Today we’d like to introduce you to Yeminya McGee, MBA.
Hi Yeminya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Everything I’ve built has come down to two things: creativity and relationships. I’ve always been a creative at heart, and my story starts with poetry. When I was nine years old, I heard Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning,” and even though I didn’t have the language for it then, it changed my life. Poetry gave me a sense of normalcy as a child, and it became my gateway into a life of art and entrepreneurship.
When I joined the military to help pay for college, I learned a lesson that would shape everything after. I met people from every walk of life, with different backgrounds, beliefs, and stories, but they all wanted the same thing: success. That’s when I truly understood the importance of building relationships and serving a mission bigger than myself.
After the military, I took my poetry to the stage. Long before I ever called myself an entrepreneur, I was a poet standing in front of a crowd with a microphone in my hand. I performed for years, and every time I stepped on that stage, I was connecting with people. Those connections turned into relationships that are still part of my life today.
That stage is also where Notated LLC was born. It actually started with fashion. I began wearing my own pieces while I performed, and people noticed. What started on stage grew into pop-up shops, and the brand kept growing from there.
I didn’t have a lot of help in those early days, so I taught myself. I researched everything I could about growing a business, and in 2019, I decided to pursue a degree in business so I could build with knowledge, not just passion.
Over time, I realized fashion was just one piece. People need to be healthy and whole. They want to look good and take care of themselves. And so many of us are carrying dreams we haven’t fully stepped into yet. That’s what birthed the Notated brands: fashion, beauty, health and fitness, publishing, and business consulting, all serving the whole person.
I’m still figuring out how to bring all of these brands together into one ecosystem, and I’m learning as I go. But the foundation has never changed. It started with a poem, it grew through relationships, and it’s all rooted in purpose.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. For a long time, I was a one-woman show for my brands. I built my own website from scratch, with no prior experience, worked with vendors, figured out manufacturing and packaging, managed inventory, and handled every detail in between. There was no team behind the scenes. If something needed to get done, I was the one doing it, having never done any of it before.
Building a fashion brand on your own teaches you quickly. I had to learn how to find the right vendors, ask the right questions, and make decisions without anyone to check my work. Every lesson came through trial and error. There were orders that didn’t come out the way I envisioned and there were moments when I had to start over. But every mistake taught me something I still use today.
At the same time, I was working two jobs, running a business, raising three children, & maintaining their busy schedules, and pursuing my degree. My days were full, and my nights were often spent learning, creating, and planning. I had to become intentional about my time and clear about my priorities. I learned that building a legacy was & is hard work.
Looking back, those challenges became my training ground. Because I had to do everything myself, I learned my business from the ground up, from the creative side to the operations side. I know what it takes to design a product, build a website, negotiate with vendors, and get something into a customer’s hands. That experience is a big part of why I’m able to help other entrepreneurs today. When someone tells me they feel stretched or unsure where to start, I understand, because I’ve been there.
Today, my challenge looks different. I’m learning how to bring all of my brands together into one ecosystem and how to build systems and support so Notated can grow beyond what one person can carry. That means learning to delegate, to ask for help, and to trust others with pieces of my vision. That’s not always easy for someone who’s used to doing it all, but it’s necessary.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you don’t need perfect conditions to build something meaningful. You need vision, faith, and the willingness to keep showing up. Everything I’ve built was built in the middle of real life, and I’m grateful for that.
Every obstacle has added something to my story, and every one of them has prepared me for where I’m going.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Notated LLC is a multi-brand ecosystem built around one belief: people are whole, and the brands that serve them should be too. Under the Notated umbrella are Notated Fashion, Notated Beauty, Notated Health & Fitness, Notated Publishing, and Notated Business Consulting. Each brand meets people in a different area of their life, but they all share the same heart.
Notated Fashion is where it all began. It was born on stage, from pieces I created and wore while performing poetry, and it grew into pop-up shops and a brand people connected with. Fashion is still close to my heart because it represents where Notated started: expression, confidence, and showing up as yourself, & making a statement.
Notated Beauty is about helping women feel confident in their own skin. I offer makeovers and one-on-one consultations where I teach corporate women how to do their own makeup, so they leave not just looking beautiful but knowing how to recreate it themselves. Eventually, I’ll be launching my own line of lipsticks and lip glosses, which I’m really excited about.
Notated Health & Fitness is about taking care of the whole person from the inside out. Our motto is “Keep health & fitness simple,” because simple is what people can stay consistent with. That’s why we focus on easy recipes and workouts that fit into real life.
Notated Publishing is home to my creative work as Yemin-Yah, including my soon to be released self-published book Inside My Head, Outside My Heart. Writing is where my story started, so publishing will always be a foundational part of Notated. My hope is to grow it into a space that helps other writers share their voices too.
Notated Business Consulting brings everything full circle. Because I built my brands from the ground up, from websites to vendors to manufacturing and packaging, I understand what entrepreneurs are up against. I help multi-gifted entrepreneurs organize their ideas, build structure, and create businesses that can actually grow. And because so much of my success has come from building relationships, I bring that same approach to every client. I don’t just give advice; I walk with people.
What sets Notated apart is that it doesn’t ask anyone to choose just one part of themselves. So many people are told to pick one lane, but I believe if God gave you multiple gifts, you’re meant to steward them all. That’s the heart of my motto: “Gifted in overflow. On purpose.”
What I’m most proud of is that every piece of Notated was built in real life, with real challenges, by someone who believed in the vision before anyone else could see it. I want readers to know that whether you need to feel healthier, look and feel your best, share your story, or turn your dream into a business, there’s a place for you in the Notated family.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Nothing I’ve built has been built alone. So many people have poured into me along the way.
My mom was one of my first supporters. So much of who I am today started with her, and I’m grateful for every way she’s believed in me.
My children deserve so much of the credit. They’ve watched me build, grow, and keep going, and they are my biggest reason why. Everything I do is a reflection of the legacy I want to leave for them. They’ve been patient with me, cheered me on, and reminded me what really matters.
My oldest sister has been one of my biggest cheerleaders. When I was learning to navigate my business, she flew to Los Angeles with me so I wouldn’t have to figure it out by myself. That trip meant more to me than she probably knows. Having someone beside you while you’re stepping into something new makes all the difference. I’m also grateful for my other siblings, who have supported me in their own ways.
One of my undergraduate professors played a big role in my journey as well. They saw something in me and encouraged me to keep pushing, and that encouragement stayed with me long after I left the classroom.
And my pastor has been a steady source of spiritual guidance and covering. Faith is at the center of everything I do, and having someone who prays for me, speaks life into me, and holds me accountable has helped me stay grounded in my purpose.
I’m still building, but I’ve never been building alone, and I’m grateful for every person who has walked with me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yayamcgeemba
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yayamcgeemba/
