CONTENTS liz’s bio // page 02 testimonials // page 04 who is sseko // page 07 press // page 09 contact // page 13
@SsekoDesigns // SsekoDesigns.com
LIZ FORKIN BOHANNON is the founder of Sseko Designs. Sseko is an ethical fashion brand that works to educate and empower women. By providing employment and educational opportunities, Sseko enables women to continue their education and become leaders in their country. In four years, Sseko has grown from three women making sandals together under a mango tree, to an international fashion brand that provides employment, educational opportunities and entrepreneurial training to over 50 women in East Africa. Using her unlikely story of a journalist-gone-shoe-maker, Liz shares her passion for social enterprise, conscious consumerism, social justice, creative leadership, gender equity, risk-taking, and empowering women. She believes deeply that business is a powerful platform for social change and that girls are our future. She now splits her time between Uganda and Portland, Oregon, where she and her husband Ben run Sseko Designs.
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LIZ FORKIN BOHANNON Is the founder of Sseko Designs. Sseko Designs is an ethical fashion brand that works to educate and empower women. By providing employment and educational opportunities, Sseko enables women to continue their education and become leaders in their country. Liz graduated from the University of Missouri with a Master’s degree in Journalism. In 2008, she moved to Uganda to assist in the communications efforts for a youth development organization based in Kampala. While there, Liz met an incredible group of talented young women who were struggling to finance their education. After travelling the country by motorcycle to find raw materials and learn how to produce footwear by hand, Liz hired three young women and started Sseko Designs. In four years, Sseko has grown from three women making sandals together under a mango tree, to an international fashion brand that provides employment, educational opportunities and entrepreneurial training to over 50 women in East Africa.
conscious consumerism, social justice, creative leadership, gender equity, risk-taking, and empowering women. She believes deeply that business is a powerful platform for social change and that girls are our future. She has spoken in venues around the world including France, Estonia and all over North America and East Africa. Her disarmingly authentic and witty voice captivates and inspires her audience. The Sseko story has been featured in dozens of publications including: Vogue Magazine, Redbook Magazine, O Magazine, Shape Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Huffington Post, LA TIMES and others. Among other notable honors, Liz is a Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards finalist, the SVN Innovation Award Winner, the SXSW Eco Social Impact Award Winner, and Bloomberg Businessweek’s top social entrepreneur to watch. She now splits her time between Uganda and Portland, Oregon, where she and her husband Ben run Sseko Designs. Every sandal has a story.
Using her unlikely story of a journalist-gone-shoemaker, Liz shares her passion for social enterprise,
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Speaking topics include: • The Sseko Story • The F Word: Engaging men in the conversation for gender equality • Business For Change • Entrepreneur vs. Artist-preneur • Telling Better Stories
TESTIMONIALS “Liz brings an inspiring energy to the social impact space. She has the ability to motivate and encourage audiences to get involved and work to make a difference through her story of founding Sseko. FEATURED SPEAKER AND WINNER OF THE SXSW ECO SOCIAL IMPACT PITCH COMPETITION Carolyn Harrold, Program Producer SXSW.
“We have received so many positive and complimentary comments about Liz’s presentation from our attendees that I cannot even begin to count them! Many of the 1,000 women who attended the event expressed that they came specifically to hear Liz. Each year we invite someone to speak at our event to inspire our participants. Liz is by many years the youngest speaker we’ve ever had. And from many accounts--the best we’ve had in the history of this event, which is the largest Zonta International gathering in the United States. It was a personal pleasure to meet and work with Liz and I hope to do so again.” KEYNOTE SPEECH Kathy Pearson, Chairman 2012 Women of Achievement Event Annual Zonta International Women of Achievement Luncheon
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TESTIMONIALS “Liz Forkin Bohannon delivered the keynote address at our 2012 Academic Convocation in August. For days following the event, faculty, staff and students approached me to thank me for bringing her to Stephens and to report that she was the “most inspiring, dynamic and engaging” convocation speaker we had ever had at the College (an extraordinary compliment from faculty who have been with us for decades). Liz’s presentation style is strikingly polished and professional: she chose to use a handheld mic, and she spoke TO rather than AT our community, infusing her presentation with personal stories and commentary that both inspired and informed. Even when the AV failed, she didn’t miss a beat — the sign of a real pro. At the close of the event, scores of students came to the stage and clustered around her, eager to make contact. I have recommended her to three of my colleagues at colleges around the country, and I would bring her back to campus again and again, given the opportunity.” KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dianne Lynch, President of Stephen’s College Stephen’s College Convocation Ceremony
“Liz inspired our audience with the possibilities of social enterprise. She had an ease on stage and answered questions with candor. Her intelligence, creativity, and grit as a leader was evident and the lessons she imparted were invaluable.” FEATURED SPEAKER Tsilli Pines, , Co-Director of Portland Design Week and Host of Creative Mornings Creative Mornings PDX
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TESTIMONIALS Liz Bohannon is amazing!! The students loved her, surrounded her for questions and pictures and pretty much refused to move on to their next event because they liked her so much. She was very inspiring and clearly thought provoking. On a personal note, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo and saw so many small enterprise attempts fail over and over again; to see the success she had was extremely moving and inspiring, her speech was empowering as it was motivating, and she had a genuine interest in engaging with our scholars and staff. We will absolutely be booking her again!
