Don’t think social entrepreneurship can earn a profit? Think again. Rahama Wright discusses how she built Shea Yeleen, a skincare brand that focuses on high-quality shea butter, produced by women’s cooperatives in Ghana.

Listen as Wright speaks about the decision to create living wage jobs (nearly five times the minimum wage) for women-owned shea butter cooperatives in Ghana, through Shea Yeleen. Wright offers some of the women the opportunity to travel to the United States to witness the business funnel from beginning to end.

Wright describes growing up as a first-generation American with Ghanian parents, which motivated her to volunteer for the Peace Corps in West Africa. Wright describes how her time there later sparked the idea for Shea Yeleen.

Discover how Wright pivoted from a foreign service officer for the State Department to bootstrapping her own social impact company. A classic type-A personality, Wright describes how she never let logistics get in the way of her goals, and how she’s determined to see her business — and those of the women she works with — thrive.

If you’re looking for inspiration, listen to this episode of SheVentures, as Wright covers everything from starting a business from scratch to scaling to partnership deals with WholeFoods and MGM Resorts International. For more stories of bold women who inspire, log on to sheventurespodcast.com.

Time Stamps:

• 2:10: Wright describes how her upbringing shaped her views on women empowerment.
• 3:20: She speaks about living in Africa while volunteering for the Peace Corps and how she witnessed the challenges that women face.
• 10:15: The pivot from foreign service officer for the State Department to starting a skincare brand.
• 12:15: Business Tips! Where did Wright find information after she had her initial idea of a social impact skincare brand?
• 15:00: Creating an ecosystem for women: Shea Yeleen’s training program for the women in Ghana.
• 26:40: With no business degree, Wright explains how she figured out each business step from trading to shipping to selling.
• 33:30: She describes her time on the advisory council on Doing Business in Africa, under the Obama Administration — and how individuals have an inherent bias, unknowingly.
• 33:50: What are the biggest misconceptions about social entrepreneurship?
• 44:00: How should aspiring beauty entrepreneurs approach distributors today?
• 45:50: Wright opens up about her proudest and most difficult moments.
• 49:30: The impact the pandemic had on Wright’s business.
• 52:15: Today’s America: Wright speaks about what Black women entrepreneurs face.