Power and Purpose: The Inspiring Journey of Two Black Women in Business.
Black women entrepreneurs, both in the United States and across Africa, are among the fastest-growing groups of business owners, driving economic growth and inspiring future generations. Despite facing significant challenges like limited access to capital, societal expectations, and systemic biases, they have shown remarkable resilience, determination, and innovation.
These women lead businesses across diverse sectors, including technology, finance, agriculture, fashion, beauty, and education. Their entrepreneurial ventures not only provide economic empowerment for themselves but also uplift their communities and address social issues. As they continue to break barriers, shatter stereotypes, and navigate obstacles, Black women entrepreneurs are reshaping the business landscape, creating opportunities, and empowering others along the way.
BellaNoire highlights two special Black-women owned businesses from the U.S. and Africa. Their products can be found and purchased at Nzando by BellaNoire.
J. Indigo Saunders, Vintage Only Vibes
Meet Indigo! Navigating multiple talents while being in the spotlight can often exacerbate feelings of anxiety. However, passion for these pursuits can drive one to seek out solutions. This is Indigo’s story. A chorus teacher, singer/songwriter, vocal coach, band leader, curator of vintage finds, owner of an entertainment company, and owner and creator of the Mystic Sage Mist! This Black woman is unstoppable!
Despite thriving in these public-facing roles, Indigo has grappled with generalized anxiety disorder. This intersection prompted her to explore new avenues, leading to a love for researching vintage houseware items and aromatherapy products. Struggling with anxiety symptoms inspired Indigo to create a blend of rosewater, sage, and other essential oils. This blend, initially a personal remedy, evolved into a spray that effectively alleviated her symptoms.
In her own words, “I would be about to sing on stage and spray it on my hands or simply just spray it over my head and deeply inhale it. I was blown away at how quickly I would feel calm. Most importantly anyone who was near when I'd spray would insist I spray it in their direction. I gave a production assistant my bottle. She called me the next day going on and on about how, after spraying it on her pillow at bedtime, she got the best sleep she'd had in months. She went to sleep when her head hit the pillow and that continues till this day..” This birthed the creation of Mystic Sage Mist. Mystic- of a mysterious nature. Sage - a herbal plant know if it's calming properties and ability to protect the body from oxidative stress. Mist- Cloud of liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere, upon being sprayed or projected. Indigo’s calming mist is sold exclusively at Nzando by BellaNoire, and can be purchased here.
Carol M., Kunda Uganda
Kunda, owned by Carol Mugasha, is a Ugandan company that embraces Africa's rich vitenge culture, producing modern and trendy African-inspired apparel for women. The name "Kunda," is derived from the Ankole culture in Uganda, and means "love." Carol founded this brand with the primary goal of supporting and uplifting women, many of whom are the main breadwinners of their families. These women, skilled in tailoring, either through formal training or by learning on the job, form the backbone of Kunda.
Carol's vision for Kunda extends beyond profit-making; it is focused on creating employment opportunities for Ugandan women. Her aspiration is to expand production to a large scale for both local and international markets, thereby contributing to Uganda's economic growth. Through Kunda, Carol aims to give hope and create a brighter future for women in Uganda. The Kunda brand is sold exclusively in the United States at Nzando by BellaNoire, and can be purchased here.