To know this phenomenon of a woman is to love her. She is a woman of deep conviction, passionate and very driven. The woman that we are describing is that if the person Epiphanie Yohou. Epiphanie Yohou is a Marketing and Planning Strategist and the Founder/CEO, of Ayoka Candles Co. As a business leader, mentor, speaker, and entrepreneur, Epiphanie partners with small businesses to create a vision for their start-ups and professional brands. Listen in as we get to know a little bit more about her journey to success.

Q: Epiphanie, why are you so passionate about helping others?

Too many young women and men of afro descent are often encouraged to get an education, identify a profession, and secure their place in a corporate or other professional environments. This mindset has crippled the innovative landscape of our world today, and I’m passionate about affecting a change by helping young entrepreneurs, especially females, achieve their dreams of converting their God-given talents/gifts into a product or service that the world may not even know it needs. In doing so, I hope that each successful venture will breed another by inspiring younger professionals to harness the power of their talents to deliver the innovations needed to power all industries for the future.

Q: Can you tell us more about your amazing business?

Ayoka Candles Co. is a female-owned and operated company providing a suite of luxurious handmade coconut-soy based candles made with the highest quality, environmentally sustainable ingredients to provoke all of your senses and create a pleasurable experience in any environment.  

At Ayoka, it is our continued passion and love for helping others show gratitude to their friends and loved ones in a simple form of luxury that drives us to create our suite of products. 

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next two years? Five years?

Two years: 

  • Build the Ayoka brand and enterprise
  • Expand to consulting to help educate and empower other young female entrepreneurs through the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

Five years: 

  • Lead a consultative enterprise that leverages all aspects of my creativity and skillsets

Q: What is the one thing that you know for sure?

Death is certain, and life is a gift. I strive to live every minute and second as if they were my last because tomorrow is not guaranteed. My best advice to all, which a constant reminder from a close friend, is don’t major in the minors!

Q: How have you been able to navigate through the different setbacks that you’ve experienced in your life? 

Every setback is an opportunity for a comeback. Without sounding cliché, I believe the greatest lessons are learned from what some might view as setbacks, but I’ve come to see them as temporary impediments to achieving my ultimate purpose in serving God and others.

Epiphanie is a woman of great strength, character, and one of the most brilliant business women of our times. Follow her as she continues to navigate through her entrepreneurial journey:

Website: www.ayokacandles.com

IG: Epiphanie Yohou @justepiphanie

Ayoka Candles Co. @ayokacandlesco.

Photographer Credit:  Christian Nwosu £cnwosuphoto

Make-up Artist Credit: Vee @dmv_socialite