The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Being a self-funded business and establishing our creditably in the community, we seek to support and promote both within the Pacific Island and customer space we seek to engage with. We are very fortunate that we have had great support and advice from entities such as Pacific Trade and Invest along our journey. It has been an interesting challenge to develop a network of like-minded businesses to engage and work with in the retail space, and also collaborations which is an important part of our model. Being a Samoan woman who is the public face of Living Koko is an ongoing challenge as I really am a relatively private person.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros are creating something from nothing, activating your full potential, understanding so many aspects of running a business, and the big motivation and passion that comes with activating a social enterprise that is creating good in this world. Being a decision maker is empowering!
In terms of cons, there is no sick leave when you really need it and some days the responsibility feels debilitating. Some days you realise you’ve been working way too long on the wrong thing. Finding mentorship with someone who has created a manufacturing space/business that is woven within their family history and culture of a country is hard. Being a decision maker can be daunting!
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We hope to create a cacao manufacturing space in Samoa to help with employment and to add value to some of the cacao farmers. We have been talking to a number of women farmers in Samoa about this project and will be hoping to start set up towards the end of the year.
Our dream is also to support the agri-tourism in Samoa and organise tours of our beautiful country and give people an opportunity to see where the cacao comes from.
Visit the Living Koko website to find out more about the wonderful work they do. You can also stay up to date by following them on Facebook and Instagram.
