Mary-Ann Moloku on The Power of Saying Yes
by Shannon Kate Murray, Founder & Editor of High Flying DesignMary-Ann Moloku has lived more lives than most people dream of. From singing classical music at the Royal Albert Hall as a child, to modelling at the Playboy Mansion, working for Microsoft, launching her own property business at 24, and now helping others reconnect with the version of themselves that existed before the pressure, the programming, and the performing. Her path hasn’t been linear. It’s been expansive, intuitive, and unapologetically hers.
We sat down to talk about building a life and business on your own terms, tuning out other people's expectations, and why saying "yes" has been Mary-Ann's greatest strategy.
You’ve had an incredibly diverse journey - from singing and acting to corporate, modelling, and now coaching. Looking back, what ties it all together?
Mary-Ann: “Curiosity. I’ve always been someone who says yes to experiences. Even if it scared me, even if I didn’t know what I was doing. I think my life’s mission has been to try lots of things and figure out what’s really for me. I started out singing classical music and writing poems as a kid. That creative, expressive side has always been there, even when I lost sight of it in my 20s. Now, in my coaching work, I help people remember who they were before they were told who to be. So in a way, I’ve come full circle.”
What was your upbringing like?
Mary-Ann: “I grew up in London in a traditional Nigerian household. It was very "survival mode" - work hard, get a good job, follow the rules. My mum had two jobs and worked incredibly hard to give me access to good schools and opportunities. I ended up going to an all-girls convent school and then studied French and International Relations at uni. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer or work in international politics, but I quickly realised: this isn't me.”
When did that shift happen?
Mary-Ann: “At university. I hated my course. I partied a lot, wore sunglasses to class to hide my hangovers, and was honestly pretty lost. But deep down, I had this alarm bell in my body. I physically couldn’t force myself to do something I didn’t want to do. I finished my degree, but I knew I wasn’t going to follow that path. That’s when I started exploring different work and trying everything: Microsoft, bars, retail, modelling, and even property. It was all very trial-and-error.”
You started your own property business at 24. That’s bold.
Mary-Ann: “Yeah, I read Rich Dad Poor Dad and got obsessed with financial freedom. I didn’t want to work for anyone. So I launched a short-let property company. I went to meetups, networked in person, and learned as I went. It did well for a while. But there was no soul in it. I realised I was doing it for the money, not for purpose. That’s when everything started to shift.”
How did you get into coaching and self-development?
Mary-Ann: “It started with manifestation, to be honest. I wanted to create a life on my terms. But the deeper I went, the more I realised it wasn’t about the stuff. It was about self-worth, identity, and healing. I became passionate about helping people unlearn the conditioning that keeps them stuck. My work now is all about helping people reconnect with who they were before they were told to play small.”
You speak a lot about people getting lost in their 20s. Did you?
Mary-Ann: “Absolutely. I think your 20s are meant for getting lost. That’s where the growth happens. But some people don’t find their way back. I’ve seen so many people stay in pain because they don’t have the tools to come back to themselves. That’s what I want to change.”
There’s a strong message of self-trust in your story. How did you build that?
Mary-Ann: “By making decisions that didn’t make sense to other people, but felt right to me. Saying no to the traditional path. Saying yes to the unknown. I learned that fear is just a voice that isn’t mine. If something won’t kill me, I’ll try it - that’s been my way.”
What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck?
Mary-Ann: “Spend time with yourself. Tune in. So many of us are running on autopilot, doing what we think we’re supposed to. But the real work is going inward. You already have everything you need inside you. You just have to remember it. And don’t do it alone. Find people who empower you. One person can change your whole trajectory.”
How do you define success now?
Mary-Ann: “Peace. Joy. Being with my son. Feeling aligned in what I do. Knowing I’m helping people. That’s enough for me. The rest is extra.”
Has motherhood changed your approach to business?
Mary-Ann: “Completely. Before, I thought I had to do everything on my own. That came from how I was raised - watching my mum do it all. But now, I’m learning to reframe that belief. I don’t get a medal for doing everything by myself. I can have help. I can have a team. I can receive support - and that’s been such a powerful shift.”
You talked about growing up around privilege, while not coming from it yourself. How has that shaped you?
Mary-Ann: “It gave me a front-row seat to how differently people move through the world depending on their background. I was often the only Black girl in the room - and people would say things like, “You’re so posh for a Black girl.” They had assumptions. So I learned early on to carry myself with composure. Not because I had to prove myself, but because I didn’t want to give anyone a reason to put me in a box. It made me hyper-aware of perception, which now helps me deeply relate to the clients I work with.”
And you mentioned your spirituality playing a big role too?
Mary-Ann: “Yes. I grew up Catholic, but I’m not religious. I’d say I’m spiritual now. Connecting with God - or something bigger than me - has helped me see I’m here for a reason. That I’m not alone. That I was created with gifts and that my life has meaning. It gives me the courage to keep going, even when I doubt myself.”
Quickfire with Mary-Ann
Go-to mindset reset: A solo walk in nature.
Underrated business superpower: Saying yes before you’re ready.
One thing I’d tell my younger self: You don’t need permission.
Biggest lesson from motherhood: Slow down. Let it be messy.
No matter what chapter she’s in, Mary-Ann leads with curiosity, courage - and the kind of presence that can't be faked.
Mary-Ann's story is a reminder that it's okay to take the long way around - to pivot, to try, to fail - to trust your gut, even when no one else gets it. Sometimes the most powerful strategy isn’t a five-year plan - it’s just saying yes, again and again, until something clicks. And in doing that, you don’t just build a business. You build a life that’s truly yours.
You can find more from Mary-Ann at thesoulmanifesto.co.uk or by connecting with her on LinkedIn.
