Denisha Victor is an award-winning entrepreneur, community worker, and teacher. She is also employed in international service as a Fraud Investigator.
Denisha – the entrepreneur – is the proud owner of Koko, a natural hair store that provides a platform for other local female entrepreneurs to retail their products. She is also the co-founder of CurlFete Guyana – the successful annual natural hair expo that promotes a nurturing environment for women (and men) to embrace their natural tresses and to boost entrepreneurship.
Denisha is passionate about community service. She has served as the president of the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central in 2015-16. During her tenure, the club executed a literacy project called R.E.A.D, which consisted of a discussion on dyslexia and a 6-week reading program for the children at the Ruimveldt Children Home. Denisha also created the club’s signature fundraiser called Wine and Art, which has raised over $3 million dollars for community development in Guyana. Denisha is still actively involved in Rotaract, she recently co-chaired a Rotaract conference for over 200 delegates from around the Caribbean where they partnered with various organizations to build and furnish a home for a single mother in the village of Haruni on the Linden Soesdyke Highway.
Denisha previously taught Personnel Administration at Nations University (Georgetown, Guyana). In a first for the institution, two of her students were awarded the top paper for the examination worldwide.
In October 2017, Denisha Victor won the Scotiabank Vision Achievers Live Pitch Business competition.
Denisha holds a diploma in Banking and Finance, and a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Guyana. She also graduated from the University of the West Indies with a master’s in business administration, specializing in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Questions
How did you arrive at the idea for your business?
Almost one year before the store was officially opened, I embarked on my own natural hair journey. I had a difficult time finding the products YouTubers were raving about, so I decided to ship in a small number of products for myself. Little did I know a few months later I’d be inspired to open my first store.
What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?
It’s probably inherited because from a very young age I have always had an interest in owning my own business and just doing my own thing. My dad has done a variety of business ventures over the years and recently I found out that my great-grandmother was also an entrepreneur.
What is your greatest challenge being an entrepreneur?
Where do I begin! Being an entrepreneur has been the most challenging experience in my life because your emotions are thrown in so many directions. It’s unbelievable why anyone would voluntarily put themselves through that kind of hardship. However, one of the biggest challenges of being an entrepreneur in Guyana is access to basic information. I wish someone presented me with a starter kit for doing business in Guyana because none of the agencies are interconnected and there’s no one to assist you with everything you need. You must figure everything out on your own.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I have 3 and they are: being able to provide an income for my employees; my customers being satisfied with the product they bought and our service at Koko; and finally, being able to provide other entrepreneurs with a space to market their product.
What piece of advice would you give to other young people who want to become entrepreneurs?
Shut Up! Don’t discuss your ideas unless you are about to execute your plan.
Work on your business every day.
Don’t expect a handout. If you become an entrepreneur so your friends and family would buy from you, think again.
How do you define success?
Success for me is about the number of lives you have impacted positively and being content with what you have achieved.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My mom! She has been my biggest supporter and I simply could not be the woman I am today had it not been for her. Because of her unwavering support, I am inspired every day to work harder.
