Business of the Beat July Roundup

As we move into August, I am reflecting on July’s #BusinessOfTheBeat dynamic conversations and insights! From BrainTrust Founders Studio members Dr. Omonye Phillips, PharmD , founder of Omosilk to our first three part mini series featuring the 3 co-founders of Parfait - Isoken Igbinedion , Ifueko I. , Simone Kendle . The core themes that stood out to me from these phenomenal entrepreneurs was their resilience, intentionality, adaptability and believe in relationships and partnership. We all come from different walks of life and backgrounds but uniquely align around the importance of building together and the role of innovation from Omonye’s 'new to market' adjustable strap and 100% Mulberry silk hair accessories to Parfait’s beauty meets tech AI based technologically empowered custom wigs.?

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Omonye Phillips:??"I'm Constantly Building on Myself”

BrainTrust Founders Studio member Dr. Omonye Phillips: doctor, mother of three, wife, Divisional Vice President at Rite Aid Pharmacy, head designer at Omonista, founder of My Dream BIG Club, and founder of Omosilk dove into the importance of balancing personal and professional life through channeling her inner purpose and the role of travel in shaping her identity and business thesis. Omonye additionally emphasized the importance of investing in herself and constantly building on her skills and relationships.?

Key takeaways from Omonye:

• “I'm very intentional in building at work, building my team, constantly developing my team, making sure that they are also becoming the best selves.”
• "I'm building my family. I'm really trying to nurture the things that my kids are really good at and building them to become great citizens of the world."
• "I'm comfortable with knowing that I may walk into a space, and it’s okay that I don't know what to expect because I know I can adapt."

Omonye’s Word of 2023: Build

Isoken Igbinedion: Beauty Meets Technology: The Seamless Connectivity of Innovation - Parfait Part 1

We kick off our first three-part mini-series with a company where beauty meets technology: Parfait, the first and only AI-powered company for tailor-made human hair wigs. Isoken Igbinedion—Co-Founder and CEO of Parfait—discussed her experiences with bias in the workplace and the defining moment that shifted the trajectory of her career. She decided to become an entrepreneur and use her technical and operational experience to make an impact in areas that she is passionate about, including innovation and technology. lso highlights Parfait's commitment to creating products that are truly for anyone, regardless of skin tone, hair texture, or usage of the product.?

Isoken’s Word of 2023: Experimentation

Ifueko Igbinedion: Beauty Meets Technology: The Seamless Connectivity of Innovation - Parfait Part 2

For part two of our mini-series featuring Parfait, Co-Founder and CTO, Ifueko Igbinedion dives into the importance of incorporating the human experience into artificial intelligence and being a good steward of technology. She details her experiences as a Black woman in computer science currently pursuing her Ph.D. at MIT focusing on processing signals, image processing, audio processing, and Artificial Intelligence. Ifueko also highlights her goals for technological advancement: "I want to use AI to build robots for disaster relief, for marginalized communities."

Despite institutional obstacles and the lack of diversity in her field, she shares her excitement for the future of AI and her work to expand this technology to develop Parfait. By leaning in and leveraging the benefits of connecting beauty and technology, Ifueko and her co-founders are creating a pathway toward beauty innovation that we have not seen before.?

"I really feel empowered to do everything. And I think Parfait has been a huge part of it, but also just my growth as an academic and going through all the trials and tribulations of building a business because it's not easy. But being in 2023 and we're still standing after the past years that we've had, I think that has really changed my perspective. And now I really feel that it's mind over matter and I can truly do anything with this technology."

Ifueko’s Word of 2023: Power

Simone Kendle: Beauty Meets Technology: The Seamless Connectivity of Innovation - Parfait Part 3

As the last episode in our mini-series featuring the founders of Parfait,? Co-Founder and CMO, Simone Kendle dives into the importance of understanding the customer experience and the product development process. She also discusses the decision to rebrand the company from “Hair Intelligence” to “Parfait” saying “And we really decided that at that point, we wanted to redefine a word for ourselves. And that's where Parfait comes in, right? The word literally has AI in it.”

Simone also emphasized her appreciation for having co-founders, Isoken Igbinedion and Ifueko Igbinedion, who have complementary skill sets and how they all fit together to shape the direction of the company. As an operations manager by trade turned stylist and founder of two hair businesses prior to launching Parfait, Simone credits community support and the commitment to her entrepreneurial passion as the guiding principles of the brand’s success.?

“I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. If it's aligned to what God has called me to do and he told me, then I'm doing it.”

Simone’s Word of 2023: Parfait

If you are joining us at Founders House Martha’s Vineyard on August 8th, make sure to visit our #BlackBeautyBazaar to meet Simone who will be showcasing Parfait's latest collection and technology.?