We were lucky to catch up with Yve-Car Momperousse recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yve-Car , thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

I would make internships start much earlier and mandatory for all students. Early participation in internships offers students valuable experience in communicating professionally and becoming more organized. These skills are not typically gained solely in the classroom, but rather through experiential learning in practical settings. I myself began interning in junior high and found that by the time I entered the workforce, I was often asked how I possessed such knowledge. It was simply due to my extensive period of learning. Additionally, I believe we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life through compulsory participation in a student organization. This offers students the opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills, gain a deeper understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses, and learn how to meaningfully collaborate with others. Given the fact that the working world places a premium on teamwork and collaboration, such preparation can significantly enhance a student’s prospects for a fulfilling life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Yve-Car Momperousse is CEO and co-founder of Kreyol Essence (KE), an agribusiness that creates natural and ethical personal care products from Haiti.

Leveraging unique ingredients such as Haitian Black Castor Oil, Haitian Moringa Oil and Vetiver, KE is known for its plant-based products formulated for those experiencing hair loss as well those with dry hair, dry skin and curly hair. Kreyol Essence has retail partnerships with specialty and green retailers such as ULTA, Urban Outfitters, Whole Foods Market and Wegmans. The social business connects its sales to economic development and improving the environment in Haiti. To date, the company has created jobs for over 300 farmers and women.

Kreyol Essence was recently featured on Shark Tank ABC. Yve-Car was also selected by beauty giant, Sephora, as the Next Generation Beauty Industry Leader and was named one of 2018’s Top Conscious Business Leader by Conscious Company Media. Beauty and Money and Refinery29 has called Kreyol Essence one of the Most Exciting & Cool Indie Beauty Brands.

The social entrepreneur holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Rutgers University, started her master’s at the University of Pennsylvania and completed her degree at Cornell University in International Development with a focus on Rural Agriculture.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I secured the initial funding for my business through personal savings account. After making the decision to resign from my job, I implemented measures to ensure I was financially prepared, including saving one year’s worth of bills and cutting back on unnecessary expenditures. I also got the support from my family, I asked for a place to stay during my sales travels to save on hotel fees. Prior to launching, I drafted a budget, which I had professionally reviewed by an accountant, and followed diligently. I also did LOTS of pitching competitions! If there was a pitch competition, I was there. Whether it was $50, $100, $1,000 – no amount was too small and it was great practice. When people saw me on Shark Tank, they compliment how comfortable and confident I looked, I tell them it’s because I never stopped practicing, small stage or big stage.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Sure, see Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 11 (linked below) you’ll see when we had to pivot from focusing on bulk selling to direct to consumer. Additionally, I experienced a significant change in my professional focus when I pivoted from working closely with the farmers and women in Haiti, which is what I wanted and love to do, to selling the products in order to sustain our operations. Because at some point the bills don’t get paid because I want to do good, it gets paid because someone purchased a product.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kreyolessence.com/
• Instagram: business: https://www.instagram.com/kreyolessence/ personal: https://www.instagram.com/yvecar/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvecar/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yYzZCj3Op8