Joss Richards

Moraya Ugwu • June 23, 2021

I virtually met Joss two months ago when she reached out to me about becoming a mentor for her new platform called Margot community and since then I have been in awe of everything she has done! She has been a true inspiration for me in my entrepreneurial journey and I am honored to have her highlighted on Mastering Progress.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?

I am an Emmy Award winning Producer who is originally from Toronto, ON. I currently reside in Los Angeles and have been working in the entertainment television and digital media industry for the past 10 years. I have been fortunate enough to work at companies like Netflix, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Walt Disney Company creating digital content and managing their content strategy. I have always wanted to work in the media vertical; however in early 2021 I pivoted into the entrepreneurial world when I realized that there was a gap in women's access to mentorship and that a lot of women still struggle with asking to be compensated for their time and knowledge. It was then that I created Margot.

Margot is an inclusive online network redefining mentorship. Margot helps women and gender-marginalized individuals of all ages find mentors, provide virtual 1:1 time with them, and the first platform to normalize women being compensated for their knowledge. We currently have 150+ mentors across various leadership levels and industries such as STEM, Medicine, Business & Finance, Publishing, Education, Health & Wellness, Beauty & Fashion, and Film & Television, and more.

In addition to advocating for women being paid, Margot provides a Give Back Program; which provides free mentorship to girls and women in communities with socio economic barriers.

What is your biggest passion in life and how do you incorporate this into your work?

My biggest passion is to create. I have always been a creator and to be able to incorporate that into my work means the world. Earlier in my career I would create content and that was fulfilling because that's what I always wanted to do growing up. Now, I have created an entire community focused on empowering women. No matter what mundane task I have in my day to day, I know that it all leads to a bigger purpose and a larger creation.

How do you take care of your mental and physical health?

Lately, it's been incredibly hard because starting a new business takes countless hours of work. I've been balancing two full-time job all while trying to spend time with my family. Physically, I always try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day. If I'm not well-rested I won't be able to properly function. I try (though not successfully) to have a healthy diet, and that's something I'm actively working on being better at. Mentally I always schedule time to not work. I know that sounds a little ridiculous, but if I don't schedule that time to step away from my phone or laptop, I will be working nonstop.

How do you keep yourself organized as a person who wears many hats in their life?

My calendar! I have a digital calendar and also an agenda where I write all my meetings and to-do items for the day. I would be absolutely lost if I didn't have my calendar.

What are some things you think are important for people in their early twenty's to learn?

I think it's important for people in their early twenties to do everything and everything they can handle. When I was in my early twenties I worked really hard, networked, and tried a bunch of side projects. Everything is at our fingertips and we have no excuses to do and create the things we want to. Learn how to build relationships with people, because you'll realize a well-rounded network is so important. Also test out wearing all the hats you can, this is the best way to learn your strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, have fun with it! You'll be working your whole life so enjoy it.

What do you define success and prosperity as in your life?

I used to think success was a job title and a salary. Don't get me wrong those things are incredibly important and all worth working for, but those things wouldn't mean as much to me if I didn't have family, friends, and health to celebrate it. At this point in my life, having a career and a job that I truly love and one where I'm not overworked and having a family I love and have time for is success.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I want to be able to look back at my life and say "wow, I did all those things". I want women of color specifically to look at what I've built and see that they can do that to, because I didn't have anyone that looked like me I could admire.

What characteristics/traits do you pride yourself the most for having?

I act on impulse. It's a strength and a weakness honestly, but I pride myself on having it because if I have an idea I go with it and figure the rest out later. I guess some could call that courageous as well. The reason I pride myself on having it is because if I waited until things were perfect I would not have the life I do now.

If you want to learn more about Joss and follow her along in her work here are her social handles:

Website: margotcommunity.com

Personal Instagram: @joss.richard

Margot's Instagram: @margotcommunity

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Holiday Gift Guide 2023

By Moraya Ugwu • December 4, 2023

Its that time of year when you have to find the perfect gift for your loved ones and we are here to help! Over the next 4 days we will be sharing our gift guides for this holiday season. Just click on anything below and it will take you right to purchase it!