Ep. 40 | From Harlem New York to Senegal with Beauty Founder of Ami Colé, Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye
diarrha"LEADERSHIP IS NOT TEACHABLE. IT’S AN INTRINSIC PART OF YOU."
Diarrha is a visionary beauty founder whose journey from Harlem to Senegal inspires her authentic and empowering approach to skincare with Ami Colé. As a passionate entrepreneur and cultural ambassador, I’m honored to have her on the show. You’ll hear us talk about blending heritage and innovation, building a purpose-driven brand, and the power of beauty to connect communities across the globe..
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In this episode of It Takes A Village, Delina sits down with Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, Founder and CEO of Ami Colé. Diarrha, a first-generation Senegalese-American, shares her journey from growing up in Harlem and her mother’s salon to making waves in the beauty industry. She discusses how her experiences in her mom’s Aminata Hair Braiding Salon shaped her passion for celebrating melanin-rich skin and building community.
Diarrha recounts her decade-long career in marketing, communications, social media, and product development for influential brands like TEMPTU, L’Oreal Paris, and Glossier. The episode touches on her pivotal decision to step back and reimagine her career, ultimately leading to the creation of Ami Colé and a solution for finding her perfect shade match. She opens up about the realities of raising capital, handling inventory challenges for online and Sephora stores, and the importance of leadership and perseverance when steering an emerging beauty brand.
Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast or someone dreaming of leaving corporate life to pursue entrepreneurship, Diarrha’s candid insights and wisdom are sure to inspire. Tune in as she continues to break stereotypes, shatter ceilings, and redefine Black Beauty in her own words.
Show Topics:
Growing up between Harlem and Senegal
Lessons from her mother’s salon, Aminata Hair Braiding
Working with TEMPTY, L’Oreal Paris, Glossier, and more
Burnout, rest and finding purpose beyond corporate life
Bootstrapping and seeking investment
Challenges of Founder life
Building Ami Colé: product innovation, shade inclusivity, and community
Importance of market research (surveys) in product development
Retail growth, scaling in Sephora US and Canada
Celebrity and influencer collaborations, including Aysha Harun
Leadership, resilience, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
03:58 Journey and Memories
07:42 Harlem Roots and Senegal Connection
11:30 Entrepreneurial Insights and Challenges
24:38 Creating Ami Kole
34:18 Starting with Sheer Buildable Skin Flex
34:43 Launching the Light Catching Highlighter
35:21 Corporate Lessons from L'Oreal and Glossier
36:07 The Underrated Revolution of Airbrush Makeup
40:58 Navigating Corporate Bureaucracy
42:12 The Importance of Diversity in Influencer Marketing
43:11 The Challenges of Product Development
56:43 The Audacity to Pursue Your Vision
01:09:57 Balancing Leadership and Personal Life
01:13:00 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
ABOUT Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye
Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye is a first-generation Senegalese-American entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Ami Colé, a "better-for-you" beauty brand crafted to honor and celebrate melanin-rich skin. Born and raised in Harlem, Diarrha’s early exposure to beauty came from her mother’s salon, where she saw firsthand the importance of self-expression and community. After a decade building her skills in marketing and product development with brands like Rebecca Minkoff, VIBE Magazine, L’Oreal Paris, and Glossier, she launched Ami Colé to address the lack of shade-inclusive, clean beauty products.
Her mission remains clear: demystify stereotypes, uplift Black beauty, and empower underrepresented voices in the industry.
Follow Diarrha on Instagram at @diarrhaxo
Ami Colé : Instagram | Website
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