The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul’s Driehaus College of Business gives students and alumni the resources they need to build long-lasting businesses that deliver positive social impact. In particular, the Social Impact Incubator (SII) Program challenges entrepreneurs to scale and grow business ventures that have a strong social impact mission.
In this post, we have a conversation with Feyi Sangoleye, the creator of TeMi Beads and a participant in the winter 2024 SII program. Continue reading to discover her journey as an entrepreneur — and how the program is benefiting her business.
Can you tell us a little bit about your business, TeMi Beads, and what inspired you to pursue it?
I started TeMi Beads based on my personal experience. As a plus-sized babe, I always seemed to be on a weight loss journey; I struggled with self-confidence and was conscious about how my body was shaped. My sister bought my first set of waistbeads when she traveled to Nigeria. After that, I became intentional with daily positive affirmations and pointing out why I loved myself (as opposed to fixating on what I didn’t like about my body).
The increased self-love forces me to think about how to be better and become more. I use my waistbeads to track body changes (no longer in a critical manner because I am who I am, and it is what it is). I try to eat healthier, enjoy working out now, and am much stronger than I used to be (in and out). My waistbeads are a tangible reminder of the promises I made to myself.
I was inspired to pursue TeMi Beads because it provides an
opportunity for me to serve others who need to ignore societal expectations of women and focus on themselves. As a nurse, I find myself standing at the intersection of health (physical, mental and social well-being) and wellness (thriving while living). I want others to experience the feelings of love, worth, confidence, and sensuality associated with getting waisted. I want them to be empowered to love themselves while being intentional about thriving.
What specific objectives do you hope to achieve with TeMi Beads as part of the Social Impact Incubator program?
The hardest part of owning a business is knowing you have a valuable gift and being unsure of when and how best to provide it to those who need it. I hope the Social Impact Incubator program provides an avenue for me to learn how to identify my clients, best ways to reach them, collaborative opportunities with the community, and mentors that will help me grow.
Reflecting on your journey with TeMi Beads thus far, what have been some of the most significant lessons or challenges you’ve encountered, and how have they influenced your approach moving forward?
Since TeMi Beads does not have a physical location, I have participated in various pop-up events in the city. In an effort to increase brand visibility, I was not as selective as I should have been and lost time/money. As a wife and mom who works a full-time job, time is an expense that cannot be recouped. Moving forward, I want to be more strategic and intentional about participating in fitness and lifestyle events while serving my clients in safe environments.
Can you elaborate on any shifts or adaptations you’ve made in your approach to running TeMi Beads based on your recent experiences with SII?
I am going into Week 4 of the Social Impact Incubator program, and it has been a whirlwind of great information and meeting fellow entrepreneurs. The current mindset at TeMi Beads is that of learning. The speakers have provided ideas about topics that I was not even considering as an issue. I am excited to test/implement some of the ideas in the upcoming months.
The Social Impact Incubator utilizes mentorship to help support entrepreneurs in progressing their ventures. Could you discuss how you plan to leverage these relationships moving forward?
The mentorship portion is probably the most exciting part of the program to me. As a Nigerian, I grew up learning to be independent and figure things out. A focused mentorship provides a safe space for me to share my thoughts/concerns/dreams with an expert who has experienced similar. I am hopeful that a mentor can help me see the pitfalls and reframe my plans to ensure business success.
What are you most looking forward to with the Social Impact Incubator and TeMi Beads?
Research suggests that some women are reluctant to pursue goals because they lack confidence in their ability to succeed.
Women who love themselves and are confident in their abilities change their environment and communities for the better. I am passionate about providing a tool women need to reimagine themselves and become more confident.
I get excited at the opportunity to waist a client and talk about what colors they want. I get emotional when I get messages from my waisted tribe of sisters sharing their journey to a new more confident self. I am hyped when I open my messages to pictures that reflect growth on their intentional journey. I absolutely love the interaction with my clients.
The TeMi Beads mission is to adorn women in handmade waistbeads as tangible reminders of the promises they made to themselves. I am looking forward to expanding my social network and improving my business reach after participating in the Social Impact Incubator.
Contributor Bio
Dr. Feyi Sangoleye is a nurse researcher and entrepreneur who makes and adorns women in waistbeads to help them become more confident and keep the promises they made to themselves. She believes that you must love the current version of yourself to become more. Feyi shares her waisted self-love journey on social media and would love to get you waisted.