Ep251: This Social Enterprise is Using Shea Butter to Grease Wheels of Progress for African Women
Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Rahama Wright, Founder & CEO, Shea Yeleen about her efforts to innovate the shea butter supply chain in West Africa. Her social enterprise Shea Yeleen markets and distributes high quality skincare products, while providing living wages to cooperative members in Northern Ghana. The line of shea butter products is being distributed through retailers such as Whole Foods, MGM Resorts and Amazon.
On the show, Megan, Rahama and I discuss:
Rahama Wright, Shea Yeleen
- You and Megan share something in common: you were both Peace Corps volunteers. How did your experience in the Peace Corps lead to what you’re doing today?
- You originally started Shea Yeleen as a 501c3 to support women-focused cooperatives in West Africa. How does that organization partner with Shea Yeleen the social enterprise business?
- Why did you decide to form a for-profit business?
- What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in getting this enterprise off the ground?
- What have been your greatest successes to date?
- How has being in Whole Food stores helped your your business?
- How much does the social impact focus of your product factor into the Whole Foods of the world selling your product?
- What’s your long-term vision for Shea Yeleen?
