Malaun Rice

Malaun Rice is a Mindset Coach, Speaker and a Life Coach. 

She tells us that, “I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and have been a resident of Phoenix, Arizona for the last 8.5 years. My educational background is in Marketing and I have had the pleasure to work in this industry for 10+ years. I never knew I was going to be a life coach, my plan was to be a VP for a product with PepsiCo. I had my own trauma and issues that I never addressed. My mental health was really shaky in my early 30’s. I was functionally depressed and I was crashing. I pursued therapy and hired a life coach at the same time. I was desperate not to feel pain anymore. Going through my process and healing made me think differently about life and my career. I thought to myself that I wish I had me when I was going through my depression and here we are today.”

What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.

I was very much a 9-5 girl because that is what I was taught. You have to go to college and get a job. The funny thing is I resigned from almost every job I had because I didn’t want to do it. It felt like prison and I was making somebody else rich while they paid me pennies.

Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business /initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”

I kept getting people asking me for advice and I would give it to them for free. I quickly learned that I could charge for my time and expertise. I researched all I needed to do to make my company legal in my state and I did it.

Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?

Other than healing from life’s traumas, I would like to see more women work together. Meaning no competition because there is enough money out here for all of us. No race or religious separation either. I don’t care what you look like, I care how you treat me. Instead of fighting to say whose religion is better, I would rather we learn about one another’s beliefs and just respect them.

Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?

I love to see it! More women are fighting for equality in the workplace. We should not have to but it is what it is. Women definitely can see things that men cannot see. We have a different perspective.

What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?

My motto is CHOOSE YOU!! I have learned that putting others first before I fill my cup up was not working for me. I was often drained, co-dependent and unappreciated. I created my boundaries and learned what filling my cup up meant to me.

With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?

Anything you see in your head is possible! Everyone is not going to support you, go with the ones that do. You will feel like giving up OFTEN…never give up! Also, hang around people who are already where you want to be.