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

Hi Quineth, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Business has always been a huge part of my life. Both my parents were into business and the majority of what I know, I learnt from them while growing up. Deciding to start SLB Giftshop was first, a means to empower myself as a woman living in Africa. Secondly, I saw an opportunity to create a culture of giving using original African products.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think I have always been creative from childhood. I was just raised in a society that leaves no room for creative talents. I spent the first twenty years of my life trying to break out of a system that valued money more than purpose. I would not totally condemn my journey because I absolutely value my academic path as a scientific researcher. However, I often question how it would have been if I explored my creative talents from earlier years. Nonetheless, I did it anyway. I picked up the pen and started writing. The best lesson I have learnt in adulthood is to not limit myself and this has helped thus far. I let my mind explore possibilities and work to make them a reality. The most frequent questions I get in my creative journey have been “what type of things do you write?” “ What type of music do you sing?” I understand that these questions come from an honest perspective of wanting to know where a person fits in within the society. However, I have not come to fit into a category. I thrive in my uniqueness and don’t seek validation in my art. It’ll make sense when it does.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I believe that the people around us are there for a reason. We may not understand why but it eventually makes sense in the end. At every stage of my creative and entrepreneurship journey, there have been people who have been the best source of inspiration and encouragement. My special recognition goes to the Hello Icon Magazine Team. More than a team, they have become my family along the way. They have taught me the value of true collaboration and the possibility of positivity in creativity.

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