EVELYNE NYAIRO

Ellie Bianca is a holistic skin care line that cultivates and empowers women through sustainable business practices and fair trade. I moved to Canada from Kenya at the age of 16 and put myself through a Bachelor and a Master of Science degree while being a single mom. I built Ellie Bianca on my desire to be an example to my daughter of what women are capable of, and to empower other women to succeed from sourcing ingredients from women in Africa and mentoring other women entrepreneurs to running the Ellie Bianca Woman Scholarship for single mothers

What actions or support would you say are most critical to #inspirechange to realizing representation for black women in leadership?

Firstly we need to have a deeper understanding of why there’s such a huge gap because you cannot solve a problem without understanding the root cause, and then putting in systems in place to fill in those gaps and lift our community up.

There’s a need to develop programs that are tailored to supporting black women entrepreneurs, whether be technological, financial or operational aspects of running a business to help them thrive. I hear a lot about “access to capital” being the main challenge but you cannot invest in a bottomless basket. There’s a need to build a strong foundation to ensure Black Women in Business thrive once you put in all the other levers of success.

Why is celebrating black history month especially important to you?

Years ago, I found myself doing fieldwork among the most beautiful wild mango trees in Chad. Not one to waste an opportunity for an incredible fresh fruit, I was introduced to a family where the mother and kids proceeded to expertly climb the trees in the hot sun to harvest mangoes for me to eat. Towards the end I was told to pay the husband when it was the wife that had picked the mangoes. I felt a knot of anger in my heart as I customarily handed the money over to the man. I thought to myself, “This happens everywhere around the world, and it’s wrong,” and I was motivated to help improve the lives of the women there. That is when I decided to start Ellie Bianca, a natural skincare line built on the pillars ‘Kind to Your Skin, Kind to the Earth, Kind to Women.’

Black History Month to me is the awakening and recognition that this community exists. It’s celebrating and highlighting the contribution that we make to society as Black Women. But I want to see this celebration everyday and not just during the Black History Month because we don’t stop existing post February.

Tell us about a black woman who inspires you and why?

I have a few women who inspire me including Michelle Obama and Serena Williams. Being a Black First Lady, Michelle showed us what is possible. I always felt like she was the one leading even when it was Barrack Obama on that presidential seat. Coming from where she came from and rising to law school to eventually be who she is, she brought a different class to the White House and really changed the image of Black Women in Leadership.

What I love about Serena is that she played a game that wasn’t really a black game and she owned it. When I think about my own quote of “be so good that you can’t be ignored” she did exactly that where she played so well that she had to be recognized. Sport is a mental game & requires tenacity- she’s done a great job and I like how she never gives up.

But a Black woman I truly admire is my mother. There’s no woman I’ve seen as more resilient than her, going through all that she went through and still holding herself together. I couldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for her. When I think about who really inspires me, I think about my mother. Being able to push in an African community where women weren’t given that chance, she found her space quietly, and kept breaking barriers not just for herself but for those around her.

EVELYNE NYAIRO - Founder, Ellie Bianca 2020 Women of Inspiration™ Covid Leader Award | elliebianca.com