Phnewfula Frederiksen is the founder of Happy Mango, an eco-friendly baby boutique in Atlanta, and a passionate advocate for breastfeeding, sustainable living, and minority entrepreneurship. A graduate of Clark Atlanta University and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she spent over 20 years in the music industry, working with top labels like Interscope and Warner Bros. before shifting her focus to combine her love of parenting and eco-activism. Happy Mango began as a pop-up in 2014 and quickly grew into a trusted resource for eco-conscious parents, now serving as a full-service boutique offering premium baby products, community support, and car seat installations. Phnewfula has been featured in outlets like CNN, CNBC, and Black Enterprise and continues to inspire others through her work and dedication to family and sustainable business.
Q: What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned thus far?
A: My biggest lesson has been that everything will be fine. I’m not going to break, no matter how bleak things may look.
I’ve also learned how to work in this space as a Black woman. Because there are so few of us, people have the misconception that when one of us gets in, others expect you to carry all of the Black products, just because you’re Black. Unfortunately, I can’t carry the product, if it’s not a good product for our customers, however I get it. There are not a lot of avenues for us to do down, so finding someone who looks like us to give us a shot is difficult.
Q: What does it mean to be a Black woman working in a business dedicated to healthy baby products?
A: It feels great! There’s not a lot of people of color in our space. There are very few baby stores that are owned by Black women or even baby products that are made by Black women or black people in general which makes it an interesting space to be in.
And then it can also be really difficult on the other side, because there are not a lot of us in this space. There are lots of doors that I’m knocking on that haven’t been knocked on by people who look like me before, and it’s harder to get in.
Q: What do you consider to be your superpower?
A: My creativity and ability to push forward. Because we are a Black-owned business, we are often judged more harshly as a business. We’re just perceived differently and sometimes that can be really hurtful to see played out so we have to push past that. We’ve had customers leave Google reviews that their product didn’t work correctly because we were a Black-owned business. We have to be so much better that it’s unfair. How we’re perceived out in the world, follows us everywhere, even when we should be celebrated.
Q: What has been your greatest impact since starting this business?
A: One of the greatest impacts I make is through the flexibility I offer my employees to also be parents. At Happy Mango, I strive to create a workplace that genuinely supports working parents, with “school shifts” allowing employees to arrive after school drop-off and leave in enough time for pick-up. This scheduling is a lifeline for moms with younger children, while those with older kids can opt for full shifts if they prefer. With the store closing at 6 p.m., all employees still have the chance to be there for their families in the evening. This approach is redefining work-life balance for our team, making this business a space where parenting and professional fulfillment go hand in hand.
Q: What is your biggest dream for Happy Mango?
A: My dream is that we can become an entity that is helpful for parents everywhere to set up a different trajectory for all families moving forward. Even though I’m in retail, I’m a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), so I’m also licensed to do car seat installs. There is so much lack of information that we take pride in being able to impact the lives of others through information transfer. That’s how we start to make true change across the board with everything, with information.
I also strive to create a legacy my children and descendants can be proud of.
Stay connected to Phnewfula Frederiksen:
- Instagram: @phnewfula @shophappymango
- Website: visit here
