Gisèla Van Houcke (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Gisèla Van Houcke

(Founder & CEO Zuri Luxury Hair Bar and Beauty)

www.myzuri.com

Zuri, an embodiment of empowerment for Black women, emerges as a transformative beauty tech platform. Its genesis traces back to 2015 when Gisèla Van Houcke, a resilient individual hailing from the strife-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, embarked on a profound journey. Her life's narrative, marked by profound pain and struggle, unfolded through various chapters that led her from an aspiring lawyer to an African hair entrepreneur.

Armed with a Bachelor's degree in English and French Law, Gisèla Van Houcke ventured beyond the legal realm, driven by a resolute mission to empower Black women and establish the world's first black beauty brand. Her exceptional achievements gained recognition when she stood as the sole francophone African woman in the "business" category of the esteemed "Forbes Under 30" ranking, predominantly occupied by young entrepreneurs from Anglophone Africa. This distinction resonated deeply with the young entrepreneur, who, despite her young age, was already married and a devoted mother of two. 

Goma, the city of Gisèla Van Houcke's birth, nestled in the politically unstable Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, became a theater of war and devastation during her formative years. The harrowing experiences of witnessing the 1994 Rwandan genocide and enduring the eruption of conflict in her homeland in 1996 forced her and her family into a protracted period of hiding in a secluded village. The volcanic eruption that ravaged Goma in 2002 inflicted further anguish, shrouding her city in smoke and molten lava. 

Personal experiences shaped Gisèla's convictions, as she witnessed firsthand the corrosive impact of greed, corruption, and educational deficiencies on the development of her country. Blessed with the privilege of studying and working in London, thanks to her father's foresight, Gisèla Van Houcke obtained a first-class honors British law degree from Cardiff University, a French law degree from Nantes University, and valuable work experience from a prominent American law firm. 

Returning to her homeland in 2015, Gisèla Van Houcke sought to contribute to the economic progress of the continent and her native country, settling in Kigali to assume the role of Head of Legal for a British solar company. However, the transition was not without its challenges. Gisèla, an avid wearer of hair extensions since her early teenage years, struggled to find high-quality hair and cosmetics locally or within the region. The persistent requests from those around her to bring back extensions and cosmetic products during her travels sparked a realization: there existed an incredible business opportunity waiting to be seized. 

Intrigued by this revelation, Gisèla embarked on market research, discovering a significant void in the market for hair extensions and cosmetics tailored to the needs of individuals with dark skin tones. The options available to potential customers were limited, often requiring them to travel as far as India or China to obtain the desired quality and variety. Gisèla recognized the pressing need to bridge this gap and set out to address it. 

Zuri was born as a response to the unmet needs of Black women. This pioneering platform endeavors to offer a diverse range of styles meticulously crafted by Black women for Black women. Beyond its role as a beauty hub, Zuri encompasses brand development and financing solutions, all aimed at fostering economic mobility for Black women entrepreneurs. With a captivating vision in mind, Gisèla envisions a future where women are recognized for their true ambitions, fueled by custom-made wigs fashioned through the fusion of technology and artistry. 

As Gisèla Van Houcke asserts, "I want to advocate for a world where we ask ourselves what we can achieve, rather than whether we have the skills to do it, be your best."  Her journey offers invaluable insights, encapsulated in a set of eight startup lessons derived from her remarkable experiences:

1. Always review your goals to ensure that they are in sync with your business initiative.

2. Analyze your failures in detail.

3. Write down your mistakes and determine the lessons to be learned so that the same mistakes are not repeated.

4. Be passionate about what you do because running a business takes a lot of time.

5. Your environment can be the cause of your success as well as your failure.

6. Surround yourself with qualified people who inspire you with their success and improve your skills.

7. Quantify what needs to be quantified. Highlight the differences between what you expect and what actually happens.

8. Spend more time putting proper processes in place and spend a lot of time with the staff to make sure that they are properly implemented.

Gisèla Van Houcke's profound commitment to empowering Black women through Zuri demonstrates her resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and determination to create positive change. Her unique path, shaped by adversity, has fueled her vision to revolutionize the beauty industry and elevate the aspirations of women across the African continent and beyond.

(Information from My Zuri, Billionaire Tomorrow, Africa's Business Heroes)