We are excited to introduce you to Vivian Jamison of Xpressive Mocha and Shanon Kindred of Toushea Skincare, our 4Q 2025 Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship Recipients. We are normally thrilled to welcome one new scholarship recipient, so you can imagine how much pleasure it gives us to welcome TWO for the fourth quarter of this year!
Q: Tell us a little bit about your business.
Vivian says:
Xpressive Mocha is a plant-based skincare and grooming brand that infuses the cozy, café-inspired experience of coffee and tea into every product. Our products are the perfect solutions for everyday skincare needs, including dry skin and beards. Our mission is to turn daily routines into moment of comfort and confidence with products like whipped body butters, skin pampering elixirs, moisturizing body mists and more. Ours is a legacy brand that uplifts and inspires our community and beyond.
Shanon says:
Toushea Skincare, inspired by a mother's love, blends nourishing domestic and exotic butters, oils, and extracts into products that pamper the skin while delighting the senses.
Q: Why are you a good candidate for the Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship?
Vivian says:
I am a dedicated founder building Xpressive Mocha, a plant-based skincare and grooming brand that blends creativity, community, and problem-solving. My business addresses real and practical self-care needs while creating opportunities for connection through storytelling and collaboration. Being selected for the Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship will allow me to strengthen my business foundation, expand further into retail and wholesale, and continue building a legacy brand that uplifts and serves others.
Shanon says:
I'm a good candidate for the Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship because I'm deeply committed to growing my business with integrity, creativity, and care. I work very hard to bring high-quality, clean products to my community. The many challenges I've faced since starting this business have often made me feel as if I'm trying to run under water with ankle weights on. A scholarship will help me to regain access now to the mentorship, resources, and connections that could help me get my business to where it needs to be. As my business regains its footing and begins to thrive, I can also uplift and inspire others in the creative community.
Q: How will the IBN's Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship help you be more successful in your business?
Vivian says:
I would benefit from mentorship, visibility, and expanded connections. While I currently have accountability partners from the Goldman Sachs program, IBN could help fill other critical gaps, including receiving guidance on wholesale expansion, retail placement, and building stronger supplier and vendor relationships.
I would also value opportunities for increased brand visibility through press, media, and networking within the Indie Business Network community. In addition, support with structuring the business for long-term growth—particularly around tax, legal, and distribution strategies, would be extremely impactful.
Ultimately, IBN can help by not only investing in my products but also in my capacity as a founder to grow Xpressive Mocha into a legacy brand that serves my customers’s real needs while inspiring others.
Shanon says:
For years, IBN has supported my handcrafted skincare business by surrounding me with mentors who truly understand the joys and challenges of building something from scratch. Learning from their experience has given me confidence and guidance as I grow. Receiving the for the Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship will take it to the next level! The chance to connect with fellow makers who share the same passion and purpose will help me expand my network and continuously remind me that I’m not alone on this journey.
And of course, Donna Maria is a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a joy to be around.
Q: How can we connect with you and your brand online?
Vivian says:
Website: https://www.xpressivemocha.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xpressivemocha/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xpressivemochawhipothecary
Shanon says:
Website: http://www.tousheaskincare.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tousheaskincare/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tousheaskincare/
IBN: We've got all that for you, and more. Welcome!
Apply for IBN's Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship
The Indie Business Network offers a valuable and transformative entrepreneurial experience to artisans and small business owners nationwide. We recognize that not everyone has the resources to access our suite of entrepreneurial mentoring, coaching, and training services, especially when they are first starting out. To help offset the challenge for as many as possible, each quarter, we offer a scholarship for a year of membership and private one-on-one email coaching with our founder and CEO, Donna Maria.
At the Indie Business Network, we believe that every woman can provide for herself and her children because she can sell something she made with her own hands. If you have started your business, but lack the resources needed to grow, you can get information on how to apply for next quarter's Robin's Roses Entrepreneurial Scholarship Award at this link.
