This week, Vogue published an exquisite piece titled “Meet the ‘Mwani Mamas,’ a Group of Zanzibari Women Changing Their Lives Through Seaweed Farming”. The expertly written and photographed article unveiled the moving story behind the batch-created luxury skincare line called MWANI Zanzibar, macroalgae & plant-based skincare made by the ocean, in nutrient-rich micro- batches, by the Mamas of Zanzibar. (This is not a sales pitch for the skincare line, though I have no doubt its efficacy is remarkable.) Rather, it illustrates what can happen when individuals seek to shift culture if they possess two things: vision and patience.
In Zanzibar, apparently, it is common for men to marry and divorce multiple wives. Financially, this is often devastating to the women who often make below minimum wage. Founders Klaartje (Klara) Schade and Andrew Anthony, founders of MWANI Zanzibar, recognized the difficulty these women faced and sought to elevate their lives by using the locally sourced rich natural resources to create a sustainable brand and thus income stream for them. With a heart full of love for the people and the place of Zanzibar, Klara, and Andrew are succeeding in their mission and changing the lives of the women who work for them. They are able to make well beyond minimum wage, build homes, and do work they love.
What struck me most about this story was that Klara and Andrew were not in a rush. They knew that it would take time to build something that was utterly different than what the culture was used to. They thoughtfully and meticulously took the steps, created the concept, established the relationships, and nurtured the people to shift things in the direction of goodness. Now, the MWANI Mamas are doing the same – showing the women of the area what is possible one day at a time.
I couldn’t help but recognize the parallel lessons in this article and what I’ve been learning through the SOSSAS Common Good class. In it, Mike and Carol teach that patience is required to meaningfully shift the cultures with which we interact and are influenced in order to create a future that is united, thriving, and good. As a leader, it is imperative to have a level of conviction in your vision that carries you through peaceful and crisis situations alike. You cannot escape the time required to do this well.
While the classes provide so much more than I can articulate in this short forum, I have been challenged in these classes to pause and take note of the power of patience to create the future I want. As a fashion, beauty, and branding professional, I find myself often rushing, focused on the next deadline, deliverable, or project. But is that how I want to build my life? My business? My culture web? The answer is no. So, I am taking notes from MWANI Mamas and two incredible statespeople and embracing patience. Take care of how you build.