Tina Knowles’ CÉCRED Business Tips – And How Meghan Sussex Plans to Use Them

Meghan Sussex’s latest bonus episode of Confessions of a Female Founder features an intimate conversation with Tina Knowles. They talk about balancing family, work, and their roles as mothers and entrepreneurs. Drawing on decades of business experience, she shares insights about her new haircare brand, CÉCRED, which she created with her daughter, Beyoncé.

Tina Knowles’ Lessons in Building and Belonging to Meghan

Tina shared how she launched her first salon, Headliners, in 1990. She explained how the salon stood out by offering professional, quick services that respected women’s time—a rarity back then. She also introduced an innovative approach by using a computer system to document her clients’ hair care, including when they last had relaxers. This ensured that hair was not damaged by over-processing in close succession. It was a forward-thinking method that prioritized the health and beauty of her clients’ hair, setting her salon apart from the rest. Tina’s focus on what people truly needed became the foundation for CÉCRED, her haircare line with Beyoncé.

Tina said her children, including Kelly Rowland, could have become hairstylists themselves because they all learned from her as they grew up. She also spoke about Beyoncé’s haircare journey. Despite the intense lights and long hours of performing, Beyoncé has managed to keep her hair long, beautiful, and healthy—a testament to the lessons she learned from her mother.

Tina credits Headliners for giving her the confidence and skills to thrive in business. She shared a powerful insight: that starting a business can lead to self-discovery and personal growth. It’s a lesson that resonates, especially for women eager to build their own path.

Tina shared a powerful lesson. Her belief that business ownership can spark personal growth resonates deeply, especially for women eager to make their mark.

Tina’s Early Life Shaped Her Vision

Tina also spoke about how her childhood shaped the woman she is today. Growing up, she attended a Catholic school where some nuns made her feel like she didn’t belong. She later learned her family had bartered services to afford the school, something she didn’t fully understand until much later. These early messages of exclusion and class difference left their mark, driving Tina to prove she deserved a seat at any table.

She shared how those experiences gave her a fighting spirit and a deep empathy for others. As a mother and entrepreneur, Tina has used that early sense of not belonging as fuel to create spaces, like her salon and now CÉCRED, where people feel seen, respected, and valued. This commitment to community and self-worth runs through all of her work.

Meghan’s Reflections and Family Ties

Meghan added personal touches to the conversation, mentioning that Archie’s birthday party was the day before the podcast. She shared how running As ever gave her a new appreciation for the challenges of product launches, especially when everything sold out in 45 minutes. Rather than rush to restock, she paused to ensure quality, showing how she prioritizes long-term stability.

Tina and Meghan bonded over the behind-the-scenes challenges of running a business. They both emphasized that even in the hustle of entrepreneurship, family stays at the center. Meghan, who has spoken about her interest in sharing her business experience with her daughter Lili one day, found Tina’s insights especially powerful. Tina said, “If we have a disagreement, it’s her business, so she gets the win,” showing how much she trusts Beyoncé’s judgment and vision. She trusts her daughter so much because she knows Beyoncé understands the business world so well.

Trust, Tina added, is essential in any partnership, whether with family or not. She also shared some of her biggest wins and lessons: the importance of balancing work with self-care and the need to treat each child as an individual, not just part of a group. These lessons guide her through the swirl of work and family, a message that resonated strongly with Meghan and listeners alike.

The Power of Hope and Connection

Tina also spoke about faith and resilience in her new memoir, Matriarch, a New York Times bestseller. She described how decades of challenges taught her that faith and hope are essential for growth. “I have fought very hard not to be bitter,” she said. “I choose to look at the good things in my life and not harp on the bad ones.”

Their conversation shows that the lessons from family and business are never separate. Tina’s journey from running a salon to leading a top-selling brand with her daughter is more than a story of success. It’s a testament to strength, collaboration, and the quiet power of believing in something greater than yourself.

The full episode of Confessions of a Female Founder is available on Lemonada Media, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Tina Knowles’ memoir, Matriarch, is in stores now. Their stories remind us that even in the busiest seasons of work and family, finding yourself and building your dreams can happen side by side.

Speaking exclusively to Marie Claire, Meghan said, “Wrapping Confessions of a Female Founder with Tina Knowles felt like the perfect end to a very special podcast; as I grow my own business, I spoke to women who had turned their own entrepreneurial dreams into reality.” She called the episode a “toolkit of truths” she will apply in her life as she builds her brand, As ever, and raises her family.

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