President
MPGlobal Connect Inc.
New York City
Age 39
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In 2003, Monaqui Porter Young was invited to Sri Lanka to speak at a women?s history event. While there, she was introduced to Paradise Farm and the 12 women that she would begin to work with to launch and distribute Srina? organic green tea. She saw the poverty and living conditions of the people near the farm and wanted to do something to improve their lives. ?I thought about helping them harvest all of the natural resources. We created a factory, sold tea online and were able to employ almost everyone in the village,? says Porter Young. Paradise Farm now employs 68 full-time workers and hires up to 500 additional workers during the holidays. And Porter Young is the president and CEO of MPGlobal Connect Inc., a company committed to making a difference in the lives of others and the exclusive importer and distributor of Srina? green tea in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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Previously, Porter Young was a producer, actress and playwright. Her mentor, Jaye Smith, counseled her in business.??I had studied internationally but didn?t have experience running a business. She helped me to bring my A-game and nurtured me as a businesswoman,? says Porter Young. A board member of Equal Trade for Sustainability, Paradise Farm and Worldview Impact, she looks forward to continuing her efforts to impact global economic development and to nurture the growth of Srina? tea, which she is rebranding.
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Porter Young has a bachelor?s degree in fine arts from Wright State University in Ohio, studied international trade management at the World Trade Institute, School of International Trade and Commerce in New York, and received certification in holistic health and integrative nutrition at Columbia University. To aspiring businesswomen she says, ?Surround yourself with people who know more than you, people who are on a level that you aspire to be.?
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Fun Facts
Favorite book: ?Things Fall Apart? by Chinua Achebe
Favorite singer: Marvin Gaye
Favorite sport: Track and Field
