Owners and managers of businesses in the beauty industry convened in Accra on the 10th of October for a Beauty Business Accelerator.

The Beauty Business Accelerator, founded and organised by Natasha Kessie, is aimed at empowering beauty businesses to enhance their techniques, technologies and profits.

At this 5th edition, Ms. Cindy Tawiah was the key-note speaker. An alumnus of the Achimota school, she left for High School in London. Following a 13 year career as a registered nurse, she embarked on business, using her passion for Chemistry to create a hair-care line.

Ms. Tawiah shared her success journey and advised the business owners to focus on creating a market, before introducing their products.

She performed a demonstration on the use of her products, especially in managing African hair. She insisted that the idea that African hair is 'difficult to manage' was a misconception born out of the lack of appropriate products.

Ms. Afua Yeboah, a Human Resource consultant and CEO of Partners on the Ground, spoke to the participants about creating an optimal workplace culture. She encouraged the beauty professionals to draw a vision of their desired business growth and to follow that up with actionables. She emphasised that in the beauty industry, just as in any other business, trust must be cultivated.

The participants were also taken through a session on Strategic Partnerships by Ms. Tokunbe Chiedu from Nigeria. The CEO of Serah's Beauty Secrets International, asserted that a strategic partner should have the qualities that one looks for in a best friend.

"Build your tribe around your brand. A place where customers feel at home and belong. Do not only communicate when you have promotions. Be innovative and let your customers engage with you." This was a message from Skinfood coach Ifioma Jane Adibe, also from Nigeria. "You are in business to serve.", the founder of Omaness Skinfood added.

Founder Natasha Kessie said she was happy with the turn-out and the engagement from the participants. She intimated that top names in the industry were represented in the forum.

"For a 5th edition, we are ecstatic to be hosting international beauty experts to impart their knowledge and trade secrets on us. Business has become customer to customer oriented, so we must empower the industry to satisfy the customer and still meet their bottom line."

Natasha Kessie is a beauty professional and entrepreneur, with 20 years of experience working in Ghana and abroad.