Meet Emma Okyere | Creative Architect | Founder & CEO of Modern Natured

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Okyere and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Passion is definitely the most important factor behind my success. My passion is to drive out Modern Natured’s mission through creativity, innovation, collaboration, and Community.

Modern Natured is a black-owned beauty retailer of cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, haircare, aromatherapy, and beauty accessories. In addition to our own products, We support other beauty brands by housing their products on our shelves through our Co-retail Program

Our vision is to promote and support new up-and-coming quality beauty brands by providing maximum exposure through innovative channels to positively impact and inspire beauty.

Although we’ve been in business for just one year now, we have already hit some great milestones because we are so passionate about driving out our mission. Our annual Juneteenth, Small Business Link Up is one of our major successes. On Juneteenth, Modern Natured and Link Empower join arms to give black businesses a platform to sell and showcase their products and services while being be empowered, celebrated, and patronized by the community

We also went viral!
Our innovative, creative execution of our Modern Natured’s Ghanian traditional waist beads (our popular body accessory) has also caused us to scale up. Without passion, all of these great achievements would not have been possible. As the founder /CEO of this amazing business, my job is to keep this passion ignited at all times and to continue to roll out Modern Natured’s mission.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

The Arts, Creativity, and hard work have always been part of my life. I started working at a hair salon braiding and shampooing hair at the age of 12. At the age of 17, I moved to Georgia to pursue a Cosmetology license. Soon After, I got hired by Nathaniel Bronner to fill the Product Development / Research Development Management Role for Bronner Bros. I developed a plethora of amazing products from ideation to market. Tropical Roots is definitely one of my greatest brand creations. I opened E.N.A. Styles salon, and work independently as a Master Cosmetologist focusing on healthy hair and protective styling. With over 15 years of experience in the hair care industry, I decided to open Modern Natured, my beauty retail store, only because I noticed a great need for it, and I knew I would do it utilizing all the talents that God gifted me with. Representation really matters to me, and I wanted to give myself and others in the beauty industry a platform to showcase and sell wonderful beauty products in a non-traditional but creative way.

What sets me apart from others is my diverse background (Arts, Product Management, Business, Marketing, UI & UX design, etc.) and my genuine desire for collaboration and community to positively impact and inspire beauty.

Yes, we had to face many organizational challenges. Link Empower, a resource for businesses trying to scale, introduced us to Agile. Implementing agile best practices has definitely helped us come up with strategic solutions and tactics to remove blockers and activities that impede business success. Modern Natured is all about innovation and aims to continuously build, adapt, and enhance our business. Right now, we are focusing on building working systems, collaborating, outsourcing talent, and utilizing tools that will allow us to operate more efficiently and effectively. Fostering this best practice will help us scale our business.

We at Modern Natured want the world to know that To be Modern Natured is to be free, creative, inspirational, inclusive, and passionate, as we appreciate nature’s gifts to humanity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
On a Saturday, I would take my friend to Toast to eat brunch, Ponce City Market to shop and hang out on the rooftop, the Beltline to ride scooters and find a chill restaurant on the strip, and then close the evening out by enjoying the Afrobeat vibes at Ace Atlanta Lounge

Sunday Will be a spa day at Spa Land in Duluth. We will get a foot massage, body scrub, hip bath, and relax inside of one of their saunas.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ooh wow! I love this segment of the interview because oftentimes we forget to acknowledge and thank essential people who have contributed to and impacted our journey. It’s important to give our mentors, coaches, and support groups their flowers.

First and foremost, I am very thankful to God for blessing me and putting me in a position to be around some amazing, positive, and influential people.

I watched my parents, Margaret and Dominic Okyere start and maintain their travel agency in Holland. Their work ethics have definitely influenced my hard work.

My sister Ama Ka’rin has always been my greatest supporter, motivator, model, and cheerleader. She even influenced me musically causing Modern Natured to have its own theme song. Check us out on all streaming platforms, just search Modern Natured by Amoani.

My whole family in general plays a major role in the success of my business. Emmanuel, my 13-year-old son, is literally the portable charger of my business. He truly knows the ins and outs of Modern Natured, and he can fall in wherever he is needed. I can always depend on him. My big sister Pamela is definitely the wisest, giving me sound advice whether I ask for it or not. My little sister Edwina is an excellent writer and marketing genius. She has been super instrumental with customer service and copywriting. Lastly, my little brother Michael is our tech wizard. He is readily available to put out technical fires.

I oftentimes tell people that I rarely have chance encounters, meaning if God put you in my life, you are strategically put people in my life for a reason

World renowned platform artist and educational director of Master Cosmetology, Tene Taylor has been the most influential person in my life. I feel like he has been appointed by God to help me fulfill my professional and spiritual Journey. I started off as a student at his Cosmetology school. Then he had me teach braiding and weaving classes because he noticed my extraordinary skills and talents. He allowed me to work side by side with him at The Bronner Bros Hair Show showcasing new industry hair products on stage. Mr. Taylor also connected me with Nathaniel Bronner and he is the reason why I still hold the Product Development position at Bronner Bros. Mr. Taylor pushed me in many directions like styling on sets, commercials, and photoshoots.

I know you’re probably thinking, “How did he help you spiritually?” God is so amazing that he literally elevated Tene Taylor to Pastor Tene Taylor. He has always been God-fearing and always put God in everything he did. I vividly remember our morning prayers before the start of class. I honestly have so much respect for him and want to say a special thank you to him for all that he has done for me. I wish him nothing but positive vibes, more blessings, favor, and an abundance of love.

I can write all day about all the wonderful people God put in my life because there are just so many. I have wonderful clients that I have served for over a decade that add so much value to my life. Some are in tech helping me with implementing tools to help scale my business in a true agile fashion. Thank you to everyone that has been in my life because God has put you in my life for a reason..

Website: https://modernnatured.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernnatured/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moden-natured

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Modernnatured/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCToNMTOgcARAoC81ba1ssOw

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2BABgRqVWsCfcIhXLrtUrB https://music.apple.com/us/artist/amoani/1619710151

Image Credits
Cloud 9 Photography, MY STUDIO KIDS PHOTOGRAPHY, Theopolisart, E.N.A.Creatives