Meet Toun Olawoye

We were lucky to catch up with Toun Olawoye recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Toun, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from the women who came before me. A strong woman birthed me, and a strong woman raised me, so I grew up understanding resilience not as an option, but as a way of life. Their strength taught me that challenges don’t define your ability to stand up again does.

My faith also plays a powerful role. It grounds me in the belief that if we stay consistent, keep showing up, and continue doing the work with intention, the reward will come in due time. That mindset has carried me through every season of building Mzuri. Resilience, for me, is a blend of legacy, faith, and the quiet confidence that purpose always finds its way.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

What I do with Mzuri is more than just building a beauty brand—it’s building a bridge between culture, science, and intentional care. As the founder, I’m deeply passionate about creating clean, effective, and inclusive products made with organic, plant-based ingredients that truly care for our skin and hair. What excites me most is knowing we’re solving a real problem: offering high-end beauty rooted in cultural authenticity, without compromising on safety, quality, or heritage.

Beyond being a founder—which is a role I truly love—I’m also a wife and a mom, and those parts of my life mean everything to me. My husband and I are both clinical researchers in the pharmaceutical space, and he is also Mzuri’s co-founder. Our shared background in science shaped our vision for Mzuri from the very beginning. The brand was born from a need we personally felt: products that honor our culture, respect our skin, and deliver results backed by both nature and research.

Outside of work, I enjoy pouring into my family—raising our 16-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter is one of my greatest joys. Family keeps me grounded, inspired, and constantly aware of the legacy we’re building through Mzuri.

As for what’s next, we’re incredibly excited about new products coming in 2026. We’ve been developing formulations that elevate everything people already love about Mzuri, and we can’t wait to share them with our community. This next chapter is going to be something truly special.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three qualities have been especially impactful on my journey: the power of showing up, the strength that comes from consistency, and the foundation of my faith.

First, showing up—especially on the days you don’t feel like it. Entrepreneurship is full of moments where you’re discouraged, frustrated, or exhausted, but choosing to show up anyway is where real breakthroughs happen. It’s in those tough days that you prove to yourself what you’re made of.

Second, consistency. Consistency isn’t glamorous, but it is transformative. Small actions repeated over time create momentum, and momentum builds results. Even when progress feels slow, staying committed moves you closer to the vision.

Third, my grounding in faith and godly values. I genuinely believe that except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it. This understanding keeps me centered, teaches me humility, and guides me to seek wisdom and knowledge daily. My faith reminds me that I’m not building alone—and that gives me strength and clarity in tough seasons.

I’ll also add the importance of surrounding yourself with a skilled, aligned, and supportive team. People who believe in your vision, who bring excellence to the table, and who are willing to walk the journey with you make all the difference. No founder thrives alone.

My advice for anyone early in their journey:
Show up—consistently and intentionally. Even when it’s hard. Surround yourself with people who elevate you. And stay connected to something bigger than yourself—your faith, your values, your purpose. When those three align, the work becomes meaningful, and the vision becomes unstoppable.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was give me the gift of love and unity. They created a home where love wasn’t just spoken—it was lived. My siblings and I were taught that unity is powerful, that together we can rise higher, and that division only weakens what God intends to bless. We grew up understanding that in unity, God commands blessings, and that has shaped every part of who I am.

That principle has stayed with me throughout my life. It guides the way I lead my family, and it’s the same spirit I bring into Mzuri. I believe deeply in building environments where we uplift one another, where collaboration matters, and where we move forward as a team. Unity isn’t just a value to me—it’s a strategy, a spiritual truth, and a legacy I’m intentional about carrying forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mzuricosmetics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mzuricosmeticsofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MzuriCosmeticsOfficial
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mzuricosmeticsofficial