What is something you know now that you wish you knew when you started your business?

This is a tough question because my biggest lessons have come from making mistakes and not knowing so many things. But I would choose to make these mistakes again, because of what they have taught me. Getting advice is great and it's important, but there is nothing better than learning through your own experiences, so to anyone who thinks they need to know more or have more experience before plunging into the realm of entrepreneurship, I would say, just go for it. We are all learning as we go.

Why did you decide to join The WMarketplace?

The WMarketplace goes beyond being a marketplace for women founders. It has such a powerful community of women supporting women, and I am just so thrilled to be a part of it.

What has been the most challenging thing about getting your business up and running?

Definitely funding. When you have an idea and a concept in mind, it is much harder to obtain funding, than when you have an existing product. I bootstrapped with a full time job for over a year before transitioning full time into ZORA, and that was extremely draining and difficult, but very much worth it today.

How long have you been in business and has your business changed since you started it?

We are in a totally different place from when we first started. My initial desire was to set up a small processing facility in a Ghanaian farming community, to create an in-country value-add to cocoa and involve farmers in the entire bean-to-bar making process. That presented many roadblocks and challenges, not to mention that we had just been hit by a global pandemic. My mission has always been the same though: champion a radical change in the way the world sees West African cocoa and chocolate.

Do you have a mentor, formal or informal? What role have they played for you?

I have an advisory board consisting of three members, all from different backgrounds with totally different set of experiences and career trajectories. They believe in me as an entrepreneur and in the impact potential of ZORA. I honestly do not know where I would be without them. They have provided me with so much support, shared their valuable time with me, shared their own successes and failures, and opened up their network. I have learned a lot from them and they have been vital in helping me design the ZORA strategy, so I am extremely grateful.

What communities have been important for you as you grew/developed your business?

I have gained so much from being part of female entrepreneur communities - especially being a solo-founder. It has been such a pleasure to connect with other aspiring business owners and current business owners, to lift each other up, to learn from each other and most importantly to just hold space for one another.

Do you have items, photos or mementos on your desk that inspire you each day? What are they?

I actually have cocoa beans on my desk. I also have boxes filled with chocolate packaging that I've been collecting over the years, that I open every now and then for inspiration and nostalgia.

Do you have any advice for other women who are getting started in business?

Let go of set expectations that you created for yourself as an entrepreneur or what your business should look like. Be flexible, be open to shifts and be able to reroute quickly if need be, and just hold on tight to your purpose, as you go.

If a journalist were to write a headline about you/your business, what would it be?

“The Rise of African Chocolate”

Are there any apps or business services that you just can’t live without that you would like to give a shout-out to?

Shoutout to Quickbooks, Calendly and Notion.

Is there a non-profit or other social/mission-oriented business that your business supports? Can you tell us about this?

Cocoa360 is a 501(c)(3) that owns and operates the Tarkwa Breman Girls' School in rural Ghana. With every chocolate bar that we sell, we fund one day of school for a young girl who attends the Tarkwa Breman Girls' School.

Cocoa farmers today in the West African region lack access to basic necessities for themselves and their families. This also includes education for their children. This is important to us at ZORA, because we care deeply about the cocoa farming communities we work with, and know how hard they work, and the little recognition they get back. This is our way of supporting them and the future generation.

Thank you, Fatima, for sharing your advice and journey with the WMarketplace!