Pray. Hustle. Slay - Rodnesha Ross of Detroit

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Rodnesha Ross

Those are three words that Rodnesha Ross of Detroit, MI, lives by. The mother of four is a serial entrepreneur, a community activist, and a consistent supporter of small businesses in her local community and around the world.

One of her brands is Mogul Life Inc., which offers a small business incubator outside of Detroit in the St. Clair Shores area. They aim to serve small businesses and offer a viral space to launch their business. There is also a space available for rent where pop-up shops can be conducted. She also offers publishing services for aspiring authors and producers.

When asked to describe her love for her community, Rodnesha reflects on her younger years. “I am a community baby. There is a village of people who have helped me reach the success I enjoy today. At an early age, I was introduced to the world of entrepreneurship. While attending an Afro-Centric middle school, one of the classes I took was entrepreneurship. That is what started my interest,” she says.

With her Pray, Hustle, Slay brand, Rodnesha says, is a lifestyle brand that supports mental health through a lifestyle of its namesake. The Pray, Hustle, Slay University also assists small businesses with trademarking and scaling. The headquarters for the university is based in Detroit, with satellite offices in Atlanta and Chicago. Additionally, Rodnesha has founded a youth community agency that caters to teen and single moms through mentorship. They also offer emergency shelter and community outreach services such as utility assistance.

Everything began with Mogul Life Inc. in 2016. Rodnesha says, “Our purpose is to serve minority-owned businesses around the United States. I love to help others climb the ladder to success and see them win. God has blessed me to be a vehicle to help others,” she says.

At an early age, I was introduced to the world of entrepreneurship. While attending an Afro-Centric middle school, one of the classes I took was entrepreneurship.

Rodnesha says she has faced some challenges while building her brands, but she remains committed to her calling to serve others. One of the biggest challenges was understanding entrepreneurship. “I didn’t have a lot of willing coaches and mentors to pull from. There were a lot of trials and errors I had to endure and overcome. I had to do my own research, and because of my desire to grow and be better, I overcame that.”

Having a solid team and staff can dictate how successful a business can become, which Rodnesha realized in the beginning stages of building her brand. She also wishes she had not started as a one-person show and not been afraid to branch out to other cities. That makes sense, as it’s evident that her brand can resonate with others.

For anyone who may follow a similar journey as Rodnesha, or maybe thinking about jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, she encourages you to be open to withstand the rigors of self-employment. “Don’t give up so quickly, and be committed. Also, make sure you do your homework on funding your business and not using your own finances,” she says. “Most importantly, ensure that you are not the sharpest person in your group. The people around you, your network, determine your net worth.”

Moving forward, Rodnesha says her goal is to continue to work towards a comfortable retirement. She is also working towards purchasing a home in northern Michigan, in the predominantly Black-occupied area of Idlewild.