Meet Nicolle Nyariri | Artist, storyteller, entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicolle Nyariri and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicolle, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think risk-taking is necessary to personal and professional growth. Throughout my life and career, I have embraced risk and it’s shaped my life tremendously.

I believe life is a series of moments and decisions and from my experience, when I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and took a risk, that’s when my life was impacted the most. And don’t get me wrong, those risks didn’t always go my way, the impact wasn’t always positive, but I always walked away with a lesson that prepared me for my next challenge.

I took a risk when I moved to New York in 2016. In fact, my move was unplanned and gave ‘go with the flow’. Fresh out of university, myself and my mom went to visit my sister, Liona, who was doing her Master’s in Fine Arts at The New School. During my visit, I happened to come across a posting for a Fashion & Beauty Intern at Galore Magazine. Being fresh out of college, and having done an internship with Cosmopolitan Magazine in South Africa, I decided to go for it, and to my surprise, I was chosen for the position. Because of my career goals, I had always wanted to move to NYC and immerse myself in the fashion and beauty industry, but this was definitely a leap of faith. I mean, my internship didn’t pay, my move was unplanned (I was only supposed to stay a month), but luckily I had my sister and I was determined.

The risk of moving to NYC is my origin story in a way. So much of what I’ve learned that has helped me in my business was impacted by this decision.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am an artist and entrepreneur who is passion about serving underrepresented communities through storytelling. My journey that has brought me to where I am today has been filled with curiosity, challenges, and a drive to make a positive impact.

In 2018, I co-founded an independently published women’s magazine called Roundtable Journal. Our vision was to create a platform that showcased diverse representation in media. With each issue, we aimed to connect and inspire readers through original articles and think-pieces, interviews, and photography created by emerging writers and artists from around the world. I am incredibly proud of the fact that we have published three sold-out print magazines and a coffee talble book on sex work titled, ‘Sex Work Is Real Work’. We have also had incredible opportunities to collaborate with renowned brands such as GUCCI and Nike to create content that highlights the Black experience.

Roundtable Journal allowed me to explore my love for storytelling and opened my eyes to the power of representation.

When the global pandemic hit in 2020, I saw an opportunity to create a positive impact in my community in Miami. To combat the feelings of insecurity and unknowing, I wanted to start a skincare and wellness brand, which became Shade County.

Shade County focuses on creating self-care products and wellness experiences for black and brown people. Our aim is to create experiences and spaces where people are seen, heard, and empowered through wellness and self-care.

Getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy. Starting and growing a business came with its fair share of challenges. However, I believe that the key to overcoming these challenges lies in perseverance, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from every experience.

Remember, you could always be just one step away from ultimate success. One step away from that viral campaign that blows up your brand, one grant (or investor) away from receiving the funding you need, just one step away.

What I want the world to know about my brand and story is that it is rooted in love and a genuine desire to make a positive impact. Both Roundtable Journal and Shade County aim to uplift and celebrate underrepresented voices and communities. I am passionate about creating platforms and products that empower my community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Miami is such a great city, with so many fun, unique places to explore. In my opinion, a great trip to this city would include having a chic brunch moment at Little Hen in midtown or Pani in Aventura, spending an afternoon at Viscaya museum and gardens, for a slow afternoon strolling around the beautiful estate, having a night out at Dante’s Hi-Fi in Wynwood, enjoying the sun and the water Kayaking or paddle boarding in morningside, or a beach day at Virginia Keys and dinner outings to Mandolin, Boia De, or Daek.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Really my family, friends and community. It’s their love and support that motivates me, and uplifts me when I have bouts of self-doubt or imposter syndrome.

Website: https://shadecounty.com/

Instagram: @shadecounty_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolle-nyariri-674354269

Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@shadecounty7222/featured

Other: https://www.roundtablejournal.com/

Image Credits
Stefanie Paredes Akio Gamma Felipe Wallis Bernardo Gaspirini