Published on May 8, 2026 | By Jasmine Lewis, Head of Publishing | BCM Magazine
There are moments in life when a person is no longer who they used to be—but not yet fully what they are becoming. This is one of those moments. We sat down with Makunda “Makunda4Ever” Clayton, a future Business Celebrity within the Business Celebrity Movement, as she prepares to step into a new level of identity, purpose, and influence.
Her journey is not defined by a single breakthrough or dramatic shift, but by a steady unfolding—one that has taken her from corporate environments into entrepreneurship, coaching, and a life centered on assignment rather than routine. What stands out is not where she has been, but where she is actively heading: a life built around impact, voice, and the development of others through purpose-driven work.
Makunda describes this season as alignment—where past experiences, personal transitions, and professional decisions begin to form a clearer picture of direction and calling. In this conversation, we explore the background that shaped her, the internal shifts that redefined how she sees herself, and the mindset that is guiding her as she continues stepping into the identity of a business celebrity in real time.
Can you share a little about your background and what was happening in your life that led you to explore the Business Celebrity Movement?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: I didn’t stumble into the Business Celebrity Movement—I was prepared, refined, and positioned for purpose. My name is Makunda (Ma-Conda). Yes, people often ask how to remember it. Growing up, I was teased because my name sounded like “Anaconda,” but I’ve always chosen to redefine what stands out. You can think of Wakanda forever… now elevate it—Makunda forever.
I like to say I’m Makunda4ever because my name is more than an identity—it’s an assignment. It means giver of hope, liberation, salvation, and intelligence. I didn’t come to blend in; I came with purpose already written into me. There came a moment when the life I was living no longer aligned with who I was becoming. Corporate America, the 9–5 structure, and predictability no longer matched the vision God placed inside of me.
I wasn’t created to simply clock in—I was called to stand out. So I made a strategic decision: I walked away. Not impulsively, but intentionally. I had already begun laying groundwork—exploring multiple income streams and preparing for transition. I stepped into real estate training, returned to complete what I started, and expanded into entrepreneurship through insurance, Mary Kay, and coaching. But what I was truly building was influence.
Long before titles, my assignment was clear: help people heal, grow, and win—spiritually, emotionally, and practically. Through one-on-one coaching and digital platforms, I’ve poured into people who needed hope, direction, and a reminder that they can rise again. After becoming single again, I made a decision: I would not just survive—I would live on purpose.
That became the foundation of Far Above Rubies Coaching, a space dedicated to helping people live victorious lives rooted in Christ, not just in theory, but in daily application. My voice expanded into podcasting with Love & Relationships: Everything in Between, streaming conversations people often avoid but deeply need. My books—Shattered to Victorious, God’s Glamour Girl Rules from A to Z, and Bounce Back: How to Get Your SWAG Back After a Breakup—became extensions of my healing and message.
Every role I’ve held—educator, speaker, master of ceremonies—was preparation, not coincidence. I was named Teacher of the Year for pouring into students, but even then, I was already building something deeper. I didn’t just build a business. I became the message. And now, I help others do the same.
What first caught your attention when you came across the Business Celebrity Movement or the idea of becoming a celebrity coach?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: What first caught my attention about the Business Celebrity Movement wasn’t curiosity—it was confirmation. I’ve always believed there are doors designed specifically for your life. Not random opportunities, but divinely aligned moments that connect everything you’ve been through. So when I was introduced to the idea of becoming a celebrity coach (Business Celebrity), something in me recognized it instantly. I didn’t question it—I understood it.
Every job, every setback, every transition suddenly made sense. Even the deeply personal seasons—loss, divorce, betrayal, rebuilding—were not detours. They were development. Those experiences shaped resilience, discernment, and wisdom that I now use to help others grow in business, relationships, and purpose. This movement feels like alignment. Not about visibility for attention—but visibility for assignment.
Everything I’ve carried was never just for me. It was meant to create a ripple effect—impacting one life so that life can impact another. That’s what drew me in. This isn’t something I joined. It’s something I was already being prepared for.
Was there a specific moment, realization, or experience that made you decide to take it more seriously?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: It wasn’t one single moment—it was a series of confirmations that aligned during the pre-event journaling process and exposure to the lifestyle of a celebrity coach. Something shifted in my perspective. I realized this wasn’t about chasing income or status—it was about walking in divine assignment.
