2021 Influential Businesswoman Awards

12 Acquisition International - Influential Businesswoman Awards 2021 beauty. For NUELE, new product identification, formulation and the full development process sit on tenets of authenticity, cleanliness, safety, and functional beauty. “We design products to meet customer beauty needs with an elevated consciousness on clean beauty while taking into serious consideration scientific innovation, minimal environmental impact, good governance, ethical sourcing, and positive social impact.” Being in an industry which is predominantly geared towards the female demographic, it makes sense that both its lead figureheads are women, although it has not always been very supportive for businesses seeking to scale up and Christine has noticed more of an investor appetite for women-owned entities. She is also a big believer in giving back to those who helped her to get where she is today. “I have primarily faced the challenge of not being seen nor heard as many women leaders have articulated over the years,” sheelaborates. “However, anopportunity toshareknowledge, leadout on a project, be proactive in engaging withmy peers of all genders has helped address this continued implicit bias towards women leaders.” Christine is currently a program co-chair for the economic empowerment initiatives for the Black Women in Chester County in Action advocacy group that arose from the need to empower BIPOC women in business, health, education, employment, civic engagement, and leadership development. She is also involved in an urban farming initiative for organic cowpea in Chester County to become a part of the restorative agriculture ecosystem, as well as part of a farming coalition in Kenya, alongside nine other women, growing Moringa trees in various regions of the country. “I love farming,” she explains. “At NUELE, we use Moringa as a key ingredient and have been supporting the TrueMoringa company in their quest to plant 1 million trees. I have also been an integral part of the Wape Nafasi Trust which supports the education of at-risk elementary students in Sare Silver Springs School in rural Kenya, where most of the kids come from poverty, but have a deep desire to learn.” Both Christine and Ann are equally passionate about supporting girls’ education and participating in initiatives that meet the needs of at-risk youth. The dynamic duo supports the African and American Youth and Leadership Foundation (AAYLF), which is an organisation that rescues young teenage girls from early marriage in Zimbabwe and provides leadership training to girls in both Zimbabwe and Pennsylvania. “We have had the amazing opportunity to support girls’ education in this manner. It is exciting to know that girls who were once going to be married off at the age of 12 or 13, are now finishing high school, going to college, running their own businesses, teaching, as well as training to be medical doctors. Probably most thrilling, is that several of the program beneficiaries are now sponsors of girls who are going through similar challenges. Christine tells us that her biggest achievement in her career to date is engaging in business partnerships and strategic alliances. Pivoting into a partnership with Anne, where both women brought their extensive education in the sciences along with their own personal experiences too NUELE, has been critical in the success of the work that is being done. “It’s very exciting to use my chemistry, food science, toxicology, and public health knowledge as a guide for the innovative business products NUELE is working on,” she relates. “Moving from formulation to an actual product on the market is certainly exhilarating. However, the whole process has forced us to think and function outside of our respective fields, so as part of our achievement trajectory, we have learned the value of surrounding ourselves with great people that are experts in marketing, PR, finance, project management, social media etc. So, in a nutshell, my biggest achievement is learning to make room for others to come alongside me on this journey and together we continue to grow.” Speaking of growth, Christine and Anne are now looking to the future and hoping to further expand. NUELE plans to continue being at the forefront to innovation in the clean beauty industry and there are products that continue to be developed that will meet this growing sector in the beauty industry. This means that the firm can then expand its employee base, increase its global footprint, and support the development of new and innovative clean products by continuing to work with partners, foster new relationships, and play a key role in advocacy for clean beauty products. Recently, Christine was awarded a prestigious accolade for her endeavors at NUELE, this being the title of Most Innovative Hair Care Entrepreneur (Mid-Atlantic USA) in the Corporate Vision Influential Businesswoman Awards 2021. It is testament to the dedication and devotion that Christine has put into her organisation, however Christine was also awarded a further privilege, this being the Distinction Award for International Women’s Support Initiatives 2021. Despite her overwhelming achievements, Christine is very modest and a big believer in remembering those who have been by the side throughout her journey. The African proverb “If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far go together” continues to guide many of my decisions as a leader.,” she explains. “I have been a beneficiary of women leaders who took me under their wing and mentored, coached, championed, and elevated me. My goal is to be able to reciprocate all these functions for women whom I meet regardless of the industry they are engaged in. There is always something we can learn. There is always something we can share.” Contact: Dr. Christine Martey-Ochola Company: Nuelehair LLC, NUELE Web Address: www.nuelehair.com Since starting the firm it has grown significantly, having become a global company with distribution across more states in the US, UK and Australia. The industry has also shifted more into the ‘clean and conscious’ bracket. Christine believes that the largest drivers for change have been consumer awareness on toxic ingredients found in beauty products, and their demand for clean products.