Chapter 12: Senegal: Issina Nature – Healthy Natural Afro Cosmetics

Sinna Gaye is a mother and a self-taught businesswoman. She started Issina Nature, her company with natural Afro cosmetics from scratch, designing her logo, website and creams using her personal funds. In retrospect, she believes that going through the whole development process herself will be of benefit as she grows her business and hires more people. She employs all possible grant and mentor support opportunities but declines opportunities access to office facilities because of family care responsibilities.

Everyone we talked to in connection with her business mentioned her motherhood first. She has children aged 16, 13, 10, and 5 years, as well as a one-year-old. Her husband helps with babysitting but most often she takes care of the children’s everyday needs. Work and housework. She is active in all domains. It is difficult.

She graduated with honors from Mariama Ba, a reputable high school for women on the island of Gorée. Her mindset is scientific, which also influences her approach to her business. Her strengths are the chemical make-up of ingredients, production, and certifications. Her weaknesses are the commercial side and pushing sales. During 10 years in Toulouse and Nice in France, she conceived the idea of her business when she could not find hair treatment for Afro hair. Her vision for the start-up is for it to be a financial vehicle for other social entrepreneurship initiatives. She is ambitious. However, her work–life balance is a catastrophe. She has been on the edge of burnout several times.