There is a difference between having a career and living a life you were created for. This felt like alignment without resistance. A custom-made path I didn’t have to force. From that point, I began to see my life differently. What once felt like separate experiences now felt connected. Every season had been building toward this.
I also realized this was connected to one of my deepest desires for fulfillment—not just spiritually, but in purpose and contribution. In that moment, clarity came: this is what I’ve been prepared for. It felt like God had been saving this chapter for last.
Since becoming involved, how has your thinking about yourself, your goals, or your future changed?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: My mindset has shifted into a no-limits, no-box perspective. With God at the center of my life, I no longer see barriers the same way. I see possibility. My goals are no longer ideas—they are directions. I expect them to happen because I now understand alignment. More than anything, I see myself as someone who is called to build, lead, and develop others into their next level. I’m committed to becoming the fullest version of myself, not by arriving, but by continually evolving.
How would you describe your experience so far inside the movement in your own words?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: My experience inside the movement has been life-changing in a very grounded and clear way. It has given me space to fully embrace what I already knew I was called to do. There is clarity here. Alignment here. Purpose here.
The interactions have been smooth and supportive, and I genuinely look forward to each connection. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals has reinforced that I am exactly where I need to be, at the right time, with the right people, building something meaningful.
When you think about the direction you’re moving in, what does becoming a “celebrity coach” or “Business Celebrity” represent for you personally?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: Becoming a celebrity coach or business celebrity represents something deeply personal: a dream I didn’t even know how to define growing up. As a child, dreams were simple—success, stability, impact. But this level of identity and influence wasn’t something I had language for.
Now I understand something powerful: nothing in my life was wasted. Every experience, every role, every season was preparation. I’ve coached individuals, helped develop teams, and contributed to businesses that grew because of the work I was a part of. This path is not new—it’s the continuation of what I’ve already been doing, now expanded into full alignment.
This is not just what I do. This is who I’ve become.
What would you say to someone who is currently in the same position you were in before starting this journey?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: If you are in the place I once was, I want you to understand this: Nothing you’ve gone through is random. The confusion, the closed doors, the unexpected endings—all of it was shaping you. What felt like setbacks was actually preparation.
So instead of asking “why,” begin declaring “now what.” Your past is not your limitation—it is your foundation. You are not behind. You are being prepared. And what’s ahead of you is greater than anything behind you. Step forward fully. Not halfway. Not hesitantly. Fully. Because your next chapter is already waiting for you to enter it.
Is there anything else about your journey you feel is important for people to understand?
Makunda “Makunda4Ever”: I want people to understand that what they are facing right now is not permanent. Even in the most difficult seasons, purpose is still forming. You are not overlooked. You are not behind. You are not forgotten. You are being shaped.
You were created for such a time as this, and nothing about your life is accidental. So surrender to the process. Trust the journey. And commit to growth even when no one is watching. Your life is meant to become a testimony that impacts others. And most importantly—you are not just enough. You are necessary. There will never be another you. So go be who you were created to be.
— Makunda4Ever
Closing Reflections:
What emerges from Makunda “Makunda4Ever’s” Clayton journey is not a finished story—but a life in motion. A life that has moved through structure and transition, certainty and change, building and rebuilding, all while steadily aligning with a deeper sense of purpose. She does not describe her path as linear. Instead, she describes it as unfolding—each season revealing more clarity, more conviction, and more direction than the last.
And in that unfolding, a consistent theme remains: she is not becoming someone new, but stepping further into who she believes she was always created to be. Her story reflects a larger pattern seen within the Business Celebrity Movement at Ira Curry Holdings, Inc—individuals recognizing that their experiences, both professional and personal, are not isolated moments, but part of a larger preparation process.
Makunda’s journey is still in progress. But what is already clear is the direction: a commitment to growth, impact, and the continued development of a voice rooted in purpose and influence. As she continues moving forward within the movement, her focus remains simple—alignment, assignment, and becoming. And like many within this evolving space, her story is not defined by where she has arrived… but by who she is still becoming. This interview is part of a living archive of individuals stepping into public-facing leadership within the Business Celebrity Movement.
Business Celebrity Movement • Celebrity Coach Development • Identity & Leadership Transition • Business Celebrity Ecosystem • Business Development & Influence