In this blog post, Nichole shares what Black History Month and National Women’s Day mean to her.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
It's a historical month to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black individuals. As an entrepreneur, it's also an opportunity to showcase Black businesses, highlight our contributions to society, as well as spread awareness and educate people about our culture and history.What's the biggest challenge you've experienced as a business owner?
The first challenge was the lack of entrepreneurial background or experience. There’s a lot that goes into just starting a business because you have to think and do all the necessary work such as marketing, operations, and production. Then there’s also the legal aspect of it. It can be very daunting in the beginning. Now that Kare Granola is a little over a year old, our main challenge is finding the right people to help take it even further.
What does International Women's Day mean to you?
For me, it's all about celebrating the diversity, strength, and resilience of women from all walks of life regardless of their age, career, or background. It's an opportunity for us to unite, support, and inspire each other and the next generation of young girls to dream big and achieve their goals. Let's continue to support and empower each other, and let's make a commitment to create a world where every woman has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
What does it mean (for you) to be a female POC entrepreneur?
As a female entrepreneur of colour, my goal is to inspire other women of colour to pursue their dreams and not allow anyone or society to undermine them. Being a person of colour presents unique challenges but by having faith in ourselves and in our product/service, the excellence of our work will speak for itself, regardless of our skin colour.
What is your message to Black entrepreneurs who just started their businesses?
There is no easy way to success. There will be ups & downs and doubts about what you are doing with your business but don't let them get into your mind. Remember why you started (your business) and if you are feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to take a little time to pause and refresh your mind. But always keep going!What keeps you going every day and combat feeling overwhelmed?
Taking care of my mental health is very important. Mediation, going for a walk, and exercise helps me stay motivated. The most important thing is to have a balanced lifestyle.Who is your female role model and why?
I have many but I will pick Fe Del Mundo. She is a Filipino woman and the founder of the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines. She is famous for shaping the modern child healthcare system in the country. When Japan invaded Philippines and put thousands of people and children into prison capms, Fe Del Mundo established a medical centre to help these children. She built a staff, provided love and comfort to 130 frightened children within three (3) weeks. Within a year, she was taking care of over four hundred (400) children. She later became known as "Angel of Santo Tomas"My favourite quote from her:
"I feel that if you give the world the best that you can, the best will come back to you."
