An Inspiring Journey: Empowering Women and Celebrating Ghana's Rich Culture

Abena Boamah, the founder and CEO of clean beauty brand Hanahana, has a strong connection to Ghana. She sources raw shea directly from producers in Ghana and is committed to offering living wages and healthcare to those who make shea.

How has Hanahana Beauty contributed to empowering women in Ghana?

Hanahana Beauty has contributed to empowering women in Ghana in several ways. First, they source their shea butter from the Katariga Women’s Shea Cooperative, which provides sustainable livelihoods for women living in economically disadvantaged regions of Ghana. By purchasing shea butter from these women, Hanahana Beauty not only supports their financial independence but also helps to uplift their communities. Additionally, Hanahana Beauty has created the Hanahana Circle of Care, a program that supports healthcare and education for women in Ghana. This initiative provides resources and opportunities for women to access quality healthcare and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to thrive. Furthermore, by showcasing stories of black women globally through visual storytelling, Hanahana Beauty empowers and inspires women by highlighting their strength, resilience, and beauty.

What are the benefits of converting Hanahana Beauty to a B Corporation?

Converting Hanahana Beauty to a B Corporation offers several benefits. Firstly, as a B Corporation, Hanahana Beauty will be held to high standards of social and environmental performance, ensuring that they continue to prioritize sustainability and community impact. This certification enhances the brand’s reputation and credibility among consumers who are increasingly conscious of supporting ethical and responsible businesses. Becoming a B Corporation also grants Hanahana Beauty access to a supportive network of like-minded businesses and resources for growth. This network can provide valuable guidance, opportunities for collaboration, and access to capital. Moreover, the legal accountability that comes with being a B Corporation reinforces Hanahana Beauty’s commitment to balancing profit and purpose, ensuring that they remain dedicated to their mission of empowering women and promoting sustainability.

How has Hello Alice supported the growth and success of Hanahana Beauty?

Hello Alice has played a crucial role in supporting the growth and success of Hanahana Beauty. As a platform that supports small businesses, Hello Alice has provided Hanahana Beauty with resources, mentorship, and opportunities for funding. Through Hello Alice’s $10,000 Grant and Mentorship opportunity, Hanahana Beauty has been able to further their goals and expand their impact. This support has helped them overcome the challenges commonly faced by small businesses, such as limited funding and lack of access to networks and resources. Hello Alice’s involvement has not only boosted Hanahana Beauty’s visibility but also provided them with valuable advice and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. Overall, the partnership between Hello Alice and Hanahana Beauty has been instrumental in propelling the brand’s growth and success, allowing them to make a greater difference in empowering women and promoting sustainability.

Full summary

Recently, she visited Ghana to connect with her family and check in with her shea butter producers.

Hanahana Beauty is known for its ethically-sourced shea butter from the Katariga Women's Shea Cooperative. Combined with all-natural oils, their products bring out the true beauty in your skin. The benefits of using ethically-sourced shea butter and all-natural oils are well-known.

Abena Boamah, M.Ed is a Ghanaian American creative entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and founder + CEO of Hanahana Beauty. Driven by curating learning experiences strategically, Abena focuses on showcasing stories of black women globally through visual storytelling as an educational + therapeutic approach. She works with marginalized groups from students to adults and has worked with brands like Chase Bank, Nike, Apple, Bon Appetit, The Wing, Refinery 29, Glossier. Her skills extend to public speaking, photography, video + BTS creative direction, content creation, and modeling.

Global Mamas dedicates itself to providing sustainable livelihoods for women throughout Ghana. Pure Shea butter is produced by women living in one of Ghana's most economically disadvantaged regions in the North. The Northern Region is characterized by beautiful savannas but also suffers from drought and poverty. Global Mamas Pure Shea is produced using sustainable and natural methods. The production methods have been passed down through generations and women collect fallen nuts of the Karite tree to produce Shea butter. Shea butter is a silken, nourishing, and versatile creamy substance that empowers Ghanaian women to support themselves and their families.

Abena Boamah-Acheampong is converting Hanahana Beauty to a B Corporation. B Corporations are businesses that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Hanahana Beauty is dedicated to providing products made from high-quality shea butter and has created the Hanahana Circle of Care to support healthcare and education for women in Ghana. Becoming a B Corporation has many benefits, including access to a supportive network and resources for growth. Despite the challenges faced by small businesses, including funding, Hanahana Beauty has seen remarkable growth and expansion of events. Hello Alice, a platform that supports small businesses, including Hanahana Beauty, has been instrumental in their success. Hanahana Beauty has big plans for using the $10,000 Grant and Mentorship opportunity provided by Hello Alice and is excited about their future goals.

Abena Boamah's journey is not just about business. It is about empowering women, promoting sustainability, and celebrating Ghana's rich culture. Through her dedication to ethically-sourced shea butter and her commitment to supporting marginalized communities, Abena has created a brand that brings beauty and empowerment to people's lives.