Monique Hayward of Moon Valley on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Monique Hayward and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Monique, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I’m trying to create more structure in my week and protect my weekends. However, let’s be honest. When you run multiple businesses, the days tend to blur together. No two are ever the same, which keeps life interesting and exciting, for sure.

My mornings start with tea and a scroll through the news and listen to a couple of podcasts — NPR’s “Up First” and The Economist’s “The Intelligence” — so I know what’s happening in the world. Then I review my commitments and map out the day. I’ve been moving my workouts to the morning so I can check that box early because once the day kicks in, it’s game over for free time.

The rest of the day is a mix of creative and strategic work. One minute I’m planning fall and winter promotions for our personal chef service and The Concept, developing the branding for our new AI hospitality coach, or collaborating with my business partner Brian on DRISCOLL Dry as we kick off product development with Oregon State University’s Food Innovation Center. Next, I’m focused on funding and launch strategy for our business, applying for grants and preparing to pilot our AI solution with a few restaurants.

By evening, my husband usually has to “rescue” me from my home office, often with a glass of sparkling wine as the lure. We cook dinner together, unwind, and hang out with our cat, Mac, before calling it a night.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Monique Hayward, an entrepreneur, marketer, author, and speaker. In short, I’m a storyteller at heart. In addition to launching my own ventures, I spent more than 25 years in the corporate world, leading marketing and business strategy at companies like Intel and Microsoft. That experience shaped how I think about brand-building, customer experience, and the power of storytelling to connect people.

Today, I’m the Co-Founder and CEO of DRISCOLL Cuisine & Cocktail Concepts, which I run with my business partner, Chef Brian Driscoll. Together, we’ve built a hospitality brand that brings people together through food, drink, and luxury. Our work spans private chef experiences, culinary vacation retreats at The Concept in Phoenix, our hospitality guide The DRISCOLL Method, and now our newest venture — DRISCOLL Dry, a premium line of zero-proof cocktails that are “bold on their own, brilliant with spirits.” We’re also developing Tableside, an AI-powered hospitality coach that helps restaurants train and empower their teams.

What makes DRISCOLL special is the blend of creativity and professionalism we bring to everything we do. We call it our signature approach — creatively conceived, exclusively tailored, professionally executed.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was in the fourth grade at John P. Thomas Elementary School in Columbia, South Carolina. My brother and I had just moved there from New York City to stay with relatives while our mom and dad went through a divorce. I was homesick and trying to find my place in a new school and a new life.

I joined the school chorus (something I’d never done before) mostly to make friends and stay busy. One of our programs focused on the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I don’t remember the songs we sang, but I’ll never forget standing on stage holding a sign that read “Free the Hostages.” A local photographer snapped our picture, and the story ended up in the newspaper.

A few months later, when the hostages were released, it felt like we’d made a difference and our voices had somehow been part of something bigger. That’s the first time I remember feeling powerful: realizing that even as a child, I could be seen, heard, and connected to the world around me.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

Yes, set high expectations. Strive for excellence. Be the best you can be. But for the sake of your health, peace of mind, and overall well-being, give yourself some grace when things don’t go the way you planned.

I’ve learned that life rarely follows a straight path, and the moments that feel like detours often end up leading you exactly where you’re supposed to be. It’s not just about the destination. It’s also about the journey and what you discover about yourself along the way.

It’s a lesson I remind myself of often as a business owner and leader because there will always be challenges, but the way you treat yourself through them makes all the difference.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. What you see is what you get.

For me, there has to be congruency between who I am and how I show up. Whether that’s in a business meeting, on stage, or online. I’ve always believed that authenticity builds trust, and trust is the foundation of every meaningful connection, both personal and professional.

Of course, there are parts of my life that are private and reserved for my closest friends and family, but the person people meet publicly is the same one they’d meet in my real life. The energy, the humor, the drive, the focus — it’s all real.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was kind, generous, and that I got things done.

I want to be remembered as a woman who used my talents to create something meaningful. Whether through the businesses I built, the experiences I helped bring to life, or the people I mentored and supported along the way. I hope people will share stories about how I showed up fully, followed through, and left things better than I found them.

Most of all, I hope my story reminds people that, in the end, all you really have are the relationships you’ve built — or destroyed — throughout your life. Everything else fades, but how you treat people lasts.

If those who knew me can say I made their lives a little brighter, easier, or more inspired, then that’s the legacy I’d be proud to leave behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.driscollcuisine.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/driscollcuisinecocktail
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/driscoll-cuisine-cocktail-concepts
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/driscollcuisine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/driscollcuisine
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/driscoll-cuisine-and-cocktail-concepts-phoenix-4
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@driscollcuisine

Image Credits
Arthur & Allen Real Estate Media
Christine Hyatt Photography
KSINK Creative
Steven Shefrin Photography