Mikel McGee shares how she found her voice through creating floral arrangements.
Blossoming out loud means reclaiming your roots: your inner child, your authentic self, the you that is loved unapologetically. Mikel McGee shares her journey, weeds and all, on how she reclaimed her voice and defined herself as the esteemed creative entreprenur she is today.
About the speaker
Mikel McGee is the founder and lead creative of 414LORAL, a Black woman-owned floral studio based in Milwaukee’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood. What began as a kitchen counter hobby, designing arrangements for friends and family-has grown into a beloved flower shop known for its playful design and community rooted spirit.
Mikel’s path into floristry started with a one-credit elective at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, long before she ever imagined she'd turn flowers into a career. With a Master’s in Criminal Justice and a background in nonprofit and community work, she spent years in service driven spaces before transitioning into entrepreneurship. 414LORAL was born from that intersection, where beauty meets purpose, and storytelling becomes a way to connect and care for community.
Since opening her brick and mortar shop during the pandemic, Mikel has built a brand that specializes in custom arrangements for weddings, events, and everyday moments with a commitment to locally sourced blooms, sustainable practices, and intentional design.
When she’s not designing flowers, Mikel finds joy in the little things: perfectly fluffy pancakes, cute nail art, dilly dallying without guilt, and her English bulldog Gramps. Her work and her life is rooted in joy, curiosity, and the belief that beauty is worth slowing down for.
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