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It’s Black History Month, and we’re back to talk about all things Black-owned. We are joined by our good sis and founder of S’ABLE Labs, Sabrina Elba. We’re discussing legacy, community, and the importance of Black entrepreneurship.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Welcome back to Go Up, sis!
00:03If you don't know me, it's your girl Kathleen,
00:06Senior Content Director at Refinery29 and Unbothered.
00:10We are back for another episode. I'm so excited.
00:12Happy Black History Month, y'all!
00:14Happy Black History Month, y'all.
00:16And before we get into it, actually, I want to introduce
00:19my beautiful, amazing co-workers, friends,
00:24sis's, my favorite people.
00:26Sandy, Jess, introduce yourselves.
00:28Hi, guys! I'm back!
00:31I am back! They invited me back, so I guess I did okay.
00:35I might have a permanent seat here. I like it. It's comfy.
00:38We are, like, in person, in studio. We are all together.
00:42Usually we're virtual, and, you know, I have to give you guys
00:44virtual hugs and things like that, so I'm excited to be
00:47in the flesh with you guys. I am Sandy.
00:49I lead our brand partnerships at Refinery29 Unbothered,
00:53and I'm ready to go off.
00:55Yeah, budget went up. We in studio, buddy, went up.
00:58You see the material, yes!
01:00Hey, y'all. I'm Jess. I was on the podcast, like, three years ago,
01:03so if you missed me, it's good to see you again.
01:06And I'm so excited to be back to go off with my sis's, with y'all.
01:10I am a social strategist, content producer, Pisces, friend, sister,
01:15all the things, and I can't wait for our conversation.
01:19I have a lot of things to say, so.
01:22I love when Jess says the things.
01:24So what you hear on this podcast is basically what happens in our meetings.
01:28It basically what happens when we get together and we just kiki.
01:31This is truly Team Unbothered. This is what we do.
01:34So today we are kicking off Black History Month with some joy and some celebration,
01:39and we're talking legacy. We're talking Black founders.
01:43And the legacy of Black founders' resilience runs deep.
01:47No matter the circumstances that they might be facing,
01:50Black founders have always invested in their ideas,
01:53built successful businesses while also uplifting their communities,
01:56and that legacy continues.
01:59We have not stopped.
02:00We're going to keep going.
02:02Absolutely. Absolutely.
02:04What else are we celebrating today, Jess?
02:06Today we're celebrating Black founders who build with intention.
02:10Yes, and I'm excited.
02:12I mean, I love talking all things Black.
02:15Always.
02:15We're just so multifaceted.
02:18Like, we just, just, I'm just glad I'm gay.
02:21I would say that every chance that I get.
02:24So as we're talking about Black founders,
02:26there's a long history of Black founders using their brilliance and resilience
02:30to take their communities to new places.
02:32So today we're going to play a fun little game called Guess the Founder.
02:37And our girl, Kathleen, you're going to kick off the game.
02:39I don't know.
02:40It's like, I know people, but I don't really know.
02:42Like, it's like, you know when you, like, know someone,
02:44but you just can't, like, what's their name?
02:46I know she did that, but I can't.
02:49So let's see, like, put our history, Black history lesson to the test.
02:52You know, I love a test.
02:55Yeah.
02:55I'm a Capricorn.
02:56I love a test.
02:57I love having, also having the answers already.
02:59Okay.
02:59So my first question is,
03:01after breaking records as an entertainer and singer,
03:05this Black founder went on to launch a hair care brand
03:08for the next generation of Black hair,
03:10creating innovative products that are constantly going viral.
03:14Hmm.
03:15Wait.
03:15Is this a buzzer?
03:16Sandy has buzzed in.
03:18Go ahead, Sandy.
03:19Beyonce.
03:20Beyonce.
03:23Yeah, Beyonce.
03:24The one and only.
03:25The one and only.
03:26That was great.
03:27That was a good one, Sandy.
03:28Point.
03:29Sandy.
03:30Okay.
03:31This Black female entrepreneur was the first of her siblings
03:36to be born free,
03:37and she went on to become a millionaire.
03:40Madam CJ.
03:41It's Madam CJ.
03:42Oh, it's a buzzer.
03:44I'm sorry.
03:44I was excited.
03:45I love her.
03:46It always has to be me.
03:47Once you, once I heard free, I was like,
03:49oh, it's giving slave time.
03:50I mean, yeah, I mean free.
03:52So I knew it was gone.
03:54Oh, you knew it was Madam CJ because of the timeline.
03:56Yeah, I just knew it was slave times, yeah.
03:57Okay.
03:58Next one.
03:59We ready?
04:00Mm-hmm.
04:00This Black founder took a $500 loan from the bank
04:03and turned it into the first Black-owned business
04:06to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
04:09So it's something Johnson.
04:11Let's start riffing off some Black names.
04:13Edward Johnson.
04:14Beverly Johnson.
04:16Tyrone Johnson.
04:18Johnson and Johnson.
04:19Jamal Johnson.
04:21George Ellis Johnson.
04:23George Ellis Johnson.
04:24Put some respect on his name.
04:26Shout out to George Johnson.
04:27That's a great name.
04:28Shout out to George.
04:29It rolls off the tongue.
04:30I love you.
04:30Bonus point, if you can name one of the brands
04:35under the Johnson company.
04:37I know this one.
04:38Go ahead then.
04:39Ultrasheen.
04:40Have you ever used Ultrasheen?
04:41What is that?
04:41Yeah.
04:42Ultrasheen.
04:43In the blue.
04:44It's Blue Magic?
04:45The blue, um, Greece.
04:46Blue Magic.
04:47No, but it came blue, too.
04:50Wow, that's beautiful.
04:51I didn't know.
04:52I'm a millennial.
04:53I should know this.
04:54You're already such a Black auntie
04:56because you said Greece.
04:57True.
04:59True.
04:59You said you know it's that, it's that Greece.
05:02Ultrasheen.
05:04Ultrasheen.
05:04Um, yes, Ultrasheen was correct.
05:07Okay, next one.
05:09These two brothers grew their business
05:11from teaching cosmetology classes at the YMCA
05:14to hosting the biggest black hair show in America
05:17known for innovative and gravity-bending hairstyles.
05:21Ooh, gravity.
05:22Is it the Les twins?
05:23It's the, the, the brothers.
05:25The Les twins.
05:27Brothers with a B.
05:29The show in Atlanta.
05:30Wait, wait, wait, wait.
05:32The, the Wayans bros.
05:36No, no, no, no, no.
05:37No, we're gonna look bad.
05:38Hey, no, no.
05:39The Bronner brothers.
05:40Warner brothers.
05:41The Bronner brothers.
05:43I did know it.
05:44I told y'all, like, I know the two brothers sometimes.
05:47You said brothers with a B.
05:47That was close.
05:48I don't know the name.
05:49I'm not ashamed to say that I didn't know
05:51because now I have new knowledge,
05:52and that's, but that's such an amazing thing
05:54about being black, about being African American
05:56is that you, like, learn new things.
05:58Exactly.
05:59Every single day.
05:59So if y'all are already typing, like, just save it.
06:03I'm proud of that, no way.
06:04You know everything.
06:05Yeah, we learning every day.
06:07So cool.
06:08Forever a student.
06:09Shout out to the Bronner brothers.
06:10Shout out to y'all.
06:11Lastly.
06:12Okay.
06:13Are we ready?
06:13Yes, I'm ready.
06:14I believe in both of you.
06:15Okay.
06:16I think you got this.
06:17This black woman went from cooking up hair products
06:20in her kitchen to selling her company to P&G
06:23in the largest ever acquisition
06:26for a black female-owned company.
06:29Monique.
06:30It is Monique Rodriguez.
06:31Oh, yeah.
06:34Yeah.
06:35My bad.
06:37Shout out to Monique.
06:38Shout out to Monique.
06:38I like the oil.
06:39I like the products every day.
06:40Every day, girl.
06:42I like the deep conditioner you got, too.
06:45Okay.
06:45All of those questions got me really inspired.
06:48I don't know about y'all,
06:48but that is inspiring to hear about black founders,
06:51to hear about all the things that they have done.
06:53I know that I am sitting next to a couple of entrepreneurs.
06:57Jess, Sandy, what is it like to maintain your nine-to-five?
07:01We are at our nine-to-five right now,
07:02but you both have side hustles.
07:04You are both entrepreneurs as well.
07:06Tell me about it,
07:08because that sounds like a lot.
07:09I'm already tired.
07:10To be honest with you,
07:11I feel like I've never,
07:13until this moment,
07:13thought of myself as an entrepreneur or founder,
07:15because when I think of a black founder,
07:17I think of a pattern,
07:19or I think of being majorly successful.
07:22But being a founder is just like having your own shit,
07:26having your LLC doing your thing,
07:28and it's like you founded something for yourself
07:31and gone into your creative endeavor.
07:32So being a founder of my small little production company
07:37and social media strategy and all that,
07:39it's hard,
07:40but it's very worth it
07:41just because I feel like I have something to fall back on,
07:43and that's so important,
07:44not only as a black woman,
07:45just a woman in general.
07:46For people who don't know you, Jess,
07:48you genuinely do everything,
07:51and you are so good at it.
07:53You're so brilliant.
07:55There's so many things that like you come with an idea
07:58and I'm like,
07:58wow, I never thought about this before.
08:00I've never thought about something like that.
08:02My brain does not work in that way.
08:04Also because you're so much younger than me,
08:06which I don't care what they say about Gen Zers.
08:09I like you.
08:10And I don't care what they say about millennials.
08:12You cool with me.
08:13I like you.
08:15Wow.
08:16We have solved the generational wars, everyone.
08:18Look at that.
08:19We've solved it.
08:21Thank you so much for saying that.
08:22I'm putting that on my LinkedIn.
08:23As soon as you go into my website now,
08:25it's just going to be Kathleen being like,
08:26she thinks of it everything.
08:27She thinks of it everything.
08:29Real smart.
08:30Don't hire her though because we still want her.
08:32No, yeah, yeah.
08:32I'm always saying,
08:33I'm like,
08:33you can hire me.
08:34I'll do it.
08:34If you have a brainstorm session,
08:36I really value your opinion.
08:38I love working with you guys.
08:39You've taught me so, so much.
08:42I aspire to be as brilliant as both of you.
08:44You're ready to go, you're ready to go.
08:46Whatever.
08:46Sandy, tell me how it feels about being an entrepreneur,
08:48but thank you so much for that.
08:49So I guess I want to start off by talking about
08:52like my introduction to entrepreneurship.
08:55So I'd say for me,
08:56I didn't really think I would be an entrepreneur
08:58or call myself an entrepreneur,
09:00but then I think about like my parents,
09:02like they had regular jobs.
09:03Like my dad,
09:04he had like his car service business,
09:06but then on the side,
09:07he was like fixing people's cable,
09:10like doing all the tech things for everyone's houses.
09:13So I think like the side hustle was always in me
09:16through like my parents and my family.
09:18So I would say like my earliest memory
09:20of me being an entrepreneur
09:21was probably in high school.
09:24I was jailbreaking phones.
09:26So, you know,
09:27when you could just like make your phone,
09:29like do all these like cool fonts, colors.
09:31And that's solely from like my dad doing it one time.
09:34So I would go on YouTube
09:35and just like look how to do it.
09:37And everyone's like,
09:37Sandy, can you jailbreak my phone?
09:39I didn't even think it was like a business,
09:40but I was like, oh, I can actually do this.
09:44You know what I mean?
09:45So as I was going into my career,
09:47I was, I just thought of like the things
09:49I was passionate about.
09:50And I was like, you know,
09:51I could do this on the side.
09:52And I would, I didn't really label it a side hustle,
09:54but people are like,
09:55you do kind of have like a business going on.
09:57So like right now me doing brand consulting,
10:00but also doing it for Unbothered.
10:03It's just like a true passion of mine.
10:04So it really doesn't feel like work,
10:06I would say.
10:07So honestly, trying to balance that out,
10:10it's like your girl is always flued out.
10:11So, you know, take me in that.
10:13You are always flued out.
10:14I know.
10:14Sandy be flued out.
10:15It's so interesting hearing you both talk
10:17because so much of what I admire
10:19about your entrepreneurial spirit
10:22and the things that you do
10:23really doesn't have much to do with money.
10:26Yeah.
10:27Even though, you know, we make the bag,
10:28you know, we're going to do that.
10:30But I think that so much of
10:32when we talk about entrepreneurship,
10:33when we talk about work,
10:34we tie it to capitalism
10:36and we tie it to like just the grind
10:38over and over again.
10:39And I, I think that what inspires me
10:42about Black Founders
10:43and what inspires me about both of you
10:46is that your work ethic
10:48and the passion you put into things,
10:50it really doesn't have anything
10:51to do with capitalism.
10:52Yeah.
10:53Thank you for that.
10:54I mean, I honestly,
10:55I never shout out my dad,
10:56but I would love to shout out my dad
10:57because growing up,
10:59he like had a shea butter business
11:01and oils business
11:03and worked in the mall.
11:04So he had like a kiosk in the mall.
11:06So Stonecrest Mall,
11:06he's still there,
11:07been there my whole life
11:08and has a store now,
11:10Nature's Gift.
11:10I got to plug him in
11:11because I love my dad.
11:12Yeah, plug that in.
11:12But it's just so interesting
11:13because as a child,
11:15I would go to his house
11:15and he would be making like shea butter
11:17in the, in the living room
11:19and the whole like living room
11:20smelled like shea butter.
11:22I was still always ashy
11:23for some reason.
11:24I don't know why
11:25he never gave me a sample.
11:26That's on you.
11:28They don't want to moisturize.
11:29It's not,
11:30you were crazy.
11:31That was probably you.
11:33You were probably,
11:33you're a stubborn kid.
11:34I was probably like,
11:35I don't want to do it.
11:36No, matter of fact,
11:36I'm tired of shea butter.
11:37But as I got older,
11:38I was like,
11:39wow, like my dad's really been
11:40in the black beauty business
11:42for so long
11:43before I feel like it was like
11:44a word or a buzzword
11:45like black beauty
11:46or something like that.
11:48And so I watched him kind of like
11:51join or go into this
11:52and just being passionate
11:53about something
11:54and passionate about health.
11:55And I think it put
11:56in my brain
11:57as a young child
11:58that I can do something.
12:00If I'm going to commit
12:00to like lifelong work
12:02or whatever,
12:03it should be something
12:03that I want to do.
12:05Exactly.
12:05And I feel very privileged
12:07to be able to do it
12:09because it's a privilege
12:11to do what you love.
12:12It's not,
12:13you know,
12:14you know,
12:14and as much as too,
12:15I think when we talk
12:16about work,
12:17we talk about entrepreneurship
12:18and hustle
12:19and side hustles
12:20and all of that.
12:20it is work
12:22at the end of the day
12:23and we get tired
12:24and, you know,
12:25we also are all about
12:27talking about rest
12:28for black women.
12:29I like to take times
12:31of gratitude
12:31to just remember
12:32that like
12:33to be able to hustle
12:35is a privilege,
12:35busy is a blessing,
12:37being able to sit here
12:38with both of you.
12:39Like this is a thing
12:40that we should be grateful
12:41to be able to do.
12:42And the fact
12:43that we have translated
12:44this into jobs.
12:46And I think so much
12:47of black founders
12:48and the products
12:49when we hear,
12:50we're about to hear
12:50from Sabrina Alba,
12:51when we hear from them,
12:53they say,
12:53this started
12:54because I loved something
12:56or this started
12:57because of passion
12:58or this started
12:58because of community.
13:00This started
13:01because I saw a hole
13:02that needed to be filled
13:03in our community.
13:03And so I wanted
13:04to give that
13:05to my community,
13:06which also comes
13:07from a place of love,
13:08which I love.
13:09I feel also
13:10just being African American,
13:12every generation
13:13that comes after me
13:14and even where I'm at
13:15right now,
13:15we're all redefining
13:17our lineage
13:18and our history.
13:20I always think about,
13:21you know,
13:21one day if I'm lucky
13:22not to have a daughter
13:22or a son,
13:23they can like look to me
13:24as like, you know,
13:26hopefully dream bigger
13:27than I'm dreaming right now.
13:28So I'm always thinking
13:29about like the next generations
13:30and I'm just really excited.
13:33I'm excited that this exists
13:34and that we can all sit
13:35and talk about,
13:36you know,
13:36being passionate
13:37and going after it.
13:38When you were saying
13:39that,
13:39I was thinking of my parents
13:41who my mom is Jamaican,
13:43born in Jamaica.
13:44My dad is guiding in
13:45born in Ghana.
13:46What a mess.
13:46They are both,
13:47thank you so much.
13:48The best of both worlds.
13:49It's the best possible
13:51if I do say so myself.
13:52They both,
13:53you know,
13:53didn't come from a lot
13:54in Ghana and Jamaica
13:56respectively
13:56and they're both
13:59medical professionals.
13:59My dad's a doctor,
14:00my mom's a nurse.
14:01They created these like
14:02really beautiful careers
14:03for themselves
14:04and then put
14:05the pressure
14:06on their children
14:06to be excellent,
14:08which a lot of us
14:10have.
14:10and I think
14:11that fosters
14:12a foundation.
14:14Sometimes,
14:15I mean,
14:15we could go into
14:15the excellence conversation
14:16we've had before
14:17on the podcast.
14:18Sometimes,
14:18it's not the most positive
14:20but other times
14:21it builds this foundation
14:23that you can then
14:24build a beautiful career,
14:26a beautiful business
14:27on that foundation
14:28and I think
14:29that's something
14:29that inherently
14:30is in a lot
14:31of black founders.
14:32Just like knowing
14:33how big you can dream
14:35I think is important
14:36so to install that
14:37and install that
14:38into your kids
14:40is,
14:41even if they don't get it,
14:42they'll get it
14:42at some point,
14:43you know?
14:44Yeah.
14:45And sometimes,
14:45I think for my own
14:46personal story,
14:47I don't know
14:47if I was pushed
14:49to be like excellent.
14:50I think I was pushed
14:51to sustain.
14:51Like,
14:51make sure you have
14:52a roof over your head,
14:53do a job that like
14:54brings in enough money
14:55for you to be able
14:56to eat and stuff like that
14:57but I think being able
14:58to social media
15:00and like the representation
15:01of watching other
15:03black founders
15:04and people just like
15:05exceed all expectations
15:06is a really beautiful thing.
15:08Not saying that my parents
15:09aren't incredibly successful
15:10and great in their own right
15:11but there's always
15:13so much more
15:13that you can bring
15:14to the table.
15:15I hate the word delusional.
15:17I feel like only women
15:18use the word delusional
15:19on social media.
15:20It's like,
15:20it's not delusion.
15:21You're just optimistic
15:22but I feel like being optimistic
15:23will really get you places.
15:25Listen.
15:26Absolutely.
15:26And the representation
15:28conversation is so interesting
15:30because I,
15:31I do think
15:31that we are now
15:32in a season
15:33seeing so many
15:34of these other founders
15:35and seeing other people
15:36do it.
15:37It's like just open doors.
15:38There's so many people
15:39to say,
15:40I'm going to start my business.
15:41Oh,
15:42if that person did it,
15:43if Monique did it
15:44and she was
15:45the most successful possible
15:47and her products
15:48are in Target
15:48and this and all that now,
15:50right?
15:50Like I can do it too
15:51and that to me
15:52is beautiful
15:53and why we push so hard.
15:55We went from like
15:56celebration and representation
15:57which like I feel like
15:58in a lot of ways
15:59we succeeded in that.
16:01Obviously,
16:01there's still so much more
16:02that can be done
16:03and now we're in the like
16:04build and do
16:06and like create mode
16:08where people are like,
16:08okay,
16:09I've seen it.
16:10I can do it.
16:10Yeah.
16:11Now what?
16:11Let's go.
16:12We're in that like go time
16:13and that's what we're seeing
16:14all of this like amazing
16:16black founders,
16:17entrepreneurship build from.
16:19And I want to kind of
16:20touch on something
16:20you said because I mean
16:21a lot of people
16:22have been like creating
16:23businesses forever,
16:23you know,
16:24like before there was
16:25like the patterns
16:26and all that.
16:27I mean,
16:27it's like your mom
16:28selling stuff
16:29or you jailbreaking phones
16:30or, you know,
16:31the little girl
16:32and cops ain't gonna
16:32come get me.
16:34Get your hands off her.
16:35Look,
16:35but I'm saying like
16:36even in kindergarten,
16:37the little girls
16:38that used to make
16:38used to braid
16:39or something like that
16:40or like sell.
16:41Like we've always been
16:42doing stuff
16:42but I think now
16:43it's like,
16:44hey,
16:44you know what?
16:45We could find a way
16:46to make some real money
16:47off this
16:47or like all the hairstylists
16:49on like Style Seed
16:50or whatever.
16:50Like I just,
16:51and we're just seeing it more.
16:52It's always existed.
16:52Like we're saying,
16:53it's just,
16:54we're just seeing it more.
16:55And that brings us
16:56to our conversation
16:57with a black founder
16:58that we love,
17:01we look up to
17:02and we cannot wait
17:03to talk to.
17:04Sabrina Alba
17:05is a CEO,
17:06model,
17:07activist,
17:08UN,
17:08Goodwill ambassador
17:09and entrepreneur
17:10bringing African beauty
17:11or a beauty
17:12to the world.
17:14As co-founder
17:15of melanin
17:16and gender inclusive
17:17brand Sable Labs,
17:18Sabrina formulates
17:19products made
17:20with traditional
17:20African ingredients
17:21and highlights
17:22the rich resources
17:23that come from
17:24the continent.
17:25As a black founder herself,
17:27she advocates
17:27for equality
17:28and entrepreneurship
17:29and recently wrote
17:30a substack
17:31that I love
17:32that we're gonna get into
17:33called
17:34Why Does Black Founded
17:35Become a Category
17:36Instead of a Standard?
17:39Questions that Need Answers.
17:40Yeah.
17:40We're gonna get into
17:41all of that.
17:42We're so excited
17:43to welcome
17:44Somali fellow
17:45Canadian queen,
17:46sister wife
17:47to us all,
17:48Sabrina Alba!
17:51Yay!
17:51So excited!
17:52Oh my god,
17:52you guys,
17:53that was such
17:54a kind introduction.
17:55Thank you so much
17:55for having me
17:56and we just saw
17:57each other,
17:57like literally.
17:58Yes,
17:59we just saw each other
17:59in Golden Globes.
18:01So good to see you again.
18:02Sis,
18:02welcome.
18:05I remember
18:05I saw your braids
18:06and I was like,
18:07uh-huh,
18:07no,
18:07they're gonna copy
18:09that exact thing.
18:11The best compliment.
18:12They look so beautiful.
18:13They look even better
18:13on camera.
18:14No,
18:15thanks for having me,
18:15guys.
18:16Yeah,
18:16so I'm gonna start
18:17off the conversation.
18:18So she gave you
18:19that amazing introductions
18:21and we spoke about
18:22A Beauty.
18:22So what exactly
18:23is A Beauty
18:24and why do you feel
18:25it's important
18:26to bring this perspective
18:27to a wider global audience now?
18:29Oh,
18:30we love A Beauty.
18:31I just love A Beauty.
18:32A Beauty makes me
18:33actually spiritually happy,
18:35but it's the passing down
18:36of knowledge,
18:38traditions,
18:39ingredients,
18:39customs,
18:40throughout the whole
18:41continent of Africa.
18:42So it feels a little bit unfair
18:44to kind of categorize
18:45it into one thing.
18:47A Beauty is massive.
18:48I mean,
18:49you have like black soap
18:50from Morocco,
18:51shea from Ghana,
18:52rooibos from South Africa.
18:53I mean,
18:53there's so much to play with.
18:55But what makes A Beauty
18:56really interesting
18:57is that because Africa
18:58has such a diverse array
19:00of climates
19:00and some of the harshest climates,
19:02the botanicals
19:03have to be really strong
19:04and that makes for
19:05really great skincare ingredients.
19:06But also just so much knowledge,
19:09right?
19:09I mean,
19:10how many times
19:10have we heard
19:11from an auntie do this
19:12or a grandma do that,
19:13right?
19:13So what we tried to do
19:15was bottle a little bit of that.
19:17It's my favorite thing to do
19:18to learn about a new ingredient
19:20or a new tradition
19:21or a way to use something
19:23and then incorporate that
19:24into the formulation
19:24that we're making.
19:25And I grew up
19:26watching my mom do that,
19:27right?
19:28Like a lot of us
19:28grew up watching
19:29our family do that.
19:30Like my mom would be
19:31mixing up her masks
19:33and her potions
19:33and I'd be like,
19:34you don't know
19:34what you're talking about.
19:35And then I was like,
19:36okay,
19:36she knows what she's talking about.
19:38That's why she looks
19:39so good.
19:40And I just,
19:41I wanted to like
19:42capture that essence
19:43and be proud about it.
19:44And the idea that,
19:46you know,
19:46these are some of the best
19:47skincare ingredients
19:47in the world.
19:48I mean,
19:48we're competing with,
19:49you know,
19:50any brand that's out there
19:51is for me,
19:52a sense of pride.
19:53Like let's show people
19:54what a beauty can really do.
19:55And I love that you did that
19:57because I feel like
19:58some way,
19:59somewhere we lost
20:00like the root
20:01of like what skincare is
20:03and like what actually works
20:04for,
20:04especially melanated skin,
20:06what works for us.
20:07So thank you for bringing us
20:08back to,
20:09you know,
20:10back home.
20:12Because we need that.
20:13I love that.
20:14Yeah.
20:14And it's funny.
20:15It's,
20:15it's interesting
20:16because not only was it
20:17a little bit lost,
20:18but it's segmented.
20:19So there are a lot
20:20of single ingredient products
20:22in a beauty,
20:23right?
20:24Like you can get a jar
20:24of shea butter,
20:25you can get a vial
20:26of moringa oil,
20:28but very rarely do you see
20:29a lot of these powerful
20:31ingredients combined
20:32and then combined
20:33in kind of the way we do
20:34where they're side by side
20:36with the best of science,
20:37you know,
20:38the AHAs,
20:38BHAs,
20:39PHAs,
20:39and niacinamides,
20:40the tranexamic acids,
20:41all the stuff
20:42that our skin loves.
20:43So we wanted to not just
20:46innovate in the way
20:47that we formulate,
20:48but also innovate
20:49in the way
20:49that we bring
20:50the continent together.
20:51And that's something
20:51that I'm also
20:52really excited about.
20:53I'm East African,
20:54Idris is West African,
20:55like we got a big space
20:57between us,
20:58you know?
20:59So I was like,
21:00let's bring it in,
21:01let's bring it in
21:01because there's so much
21:02wealth we can share
21:03when it comes to knowledge.
21:04Agreed.
21:05I mean,
21:05you touched on a little bit
21:06with the specific ingredients
21:07that are central to A Beauty,
21:08but talk to me about
21:09like the traditions.
21:11When I think about
21:12like Korean skincare
21:13and like the 12-step program
21:14and all that,
21:14that is like
21:16going really viral right now,
21:17like tell me about
21:17the A Beauty,
21:18like tradition.
21:18You know,
21:19one that stands out to me
21:20is how clean
21:21A Beauty inherently is.
21:23I think there has become
21:24a weird correlation
21:26with big beauty
21:27putting out brands
21:28for black women
21:29that are so filled
21:30with ingredients
21:32we don't want,
21:33right?
21:33Drying alcohols
21:34and fragrances
21:35and sensitizing ingredients.
21:37But when you go back
21:38to the roots,
21:39you go back to real A Beauty,
21:41I mean,
21:41they're just picking things
21:42off a tree,
21:43putting it on their face.
21:44There's a little bit
21:45of a process in there,
21:46but that's natural.
21:48So we really wanted
21:49to keep that element
21:50alive throughout the range.
21:51Like we don't use
21:52sensitizing ingredients.
21:53Like everything
21:53is fragrance-free.
21:54And that's one of the reasons
21:56that we cater
21:56to melanin-rich skin first
21:59because I don't want
22:00to irritate skin
22:00that has gone through it,
22:02like literally gone through it.
22:03I mean,
22:03the stuff that I was using
22:04when I was a teenager,
22:06it's part of the reason
22:07I'm so frustrated
22:08with the beauty industry,
22:09frustrated enough
22:09to start a brand
22:10because I was like,
22:11not only is this damaging my skin,
22:14but it's also not speaking
22:15to me as a black woman
22:16and a consumer
22:17who's got money to spend,
22:19you know?
22:19So I was really frustrated
22:21by the industry
22:22and I think there's a misconception
22:23around black products sometimes,
22:25but A Beauty is clean as it gets.
22:27Let them know.
22:28Let them know.
22:28Let them know.
22:29And also because those ingredients
22:30are right there,
22:32like you're saying,
22:32they're picking them off the tree,
22:33they're not importing them
22:34from other places
22:35and I think a lot of people
22:36forget that,
22:37that there's so many
22:38of those ingredients
22:38that your favorite beauty brands
22:40or whoever,
22:41are taking from the continent
22:43and it's like,
22:44you're going straight
22:45to the source.
22:46Straight to the source
22:47and that is something
22:48I've also,
22:49I will say,
22:51I'm quite lucky as a founder
22:52to have a background
22:52in the advocacy
22:54that I have done
22:54because I'm a UN Goodwill Ambassador,
22:56as you said,
22:57for EFAD.
22:57So what EFAD does
22:58is they're like a
22:59financial institution
23:00that equips farmers,
23:02rural people across Africa
23:03with the skills,
23:04the equipment,
23:05the knowledge,
23:06the finances
23:06to be able to live
23:08off the land they live on.
23:09So learn how to farm
23:10and the reason
23:11that's so important
23:12is because it's one
23:12of the easiest ways
23:13out of poverty
23:15for people
23:16when you can take care
23:17of yourself
23:17rather than taking
23:18an aid check,
23:19you know,
23:20which is a short-sighted solution
23:21in some ways.
23:22You learn how to feed yourself,
23:24your children
23:25and nutrition
23:25is such a huge part
23:26of, you know,
23:27protecting rural people
23:29who actually feed
23:30and protect us.
23:31So I knew
23:32when I started the brand
23:33if we were going
23:34to use these ingredients,
23:35I wasn't going
23:35to just, you know,
23:37take from here,
23:38take from there.
23:39Like I was going
23:39to do it the right way.
23:40I was going
23:40to find the communities,
23:42business person
23:42to business person
23:43because they're business people
23:44in their own right, right?
23:46Make a fair exchange,
23:47make sure there aren't
23:47any unfair wages,
23:49make sure there's
23:49no child labor
23:50and no dangerous
23:51working conditions
23:52and protect the people
23:53who are actually farming
23:54some of the most
23:54beautiful ingredients
23:55that have become
23:56so abused
23:57and so overused
23:58like Shea, right?
23:59Shea is such a great example.
24:01It's in everything.
24:03Like it's literally
24:03in all your favorite products
24:05and it's an African commodity.
24:07It's capital
24:08for so many women
24:09in West Africa.
24:10So we need to protect that
24:11and need to protect
24:12the women behind it.
24:13So if you pick up
24:14a beauty product
24:15from Sephora or CVS
24:17and it doesn't tell you
24:19where those ingredients
24:20are coming from,
24:20we need to question that.
24:21We have a responsibility
24:22to question that
24:23and I think it's not
24:24a connection people make
24:25as much as they do
24:26towards fashion
24:28and food
24:29you know,
24:29we know where our food
24:30comes from
24:30and we might want to care
24:31where our clothes come from
24:33and who's making them
24:34but I think with beauty
24:35that disconnect
24:36is still there.
24:37That's so true
24:37and when you think
24:38of who's making them
24:39it's also who's
24:40founding these companies
24:42and who's being
24:42as intentional
24:43as you're being
24:44with Sable
24:45and so I want to ask you
24:47because you have this quote
24:48that I love
24:48you said
24:49I really want the world
24:50to know that
24:51just because it's
24:51black founded
24:52or includes the needs
24:53of black skin
24:54it doesn't mean
24:55it's only for black skin.
24:56So I want you to talk
24:57about the challenges
24:58that you face
24:59to broaden
25:00your consumer base
25:01and make sure
25:02that people know
25:02that these products
25:03are for everyone.
25:04Oh my god
25:05let me get comfortable.
25:07Let's talk about it
25:08let's talk about it
25:09and this is part
25:11of the sub stack
25:12that you wrote
25:12that I mentioned.
25:13It has become
25:14such a point
25:15of frustration for me
25:17because yes
25:18people see a black founder
25:20and a black brand
25:21and they automatically
25:22assume it is
25:22for black skin.
25:23Now there's a lot
25:24of different reasons
25:25why right
25:25I think for a long time
25:27there have been
25:28systemic problems
25:30and issues
25:31that have segregated
25:32people from people
25:33right
25:33and have made us
25:35seem other
25:35but I think also
25:37there are problems
25:37happening now
25:38potentially even
25:40in the retailers
25:40where black products
25:41are set aside
25:42or black brands
25:44aren't given
25:44the right investment
25:45so they seem niche
25:46and smaller
25:46that are further
25:48propelling this
25:49I think
25:50really serious issue
25:51because black products
25:53especially black skin care
25:55first of all
25:56are great for everyone
25:57but black skin care
25:58is better for everyone
25:59so you're starting
26:01exactly
26:02you are starting
26:03with the skin
26:04that has
26:05I like to call it
26:06the bougiest
26:06okay
26:07it's a little drier
26:09it's a little more sensitive
26:10a little bit more prone
26:11to inflammation
26:12and if you can create
26:13a product that effectively
26:15treats issues
26:15on black skin
26:16you have created
26:17a better product
26:18period
26:18you haven't created
26:19a black product
26:20you've created
26:20a better product
26:22period
26:22and that should be
26:23the standard
26:24and that was the reason
26:25I wrote that sub stack
26:26because I do hear
26:27like I will sit
26:28with an esthetician
26:30and I will say
26:31look I've created
26:32this range
26:32and this is someone
26:33who is educated
26:34but they have such
26:35a subconscious bias
26:36but even by the time
26:38I finished explaining
26:39what the range does
26:40they'll say
26:41right
26:41I'll use it
26:42on my black clients
26:44I'm like
26:45well you kind of
26:46missed the point
26:48like it's just
26:49a better product
26:50you know
26:50and that
26:52that really
26:53really irks me
26:53and I think
26:54what it does
26:54for a lot of brands
26:55is it can limit
26:56their audience
26:58right
26:58because you don't
26:59want to be
27:00a black brand
27:01that's only for black people
27:02or maybe that's
27:03what you want
27:03but I think
27:04a lot of beauty brands
27:05of course
27:05want to be
27:06and compete
27:06with the bigger
27:07conglomerates
27:08and I would love
27:09to see that
27:10for black beauty
27:11but I also think
27:13that it's
27:14maybe
27:15made people afraid
27:16of what to use
27:17they automatically assume
27:19oh she looks
27:19different from me
27:20I don't know
27:20if I can use
27:21what works for her
27:22and we don't do it
27:23with other people
27:24so it's a weird space
27:25people don't go
27:26oh I can't use
27:26K beauty
27:27that's only for Korean
27:28I can't use
27:29Ayurvedic beauty
27:30that's only for Indian women
27:31like you know
27:32it's
27:33there's
27:33there's obviously
27:34a real issue
27:35beneath it all
27:37but that's something
27:38that we're trying
27:38to break through
27:39at the same time
27:41we are a brand
27:42that's for black women
27:44I made this brand
27:45for the little girl
27:45that I was
27:46that could not find
27:47products that effectively
27:48treated my skin
27:49that's not going to change
27:50right
27:50and I will always
27:51authentically speak
27:52to black women
27:52and be proud of that
27:53but I want women
27:55who aren't black
27:56to see that
27:56and go right
27:57that's a better product
27:58let me try that
27:59how important
28:00is community building
28:01and mentorship
28:02with the entrepreneurial
28:03ecosystem
28:04for black founders
28:05like how do you
28:06contribute to that
28:07when it comes to
28:08mentorship
28:08and community
28:09you know I am
28:10what is the term
28:12is it mentoree
28:12and mentor
28:13like I am receiving
28:14mentorship at the same time
28:16I feel like I made
28:17that word up
28:17but maybe I didn't
28:18but I will be the first
28:21to admit that I'm
28:21forever learning
28:22in this industry
28:23you know I am
28:23an esthetician now
28:24but I cannot tell you
28:25how many black founders
28:26I have reached out to
28:27for advice
28:28and they have all
28:29so graciously
28:30lended me their ear
28:31and I feel so proud
28:32to be part
28:33of a group of women
28:34who are so kind
28:36and giving
28:36and caring
28:37and trailblazers
28:38in their own right
28:39so I'm learning
28:40every day
28:40and I do think
28:41it's important
28:42to pass that on
28:43and all businesses
28:44should really do that
28:45right
28:45if you have a skill
28:46to teach
28:46who are you teaching
28:48so that's something
28:49we actively look at
28:50whether it's through
28:51interns that we bring in
28:52or people who just
28:54want to ask for advice
28:55I get 100 DMs a day
28:57literally
28:58I'm going to start a brand
28:59and da da da
29:00and I'm like
29:01okay let me listen
29:02let me listen
29:02because it is important
29:03because that's what I'm doing
29:04so I can't then
29:05block it from someone else
29:07right
29:07that's something
29:08that's actively
29:08important to me
29:09and I ask
29:10I was that student
29:12at the front of class
29:13with the hand up
29:15that everybody was
29:16just like
29:16I was about to say
29:21I'm a Gemini
29:22so you know
29:23we got that similarity
29:24yeah
29:24so I was at the front
29:27so I needed to know
29:28everything
29:29and I'm just always like that
29:30and I think actually
29:31it's some of the best advice
29:32that I could give
29:33to young entrepreneurs
29:34is ask
29:35ask everything
29:36ask all the people
29:37ask it all
29:38well this is
29:39that kind of leads me
29:40to my next question
29:40I mean this conversation
29:41is so healing
29:42to my inner child
29:43that I felt like
29:44all of my favorite
29:45products were on
29:46like a different shelf
29:47and a very small shelf
29:48like when I would go
29:48to different stories
29:50if you could talk
29:51to your younger self
29:52or just like
29:52just first starting out
29:54Sable
29:55what's one piece of advice
29:56you would give yourself
29:57like knowing
29:58what you know now
30:00just stop
30:01listen to mom
30:03call your mama
30:05mom's always new
30:06I'm sorry mom
30:07I'm sorry mom
30:08there's so many
30:09are we gonna collectively
30:10say sorry
30:11I'm sorry mom
30:12you were right
30:13you were right
30:14you were right
30:15she was right
30:15we actually
30:16we made a tote bag
30:17that said like
30:18mom
30:19mom was always right
30:21and then we had one
30:21that says auntie knows best
30:22like
30:23yes
30:23you know what
30:24they've got the knowledge
30:25to pass on
30:26so I don't know why
30:27I was like
30:27such a hard head
30:28and I was like
30:29no I'm gonna use this
30:29and I'm gonna use this
30:30and I remember
30:31because I had
30:32like I feel like
30:33no one believes me now
30:34but I had really bad acne
30:35in my teenage years
30:36and then it came back again
30:37in my later adult years
30:38like I might actually
30:39have to send you guys
30:40a picture
30:40because no one
30:41no one ever
30:42but at the point
30:43that I had started the brand
30:45I had damaged my skin barriers
30:46so much
30:47because I was just
30:49so stubborn about the idea
30:50that but it works
30:51for Sally over there
30:52why doesn't it work for me
30:53it works for
30:54and it's because
30:55you know
30:55the industry is focused
30:57on the easiest fix
30:58the fix that takes
30:59the least amount of money
31:01for one
31:02and effort right
31:03so where our skin
31:04can be a little bit
31:05harder to treat
31:06it's been neglected
31:07in some way
31:08so the standard
31:09has been wrong
31:10what's the best piece
31:11of advice your mom
31:11has ever given you
31:13or best beauty advice
31:14your mom's giving you
31:15yeah best beauty
31:15oh beauty advice
31:17definitely to do less
31:19like in that same vein
31:20do less
31:21my mom is 100%
31:23that and it's one
31:24of the reasons
31:24our routine
31:25even in the brand
31:26the range is so succinct
31:27because she was like
31:29what does that do
31:29what does that
31:31you don't need this
31:31what's in this
31:32why like questioning
31:33everything
31:34so that's something
31:35I've internalized
31:36but for sure
31:37if she was here
31:38she would be like
31:39stop eating
31:40the things you're eating
31:41stop eating all the junk
31:42you're eating
31:42like I can just hear
31:43my mom in my ear
31:44because I have such
31:46a sweet tooth
31:48I'm I'm a bad ear
31:49like I eat like
31:50a six year old
31:52with money
31:52I love that
31:55I'm sorry
31:55you guys
31:56six year old
31:56with money
31:57that's hilarious
31:59that has to be amazing
32:01like I will have
32:01candy for breakfast
32:03and cereal
32:04and like all the things
32:05and skin care
32:05so much about
32:06what you put
32:07into your body
32:09so I want to
32:10go into
32:11kind of in your business
32:12kind of not
32:12in your business
32:13but
32:14so I know
32:15there's a
32:16handful
32:17like a
32:17multiple
32:18of supply
32:19of Sable
32:19at home
32:20but
32:21is there ever
32:21a time
32:22like you just
32:22go in your
32:23bathroom
32:24and you open
32:24your shelf
32:25and you're like
32:25where's my cleanser
32:27is
32:28is it just
32:29stealing products
32:30like is he using
32:31your skin care products
32:33where you're like
32:33okay
32:34like I
32:35this had this much
32:36in it
32:37and now
32:38what's going on here
32:39you're also a co-founder
32:41go get your own stuff
32:42exactly
32:42so it's like
32:43100%
32:44how's this working
32:45at home
32:46okay
32:46so the bathrooms
32:47are upstairs
32:47the Sable drawer
32:49packed
32:50is downstairs
32:51sometimes you don't
32:52walk downstairs
32:53so it'll steal mine
32:54that is an issue
32:55okay
32:56I will tell you
32:57to your face
32:58but
32:58we're quite good
33:00in that
33:00he's got his sink
33:01and I've got mine
33:02so it's only
33:02ever his runs out
33:03the thing is
33:05where I'm now
33:06kind of getting like
33:07okay I've got to do
33:08something about this
33:09so we get
33:10you know
33:10when you're formulating
33:11in the early stages
33:12you get like
33:13a tester
33:15it starts with like
33:16the texture
33:17and then you'll get
33:17the final formulation
33:18and then you know
33:19as you work through it
33:20they don't give us
33:21that many of those
33:22because the team
33:23needs to try it
33:24and I need to try
33:24my sister has to try it
33:26like I have to give it
33:27to my sister
33:29he'll put his whole
33:30face
33:31and I'm like
33:35this is a
33:36this is like precious
33:37because the more
33:39if you need to ask
33:40for more
33:40you're adding time
33:41to this NPD journey
33:43right
33:43and I'm like
33:44treat this like gold
33:45this is serious
33:46this is a case study
33:47this is important
33:48you know
33:48like don't just put it
33:49on your feet
33:50I gotta ask though
33:51because we were
33:52talking earlier
33:53about the names
33:53of some of your
33:55products
33:55which we love
33:56and we love
33:57the sister wife
33:59lip oil
33:59that is hilarious
34:02it's so funny
34:03isn't it
34:04I mean
34:05like I just had
34:06to run with that
34:06did I have a choice
34:09she's like
34:09they actually gave me
34:10no choice
34:11did I have a choice
34:12the title
34:12was just give it to me
34:13I remember
34:14I posted like
34:15at its peak
34:16this Calvin Klein
34:17video of Idris
34:18just like looking
34:19really cute
34:19doing his thing
34:20on Calvin Klein
34:20and it wasn't even
34:22like a shirt off
34:23type thing
34:23but I just put
34:24our husband
34:25because I was like
34:26I already know
34:28yeah
34:28I already know
34:29there's gonna be like
34:30oh that's my husband
34:31that's my husband
34:32you know
34:33beat you to it
34:34so I was like
34:34let me
34:34yeah let me beat you to it
34:36this is our husband
34:37ladies and gentlemen
34:38and it was just so cute
34:39because the amount
34:40of love I received
34:42I was like
34:42hold on
34:43these are my people
34:44they don't know
34:45even about you
34:46I just want to say
34:47we love him
34:49but we love you
34:49it's true
34:50so it's like
34:51we love you
34:53it's so interesting
34:54because people are
34:55thirsting after your man
34:57but in a way
34:58that is so respectful
34:59of you
35:00and your relationship
35:02and also thirsty of you
35:03because I'm like
35:05who are you looking at me
35:06because
35:07now
35:08now we're just best friends
35:10but
35:12no I genuinely
35:13feel that
35:14like I actually feel
35:15if Idris leaves the house
35:17the sister will have
35:17to watch it
35:18yeah
35:20we will turn on him
35:21real quick
35:22a little too close
35:24so I genuinely feel
35:25connected
35:26I mean
35:26look
35:27I'm very lucky
35:28to be in a relationship
35:29where I feel confident
35:30enough
35:31in my relationship
35:32and we have enough trust
35:33and you know
35:34we've been together
35:34almost 10 years
35:35married 7 now
35:36that
35:37I'm having fun with it
35:39and I'm playing with it
35:39and I know
35:40for some women
35:40that probably feels like
35:42whoa
35:43no
35:44right
35:45but I feel lucky
35:46that I can do that
35:46and play around
35:47and I mean
35:48he's coming home
35:49I know that
35:49so
35:50I've had so much fun
35:51with my girls
35:53and I appreciate them
35:54and that's why
35:55I had to make a shade
35:56it was like
35:56this universal
35:57brown nude
35:59and I was like
36:00hold on
36:00a bit of universal chocolate
36:02that's Idris
36:03so
36:04actually
36:05at first
36:06I was going to call it
36:07our husband
36:09and then I was like
36:09no it just makes sense
36:10it's not about him
36:11it's about
36:11you know
36:12the girls
36:14it's perfect
36:15it's the best name
36:16I love them
36:17and then we called
36:18our second shade
36:19Joloft
36:20which is
36:20an ode to just
36:22culture
36:22and the joy you get
36:24when you see
36:25a fresh pot of Joloft
36:27like
36:27I always
36:28am so excited
36:29about that
36:30so we have two shades
36:30and I've
36:31the thing is
36:32I have so many more
36:33and so many more
36:33fun names
36:34but you can't just
36:35do it all at once
36:38and I'm so excited
36:39we have two more
36:40launching this year
36:41which I'm really
36:41excited about
36:42and one at the
36:43end of the year
36:44which I think
36:44is hilarious
36:45and I'm
36:46I can't wait
36:46can we get a hint
36:47at the hilarious name
36:48like
36:49a teaser
36:50no
36:53thank you
36:54I love
36:55just like
36:55how creative
36:56the names are
36:56because growing up
36:57everything was either
36:58like coffee or mocha
36:59or like caramel
37:00and I was like
37:01I love coffee
37:02but dang
37:02like everything
37:03gotta be mocha
37:04so thank you
37:05thank you for
37:06just like
37:07yeah
37:08yeah but you know
37:09what it's
37:09it's brands that
37:11come from us
37:12that's the difference
37:14isn't it
37:14yeah
37:14and it's just
37:16playing with our
37:17culture and our
37:17and doing that
37:18in an authentic way
37:19because we can
37:20speak to it
37:21authentically
37:21and having fun
37:22like I cannot wait
37:23for you guys
37:23to see the other shades
37:24it's funny
37:25and also I mean
37:26as soon as I heard
37:27Joloft
37:27because I'm Ghanaian
37:28um
37:29yes
37:29I was like
37:30Ghanaians think
37:31they have the best
37:31Joloft
37:32sorry
37:33think
37:34oh
37:35don't forget
37:36I'm split
37:37I'm split
37:38I'm just saying
37:39the Joloft thing
37:40of your brand
37:41is Ghanaian Joloft
37:42correct
37:43please
37:43tell me
37:44right now
37:45okay
37:46did we start this
37:47oh no
37:48oh no
37:49what did I get myself
37:49so if this is
37:51half Ghanaian
37:52and half Sierra Leonean
37:53okay
37:54so it's already
37:56it's already split
37:57so I feel no comment
38:00is the correct
38:00we can train
38:02our smart one
38:03yeah
38:03that was smart
38:05you are smart
38:06you give great answers
38:07we know this
38:07we know this
38:08but that's
38:09you know what
38:09we can just each own it
38:10I'll give like
38:11my Nigerian sisters
38:12they can own it
38:13even though their
38:14Joloft is
38:15is less superior
38:17Ghanaian ones
38:18we'll own ours
38:19you know
38:21that's funny
38:21for everybody
38:22that's so funny
38:23I see that
38:24like I'm
38:25watching from the outside
38:26in as an East African
38:27going oh
38:28I see the beef
38:29I see it
38:31I'm like oh
38:32it's loud
38:33I mean I want to
38:34kind of touch on
38:35one thing
38:35we talked about
38:36clean beauty
38:37we talked about
38:37you know
38:38all these ingredients
38:39but what does
38:39like self-care
38:40look like
38:41for you
38:42like when
38:43especially before
38:43like a big award show
38:45like we just got done
38:45with the Golden Globes
38:46how do you prep for that
38:47is it an ice bath
38:48on the face
38:49for 30 minutes
38:49and you know
38:50like what is it
38:51what does it look like
38:52for you
38:53you know what's
38:54funny about that
38:55is self-care for me
38:57is actually rooted in like
38:58this idea of self
39:00with self-care
39:01because I even
39:02sat on the carpet
39:03that day
39:03I can't remember
39:04if it was in our conversation
39:05but like my favorite
39:07thing to do
39:07in the morning
39:08so I can catch my mom
39:09before she goes to bed
39:10in Vancouver
39:10is call her
39:11and that's grounding
39:13for me
39:14and genuinely
39:16part of my self-care ritual
39:18be around my friends
39:20be with people
39:21I admire
39:21and love
39:22like these
39:23community for me
39:24is such a huge part
39:25of self-care
39:25because I think
39:26when we think self-care
39:27we think it always
39:28has to be
39:29with self
39:29alone
39:31but like you know
39:32not for me
39:33I think community
39:33is a huge part of it
39:34and then of course
39:35I love
39:35a mask and a bath
39:38and actually
39:39I feel quite lucky
39:40to say this
39:41a movie in the bath
39:42I love
39:43watching
39:43I just watched
39:44I just started
39:45his and hers
39:46same
39:47I have to wait
39:48yes
39:48but yeah
39:49I'm dying to watch this
39:50yeah
39:50I saw a funny thread
39:51the other day
39:52that said
39:53it started like
39:54an HBO show
39:55but it ended
39:55like a Tyler Perry
39:56I can't
39:57I can't
39:57I can't
39:57I can't
39:58I can't
39:58I can't
39:59that's a little
39:59little hint
39:59a little hint
40:00of what's to come
40:01I know
40:01chaos to come
40:04I love that
40:05you know
40:05okay so we're talking
40:06about black founders
40:07today
40:07there's so many
40:09amazing black founders
40:09in Target
40:10who are sponsoring
40:11this episode
40:11but I want to know
40:12if there is
40:13a historical black founder
40:15or even somebody recent
40:16that you find
40:18particularly inspiring
40:19or that you look to
40:21and you get really
40:22excited about
40:23or proud of
40:23what they're doing
40:24you know actually
40:25Danessa Merricks
40:26I feel like people
40:27do not talk about
40:28the joy that that
40:29woman brings
40:29to this world
40:30enough
40:30because I remember
40:32the first time I met her
40:32I was like
40:33you're not real
40:33you're like
40:35I just want to
40:35carry you around
40:37like she's just
40:38this insanely
40:39bright human being
40:41like she's
40:42radiates
40:43kindness
40:44and
40:45mentorship
40:46and just like
40:47she's a hug
40:48she's a walking hug
40:49like I feel like
40:50it's the best way
40:50you can describe
40:51Danessa
40:52so that's someone
40:53I massively look up to
40:54and
40:55and admire
40:56and then
40:57Tracee Ellis Ross
40:58I mean look at
40:59what she has done
41:00with pattern
41:02chock hold
41:02yeah
41:03obsessed
41:03right
41:04unbelievable
41:05and like
41:06has paved the way
41:08in some sense
41:09and you know
41:10when I look at
41:10Lama Day with topicals
41:12I mean seeing
41:12community come out
41:13and support that brand
41:15which is always
41:16a community based brand
41:17I love that
41:18there's so
41:19so many
41:20women
41:20I just feel like
41:21we're not niche
41:23you know
41:23there's enough
41:24to go around
41:25and it's nice
41:27because it's a very
41:27non-competitive space
41:28because we have so much
41:29to grow
41:31there's so much room
41:32to grow
41:32you know what I mean
41:33so I love meeting
41:34Black women founders
41:35and I get to
41:37meet quite a few
41:38I'm thankful to say
41:39shout out
41:40again like you said
41:41we already said it
41:42we're the best
41:43yeah
41:43we are it
41:45we really are
41:47unapologetically
41:49unapologetically
41:49that is
41:50I think a beautiful
41:51place to end
