Shades & Layers
Shades and Layers is a podcast focused on black women entrepreneurs from across the globe. It is a platform for exploring issues and challenges around business ownership, representation and holistic discussions about the meaning of sustainability in an increasingly complex global context. Conversations are wide- ranging and serve not only as a Masterclass in Entrepreneurship but also provide wisdom and tools for Successful Living. It is a space for meaningful conversation, a place for black and other women of color to be fully human and openly share their quirks and vulnerabilities.
Guests include prominent figurers in the beauty, fashion and wellness industries both in the Northern Hemisphere and the Global South.
Dr. Theo Mothoa-Frendo of USO Skincare discusses her journey from being product junkie to creating an African science-based skincare range. Taryn Gill of The Perfect Hair is a brand development whizz who discusses supply chain and distribution of her haircare brands. Katonya Breux discusses melanin and sunscreen and how she addresses the needs of a range of skin tones with her Unsun Cosmetics products.
We discuss inclusion in the wellness industry with Helen Rose Skincare and Yoga and Nectarines Founder , Day Bibb. Abiola Akani emphasizes non-performance in yoga with her IYA Wellness brand and Anesu Mbizho shares her journey to yoga and the ecosystem she's created through her business The Nest Space.
Fashion is all about handmade, custom made and circular production with featured guests like fashion designer Maria McCloy of Maria McCloy Accessories; Founder and textile/homeware designer Nkuli Mlangeni Berg of The Ninevites as well as Candice Lawrence, founder of the lighting design company Modern Gesture. These are just a few the conversations on the podcast over the past three years.
Shades & Layers
Crownhunt with Stephanie LaFlora (S5, E4)
One of the most influential movements in the beauty industry is the natural hair care movement. However, living with curly hair is still a challenge across the spectrum. My guest today, Stephanie LaFlora, who is the co-founder of a digital marketplace for hair called Crownhunt, is determined to change that.
She came up with the idea of a Netflix for hair, as she calls it, after a futile search for a stylist who could care for her natural coils. Stephanie was routinely turned away from hair salons and when she discovered that the problem was a gap in the cosmetology education, the solution became very clear and she set out to address this obvious need in the beauty industry.
Armed with a background in data-driven product development, a conviction that living with curly hair should not be as difficult as it sometimes can be and the spirit of a troublemaker, Stephanie quit her full-time job, partnered with a long-time friend and colleague, knuckled down and got to work.
So far, she has led Crownhunt through a round of seed funding and now they are in another phase of raising money, through a crowdfunding campaign. We get into some of the details about this process during the interview. We also talk about betting on yourself, creating an inclusive business culture and Stephanie also shares some advice for anyone starting out with a new business idea.
LINKS AND MENTIONS
Crownhunt Pitch: https://youtu.be/y0ktS9SUTbs
MVP - Minimum Viable Product
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