Thanks Ingrid Murray for sharing Anita Roddick’s story - a true pioneering individual In Africa women reinvest up to 90% of their income into their families and communities, focusing on education, health and nutrition, compared to 40% for men. This significant reinvestment highlights the economic power and community impact women have when they are at the helm. Despite this, women entrepreneurs in Africa face a $42 billion financing gap, limiting their potential contribution to economic growth. Addressing this gap could unlock faster economic growth and advance sustainable development goals across the continent. Africa Sustainable Trade with Andy Oyegoke and Dr. Ama Onyerinma #happywomensday #equity #inclusivity #AfricaSustainableTrade #SustainableDevelopment #WomenInLeadership #EmpowerWomen #InvestInWomen #SustainableBusiness #TradeForGood #EcoFriendlyAfrica #GreenEconomy #SocialImpact #WomenEntrepreneurs #AfricanInnovation #SustainableFinance #ClimateAction #IntraAfricaTrade
Founder Fundfast.ai. Cofounder Confused.com (Inspop). Cofounder Ninah Data Analytics. Startup Funding and Investor. Let’s Fund More Women.
Anita Roddick was far ahead of her time. She founded The Body Shop in 1976 and sold it to L’Oreal 30 years later for £650m. Anita pioneered ethical beauty. Redefined what a beauty brand could stand for. Her mission was radical. She turned fair trade, animal welfare, human rights and environmental responsibility into a successful business model. “Beauty wasn’t just about looking good; it was about doing good.” She proved that a business could succeed with idealistic ethics. Under her leadership, The Body Shop grew into a global empire with a conscience, showing that purpose and profit can be delivered in harmony. 1976 Opened 1st shop in Brighton with £4,000 and just 15 products. Opened 2nd shop 6 months later. ⭐️Pioneered Ethical Consumerism long before ethical became fashionable. ⭐️1st Beauty Brand to stand firm against Animal Testing - in direct contrast to the global beauty brands of the time. ⭐️Recycling: ran low on bottle supplies, so introduced refillable bottles and asked customers to recycle their packaging - the start of sustainability, decades ahead of her time. ⭐️Empowered Indigenous Communities: by sourcing natural ingredients like cocoa butter directly from marginalised communities, ensuring fair pay. ⭐️Authentic: rejected glossy, unrealistic advertising and used real people in her adverts. ⭐️Campaigned for Social Change: proving that businesses could be advocates for social justice with campaigns like “Stop Violence in the Home” and “Against Animal Testing,” 1988 Received an OBE 2003 Received a Damehood as a champion of human rights and environmental causes. 2006 Sold her business to L’Oreal for £652m. Turnover had reached £420m from more than 2,000 stores in 54 countries. 2007 Anita sadly died aged just 65, leaving a legacy. Her relentless campaigning sparked a global shift towards sustainability and responsibility in business, inspiring countless brands to follow her lead. Today, her legacy lives on in every company striving for social impact and environmental responsibility. Anita dared to believe that business could be a force for good and that meaningful change was possible - even in the face of corporate giants. Wasn’t she an amazing lady? #womeninbusiness #femalefounders Let's Fund More Women - - - I celebrate the great women who walk this planet. Subscribe by hitting 🔔 in the top corner of my profile.