Edith Akati on Scaling Systems, Leadership, and Revolutionizing African Beauty

In this conversation, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Edith Akati, an operational powerhouse with a track record that spans from finance to product management, operations, and now beauty and wellness entrepreneurship. Edith leads growth at fintech, Autochek Africa and previously led operations at mPharma. She’s now reshaping Africa’s wellness industry through her award-winning brand, Honeypot Spa, in her free time.

Edith and I dove into her fascinating career journey, from taking a leap of faith into startups to spearheading major acquisitions and building systems that scale across markets. She also shared her unexpected pivot into wellness and how she’s applying her corporate expertise to revolutionize beauty in Africa. Trust me, her insights on leadership, team building, and operational agility are gold.

Quick core memory: Edith, our friends and I once went dancing in Nairobi, and she was blown away by my Kizomba moves (her words, not mine). She joked that it made her rethink her life choices, but honestly, that’s just Edith, always quick with a kind word, always learning.

Here’s Edith’s take on turning lessons from corporate life into an award-winning wellness business. 🚀

“I never thought I’d end up in a startup,” Edith began with a smile. “I studied accounting because my parents insisted, and everyone expected me to take a stable role in a big financial firm. But then, mPharma happened.”

What followed was a story of bold choices, adaptability, and growth. From joining mPharma as a finance associate to eventually leading product launches and acquisitions, Edith’s journey is a masterclass in seizing opportunities and learning on the go.

Having worked across some of Africa’s fastest-growing companies, Edith’s approach to scaling operations is grounded in structure. “Documentation is everything,” she stressed. “Whether you’re a two-person startup or a multinational, having clear processes and SOPs is what allows you to scale without chaos.”

She recounted her experience managing mPharma’s first cross-border acquisition in Kenya. “I documented every step—change management, logistics, team integration—so when we acquired HealthPlus in Nigeria two years later, we could replicate the process seamlessly.”

During our chat, Edith brought up a vivid memory from her time in Lagos, Nigeria, a pivotal market for mPharma. She described trekking through some of the most remote areas, testing their new application to ensure it worked seamlessly for users. “I had to make sure I wasn’t wasting the engineers’ time,” she said with determination.

The Lagos backdrop was more than just a setting; it was a proving ground. The energy of the city, its challenges, and its opportunities all played a role in shaping the grit and resourcefulness Edith brings to every table. For her, Lagos wasn’t just a place; it was a lesson in adaptability and user-centered design.

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Edith’s transition from finance to product management was anything but smooth sailing. “I went from crunching numbers to leading the launch of mPharma’s first B2B product, all in three months,” she said. “It was a steep learning curve, but I focused on understanding the end goal. Asking ‘why’ helped me deliver value instead of just going through the motions.”

Later, as she moved into operations, she applied the same principle of clarity and empowerment. “You can’t do everything yourself. Your team needs to understand the ‘why’ as much as you do.”

When COVID hit, Edith found herself walking her dog and reflecting on a bad waxing experience. “There has to be a better way,” she thought. Enter Honeypot Spa: her innovative take on wellness that marries customer service, operational efficiency, and intimate care tailored for black skin.

“I started with a simple Instagram post offering discounts for the first 20 clients,” she said. “In three days, we were fully booked and I didn’t even have a location yet.”

Edith’s corporate background became her secret weapon. “I treated Honeypot like a corporate project. From day one, I documented systems, set up reporting structures, and hired a spa manager. My goal was to create a business that could run without me physically being there.”

Today, Honeypot is an award-winning brand offering not just spa treatments but also management services for other beauty entrepreneurs.

Hey, friend, what did you think about Edith’s journey? Are you inspired to take bold leaps or reimagine your approach to growth? Let us know your thoughts or questions for Edith by replying to this email.

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