And Still We Rise!
This year, our theme is “And Still We Rise!” We asked our honorees to reflect on how they have risen above challenges—both professionally and personally. Their responses honor the obstacles they faced, the strength they discovered, and the determination that carried them forward.
“I Rise By Refusing To Let Disruption Define My Destiny.
I Grew Up In Instability, Displacement, Homelessness, And Starting Over In A New Country With Nothing But My Mother’s Faith And Determination. That Early Experience Wired Me To Understand Something Many Never Learn: Security Is Not Given, It Is Built. Every Season Of My Life Has Required Me To Build It Again
As A Business Owner, That Lesson Repeats. Supply Chain Issues, Cash Flow Pressure, Staffing Challenges, And The Weight Of Being A Black Woman Founder In Rooms Not Designed For Me Have Tested Me More Than Once. There Are Moments When The Numbers Tighten, When Plans Shift, When Doubt Whispers That Slowing Down Would Be Easier. But Rising Has Never Meant Waiting For Ease, It Has Meant Choosing Clarity, Discipline, And Purpose Even When Conditions Are Hard.
I Rise By Returning To My “Why.” I Do Not Run A Company Just To Sell Products. I Am Building A Future For Families Who Have Been Told Stability Is Out Of Reach. I Am Building A Blueprint For The Young Girl Who Grew Up Watching The Adults Around Her Struggle And Wondering If A Different Life Was Possible.
Every Challenge Becomes A Refinement. Every Setback Becomes A Signal To Adjust, Not To Quit. Rising, For Me, Is Not Dramatic. It Is Daily. It Is Showing Up, Recalibrating, And Continuing Forward—Rooted In Vision, Grounded In Service, And Committed To Creating Something That Outlives Me.”
And Still, I Rise.
Monae Findley
Owner, Plants for Skin
Monae Findley is a Pittsburgh-based entrepreneur, scholar, and community leader dedicated to building businesses that create generational impact. She is the Founder and CEO of Plants for Skin, an all-natural skincare, haircare, and body-care company known for its clean ingredients, community-driven mission, and growing national footprint. What began as a small formulation practice has grown into a thriving brand with a retail presence, a warehouse operation, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in lifetime sales.
Monae is also a PhD student at Point Park University, where her research focuses on entrepreneurship, community engagement, and the financial barriers facing small businesses, particularly Black-owned enterprises. Her academic work is deeply connected to her lived experience as a founder, allowing her to bridge scholarship with real-world economic impact.
In recognition of her leadership and innovation, Monae was named to Pittsburgh’s 30 Under 30, honoring her influence in business and community development. She also proudly serves her country as an E-6 Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, where she brings the same discipline, resilience, and leadership that define her entrepreneurial journey.
Monae is also Miss Black Pennsylvania 2019, a platform she has used to advocate for confidence, economic empowerment, and representation for women of color. Her personal story, from struggle to becoming a business owner and doctoral candidate, fuels her commitment to showing others what is possible.
Through Plants for Skin, her teaching, and her public voice, Monae Findley continues to build a legacy rooted in service, excellence, and the belief that where you start does not determine how high you can rise.
