From Engineering to Entrepreneurship with Vanessa Braxton of Black Momma Brands

Vanessa Braxton is the Founder, CEO, and President at Black Momma Brands, which includes Black Momma Vodka, and Black Momma Tea & Cafe. She is the first African American woman master blender, distiller, owner, and operator of a nationally distributed vodka in the United States. 

Before launching Black Momma Brands, Vanessa managed construction and engineering contracts worth over $2 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). She is deeply involved in real estate investments and helping other black-owned businesses thrive.

Vanessa Braxton's interest in creating a business around liquor started while she was in college. At first, she’d make her libations on campus using equipment available in the college's science lab; in the process, she made some small profits. Despite her success, she continued pursuing her engineering degree before venturing to work in the engineering and construction space.

However, Vanessa's love for creating liquor and entering entrepreneurship drew her back to the industry. She started Black Momma Vodka after decades working in the engineering, construction, and transportation industry. She now uses her science and mathematics background to grow her business and support minority-owned business ideas as well.

In this episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein interviews Vanessa Braxton, the Founder, CEO, and President of Black Momma Brands, about her transition from engineering to liquor. Vanessa also talks about her family's history in liquor making and her experience working in the engineering, construction, and transportation industries.