support and finances. I established Pennsylvania’s first childcare scholarship program, aimed at helping young moms succeed. Through partnerships with childcare providers, colleges, and universities, I awarded over $3 million to more than 500 student-parents, supporting them until graduation. While working with these moms, I noticed their struggle with managing both a diaper bag and a book bag. I realized that I was facing a similar challenge. Often, I carried two or three bags on my train commute to work, including my purse, laptop, lunch bag, and a change of shoes in a plastic grocery bag. Juggling these items was cumbersome. I wanted a single bag that could organize and separate my daily essentials. Unable to find a suitable option on the market, I decided to create one myself, which I named MinkeeBlue. MinkeeBlue bags are practical, functional, and stylish, designed to reduce the number of bags women typically carry while commuting.
MinkeeBlue offers a solution to what I call the “overload bag syndrome”. Everything needed for the day fits into one bag, eliminating the hassle of carrying multiple bags. These versatile organizational bags feature a convertible shelf in the middle, creating upper and lower compartments for better organization. With two entry points, they offer easy access to items,
reducing the need to dig around. The patented shelf design allows the bag to convert from a two-compartment bag to a full tote. I am incredibly proud of executing my idea for a new type of handbag. I researched patents to ensure my idea was unique, and have since been awarded two utility patents for my functional bags. The journey has been filled with challenges and obstacles. There were many times I wanted to give up, but I persevered, working through and around failures. I believe in myself and what I am building. Having no background in fashion design, manufacturing, marketing, sourcing, or retail, I am particularly proud of bringing my idea to life and helping women globally transform how they carry their items in a bag.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I studied engineering in college, and at the time, I never imagined that I would use my degree to design handbags. However, my background in solving complex mathematical problems proved invaluable in designing a handbag with a unique feature: a convertible shelf in the middle of the bag. This shelf is engineered to withstand the weight of items placed on top of it without collapsing.
Additionally, my engineering studies have helped me tap into my creative side to solve practical problems. As I travel through airports, I pay close attention to how people interact with their bags and luggage. I observe their behaviors, looking for signs of frustration or any pain points they might experience. These observations are crucial in thinking of ways to improve the travel experience with bags. My goal is to alleviate these challenges by designing bags that are not only functional but also make traveling easier and more enjoyable.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am passionate about collaboration. I seek out individuals, groups, or companies that complement my brand. Specifically, I look for entities associated with items that could go inside the bag, or those that can be carried and paired with it. This includes fashionistas, globetrotters, luggage brands, apparel and shoe brands, cosmetic brands, and many others. If you’re interested in connecting, you can find me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook @minkeeblue. You can also reach out through our website at www.minkeeblue.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://minkeeblue.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minkeeblue
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinkeeBlue/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@minkeeblue
Image Credits
MinkeeBlue
