EPISODE · Jan 26, 2026 · 56 MIN
StartUp to StudyUp - The Story of a Woman's Journey from Business Ownership to PhD Pursuit
from SportStories - The Podcast · host Nathan Merkel
Send us a text[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Hello everyone! This episode is a banger! I am gratefully welcomed by Alexia P. Hammonds, a 43-year-old self-made businesswoman with 23 years of experience as an exercise and wellness expert, fragrance specialist and doctoral student based out of Urbana, IL.After years of dedicated work in the fitness and sports industry as a classically trained Master Pilates and Yoga Teacher Trainer and instructor for professional and collegiate athletes, Alexia shifted her focus to the beauty industry. She worked as the Beauty Director of LaMode Magazine and ENVY Magazine in Dallas, TX and an on-air fashion and beauty expert for Fox 4 Good Day. But it was during her time as the co-founder and CEO of successful lifestyle brand Eat. Sweat. Undress. that she seized the opportunity to change the face of the fragrance world forever.Alexia is the first black woman to create fragrance of any kind in Grasse, France - the historic birthplace of perfume and the first black woman overall to create a hair perfume. Her debut line of self-titled hair perfume was some of the first of its kind in existence. Made with hair-healthy ingredients like a special keratin protein derived from cashmere, her products are meant to nourish and protect hair while imparting an unforgettable, long-lasting fragrance.This storied achievement gained Alexia nation-wide recognition. Her products have been featured in publications across the world, including Huffington Post, NBC, Fox, ABC, Oprah Daily, Good Morning America, Essence Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Beauty Independent, tica, the Associated Press, and many more. She has also had the honor of being profiled in Forbes, Madame Noir, and Black Enterprise for her breakthrough success in the fragrance industry.After selling her company in 2022, Alexia focused on consulting for beauty and fitness brands, guest speaking, and appeared in NBA star Chris Paul’s 8-episode series “Why Not Us” on ESPN+. Alexia is currently a second year Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a top 10 R1 institution. Her research focuses on menopausal women and using exercise interventions to address physiological and psychological outcomes.linktr.ee/AlexiaphammondsI hope you enjoy the episode!!Support the show
What this episode covers
Send us a text[Disclaimer: The opinions in this episode are of my own accord and DO NOT reflect the opinions of any respective organization or institution.]Hello everyone! This episode is a banger! I am gratefully welcomed by Alexia P. Hammonds, a 43-year-old self-made businesswoman with 23 years of experience as an exercise and wellness expert, fragrance specialist and doctoral student based out of Urbana, IL.After years of dedicated work in the fitness and sports industry as a classically trained Master Pilates and Yoga Teacher Trainer and instructor for professional and collegiate athletes, Alexia shifted her focus to the beauty industry. She worked as the Beauty Director of LaMode Magazine and ENVY Magazine in Dallas, TX and an on-air fashion and beauty expert for Fox 4 Good Day. But it was during her time as the co-founder and CEO of successful lifestyle brand Eat. Sweat. Undress. that she seized the opportunity to change the face of the fragrance world forever.Alexia is the first black woman to create fragrance of any kind in Grasse, France - the historic birthplace of perfume and the first black woman overall to create a hair perfume. Her debut line of self-titled hair perfume was some of the first of its kind in existence. Made with hair-healthy ingredients like a special keratin protein derived from cashmere, her products are meant to nourish and protect hair while imparting an unforgettable, long-lasting fragrance.This storied achievement gained Alexia nation-wide recognition. Her products have been featured in publications across the world, including Huffington Post, NBC, Fox, ABC, Oprah Daily, Good Morning America, Essence Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Beauty Independent, tica, the Associated Press, and many more. She has also had the honor of being profiled in Forbes, Madame Noir, and Black Enterprise for her breakthrough success in the fragrance industry.After selling her company in 2022, Alexia focused on consulting for beauty and fitness brands, guest speaking, and appeared in NBA star Chris Paul’s 8-episode series “Why Not Us” on ESPN+. Alexia is currently a second year Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a top 10 R1 institution. Her research focuses on menopausal women and using exercise interventions to address physiological and psychological outcomes.linktr.ee/AlexiaphammondsI hope you enjoy the episode!!Support the show
NOW PLAYING
StartUp to StudyUp - The Story of a Woman's Journey from Business Ownership to PhD Pursuit
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.