We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sydney Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sydney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

If I could go back in time I would have started my business sooner. I officially launched Adamma for Mama LLC in 2019, but had I started sooner I could have reached some young girls & women who are lost in the mainstream standards of beauty. If I could change anything about my experience I would have been more outspoken about why it is that I do what I do.

Everyone has a story that someone else needs to hear. On the other hand, I’ve been able to grow with my business and had I started sooner I may have a had a different journey but there’s no guarantee it would have been a better or easier journey to success.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In 2017 I graduated from Johnson C. Smith University with a bachelors degree in biology & a minor in chemistry. To own a black hair care brand was a childhood dream that has unfolded into my truth. I refer to my business as a brand, because my goal isn’t just to sell products my goal is to have a brand that sends a message to black woman. A message that affirms the significance and diversity of black beauty.

When I first sought out on this journey I wanted to create products for black women of all skin tones and hair textures thus eliminating the unspoken truth that some ethnic hair care brands only cater to one population of black women as if we don’t come in an array of tones & texture. Because of this unspoken truth colorism & texturism continue to negatively impact the self esteem of black women. I intentionally promote women of darker complexions more often cause the fact is & research will prove that most brands do not.’

In the beginning when people would ask me “what I do?” I was shocked by the number of people flabbergasted when I say “I’m a scientist”. So many times I’ve heard people say “wow a black one”, this insinuating that we exist few & far in between however of you dig deeper we exist in multitudes & I’ve made it my mission to shed light upon that & that makes me most proud,

Ultimately my goal is to turn my brand into an empire. To have a lab that produces out products & products for other aspiring entrepreneurs. A lab that is owned & operated but minority scientists.

I want people to know that my brand is dedicated to our mission of “redefining the way that black women define beauty”. I will continue formulating and producing products that cater to black women of every tone & texture. I will continue hosting and promoting events that embody our culture and beauty. I will continue striving to bring change to an industry that for so long as assassinated the confidence and character of black women and men by upholding standards of beauty that conflict with who we are & the hair textures and tones we were given naturally. I will continue to fight against the stigmas and standards attached to black women as it relates to beauty.’

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I formulate and manufacture every product produced by Adamma for Mama LLC. I used what it learned in undergrad & my love for the lab to chemically formulate every product I’ve ever produced. I also have become a reliable manufacturer for other small business owners looking to wholesale Products.

Manufacturing isn’t easy. I had to learn everything on my own. I had to read, master product labeling & ensure that I’m always following certain guidelines. I’ve learned to be patient.

My greatest lesson in manufacturing especially natural products is that accidents happen. Spills happen. They frustrate you but you can’t let them hold you up. Regroup. Refocus & keep going!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I launched Adamma for Mama LLC. Officially October 19th 2019. In March 2020 the world was changed by a pandemic that immediately impacted us all. Jobs were lost including the part time job I used to fund A.F.M. Every month A.F.M was getting sales, even if it was just one sale I challenged myself to keep going.

I worked in the ER full time during the entire pandemic. With no grants or small business funding, I worked day in and day out to be one of few small business owners to survive the pandemic and I’ll always be proud of that.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.afmnaturals.com
• Instagram: a.f.m_naturals
• Facebook: Adamma for Mama LLC.

Image Credits
-Rickland Young Photography -Papi Shot it