Shades & Layers

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Today's conversation is a holistic look at the life of an entrepreneur in the indie beauty industry. Sundra Essien lives and breathes the brand, Isangs, which she co-founded with her husband nearly eight years ago. Everything in their store in shop is dreamt up in their Copenhagen workshop and home, and then made by hand on site.
Visiting Isangs is a definite must do when in Copenhagen. It's a delight for all your senses and she's a wonderful host who will give you personal recommendations and guide you through the shop.
Please enjoy this wide-ranging conversation that touches on fair trade, representation, sustainability, creativity and ambition, among many other things.

You can follow Isangs via Facebook and/or Instagram

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If you are a black woman living in Denmark (or Scandinavia) and you wear your hair natural, then you have probably come across a company and web shop called 'I love Natural Hair'.  Today's profile on Shades and Layers is Carriene Rendbo who owns the brand. We cover her entire journey from London to Copenhagen, from frustrated DIY naturalista to business woman and what lies ahead on her entrepreneurial journey. 

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There are many ways to pursue entrepreneurship, an independent life, a meaningful career. Ade Adejumo, our guest on Shades & Layers this time around,  knows all about this and she has found a way to encapsulate all her interests in her lifestyle brand  Ade Organics. Ade first pursued a career in sustainability before finally deciding that it was time to give up the office life and go solo.

“….I’m sure a lot of Africans can relate; there are certain professions that our culture does not exalt. You either have to be a lawyer, a doctor … we tend to look down on certain professions,” she says

Have a listen to Ade’s story and learn more about her company (which includes a children's books publishing arm) and what is on offer at adeorganics.com 

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Introducing Shades & Layers, a new podcast celebrating black women and their entrepreneurial journeys. This is the first season and it explores entrepreneurship in the indie beauty space. It is a celebration of black-owned beauty brands. 

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This is the first episode of Shades & Layers, a podcast that celebrates the stories and lives of black women. The first season is all about black-owned indie beauty brands and the entrepreneurs within this space. Today you can enjoy a candid conversation on starting your own business, with Copenhagen-based make-up artist Barbara Mensah and host Kutloano Skosana Ricci.  In this profile interview, the two women discuss various aspects of entrepreneurship including flexibility, support structures, staying motivated and balancing all of life's aspects while staying focused.

You can learn more about Barbara and her services on https://www.barbaramensah.dk/ or follow her column on the expat publication The International: http://www.the-intl.com/ 

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