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Eugenia Akuete is the true definition of a survivor. Queue Destiny’s Child “I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it, I’m a survivor, I keep on surviving…” She is also an avid advocate for women who is staunchly committed to fighting against gender bias and unjust inheritance laws, education, and all of the other barriers in Ghana and other parts of Africa that prevent women from the pursuit of their full potential. Eugenia is the founder of Mother’s Shea and Chairwoman of Naasakle International. She has been a force in the shea butter industry since 2000 when she founded the initial business Naasakle Ltd to help her aged and ailing mother and empower herself after a divorce that left her with very little in assets and $30 which she called her war chest. She used this money to buy a calabash of shea butter in the market to package and resell togenerate income. Mother’s Shea products are found in Target stores in Anthropology and Urban Outfitters, Costco and Macy’s online, and clean beauty stores like Credo Beauty and Detox Market. Despite many challenges over the years, Eugenia did not give up because her purpose is far bigger than her. She is trying to create change in an entire value chain which is considered liquid gold for poor rural women in Ghana and other African countries across the continent where shea trees are found. Sources of financing mentioned in the podcast: - $30 self-financing - Investing initial profits back into the business - $100,000 USADF grant - Ecobank small business loan You can follow Eu’Genia Shea and Mothers Shea on Instagram and Facebook. Mother’s Shea products can be found at Target in over 900 stores and Target online. Eu’Genia Shea products can be found at their website and in retailers such as Credo Beauty, Macy’s, Anthropology ad Urban Outfitters, and Costco online.