We had the good fortune of connecting with La-Doniea Nisbeth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi La-Doniea, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Yes, I do and the affirmation is “it’s better to have tried and failed than fail to try”. This quote slash affirmation brought me through university and continues to keep me driven in moments of self doubt and fear of failure or rejection. The most important thing for me in life now when trying new things or taking on endeavors others wouldn’t is not allowing any result to sway me too far away. Remaining grounded and confident regardless.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I wear multiple hats as a project engineer, a content creator, and a fintech founder. Each role is deeply interconnected by my passion for self-care, elevation, and innovation.

As a project engineer, I thrive on solving complex problems and bringing ideas to life. This foundation in engineering has honed my skills in project management, critical thinking, and technical precision, all of which are vital to my success in other ventures.

My content creation journey began during university when I found myself uninspired by the traditional engineering curriculum. Despite being a chemical engineering major initially, I realized that actual hands-on building wouldn’t come until much later in my academic journey. This realization felt like a setback, so I channeled my need for creativity and stimulation into creating content. This led to the birth of Brakethru, a business that hosted self-care-based dance workshops for women and featured a blog on self-care and elevation topics. Brakethru symbolized slowing down in the face of failure and challenges but never giving up. Unfortunately, the sudden passing of my brother led me to cloak Brakethru, but I continued its mission through my YouTube channel, Empress Moxie. Through ‘Empress Talks’ and ‘Empress Diaries,’ I provide content focused on self-care, elevation, and lifestyle, aiming to empower women.

My fintech startup, Bly, emerged from a combination of personal passion and academic curiosity. In the Fall of 2022, after researching the impact of fintech in developing countries, I saw an opportunity to create significant social impact through technology. Bly aims to revolutionize international money transfers for the Caribbean diaspora, offering secure, affordable solutions for sending money from the U.S. to the Caribbean. Starting this venture has been challenging, especially as a bootstrapped startup. However, I am fortunate to have a technical co-founder who excels in the technical aspects, allowing me to focus on storytelling and organizational strategy.

Our journey is currently at the MVP phase, refining our app for beta testing, with an anticipated launch in 2025. This path has been far from easy. Balancing multiple roles, facing financial constraints, and navigating the startup ecosystem are just a few challenges we’ve encountered. However, each obstacle has provided invaluable lessons. Resilience, adaptability, and the importance of a strong support network have been key to overcoming these hurdles.

What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to combining technical expertise with a passion for self-care and community empowerment. I believe in the power of storytelling to inspire and elevate others, whether through engineering solutions, content creation, or fintech innovation.

I want the world to know that my journey is driven by a desire to create positive change, build community and foster inclusion. Bly is not just a startup; it’s a mission to empower the Caribbean diaspora and local businesses by simplifying financial transactions and fostering economic growth. Through my work, I aim inspire others to pursue their passions, embrace challenges, and continually strive for elevation in all aspects of life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If my best friend were visiting Denver and Colorado Springs for a week, I would ensure they experience the best these cities have to offer, blending natural beauty, adventure, relaxation, and amazing food.

We would start our mornings with breakfasts at popular spots like Snooze, an A.M. Eatery or the Denver Biscuit Company. Afternoons would be spent exploring cultural and natural attractions like the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the vibrant RiNo Art District. We’d also take scenic hikes at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and visit the iconic Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

For a mix of adventure and relaxation, we’d have sessions at top Pilates studios, enjoy the thrill of indoor skydiving at iFLY Colorado Springs, and unwind at local recreational parks like Wash Park. Shopping for unique pieces at permanent jewelry shops like Link x Lou would add a personalized touch to the trip.

Evenings would be dedicated to dining at some of the best restaurants, including JING for Asian fusion, Reggae Pot Jamaican Grill for authentic Jamaican cuisine, and The Rabbit Hole for a unique underground dining experience. We’d also enjoy rooftop drinks at 54thirty for stunning city views.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In my story my family and close friends deserve recognition because of their consistent love and commitment to support me through all my stages in life.
One of my brothers passed away suddenly during Junior year and it messed me up pretty badly. Alongside his passing, I had many lessons come about and I learned the importance of who I gave access to me and how they made a difference in my hardest moments in life. I’m thankful to these individuals for their support and presence in all seasons.

Website: https://msha.ke/empressmoxie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsurfaveempress?igsh=YmQ4YWM0czc3ZjV3&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/la-doniea?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@empressmoxie?si=hLgsEYLmo4gDmETc

Image Credits
Image Credits

Pink with bow tie around neck: IG @giwlo
Brown Trench W/ Black Dress: @g.o.o.d_kobby
Yellow Dress: @curlynsphotography

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