Interviews

Published on June 18th, 2019 | by Guest Contributor

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Melanin on the Map: Your New Cultural Concierge

Do you need a new travel buddy? A one stop site dedicated to influence and activate your needs of travel? Look no farther; Melanin on the Map is coming and is ready to give you the ride of your life. Melanin on the Map is a new app dedicated to curating and placing millennials of color into the traveling realm; enhancing experiences of traveling and creating monetary opportunities for current and prospective travelers in this billion-dollar industry. CEO and Founder Ashley McDonough prides herself off of creating a safe haven for millenials of color to educate and prosper when traveling locally around their designated hometowns or internationally; exploring the unknown and scratching destinations off their bucket lists.

McDonough has created a name for herself in the entertainment industry as a media maven.; Ashley’s multi-faced skills as a journalist has earned her work experience amongst the elite of media such as ESSENCE Magazine, Sirius XM Radio, EBONY Magazine, CSPAN, Bustle, Elite Daily, Will Packer Production’s-XoNecole, and iOne Digital.

Amongst McDonough’s successful endeavors; Ashley was still yearning to curate more; as she worked and manifested her ideas; Ashley created Melanin on the Map. Combining her love for culture, storytelling and traveling; McDonough is making it her mission to fill the void missing within the traveling and tech industry.Representation of other melanin travelers is detrimental throughout this digital platform due to the current scarcity of representation in the travel industry. Melanin on the Map will provide current and prospective travelers daily access to numerous travel experiences, tips and tricks for group and solo travelers as well as creating inspiration and checklist all while venturing off into their journeys. While embracing the capabilities of making traveling a priority; travelers will find Melanin on the Map to be a necessity with their ongoing travel plans. As providing millennials of color, as well as the general public, a community to pull inspiration and information from; Melanin on the Map will give all travelers the push they need to adventure off into the world with confidence and knowledge. This application is destined to bloom and is prepared to give you the ultimate travel experience; one click at a time.

The Hype Magazine had the honor to talk about Melanin on the Map with CEO and Founder Ashley McDonough.

Hype: As an application, who or what is Melanin on The Map?

Ashley: -Melanin On The Map is an app dedicated to travelers of color. It serves as a one stop shop of motivation, education and travel opportunity. I wanted to create a safe space that not only educated minorities on travel but actually gave them the tips on how to create travel opportunities for themselves. After noticing the need for an app like this, I knew I had to make it my mission to bring this to life. Hype: Ashley Milani, what specifically brought you to the travel and tech industry and what role do you play with Melanin On The Map?

Ashley: I serve as the Founder and CEO of Melanin on the Map. As for what brought me to the travel and tech industry, it’s a number of things honestly; I personally saw a need for an app solely dedicated to travelers of color. Being first generation American, travel and culture are things that have been instilled in me from a young age and while I realized how blessed I was, I realized that wasn’t the same experience for many of my peers and others who looked like me; On my many excursions I couldn’t help but notice the lack of other minorities present and knew we needed something to make minority travel cool again. I wanted to create a place that encouraged travelers of color to step out of their comfort zone and take advantage of travel opportunities and broaden their horizons. With the tech industry continuing to expand, I knew an app would be the most effective way to get knowledge and opportunity out to the masses.

Hype: What has been the biggest obstacle in getting to your current phase of business as a travel app?

Ashley: My biggest obstacle would have to honestly be just the early woes of entrepreneurship. In starting any business, it is HARD and I mean insanely hard. While we so often see the success stories of entrepreneurs, it’s rare you see the isolating, tiring everyday struggles of starting a business. It’s one thing to financially figure it out but it’s another thing creating something from nothing that you hope consumers will not only understand but actually use and benefit from. From getting a trademark, finding the right influencers aligned with my mission, connecting with brand partners, creating contracts, getting an accountant, every day has been taxing yet still insanely fulfilling knowing that I’m one step closer to bringing this thing to life.

Hype: What do you want your consumers to feel when they experience the atmosphere of Melanin On The Map?

Ashley: I want my consumers to understand that creating travel opportunities are indeed possible. I want them to not be hindered by their circumstances, but instead prioritize making travel apart of their life if they see fit. Melanin On the Map should be a place of inspiration and opportunity for people of color to step out into the beautiful fulfilling world of travel.

Hype: Tell us about the current and future goals for Melanin On The Map?

Ashley: My current goals while I’m just 2 weeks away from launch is to create a beautiful finished product that consumers will love. As I finalize my travel influencer roster, getaways list, feature pieces and more I  really just want to create a platform for travel enthusiasts of color they can enjoy and learn from. This is really for them! While I’m grateful God used me as a vessel to get this out there into the world, Melanin On The Map is really a platform that shows minority travel is possible and should be taken advantage of.
As for my future goals, I plan to continue to expand Melanin On The Map on a global scale, creating new travel opportunities for all minorities. We plan to expand our getaways, brand partner reach and overall mission in promoting travel for minorities.

Hype: What do you feel has been Melanin On The Map’s greatest achievement so far?

Ashley: Our greatest achievement would have to be the way people of color have received us. While I knew a platform like this was long overdue, so I knew it would be successful, it’s amazing that so many people have supported my brand weeks prior to officially launching. While it’s great being able to connect with the travel influencers, hotels, agencies etc. receiving thank you emails for creating a platform like this, or seeing the eagerness in my dm’s or comments have truly meant the world to me! Like I said Melanin On The Map is for those same people and seeing that they actually seem to understand the mission and are eager to get involved means everything.

Hype: How does Melanin On The Map participate within the community in order to give back and why?

Ashley: Melanin On The Map gives back by creating new opportunities for people of color. I think the best gift you can give someone is an experience. While money and material things fade, gifting someone an experience that they can hold with them throughout their lifetime is the greatest gift of all. As we expand our brand we plan to add a number of new getaways and expand our reach on a global scale. Melanin On The Map is also connecting with the community by creating a number of jobs and experiences for minorities looking to enter the billion dollar travel industry. So from our brand partners, influencers, travel writers and more, we’re creating opportunity for those who wouldn’t have a chance otherwise. Lastly, as we expand Melanin On The Map aims to work with children and young adults who weren’t exposed to travel in hopes we can provide them with a more well-rounded, brighter future!

Hype: How do you see Melanin On The Map making an impact in the Travel and Tech Industry along with the lives of travel influencers and prospective travelers?

Ashley: I see Melanin On The Map changing the way people of color view travel. No longer will travel be an activity done by a few affluent people, I want Melanin On The Map to reshape minds into realizing travel is affordable, possible and for everyone. I see Melanin On The Map being a source of information on travel and a hub of inspiration that not only tells stories but creates experiences that’ll last a lifetime.

Hype: Ashley Milani, last but not least, what advice can you give people reading about following their dreams?

Ashley: Just do it! Honestly, don’t get caught up on all the many things that can talk you out of wholeheartedly following your dreams. When it’s time, it’s time, get close to God, and listen to the vision that he’s placed on your life. It’ll most definitely be difficult and scary but so is life, and if you’re going to be scared you might as well be scared pursuing your passion and your purpose.

Melanin on The Map is officially launching July 1st, 2019. Keep up with this Millenial Maven and stay tuned for what is to come!

Websites:

www.MelaninOnTheMap.com

www.AshleyMcDonough.org

Instagram:

@Ashley_Milani

@MelaninOnTheMap

Author: Shayna Lavaughn



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