Startup Story
Lily Katumba is the founder of Zuri Styles, an accessories design and manufacturing business in Uganda creating jobs and restoring hope to vulnerable people. Lily’s mission is to stop Human Trafficking and empower those most vulnerable by creating sustainable employment, providing coaching and mentorship, and empowering girl children.
LoA spoke to the inspirational Lily Katumba to learn more about her motivation and her entrepreneurial journey to date.
Tell us about your personal entrepreneurial journey
In 2010, I was going about my office job in Uganda when a beautiful lady that was not known to me knocked at my door and asked if she could speak with me. I agreed to speak to her. She reached into her bag and pulled out a bundle of handmade jewellery. Looking at the jewellery, she said, “can you please help me sell these to your colleagues and friends?” I was in shock, wondering how someone who did not know me would trust me to sell her products and give her back the money. I told her, “You don’t know me, and I do not know you. How is this possible?” She responded, “mom, this shows you how desperate I am right now; I have kids to feed, clothe and provide for. I am looking for a way out”. Having been born and raised in Uganda, I knew exactly what it meant to go without food and all the other basic life needs. I agreed!
A couple of years later, my family and I relocated to the USA. While in that country I found many pointers in the same direction of helping vulnerable groups. Different people would contact me, asking if I could help. I was hesitant and had lots of excuses. After so much thought and prayer, I decided to step into what I felt were big shoes; helping the vulnerable. In July 2016, Zuri Styles was “officially” birthed after I returned from Uganda with a large collection of beautiful handmade products.
Amazing things happen when we step out in faith. God made a way where there seemed to be no way. He brought people alongside me to advise and help us grow into the Zuri Styles we are today. God equipped us with new ideas and skills to take this mission forward. Through the desire to help the vulnerable and bring hope to the nations, God gave us the bag/purse idea, one of our most popular products. Zuri Styles works with underprivileged and economically disadvantaged women in Uganda. Most of our products are made from local natural and recycled materials, which are readily available to the women. We closely work with the women to empower them and provide them with the skills, training, and equipment required to produce high-quality products. When you buy our products, you make the momentous decision to provide food, medical care, and tuition, amongst many other needs to these women and their families. We hope that you find our mission meaningful and will continue supporting it by shopping with us.
“Our vision is to have a world free of human trafficking, and our mission is to stop Human Trafficking and empower those most vulnerable.”
When did your start your business?
The real work had already started way back in 2010 but the registered business kicked off in 2016. Today, we work with 25 people.
What does your company do?
Zuri Styles was born out of a passion for restoring hope and transforming the lives of those adversely impacted by the cycle of generational poverty and any other sort of hardship or life challenges. Languishing in poverty pushes you to the edge and makes you more vulnerable to covert activities such as Human trafficking. We have had a chance to engage with people who have been trafficked/ survived trafficking. They all had one thing to say: "I needed money to provide necessities for my children and me.” Our Vision is to have a world free of human trafficking, and our mission is to stop Human Trafficking and empower those most vulnerable.
The three ways in which we live out our mission are:
To create sustainable employment. When you purchase our beautiful products, you provide sustainable income to those most vulnerable to the perils of poverty.
Train, empower, coach, and mentor our women. Our sessions deal with the woman as a whole - physical and spiritual.
Support Girl Child education. Giving a girl child a chance through education to create a dream and be the person she was made to be would be the one thing that would change society and nations.
“I have always had a passion for improving livelihoods and making a difference. This passion has guided me in making many decisions and starting Zuri Styles.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I have always had a passion for improving livelihoods and making a difference. This passion has guided me in making many decisions and starting Zuri Styles.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Most people want to create a better world. Buying our products helps create a world you want to see, where the girl child has equal opportunities and provides dignified employment. At Zuri Styles, we love to quote Anna Lpppe – "Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for the kind of world you want."
Tell us a little about your team
We have a diverse team that includes:
Girls who have dropped out of school due to pregnancy and are looking to make a living.
Single moms working to provide the necessities for their family
Impoverished kids/families that have been impacted by war, HIV/AIDS, and other calamities
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I am a scientist by profession and with that background it would be hard for someone to believe that I manage, work, and direct Zuri Styles. I would say it all goes back to the passion in my heart. The passion for making a difference and doing what I can to help others. My journey has been a lot of learning on the job and using the resources available to me (online, books, friends) to improve, but my passion for helping others got me into the entrepreneur world.
“Most people want to create a better world. Buying our products helps create a world you want to see, where the girl child has equal opportunities and provides dignified employment.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
In the future, we want to have a home where all people at risk of being trafficked or rescued from trafficking are taken, given a place to stay, coached, mentored, and empowered to do life.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Seeing how what l do has restored hope and transformed lives. Girls kicked out of their homes because they got pregnant are back on their feet, working and providing for their babies. Girls that had lost hope in education are now on their way to completing high school and making a difference in their community by mentoring other little girls. Providing housing to families that used to spend a night on the streets of Kampala. I can go on and on.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Pray about your passion/project, be resilient, be patient, work hard and never stop learning.
Contact or follow Zuri Styles
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL Zuristyleshoppe@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
There is nothing more inspirational than meeting and hearing about the impact that women entrepreneurs make through their businesses and brands, and Lily Katumba, founder of Zuri Styles is doing just that. Her mission to create job opportunities and give hope back to vulnerable women and girls is positively changing lives. Her passion is building a legacy business that can grow and continue to be the change in her country and community, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa