Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Brown.
Hi Monica, 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?
My journey has never been a straight line, but looking back, every chapter has connected beautifully to the next.
I’ve always been both creative and deeply connected to people. Early in my career, I spent many years as a nail technician. It was my first real experience as an entrepreneur and, in many ways, my first lesson in the power of creating an experience for someone. My clients didn’t just come to have their nails done—they came to relax, talk, laugh, share what was happening in their lives, and leave feeling a little better than when they arrived. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those years were already blending two things that would become central to my life: creativity and emotional wellness.
Eventually, my desire to help people on a deeper level led me into the mental health field. I became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and built a career as a therapist, working with children, adults and families. That work strengthened my understanding of people, resilience, grief, transitions, relationships, and the importance of having spaces where we can simply breathe and feel supported.
Twenty-five years ago, floral design entered my life as another creative outlet, but it quickly became much more. I fell in love with the artistry of transforming flowers into something that could completely change the feeling of a room—or communicate something when words simply weren’t enough. Over time, I began designing for weddings, celebrations, corporate events, and sympathy occasions, eventually building M. Dawn Floral Design.
What I didn’t expect was that my two professional worlds—mental health and floral design—would eventually find their way to one another.
That intersection became Floral Therapy Detroit, where I began intentionally combining flowers, creativity, connection, and emotional wellness. It gave me an opportunity to use both sides of who I am: the therapist who understands the importance of self-care and human connection, and the floral designer who knows how therapeutic it can be to slow down, work with your hands, create something beautiful, and experience joy in the process.
Today, I consider myself a therapist, floral designer, entrepreneur, creative, mother, advocate, and woman who is still evolving. Each season of my life has taught me something that I now bring into my work. From sitting across the nail table listening to clients years ago, to sitting across from therapy clients, to standing at a design table surrounded by flowers, the common thread has always been people.
I create beautiful spaces, but more importantly, I want to create spaces where people feel seen, cared for, connected, and inspired.
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 has not been a smooth road. Some of my greatest challenges have also been the experiences that have reshaped how I define success.
Motherhood changed everything for me, and becoming a single mother required me to rethink not only my personal life, but also the way I approached my career and entrepreneurship. Raising an autistic child has added another layer to that journey. My son is one of the greatest joys of my life, but advocating for him and making sure he has the support he needs requires a tremendous amount of my time, energy, flexibility, and presence.
There have been seasons when therapy appointments, school meetings, changes in routines, childcare needs, and simply being available for my son have had to take priority over business opportunities. Traditional work schedules don’t always accommodate the realities of raising a child who may need additional support, and as a single mother, there isn’t always another person available to step in when plans suddenly change.
That has required me to pivot—many times.
I’ve had to restructure my businesses, adjust my work hours, turn down opportunities, move things around at the last minute, and sometimes completely rethink what I thought the next chapter of my career would look like. There have been moments when that has been incredibly difficult, especially as someone who has always been independent, ambitious, and accustomed to working hard toward the things I want.
But I’ve also learned that pivoting doesn’t mean you’re failing. Sometimes it means you’re building a life that actually fits the person you’ve become.
Motherhood has made me much more intentional about what I say yes to and why. It has also influenced the work I do as a therapist, entrepreneur, and advocate. I understand work-life balance very differently now because I’ve had to live it, not as a trendy concept, but as a necessity.
Today, success looks different to me. It isn’t simply about how much I can accomplish or how busy I can be. It’s about creating meaningful work, continuing to grow the businesses and ideas that matter to me, and still having the flexibility to be present for my son.
The road has required resilience, creativity, sacrifice, and a lot of reinvention. I’m still figuring some of it out as I go, but I’ve learned that sometimes the pivot becomes part of the purpose.
As you know, we’re big fans of M Dawn Floral Design / Floral Therapy Detroit. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the owner and lead designer of M. Dawn Floral Design, a floral and event design company specializing in weddings, social celebrations, corporate events, and Celebration of Life (sympathy) florals. My design style is best described as classic, elegant, and garden-inspired with a modern touch. I love creating lush, intentional designs that feel beautiful and elevated while still reflecting the personality and story of each client.
I am also the founder of Floral Therapy Detroit, which brings together my two professional worlds—floral design and mental health. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and floral designer, I created Floral Therapy Detroit to offer experiences centered around creativity, connection, self-care, and emotional wellness. Through floral design workshops, wellness experiences, private and corporate events, participants are encouraged to slow down, create something beautiful, connect with others, and simply enjoy the therapeutic experience of working with flowers.
What I am most proud of is that my brands are about more than flowers. Whether I am designing a wedding through M. Dawn Floral Design or creating a wellness experience through Floral Therapy Detroit, I want people to remember how the experience made them feel. Beauty, connection, and emotional well-being are at the heart of everything I create—and I believe that intersection is what truly sets my work apart.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was interested in becoming a dancer or a doctor. I didn’t know there was a field of mental health, but if I had, I probably would have been drawn to it because I’ve always cared deeply about people. People were always coming to me for advice. I was the secret keeper, the person who held space for others, and the person who stood up for the underdog. That has always been a core part of my personality.
I’m also an introvert, although I enjoy socializing and connecting with people. I value my quiet time, but I’ve always appreciated meaningful relationships and being present for others. Looking back, I can see how those qualities naturally led me toward mental health and the creative work I do today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mdawnfloral.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdawnfloral
