Metrowoman entrepreneur of the week: Esione Rachel Asakome

Rachel is the CEO of Organic Life Plus natural skincare products. She studied Accounting and Financial Management at Loughborough University England and moved back to Nigeria in 2012. She worked as a trainee financial analyst at UBA Capital for a year, and went back to France for her second degree in International Business. She moved back to Nigeria fully in 2014.

What problem does your company solve?
My business provides a clean or chemical free solution to minor skin and hair disorders such as acne, eczema, rashes, scarring, dandruff and so on.

How did you start your business?
Well my own love of wellness and health ignited my spark. I started out as a natural hair blogger and consultant. I would often get emails about hair and skin care questions and I realised a lot of people where ill-informed on natural methods to care for their skin as well as their hair. When I moved back to Nigeria, there weren’t a lot of authentic organic and natural cosmetic products available. I always had to import my own personal care products. So I decided that why not share these products with my readers. Following the success of my readers purchasing products, I decided I would share my love of health and clean beauty products with Nigerians.

After the success of selling imported products, I decided to start Organic Life Plus, as it was clear that Nigeria was ready for the exotic organic beauty products Africa has to offer, especially after rising exchange rates made importation difficult.

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be an entrepreneur?
Focus, consistency and creativity.

How do you deal with failure?
Well I just had to pick myself up and keep going. Failure is a lesson, not a death sentence.

How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Never. I always complete what I start. As long as it is within my power to continue, I do! Except it is something I decide I don’t like, then that is really a case of stepping out of a bad fitting situation. However, I have never given up on a cause close to my heart. I can delay completion, approach it from another angle, but I have to finish it

What motivates you?
The desire to make a positive impact. I want to raise the self-esteem of our girls and women, because, truth be told, the way we look affects the way we feel. I am all about communicating that you don’t have to be light skinned, acne free, and conform to conventional standards of beauty to be beautiful. I don’t offer over night remedies, because such things will always harm the client in the long run, I don’t offer skin lightening either because of its links to causing cancer and it goes against my cause of promoting natural beauty. My clients are allowed to enjoy the healing process, without their self esteem and organs being harmed.

How would you define success?
I define success as the achievement of true fulfillment. If you can be fulfilled with your place in life and the choices you have made, then you have made it in life!