You wouldn’t think a humanitarian business owner would be a natural choice for a conference catering to creatives, but something about the Sseko story resonated when we heard it. After all, what is more creative than an American girl who sets out to change the world, one pair of sandals at a time? From the moment Liz started speaking, she engaged the audience. Using the Sseko story as a narrative to her broader message, Liz captivated us with her intelligence, humility, humor, and get-it-done attitude. As a conference organizer, I’m looking for people like Liz, who are natural presenters. But, more importantly, we want people who deliver a message on point, in a timely manner, and in a professional way. Liz did all that and more, exceeding our expectations at every turn.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Logan Johnston, Speaker Coordinator Congressional Youth Leadership Forum Congressional Youth Leadership Conference
KEYNOTE SPEAKER / WORKSHOP FACILITATOR Reviewer: Jenn Bebb, Conference Director Annual What If?! Conference
“We’ve received rave reviews from our attendees about Liz’s keynote speech and workshop. It was obvious they were engaged and inspired and by her story, energy and reflections on leadership. She was authentic and genuine while also being an incredible inspiration to our members. We couldn’t have been more pleased with how her talk fit in with the rest of our conference and added tremendously to the value of our event.” KEYNOTE SPEAKER/ WORKSHOP FACILITATOR Brittany Perrin, Conference Organizer, Griffin’s Leadership Society Annual Griffin Leadership Conference
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W H EN Y OU P UR C HA S E S S E KO PRO D U CTS YO U BECOME PART OF
Sseko sandals & accessories are handmade by women in Uganda
Empowering, employing & educating women in Uganda.
WHO IS SSEKO Sseko Designs is an ethical fashion brand based in Uganda. In addition to handbags and accessories, we make beautiful leather sandals with interchangeable fabric straps that can be styled in hundreds of ways. Sseko began as a way to generate income for high potential, talented young women to continue on to university. And it is working! Every woman who has graduated from Sseko is currently pursuing her college degree or has graduated from university and is on her way to making our world a more beautiful place. In addition to our university-bound team, Sseko also employs women from all walks of life. By creating an environment of dignity, honor and dedication, Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for marginalized women in East Africa to end the cycle of poverty and create a more equitable society. We believe that every woman has a dream. When she is given the opportunity to pursue those dreams, we are collectively walking towards a brighter and more just and beautiful world.
Generating revenue that allows us to grow our impact in Uganda.
Creating partnerships with artisans who are crafting exquisite products, jobs & sustainable economic opportunity across East Africa
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These African sandals, made by women in Uganda are an example of how ethical fashion can help end the cycle of poverty. Fair trade and socially conscious fashion can be powerful agents of social change by empowering women in Africa and all over the world. When you support fair trade you’re voting with your dollars for a more beautiful world. Every Sseko has a story.
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ill not make sandals forever. They will go on to become doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers, and teachers who will bring change to their country and our world. Sseko Designs uses fashion to provide employment and scholarship opportunities to women pursuing their dreams and overcoming poverty. To date, we’ve enabled 47 women to continue on to University. We provide employment (along with access to a comprehensive social impact program) to our team of 50 women in Uganda. And we do it all through a financially self-sustaining model. To read these women’s stories and meed the rest of our team, visit: ssekode signs.com/mee t-t he-w omen
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Featured in
PRESS As seen on
SVN Innovation Award Winner
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SXSW Eco Social Impact Winner
Cartier Women’s Initiative Award Finalist.
Ingram’s Magazine 30 Under 30
Top 5 Most Promising Social Entrepreneur in America. -Bloomberg Magazine
CONTACT: INFO@SSEKODESIGNS.COM 503.542.7492
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