Executive Overview
In the contemporary digital landscape, true influence is rarely captured by algorithms alone; it is forged through authenticity, multi-disciplinary creativity, and an unwavering commitment to personal expression. Enter Mbiye Kasonga, a Washington, D.C.–based podcast producer, entrepreneur, and founder of the award-winning media agency Moyo. Best known for her work behind the dual iHeartRadio Award-winning beauty and fashion podcast Naked Beauty—hosted by Brooke DeVard—Kasonga has quietly established herself as a formidable force in digital audio and media production.
Beyond her corporate and creative achievements, Kasonga has captured the attention of style publications and lifestyle enthusiasts alike through her vibrant, unapologetic approach to fashion and her deep-rooted connection to artisanal craftsmanship. Drawing from her Congolese heritage—where bright colors and structural silhouettes are a celebration of life rather than mere garments—Kasonga’s wardrobe functions as a visual extension of her entrepreneurial journey.
This profile examines Kasonga’s transition from market research to independent agency owner, the cultural and personal influences shaping her aesthetic, her dedication to tactile art forms like knitting, and her broader vision for community building through literature and digital media.
Detailed Chronology: From Market Research to Award-Winning Audio Production
Kasonga’s trajectory into the upper echelons of podcast production was neither linear nor accidental. It is a study in recognizing latent passion and seizing opportunity during times of global disruption.
Formative Years and Early Media Exposure
Long before managing audio productions that captivate millions of listeners, Kasonga’s affinity for media was cultivated early. Growing up with an intrinsic curiosity about storytelling, she participated in morning news programs during her high school years and actively engaged with television studio production while in college. Though she initially pursued a pragmatic academic and professional route—earning a business degree and launching a career in market research and corporate marketing—her creative compass continually pointed toward digital media.
The Pandemic Pivot and the Birth of "Naked Beauty"
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe in 2020, upending traditional workplaces and affording many professionals unexpected introspective downtime, Kasonga took a calculated risk. Having previously completed a specialized course in podcast production, she connected with her friend Brooke DeVard, who was seeking an adept producer to help scale her beauty-centric audio project, Naked Beauty.
What began as a passion project—a creative outlet managed alongside a demanding, full-time corporate marketing job—soon demanded a larger canvas. For two years, Kasonga maintained this grueling dual schedule, balancing corporate deliverables by day with audio editing, guest coordination, and production management by night.
Betting on Herself: The Launch of Moyo Media
The turning point arrived in December, catalyzed by an observation from her husband, who noted that Kasonga’s "hobby" had fundamentally evolved into a thriving enterprise. Encouraged to step out of the corporate safety net, Kasonga founded Moyo Media, an independent media production agency.
Over the past two years, Moyo has expanded under her leadership, managing a diverse team spanning multiple generations. While transitioning into the role of agency founder initially triggered familiar bouts of imposter syndrome—particularly when asserting leadership over older team members—Kasonga quickly found her footing. The empirical evidence of her success speaks volumes: Naked Beauty has secured two prestigious iHeartRadio Awards for "Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast," solidifying Kasonga’s reputation as an elite producer in a hyper-competitive market.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Intersection of Personal Style and Identity
While Kasonga’s professional credentials command respect, her sartorial choices have transformed her into a style icon for remote workers, creatives, and curvy women navigating the fashion landscape.
The Psychology of "Standing Out"
“I’m always chasing that feeling of walking down the street and having someone do a double-take at my outfit,” Kasonga remarks. This pursuit of the memorable street-style moment is deeply cultural. As a Congolese woman, Kasonga notes that her heritage instills a fearless relationship with bright color palettes, dramatic textures, and structural silhouettes.
Her philosophy on work-from-home attire stands in stark opposition to the utilitarian loungewear popularized during the pandemic. While her previous marketing office routine dictated cardigans, wide-leg trousers, and clogs, her life as an independent agency owner has liberated her wardrobe. “Never will you find me working from home in hard pants,” she quips, dividing her wardrobe cleanly between breezy T-shirts paired with swingy trousers and statement-making dresses.
