We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Claudia Castellanos a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Claudia, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
After I graduated from my MBA I did what you used to do back in the days after completing an MBA program: work for a big corporate. I moved from Barcelona, where I was pursuing my studies, to Italy. It was a good job but after a few years I started feeling empty and having panic attacks: I call this my 30 years old crisis. That led me to ponder about where my life was going and were I saw myself in the future…and I decided to take a few months off and come to volunteer to Africa, more specifically to a small country in Southern Africa that not a lot of people know called Eswatini (former Swaziland). This very common white savior complex lead me to discover purpose – after I understood that Africa did not need “saving”, and what a patronizing concept that was. I understood that what I could bring was employment and development opportunities that were good for people and planet: When I started working with women and rural communities and seeing the real impact that my work could bring, I didn’t think twice to move permanently to what is today home, and start Black Mamba. Africa gave me purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Colombian impact entrepreneur and food rebel, who came as a volunteer to Eswatini (former Swaziland) in 2008, fell in love with Africa, and made it my home. In Eswatini I co-founded and I currently lead Black Mamba Foods, a specialty food brand that champions fair and ethical sourcing, gender equality, and environmental stewardship. Black Mamba manufactures and distributes hot pepper-based condiments worldwide, and supports over 2,000 individuals from rural communities in Eswatini. Through Black Mamba, I have become a vocal activist for transforming food ecosystems through a simple yet powerful premise: food can only be truly good if it’s good for you, good for the planet and good for the people that grow it and make it.
As the CEO (Chilli Enthusiast Officer) of Black Mamba, I have managed to implement impactful business practices that take into consideration women empowerment, the inclusion of rural communities and the protection of the environment.
I am particularly excited about our current expansion into the US: I believe there is definitely a space for a sustainable, modern, and delicious African brand in the market with a vision to inspire foodies to share our passion for Africa, for spicy flavors, and our quest for a greener and fairer world. Very recently we were nominated as one of the Brands that Matter in 2023 by Fast Company, the world’s leading progressive media brand, for being relevant in today’s world as we strive to spread social and environmental awareness, empower consumers, and inspire other conscious brands to embrace this movement. And of course, we love making Africa’s Tastiest Hot Sauces!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being an impact entrepreneur, three skills that are very important and have been very impactful in my journey are:
1- Relentless optimism: Being an entrepreneur is a rollercoaster of emotions, with many stressful moments. Keeping a clear vision of your MTP (massive transformational purpose), and having the conviction that things will always get better, is essential to keep on moving forward. And it is also contagious to those you need to lead!
2- Undeterred Resilience: Linked to number 1. Fall, and get up. Be rejected, but try again. Don’t take no for an answer for something you really want. If you’re tired don’t quit, but rather rest and come back with a plan. The best way to develop resilience is to be confident that you will succeed, eventually. Do a victory dance and celebrate the good times, and build relationships that will provide guidance, support and acceptance during the bad times (and invite them to do the victory dance as well!).
3- Boundless curiosity: Asking questions (and listening to the answers) are great skills. When the desire to learn new things, or meet new people is genuine, it shows (don’t pretend, it looks bad). People appreciate when you take an interest in them and what they do. You build relationships, and you build knowledge, which are 2 very powerful assets to have!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to connect with other food entrepreneurs and brands that believe, like us, that our consumption patterns and the current food ecosystem are fundamentally flawed, and want to join our movement. We want to build a new world where people and planet are as important as product. I am sure we are many, and if we work together, we can really build a better world for us and our future generations. You can learn more about us on our website blackmambachilli.com, and connect with me at info@blackmambachilli.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackmambachilli.com
- Instagram: @blackmambafood
- Facebook: Black Mamba Foods
- Linkedin: Black Mamba Foods
- Twitter: @blackmambafood
- Youtube: Black Mamba Chilli