41:52our conversation
41:53Sabrina
41:53thank you so much
41:55for joining us
41:56we
41:56lastly
41:57is there anything
41:58else you want
41:58to go off on
41:59let's go off this
42:00anything at all
42:01we'll give you a little
42:01we'll give you a little
42:02time to rant
42:03it's funny
42:04I'm not really a ranter
42:05I'm a questioner
42:06I'm a questioner
42:08I'm more of a
42:09why this
42:10why that
42:11I think you guys
42:12have just been
42:13so fun
42:14I feel like we're
42:14hanging out
42:15I don't feel like
42:15we're like
42:17doing an interview
42:18I just want to
42:20genuinely
42:20thank you guys
42:21but one thing
42:23is the next time
42:24we do this
42:25it's got to be
42:25in person
42:26yes
42:27yes
42:28I was so sad
42:29to leave LA
42:30and to not see
42:31you guys all
42:31in person
42:32so definitely
42:33you can't escape
42:35me now
42:35okay Sabrina
42:36I gotta ask
42:37Idris is also
42:38a co-founder
42:39of Sable
42:40and
42:41working with
42:42your spouse
42:42because I don't
42:43think I could
42:44do it
42:44so I want to
42:45know
42:46the collaboration
42:47working together
42:48how much input
42:49how's the feedback
42:50like how is this
42:51working
42:51it's not easy
42:52for sure
42:54I think people
42:55go oh my god
42:55they're so cute
42:56they work together
42:57yeah it takes
42:57work for sure
43:00what's great
43:01is that we really
43:02do have two
43:02different lanes
43:03like Idris is
43:04such a creative
43:06and can come in
43:07and just like
43:07spitball
43:08and like have
43:09like 10 different
43:09ideas
43:10whereas I can do
43:11a lot more
43:11of the logistical
43:12operational thinking
43:14so it's nice
43:15we really complement
43:16each other
43:16but there was
43:17a point in time
43:18you know
43:19where we didn't
43:20have the right
43:21boundary set up
43:22and I had to
43:24figure that out
43:26because like for
43:26instance
43:27I would want to
43:28be
43:29oh it's just
43:29one email
43:30let me just
43:30ask him now
43:31because he's so
43:31busy let me just
43:32ask him right now
43:33I need an answer
43:34for this
43:34and he very
43:35rightfully so
43:36would be like
43:36babe we're
43:36having dinner
43:39okay I get
43:40that let me
43:41just correct
43:42myself and now
43:43we you know
43:44have systems to
43:45support those
43:46boundaries so I
43:47can email his
43:48PA if it's about
43:49work he can email
43:50mine and then we
43:51can keep home life
43:52about us and
43:54that is one of
43:55the most important
43:56things you can do
43:57if you're working
43:57together is there
43:58needs to be a
43:58separation of home
43:59and work and
44:00that's been our
44:01saving grace
44:01I love that I
44:03feel like a part
44:04of marriage I'm
44:04not married but
44:05I feel like part
44:05of marriage is to
44:06you know constantly
44:07learn and relearn
44:08things about each
44:09other and I hope
44:10that this is giving
44:11you guys the
44:11opportunity to just
44:12you know discover
44:13something new about
44:14each other
44:14absolutely it
44:16never ends it
44:17never ends I
44:18think the person
44:18you marry is never
44:19the person you spend
44:21the rest of your
44:22life yeah
44:25especially if it's
44:26a long term
44:27where you you
44:27just celebrate
44:28your seven
44:28no we're going
44:29into seven
44:30this year
44:30and then together
44:31seven this year
44:33together for ten
44:34yeah I've been
44:3514 married for
44:36five so you
44:37know once it's
44:38those long long
44:39term relationships
44:40yeah like you're
44:41saying you you
44:42learn different
44:42things you that's
44:44yeah you're not
44:44the same I'm not
44:45the same person
44:46yeah I'm not
44:47the same person
44:47yeah
44:48I hate to just
44:50be the same person
44:51yeah I wouldn't
44:51even recognize
44:52myself that's
44:52how different
44:53of a person
44:53I am if
44:54somebody told
44:54me I would
44:55be on I'm
44:55bothered okay
44:57talking to you
44:58guys doing a
44:59go-off like
45:01you like
45:01interviewing you
45:04like even two
45:04years ago I'd be
45:05like okay girl
45:05whatever
45:13bring it in thank
45:15you so much for
45:17joining us we had
45:18the best time and
45:20next time we will
45:21do this
45:21100% yes
45:22thank you so much
45:23thank you
45:24thank you
45:25thank you
45:28oh that
45:29conversation with
45:29Sabrina I love
45:31her she's amazing
45:32yeah that's my
45:32bestie no like
45:33for real though
45:34are we friends
45:35now I guess
45:36we're going to
45:36her house for
45:37Christmas let's
45:38go to her house
45:38for Christmas
45:38did you guys
45:39not hear that
45:39yeah perfect
45:41I love her we
45:42love her it was
45:44all love okay
45:45that brings us to
45:47the end of our
45:48episode and my
45:49one of my favorite
45:51parts because
45:51Sabrina was my
45:52favorite part but
45:52one of my favorite
45:53parts of go off
45:55sis if you are a
45:56longtime listener you
45:57know we are at
45:58the don't at me
45:59so the don't at
46:01me means that
46:02you cannot at
46:03us we are going
46:05to go off we
46:05are going to say
46:06some things we're
46:07going to tie a
46:08bow a ribbon on
46:09this conversation
46:11but you got to let
46:12us do that freely
46:13without your
46:14opinions okay we
46:15want to hear from
46:15you but not about
46:16this and for this
46:18don't at me I'm
46:19gonna kick it over
46:20to my good sis
46:23Sandy take it
46:24away what do you
46:25got to get off
46:25your chest Sandy
46:26so I just want to
46:27first start off by
46:29saying we love
46:29black businesses
46:31we love black
46:32founders we
46:33want to support
46:34you but I'm
46:35also going to
46:35hold your hand
46:36while I say
46:37this just come
46:38a little closer
46:39not every side
46:41hustle it needs
46:42to be turned
46:43into a business
46:44and I'm saying
46:45that as gentle
46:49as possible
46:51in the sense
46:52of just because
46:53you know how
46:53to do hair
46:53does not mean
46:55you need to
46:55be a hairstylist
46:56girl you know
46:58you don't want
46:58to come to work
46:59you know you
47:00don't want to
47:01sit there and
47:01have conversations
47:02with people I'm
47:03going to the
47:03salon you're
47:04late or you
47:06just have an
47:07attitude just
47:08stick to doing
47:09mommy's hair
47:10your cousin and
47:12them from here
47:12and there just
47:13please don't
47:15stress yourself
47:15out don't stress
47:16us out and
47:17also every person
47:19with an opinion
47:20does not need a
47:21podcast except for
47:22us except for
47:23us like there's
47:26too many
47:27conversations about
47:28meaningless things
47:30going on everyone
47:31is an expert about
47:32everything and
47:34although I love
47:35that people want
47:37to share their
47:37opinions sometimes
47:38keep it to
47:39yourself as well
47:40so don't fight
47:42me on this every
47:42side hustle does
47:43not need to be
47:44turned into a
47:45business again I
47:46do support people
47:48in their ventures
47:50like I think you
47:51should lean into
47:52your talents you
47:53should lean into
47:53your passions but
47:54only if you
47:55actually truly
47:57believe in what
47:58you do and
47:58enjoy what you
47:59do because if
48:01not you're just
48:01gonna stress all
48:03of us out and
48:03yourself so spare
48:04us and just keep
48:06it in the journal
48:07or keep it at
48:08home please
48:10period Sandy
48:10give it to me
48:11and don't at me
48:12and don't at us
48:13okay thank you
48:15so much for
48:16joining us that's
48:17been go offices
48:17yay
48:18yay
48:18yay
48:18Bye-bye.
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