Behind the Brand: Lubembo Honey, with Nohémie Mawaka - Conversations with Consumer Goods Mavens
Episode 7: Forbes 30 under 30 Healthcare turned Consumer Goods founder. You don't want to miss this...
TLDR: I broke my leg skiing earlier this spring. As a Founder/CEO, wife, and mom with a whole lot going on, it was a massive disruption. For years I’ve been wanting to make the time to record conversations with my network of founder-friends, mentors, and consumer goods experts. I always found a reason to say “we’ll get to it later,” until now.
While I’m back on my feet (literally and figuratively), the conversations are continuing. Last week, I sat down with Siff Haider from Arrae for a fabulous talk all about scaling community and her experiences in the holistic wellness space (you can find that here). This time, I was joined by Forbes 30 Under 30, Nohémie Mawaka. And let me tell you, our conversation blew me away.
Native to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nohémie immigrated to Canada at eight years old, as the youngest of four children. In 2017 Nohémie founded Stats Congo to help the mothers and newborns in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who face one of the highest mortality rates in the world. She’s also the founder of Aluuka.com, a service that enables members of the Congolese diaspora to pay for their relatives’ medications directly to the pharmacy, eliminating the need for intermediaries and ensuring quality and affordability. Her latest venture is Lubembo.co, a consumer goods brand that imports organic honey from Congo to sell in the western market. The honey is harvested by women, who are paid fairly and directly by Nohémie’s company, bypassing the unfair trade system and ensuring equitable buying prices.
Nohémie’s brands have always sought to use innovative resources to uplift the developing world within the realm of women’s health, starting with her native country of Congo. Having started with a strong focus on healthcare, she’s recently diversified into agriculture, tapping into the potential of Congo’s second-largest commodity and the growing demand for organic foods in the west.
We cover so much in this conversation, spanning most of Nohémie’s projects, but some of the underlying themes include:
The power of community and family support: Nohémie credits her success to the strong network of peers, friends, and family who have supported her throughout her journey. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to cultivate and nurture their relationships, as they can make a huge difference in overcoming challenges and achieving goals.
Finding your niche and lifestyle fit: Nohémie believes that entrepreneurship should be aligned with your personal vision, strengths, and preferences. She encourages entrepreneurs to have a clear idea of what they want to accomplish and how they want to live, and to build a business that suits their lifestyle rather than conforming to a standard model.
Calculated risk-taking: While Nohémie is known for her fearlessness (cue the Forbes 30 under 30 feature), she highlights the importance of taking calculated risks. She shares that she’s not afraid to take bold steps and pursue new opportunities, but she always does so with careful consideration of the costs and benefits. She recommends entrepreneurs to weigh factors such as time, investment, and feasibility before making any decisions.
Embracing failure: Detach yourself from your business outcomes. Learn from your mistakes, adapt, and keep moving forward. Nohémie views failure as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. She urges entrepreneurs to detach themselves from their business outcomes and to keep moving forward with optimism and perseverance.
Encouraging collaboration and investment: Nohémie’s close-knit circle of friends collaborates and invests in each others’ businesses. They support each other’s ventures and share their expertise and resources.
Sustainability and giving back: Nohémie’s story exemplifies how entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for positive change. She is not only building a successful business, but also generating sustainable opportunities for marginalized communities and promoting ethical practices.
Nohémie's story serves as a testament to the resilience, determination, and innovation required to create sustainable businesses while positively impacting communities and staying true to oneself.
You can listen to our full conversation above, and find the full transcript on our YouTube.
—
Behind the Brand aims to inspire entrepreneurs, marketing professionals, and design enthusiasts by showcasing the real stories of those who have navigated the complexities of product-based landscapes. Whether you’re curious about the latest trends, seeking practical advice, or craving inspiration, this interview series offers a deep dive into the minds shaping the future of consumer brands.
Subscribe to our substack for bi-weekly episodes of Behind the Brand and other awesome content.