JOSHUA LEADS FAMILY LEGACY ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

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JOSHUA LEADS FAMILY LEGACY ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

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Sometimes it takes a while to realize what one wants to do as a career. But, for Mary Lee Joshua it was a no-brainer. The 2005 graduate of Arkansas State University has always been involved in the ethnic hair care business and has introduced her brand empire to the world. So, it just makes sense that her path to a successful profession lay in front of her.

Her grandfather was Ernest P. Joshua Sr., the prominent founder of the well-known JM Products and CEO of the Isoplus® hair care line. The storied entrepreneur from North Little Rock was posthumously elected into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2007.

“My family has always been involved in the Black hair care business,” said Joshua, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. “We owned a business and I grew up thinking that someday it would be mine. But my grandfather died in 2005 and the family had to sell the company.”

Those were tough times for Joshua. But she persevered and began perfecting her brand for a new generation, pursuing a new hair care venture through the formation of a new company.

“All of our life’s savings were drained trying to save the business,” she continued. “We were all left without a job and career and so were over 150-plus employees. It was a lot,” she said. “I’m actually in the process of having ‘My Story’ re-written, as we’re re-branding and launching into Walmart. I’ve realized that people are very interested in my story with all its highs and lows and perseverance.”

Despite the initial issues, financial or otherwise, Mary Lee had a vision to give customers the quality and variation in hair care that they deserved at an affordable price for all.

“My mother, Marty, my aunt Mary (Marty’s twin), and I decided to start our own company and began exploring names, colors, labels, ingredients and other related issues,” continued Joshua. “The company soon developed and everything started falling into place.”

The trio had more than 40 years of experience among them in the hair care business. So, the motivated threesome created M3 Cosmetic Labs and went to work. In 2010, NexSheen Arganics® was born. Sadly, Mary Lee’s mother, Marty, passed away in 2015 and her aunt Mary retired from the business, leaving Mary Lee to run M3. Her father Michael and her brother Michael Jr. joined the company to offer support and help continue to build the family legacy.

She was also armed with her degree from A-State and the knowledge of running a business while studying in the Neil Griffin College of Business.

“Arkansas State is so important to me. I was in the College of Business and we had courses where we had to build marketing and sales plans for different products. These courses helped to give me confidence and helped me to manage a team and a budget as well as marketing the products.”

Joshua was a consistent Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List student during her Arkansas State days. She minored in marketing and held many campus leadership positions as well as tackling an extensive list of student and community involvement activities. She served as president of the Student Activities Board and oversaw a budget of more than $90,000. Additionally, she was president of the Marketing Club and served as a senator in the Student Government Association.

She was also named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Arganics® is built on what Mary Lee calls a “Magic Marriage of Oils,” a blend of extra virgin olive oil and Moroccan Argan oil. The light weight oil blend helps to repair damaged hair, improve moisture and restore shine and luster. The brand soon developed and everything started falling into place. “They believed in me and pushed me to be the best I could be. . . I wouldn’t be where I am without Arkansas State University. The university gave me a well-rounded education as well as access to helpful extracurricular activities that empowered and uplifted me.”

- Mary Lee Joshua

and her team are focused on providing quality haircare, and they have been able to fill a necessary void in both the U.S. and Africa, quality haircare at an affordable price.

The past 10 years of hard work are paying off with some retail distribution and attention giving her company a chance on shelves in over 250 stores.

“We’re also very excited because Walmart has picked up the product, and went on sale on their shelves in January 2021,” exclaimed Joshua.

Mary Lee Joshua is fulfilling her dream, and she gets to do so with her father and brother by her side. With her experience

“We developed a line catered to all different hair types and textures, including beard care. The products are designed to infuse the hair with much needed oils, vitamins and minerals/ nutrients without weighing it down.”

Mary Lee and her team believed in marketing their products the old-fashioned way — grass roots word of mouth and organic sharing. Under Mary Lee’s leadership, the company has thrived and expanded across the nation and worldwide. Arganics® is now distributed throughout the continent of Africa, focusing on sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.

There are almost 10 items in the U.S. range of NexSheen Arganics®, but over 20 items in the South African range. Mary and knowledge about hair care, she names her alma mater along with the help of mentors, professors and administrators including her adviser Christy Valentine ‘92, ‘01 MBA, a former marketing instructor, and Dr. Clint Relyea ‘84, ‘86 MBA, ‘05 Ed.D., a former instructor in management, as key elements to her company success.

“They believed in me and pushed me to be the best I could be,” she said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without Arkansas State University. The university gave me a well-rounded education as well as access to helpful extracurricular activities that empowered and uplifted me.“

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