Olwethu Mhlana
Hello, I am Olwethu Mhlana, Founder & CEO of Lulibo Market and Creator-in-Chief of The Collective.
My expertise and passion for STEM have led me on a path to finding meaningful ways to impact, reimagine, and build a sustainable digital landscape where black and indigenous communities have access to the market, are supported and elevated, and have the resources to start, grow, sustain or pivot their businesses.
Outside of my businesses, I am a coder and educator. I design Coding and Robotics curricula for schools and I partner with educational institutions to help build their Ed-Tech programs, to create highly engaging after-school initiatives, to address digital literacy issues, and to empower educators through coding workshops.
Company Name: Lulibo Market
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Operating since: 2020
Website: www.lulibomarket.com
Instagram: @lulibomarket
Tell us all about your company. What services do you offer?
Lulibo Market is an online marketplace platform that connects shoppers across South Africa with high quality, locally sourced products from black and indigenous-owned brands ranging from beauty, to homeware, to toys and everything in between.
A lot of our vendors started their businesses in response to the pandemic. Others joined our platform because of the realization that adapting to the digital space is imperative for sustainability in any industry. We wanted to make that transition or that starting as easy and cost-effective as possible. So the fact that you can have an online storefront without paying web developers and having monthly fees is so convenient to entrepreneurs, especially those who are starting out.
For customers, it’s the ease of a one-stop shopping experience. We’re all busy, no one has time to shop at 10 different stores and pay 10 different delivery fees. Many people don’t even have time to look through the internet to find BIPOC-owned alternatives to things they want. More and more people are realizing the power of their Rand [(South African currency)], and want to support local, small businesses, [but this usually] takes a lot of sifting through the internet and we want to break that hindrance.
How did you get the idea or concept for your company? What was your mission at the outset? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to start at the time you did?
I wanted to start Lulibo Market almost 5 years ago. I had this idea to start a platform where I would share my transition from buying from big businesses to almost exclusively supporting small, local, black-owned brands. My goal was to amplify the work of black creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs and to inspire more people to do the same. I then realized that so many people were going through this collective consciousness with regards to more purpose-driven consumerism. However, even though finding sustainable, ethical and eco-conscious brands was becoming easier, it was still difficult to find BIPOC-owned brands. So I moved from wanting to show people how I journeyed into shopping black to wanting more people to do the same. And with any movement, it is always easier to get people to join in if you make it as easy as possible. There came Lulibo Market, a one-stop-shop where you could find anything from dishwashing liquid to earrings to candles to skincare ALL BIPOC-OWNED.
Growing up, did you always intend to start your own company/organization?
Being the daughter of two activist parents definitely shaped my outlook on how I want to serve my community. I did not necessarily see that translate into business, but looking back, my mother always hustled and worked hard, bringing ideas into life, earning a living and also exploring other streams of income, seeing that definitely saw the beauty in building something of my own.
What is the biggest personal / professional obstacle you've had to overcome?
I am proud of starting. It is very scary putting your ideas into the world and allowing people to interact with your product. We had so many hiccups leading up to the launch that we moved the launch date twice and part of me was relieved by that. The hiccups were not in my control but they gave me time to get over the anxiety and fear. I still get moments where I doubt myself but I am so glad I started.
What's your definition of success? Do you consider yourself a success? If not, when will you?
In the past few years, I have had to redefine my idea of success and what would fulfil me as a person. I think too often we have this (very dangerous) belief that success is directly tied to bourgeois individualism, and of course, our capitalistic society thrives off of that. The thing is it is not a sustainable way of life and it is harmful to so many people who in turn become exploited to attain that. We need to think more in terms of the collective good. We need to strive to build each other, create with each other and grow together. This is why I started The Collective (my other initiative), as a way to share opportunities, trade skills, create brands and leverage each other's brilliance.
Have the women around you helped you to rise? How?
I am where I am because of the women who have given me a seat at their table and mentioned me in rooms I had no access to.
What are some of your future plans? Are you working on anything else right now?
Right now I am working on growing the business and my personal brand. Working on a podcast that will spotlight women in STEM and business who are doing incredible things, empowering others and building brands.
What advice would you give to a woman starting out in your industry or starting her own company/organization?
1. Always invest in yourself.
2. Seek out learning opportunities
Building a better life or business is an intentional act, and oftentimes, it means we need to devote more time to learning skills and habits that we are not proficient in. Take the time to seek out knowledge and wisdom. Research ways to upskill yourself. Even if you have help in certain areas of your business, figure out how things work. Know the ins and outs. Invest. Invest. Invest.
Describe yourself in ONE word. Intentional
Complete this sentence: "To be a girl or woman today is..." to fight. Fight for your dreams, fight for your voice to be heard, fight to be understood and fight to be acknowledged.