The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
Briefly tell us about yourself
I’m a young energetic entrepreneur and the founder of Marini Naturals. Brought up in close-knit catholic family, I attended Consolata Primary School, then on to Loreto High School in Limuru.
I joined the University of Nairobi where I graduated with a First Class honors in Design and Communication in 2008.
I went to pursue a master’s of arts in Interior Design at Florence Design Academy in Italy
How did the idea for Marini Naturals come about?
In 2013, my late dad was diagnosed with cancer and we as a family were trying to walk the natural and healthy journey with him because aside from his diet, his lifestyle changed.
I reevaluated my life choices and started eating healthy, I cut my hair and let it grow natural
After cutting my hair, I realized I could not find products to maintain my natural African. I was using lots of money in importing products which were not even suited for my hair. I decided that enough is enough and I need not be a big multinational to do this.
Together with my family, we pooled quite some money together, put in into a Sacco and after three months, I was able to borrow three times my savings.
In a few words, summarize your life as a hair care entrepreneur
It has been a roller-coaster of a ride; exhilarating, exhausting, exciting and there have been down moments.
2017 was a very difficult time for Marini Naturals- as much as I could see the ideal for the company, the reality was saying something totally different.
You just have to enjoy your roses among the thorns.
You are an accomplished person both academically and career-wise, what is the magic formula to stay motivated even on a bad hair day? What are your secrets to resilience?
I stay motivated by always beginning with the end in mind. I know where Marini is going, I know where I’m taking it.
You need a strong conviction and belief in yourself. Find the people that support you, find your good energy and keep going.
Given that Kenya is flooded with cheap synthetic hair care products, did you face any challenges starting an organic beauty brand in Kenya? How do you stay ahead of the curve in this niche?
You have to constantly innovate, not only your product but as well as your communication, technology, distribution channels and engagement with customers.
Currently, we are in the process of setting up a system that’s going to automate the entire Marini Naturals.
The mistake most people do is think you only need to innovate whatever product you are selling.
But think about it, for a company like Apple, they not only sell their gadgets, nut also design, innovation and the cool factor.
For Marini, we sell a lifestyle and a feel-good kind of vibe.
Asks yourself, what do you sell beside your core product?
Holistic self-care involves not only about taking care of our bodies but also the environment. In your view what is the role of organic beauty products in sustainability and a greener earth?
As Marini, we are not only geared to designing and formulating and creating natural hair products, we also have a commitment to be natural in the three Ps (Planet, product and People).
This means that we make our profits ethically and we use natural ingredients in our products hence, we sell products that are healthy for our people.
We owe it to the planet to be fully committed to have a responsibility toward the environment.
We have taken the bold step to go paperless on our products by printing directly onto the bottle. This means that we save on trees and all our bottles are recyclable.
What is the culture of your organization? How do you build a successful customer base?
We don’t just sell hair products. Our core pillars of the brand are natural beauty, the African culture and self-love.
How do you find like-minded young and passionate people to work with?
I started off with my best friend Niyati Patel who is also the co-founder of Marini Naturals. She is the most positive, driven person I know.
Positive plus positive can only result in an explosion of positivity.
When recruiting new personnel, we don’t look at the qualifications or awards but at the person’s energy and vibe.
I always say hire character, train skill. Don’t hire skill and train character.
Someone could be the best accountant but they are rude, gossip around and demotivate your team.
What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Social media has been instrumental in our success because it is engaging and one on one and we are getting feedback on our products from all over the world.
Public relations has also been wonderful, getting featured in several TV and radio interviews. CNN and CNBC have also featured Marini and we got orders from around the world
You have been a mentor on both season 1 and season 2 of the BLAZE BYOB show, how was the experience like?
Season 1 was phenomenal since it gave me so much exposure and confidence. Before, I had never stood on a stage and spoke to over 3000 youths.
What touched me is to just hear someone say that even if they could save Sh5, 000 their dream would start. Sometimes living on the better side of life you tend to take such things for granted.
It was really an eye-opening experience
In Season 2 I wasn’t much involved but it was also good, I felt a lot creativity this time round from the BLAZERS.
If you had been given a platform like BLAZE in your early twenties, where would you be at this point in life?
Guys don’t know how lucky they are to sit in their living room and watch it through the eyes of their fellow youth.
If I had that, I would be a better equipped entrepreneur than I am. I hope all the youth out there are watching the show.
With close to 40 percent unemployment rate in the country, what do you think is the role of mentorship and support such as you offered in BLAZE in mitigating this?
It is only now that young entrepreneurs under 40 have started a wave of yes you can start a business and succeed.
BLAZE is offering an amazing platform to show people that they do necessarily need not to be politicians to be leaders but anyone who is pursuing their dreams and making an impact.
Most youths approach entrepreneurship with the hope of overnight success, but we all know that is a cumulative process when it comes to money and power. Do you have another definition of success that entails less depression and despair?
I hate to break it down to you guys but entrepreneurship is madness. Say goodbye to your social life. There’s no shortcut, entrepreneurship is challenging and tough. It requires GRIT.
I have had some crazy days and nights where I wanted to give up.
Despite all that, it is extremely rewarding and at the end of the day, it’s all worth it.
In your own experience, what are the critical challenges that plague youth entrepreneurship in Kenya?
It is only a perception that the only way after your degree is employment.
However do not discredit the importance of employment. And remember, entrepreneurship is not for everyone.
Behind the acronym Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) there’s a lot of pain and struggle and you first need to appreciate that pain before you go on that route.
What would be the solution to these challenges to stimulate economic growth?
Platforms like BLAZE are changing that narrative. To have a project going around the whole country telling under 25’s that’s there’s other ways to succeed is amazing.
A shift in the mentality through the media is also visible. KTN has a show called The Entrepreneur which I was featured on and through that a young person sees themselves in my eyes
Small businesses fall by the wayside because of limited capital. However, most mentors still persist that money is not a problem, in your view how can startups survive rocky times before they start turning a profit?
The answer to this is very simple. Minimize your expenses completely by doing away with whatever you do not need. If you do not need those business cards don’t do it, just send a WhatsApp contact to the person you are trying to close a deal with.
If you do not need that high-back executive leather chair in your office, don’t buy it. There will be a time for that when you start turning a profit.
For now, focus on your core product or service.
There is a Kenyan subculture in which ladies just have to sit and look pretty while sponsors do the grinding, what can you say to dispel such mentality?
I never want to judge how someone decides to make their money or live their life however, each one of us was given a talent by God.
Each one of us is equipped with something that will help us change our lives.
As a woman ask yourself if it is really worth it to not discover your hidden talent that will propel you and help you succeed on your own. There’s beauty and dignity in a woman using her own talent and effort to grow yourself.
If you choose the best way for you is sponsors, know that even laziness is condemned in the Bible. Get your money whichever way you want to but try being as ethical as possible. Be a woman with integrity.
Parting shot?
To the young people the best way to predict your future is to create it. You have to fight through some of your worst days to earn some of your best days.