Curated Wardrobe Staples and Sustainable Choices
Kasonga’s approach to fashion balances high-impact designer pieces with accessible, functional wear tailored for the modern multi-hyphenate:
- The Adventure-Ready Dress: A staple in her rotation is a vibrant yellow pocket dress from Free People (previously highlighted by The Strategist as a top summer dress recommendation under $150, which promptly sold out). Featuring deep pockets capable of housing keys, a Kindle, and a smartphone, the garment represents the ideal synthesis of form and function for urban exploring and solo restaurant dates.
- Denim Solutions for Curvy Figures: Finding well-fitting denim remains a persistent challenge in the fashion industry, particularly for curvy consumers. Kasonga advocates for brands like Warp + Weft, which offers inclusive sizing up to size 24 at accessible price points under $140, incorporating just enough stretch to ensure comfort without sacrificing structure.
- Upcycling and Customization: Kasonga’s creativity extends beyond audio production into textile modification. In one notable look, she took a tiered dress from Dôen, removed the waist tie, and repurposed the upper portion as a statement top paired with self-altered denim cutoffs.
The Therapeutic Art of Knitting
Beyond collecting and modifying garments, Kasonga maintains a profound, therapeutic relationship with knitting—a craft that serves as a living bridge to her past. Kasonga’s mother, an avid knitter who taught her older sisters, passed away when Kasonga was just two years old.
Deprived of the opportunity to share tactile milestones with her mother, Kasonga rediscovered knitting after moving to Washington, D.C. post-college without a built-in social network. What started as a coping mechanism for isolation blossomed into a profound act of remembrance. “When you lose your parent as a child, you lose the opportunity to do things with them. But knitting is my way of feeling close to my mom,” she reflects.
This realization ultimately revolutionized her relationship with clothing: rather than endlessly searching for garments that met her exact specifications, she began crafting them herself. Utilizing patterns sourced via digital platforms like TikTok and Ravelry, she successfully engineered her own going-out tops, proving that modern hand-knit garments can be both contemporary and deeply personal.
Community and Literary Engagement
Kasonga’s commitment to community extends far beyond corporate management and style curation. An voracious reader since childhood—to the extent that school librarians granted her special permission to check out ten books at a time—she views literature not as solitary confinement, but as a vibrant medium for human connection.
Prior to focusing fully on her agency’s expansion, Kasonga organized monthly social reading events at Shanklin Hall, a prominent Black-owned establishment in Washington, D.C. Titled "Bring Your Own Book," these gatherings invited participants to either discuss selected works or simply read collectively in a shared public space, mirroring the communal energy typically reserved for reality television viewing parties.
When asked to name her definitive "heavy hitters"—the ultimate book club selections capable of sparking intense, unforgettable discourse—Kasonga points to three masterworks of contemporary fiction:
- My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite: A darkly comedic thriller exploring sibling loyalty, morality, and systemic protection.
- The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans: A brilliant collection of novellas and short stories examining race, history, and modern American identity.
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: An epic historical novel tracing the generational descendants of two half-sisters across three hundred years of Ghanaian and American history.
Future Outlook
As Mbiye Kasonga looks toward the horizon, the trajectory of Moyo Media points toward continued expansion within the digital audio ecosystem. By maintaining rigorous production standards while championing diverse voices in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, Kasonga has proven that independent media agencies can thrive by prioritizing creative integrity over corporate homogenization.
In her personal life and public profile, Kasonga continues to dismantle outdated notions of professional dress codes, proving that authority and playfulness are not mutually exclusive. Whether she is engineering an award-winning podcast episode, designing her next hand-knit wardrobe staple, or hosting a community reading night in the heart of Washington, D.C., Kasonga approaches every endeavor with the same core philosophy: an unwavering refusal to blend into the background, and an enduring commitment to work that leaves a lasting impression.
