Yara Shea Beauty: Skincare with a Purpose
Yara Shea Beauty was founded in 2020 with the vision to create more than skincare — to build a brand that fuels empowerment and preserves cultural heritage. The name Yara means “strength, courage, butterfly, goddess,” a reflection of what the business stands for. Yara Shea Beauty will be joining the local small business pop-up at the Bollinger Forum starting on Monday, August 11.
This local business initiative is in collaboration with the Lee C. Bollinger Forum at Columbia University.
The founder of Yara Shea Beauty, Nguzo Ogbodo, tells us what drives her:
"I am a passionate social entrepreneur and advocate for girls' education, menstrual equity, and gender equality. As the founder of Yara Shea Beauty, a social enterprise that's using beauty for good, my work empowers women and girls in West Africa through access to menstrual health education, economic opportunities, and advocacy against gender-based violence.
Through my initiatives, I’ve helped reduce period poverty by distributing thousands of menstrual kits and delivering community-based SRHR education to underserved girls. At Yara Shea Beauty, I use ethically sourced shea butter to support financial empowerment for rural women, turning beauty into a tool for impact.
I believe in solutions that are locally driven, scalable, and sustainable. I speak about #periodpoverty, #girlseducation, and #leadershipdevelopment—because every girl deserves the dignity of choice, voice, and opportunity."
For more about Nguzo and Yara Shea Beauty, visit their website.