Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental health care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tierra Ledet, Founder and CEO of Mentalli, located in Houston, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Mentalli is a brain and mental health education company that provides interactive learning opportunities so that people can learn more about the brain and mental health. We offer seminars and workshops to community groups and organizations. We are also currently developing an e-learning platform that will allow people to join and take courses developed and designed by licensed mental health professionals with other opportunities to connect with other people experiencing similar issues.

Our customers are adults starting in their late 20s to about age 65. These groups of people are usually experiencing the most challenging time in their lives because of stress and the numerous life transitions and demands on them personally and professionally. We are currently planning to expand our e-learning platform to adolescents and teens at a later date.

Tell us about yourself

I am a licensed mental health provider by training and trade. I started my career working in neurological, providing neuropsychological assessments to adults who had some type of neurological condition or disease. Over time, I began to encounter a lot of patients, families, and people in the community who had a lot of questions about their risk of developing a brain or mental health condition, including Parkinson's or Alzheimer's Disease.

This inspired me to create my company to provide education on a widespread level so that people could have access to scientific and evidence-based information from a professional on things they could do to prevent disease onset and, if the disease has onset, things they can do to help themselves or a loved one.

I remain motivated and dedicated to the mission since I tend to be more preventative when it comes to health and wellness. I believe that we have a lot of strain on our medical system more than ever, so if we can teach people the basics and help them create and sustain habits and lifestyle change early enough, we can prevent some disease onset and health problems in our communities, especially in those that do not have access to consistent, high-quality healthcare at all.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been the increasing brand recognition across the world. When I created my company, my initial vision was to impact my local community and maybe expand to brand to a statewide level. However, once my website went live, I began to get inquiries from countries around the world looking for help, so it has made me shift my vision. That was the main thing that led me to build an e-learning platform so that people across the world could have access to information and learn more about their brain and mental health.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I could name so many things. I think it depends on the day or what stage of growth you are in. Right now, I would say the most difficult thing would be sustainable growth. When your company is at an inflection point, and you need to grow by offering new products or services, you have to be intentional with every move you make. This includes hiring the right staff who understand the mission and values of your company, providing thoughtful and considerate leadership to more people, marketing the right way in a digital media society, and so many other things, all while trying to make the company profitable. It's a fine line you have to walk in order to get it right and achieve the company's short and long-term goals.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Believe in yourself and take the leap of faith. I never imagined my brand and business would be where it is today, but after I launched, everything came together (from hiring, marketing, opportunities, etc.) once I put in the work.
  2. Do not do this alone. As a business owner, you might be able to do a lot yourself, but it does pay off to delegate certain tasks to someone who is an expert in that area. It is great to learn to do new things and understand how everything works, but there will come the point where delegation and trust in the individual are important in accomplishing the goals and, ultimately, the mission.
  3. Have integrity. Once you start your company, there will be so many things that come along to derail you, including new potential revenue streams that really do not align with the mission or values you started with or competitors who are doing it a different way. Having integrity ensures you are staying the course to fulfill the mission in your own way. It is okay to pivot, but you should never do so from a disingenuous place. Customers and employees appreciate and respect integrity and dedication, even if it means playing the long game or doing something in a different way.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mentalli.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MentalliOrg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentalliorg/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mentalliorg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mentalli/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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