The most successful businesses are the ones that start out intending to create solutions and add value to the lives of others. For Kambii, Founder/CEO of KAMOKINI, it was a need to create stylish, comfortable and affordable swimwear that led her to start her business. She’s an amazing Lady and shares her inspiring story of entrepreneurship, grit and hard work.
Can you give us a brief intro to who Kambili is?
Kambili is a young woman seeking to add significant value to the lives of others.
Before you launched out into being an entrepreneur, what were you doing?
I was working as a Procurement Expeditor in Total Nigeria. Prior to that I was working as a New Product Development Project Manager for Heinz Continental Europe based in The Netherlands.
Designing and manufacturing bikinis is pretty niche, why did you choose to focus on that?
I focused on bikinis due to my own craving for swimsuits that reflected my style and body exposure reservations simultaneously. Once it was clear I wasn’t alone, launching my own swimwear brand presented an opportunity for me to add value to others by providing swimsuits that did just that.
KAMOKINI is a very unique name, how did you come about it?
My names are Kambili (KAM) and Ofili (O)… which are also my mother and father’s names respectively while the KINI comes from bikinis, monokinis, tankinis and also represents “pikin” which is Nigerian pigeon English for child. Thus KAMOKINI also stands for “child of Kambili & Ofili”.
Brilliant! How long have you been in business, and what are some of the milestones you’ve achieved so far?
We are in our 12th month of operation. In our 12 months we have established over 12 distribution channels across Africa and the US, been spotted on celebrities such as Seyi Shay, Toke Makinwa and Victoria Kimani to name a few along with being featured in Davido’s music video “Owo-ni-koko”. We have sold over 200units and we have also accumulated a huge brand following on social media.
What has the response been like to your bikinis, and who is the quintessential Kamokini woman?
The response has been extremely positive & definitely encouraging. The Kamokini woman fondly called the Kamokini Swan is ageless and just like the “ugly duckling” in the story, she is keen to love herself in particular her body with/ without its imperfections and to share that love with others. As she turns into the beautiful swan that she was always going to be, she is empowering, courageous and warm and she focuses only on the positives starting with her and flowing unto others.
People always say that Nigeria is particularly challenging for start-ups and entrepreneurs, would you agree?
Yes I would. The perception from outside Nigeria is otherwise though because the barriers to entering the playing field in Nigeria are lower than in well-developed countries, which is very misleading. The reality is due to the lower barriers, a lot of Nigerian start-ups don’t build the right infrastructure (be it financially, with personnel or in other ways) to sustain the business and as a result, majority of start-ups either fizzle out after a year or 2 or worse, keep running without becoming viable.
That’s insightful to note. What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman running her business?
Perhaps I am lucky but none of the challenges I have faced so far are solely because I am a woman. Yes, people can be ignorant but I did not become the youngest Project Manager in Heinz Continental Europe (black & a woman) by relying on others goodwill and unearned benefit of the doubt. When it comes down to it; I focus on the guts to keep going and delivering above expectations irrespective of my gender.
You are in the beauty and fashion business; do you think women are under more pressure these days to achieve unrealistic levels of beauty?
These days implies more than a previous time that, I do not know. All I know is women are under a lot of pressure now, and its not just external pressures but internal ones too. As the lines between reality and media blur thanks to the countless reality shows, YouTube, Social Media and others, real women struggle to differentiate between reality and TV as they pressure themselves to look more like the stars they perceive to look the way they do on TV everyday.
A Glamour Magazine Survey demonstrated that less than 23% of women on average look like the media women on TV so you see the dilemma already. Furthermore, black women have their additional battles to look as “Caucasian” as possible not only from popular TV but from their local societies with thoughts like “lighter is better” and “black hair is not good enough” or “Serena Williams is not womanly enough”. These pressures are starting to rise for men too.
Congratulations! You are one of the finalists for this year’s SheLeads Africa Pitch Competition, how does that make you feel?
Being a finalist makes me feel humbled and motivated to achieve even more. There is a long arduous road ahead for KAMOKINI and it’s platforms like SheLeadsAfrica that reinforce our belief that what we do matters.
How would you advice women to be more accepting and comfortable in their own skin; imperfections and all?
Stop comparing. Self-affirmation is empowering, do it as often as you can. Say to your self “I am enough” even when you don’t feel like it. Surround yourself with positivity be it in the company you keep or in the information you expose your mind to. Always count your blessings; it keeps your perspective on glass half full rather than half empty. Lastly, build up other women with sincere complements and support when you can. Encouraging others always has a way of coming back to you.
Last words of advice for upcoming female entrepreneurs?
You have to have a tough skin. You can’t afford to be sensitive, if your idea was largely understood, someone would be doing it already. At the same time be ready to evolve – you must be open to learning and constantly challenging your capability to grow.
KAMOKINI on Social Media
Instagram: @Kamokini
Facebook: Kamokini
Twitter: Kamokini1
The Leading Ladies Africa Series is a weekly interview series that focuses on women of African descent, showcases their experiences across all socio-economic sectors, highlights their personal and professional achievements and offers useful advice on how to make life more satisfying for women.
It is an off-shoot of Leading Ladies Africa; an initiative that seeks to effectively mentor and inspire women, with particular emphasis on the African continent.
Do you know any woman of African descent doing phenomenal things? Send an email to lead@leadingladiesafrica.org and we just might feature her.
