I think that rich cultural sense really shines through in the brand. Everything from the packaging to the colors is so on point. I know that you have also worked with other major brands like Revlon and L’Oréal in the past. How does that period of your life really play a part in creating your own brand as well?
It plays a huge role. I think for me, I wouldn’t have created my brand if I hadn’t had those experiences, both good and bad. Because, the good news is that I wouldn’t have become a beauty entrepreneur and create what I do in such a short amount of time if I hadn’t practiced and learned from those companies. I hear a lot of people say that they want to be a rule-breaker, but you have to know the rules to break them. My experience there helped me understand the rules. Then I have to figure out which parts of these rules I hate and which parts of these rules I love. So I learned all the good things — structure, discipline, patience, how they bring things to life, and the great part about the business of it all. I have learned a lot. I always say that [this brand] is my work and my art. If I can’t wake up every day and love it and do it to the best of my ability, how do I go to sleep at night? I am very proud of what I do. My goal has always been to do something more and have a meaningful life when [traditionally] Women are only supposed to serve a man. No matter what job I do, I’m very dedicated because I always want to prove to myself and everyone that we can. [always] many [than that].
When I entered these companies, I was like a sponge. I learned everything I could—even about the supply chain when I wasn’t working in that department. The worst part was the trauma I suffered in these places. And I understand that if I sit in these structures and they don’t make the world a better place, I cannot continue to sit there. And really, that’s what spurred me on. I realized that I would never change that ship – I would never turn it around. The power is too solid and too great. In my corporate career, even if you had a sexual abuse complaint against a man at the highest level, you would be the substitute. They will give you a payment to let you go and the person will stay. It was those crazy malicious constructs that made me break through – not because I didn’t want to work hard. I have always worked hard. It’s just that I know there must be a better way to do this. My organization will never be perfect, but I can always create a space where no one is discriminated against. That’s a really big point for me. I left to create and be a part of establishing a new world where we can have organizations (especially in the beauty industry) that are ethical and also profitable. profit. Until someone models that, no one will follow. That’s what I’m happy to continue to do with Uoma Beauty.
I read another interview where you talked about getting 6 to 12 of your own samples into the lab for product development because most products (like foundation) are for even darker skin tones. Not suitable for human skin. I’m sure that’s just one example of the many challenges people of color face when starting a beauty brand business. I’d love to hear about those experiences from you and the challenges you face as an entrepreneur of color. How did you handle those challenges?
When I started thinking about my challenges, there were some in many areas. You’re always fighting bias, especially from a retailer perspective. You will always be educated. If you’re lucky, they’re willing to take up that education. In most cases, they are not. When you launch [a product], everyone assumes you are an ethnic brand. That never happened to white women. No one told them that. That affects you everywhere. It affects you from a retailer perspective, an investor perspective, and a consumer perspective. Usually, when consumers hear it’s a Black owned brand, they’ll assume it’s an ethnic brand and walk away. It’s every touchpoint in the infrastructure.
If you’ve looked through a lot of the biggest Blacks-owned brands right now, they don’t even talk about color. They don’t even mention their Blackness, and they just stay away from it because that’s the best way to do it. So you can imagine how many founders have experienced that when launching a brand. Even during product development, I started asking the labs not to give me the formula if it wasn’t the right color. It insults me when you ask for my money but show me a light foundation formula and tell me you can’t make it dark. Even working with scientists to allow them to create darker shades is a challenge in itself. Going into the Milan lab that I produce, I can’t find the model [of color] at any institution. I have to go and go on the street and through WhatsApp.
There are always obstacles that you are going through every step of the way. And sometimes it will seep into your organization — even within your own team. Second, you are a woman of color, people will be very uncomfortable listening to your instructions. A friend of mine did an analysis and found that Glassdoor’s reviews of female founders of color are often negative. And you always have to be the one to stay calm, especially with men – a lot of them don’t want to listen to women. Some days, it’s exhausting. You’re fighting, you’re educating, and things get harder. So being a woman of color in a chair is not easy, because you will end up being labeled as aggressive.
