Meet Ife Thomas

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ife Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ife, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

Well, it never dies. So I start by always acknowledging that I’m connected to a source greater than me that is my supply, so my creativity is unlimited! Whether I’m writing a song, or crafting new brand marketing materials, or making new jewelry pieces for the HER GLOW CANDY SHOP, my online store, I can always tap into my creativity. New ideas come to me in what I call my “special downloads” while I’m doing another activity or when I’m sitting still and being quiet. I also have very clear visions of how I want something to look or feel. I just trust that once I fully flesh it out, it will reveal itself to me—and, it always does.
I’m so grateful that I’ve evolved and grown into a place in my life where I fully trust my gifts and my connection to my source. I trust it wholeheartedly and it never fails.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I founded HER GLOW in 2014 while attending an MA in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship program at Goldsmiths, University of London. I was inspired by the lack of beauty and hair offerings for Black women in the UK compared to the U.S. and decided to create a brand that would help solve the issue throughout England. After completing my final business plan thesis with HER GLOW as a model, I decided to bring it back to the U.S. to make it available to women of color globally.

HER GLOW brings empowerment full circle through three core offerings: the HER GLOW CANDY SHOP, which provides unique jewelry and accessories that celebrate individuality; the HER GLOW EmpowHERment Workshop, delivering self-care tools and confidence-building strategies to help working women of color thrive; and the HER GLOW Ambassador Program, which fosters community and purpose-driven service. Together, these initiatives create a dynamic platform for women to uplift themselves and each other. By combining adornment, personal growth, and community, HER GLOW equips women to shine from within and inspire those around them.

The HER GLOW CANDY SHOP sells unique handmade pieces made with sustainable materials. As the shop owner and CEO, I create and curate chic and affordable items that are designed to help you love yourself and “get HER GLOW” by helping you look and feel your very best.

The HER GLOW CANDY SHOP was featured on influencer Tabitha Brown’s show, “Very Good Mondays,” and was selected as a participant in the 2023 Seattle Restored program through Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office, as one of several Seattle-based small businesses to help reinvigorate the downtown Seattle economy.

Currently, we participate in Pop Ups and events throughout the Seattle area, and are looking to bring the HER GLOW CANDY SHOP to other cities in the U.S. and internationally. Our newest offering is the HER GLOW EmpowHERment Workshop designed to offer women tools to help them center wellness and self-care in their daily lives.

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?

My top three skills are writing, creative direction, beauty, and wellness. I have a unique combination of knowledge and lived experience in these areas that I pull from to help create and scale HER GLOW.

It’s imperative that you start with what you’re most passionate about and what you know. Everyone has some level of either lived experience or have worked in or around certain industries that give you a level of knowledge about an area or topic. It helps if you’re very skilled already, but you have to feel comfortable enough to be able to teach these skills to someone else and/or be able to develop insights or new ideas that can be shared with your audience and potential customers.

The best way to get better is by doing! Become obsessed with these areas so you can turn your passion into skills. Talk about them, read about them, and involve others in your learning. Find out what people around you think about these areas and start to hone down your own ideas. Once you develop more confidence, you can start to move into a place of leadership and creative ownership to bring your ideas to life and, if you’re an entrepreneur, to the marketplace.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes I am! My intention in 2025 is to collaborate and create partnerships with other liked-minded brands, women-owned and people of color-owned businesses who want to create and execute on new products, events, and content.

I’m open to a variety of brands, but would like to partner with businesses that would be a compliment to HER GLOW’s mission to empower women and center inner and outer beauty. We are starting to roll our our HER GLOW EmpowHERment Workshop, and would be open to coming to your city to do an event where the workshop can be taught along with another fun and uplifting activity, such as:

-Candle Pouring
-Jewelry Making
-Panel discussions
-Another workshop or short class

I’m also interested in speaking on panels, brunches, and women-centered events where I can teach an earring-making workshop or share my journey of entrepreneurship with other small business owners, groups of women and teens.

Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram and send me a note. I look forward to connecting with you and your brand!

Contact Info:

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