Tamara Zyambo is the founder of ZUCCHI, a producer of organic or natural hair products. She is passionate about nature and believes that beauty can be achieve by the use of nature’s finest ingredients.
She is known for her high work tenacity, ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to changing work projects or demands. Her ability to plan, organize and implement tasks has led to the establishment of ZUCCHI that caters to all hair types, with products rich in nutrients that pamper the hair and seduce the follicles so as to aid in healthy hair growth, in moist hair and hair that is overall manageable.
Tamara is credited with honours in Organisational Psychology focusing in Change Management. Coupled with this qualification, she completed her Continuous Development Programme (CDP) in Human Resource Management (HRM) at the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management (ZIHRM) and had acquired her Zambian Human Resource Practicing Licence.
1. Why did you quit your job to start your own thing?
I quit my job because of the need to create. I love to create and it was really wanting to create a better environment for people around, even for myself. I wanted to create a product that gives the result people want. To create jobs and high self-esteemed individuals. It was all rooted in creating and ensuring that the created product gives a positive outcome to someone. Whatever was created should yield something positive.
2. Why did you focus on organic hair products?
Because of my own challenges. Growing up, I really had bad hair, uneven hair, excessively breaking hair, dandruff, dry scalp and no growth at times. My hair would be on one level for the longest time. I often wondered how black women in the Western world kept their hair healthy, thick and soft while struggling to keep my own hair in the same way. It was not an aspiration to have nice long curly hair but an aspiration to have healthy hair that was my own. I acknowledged the fact that my hair wasn’t like theirs but theirs was healthy and that was where my focus came from. I decided to do some research and I discovered the key was to use natural resources and derive their benefits directly without adding chemicals or synthetics. That was when I discovered the whole organic natural realm and decided to start making organic products for my personal use. Additionally, hair is such a huge part of a woman’s identity. Hair gives you a certain level of confidence and appeal in the way you conduct yourself because you are confident of what you have.
3. So how did eventually start off as Zucchi?
After learning how to blend the butters and oils, I started using the products and I saw results. Then I was a student at the University of Cape Town. So my siblings eventually started using my organic products. My brother and friends encouraged me to start the hair products business. I knew I wanted to start but I didn’t know how to start. It was until I was interviewed for a job that I was asked where I saw myself in the next 5 years and I saw myself owning my own company that deals with all products catering for men, women and children. I went to bongo hive to work on my LinkedIn account and I got to know about how they help people startup businesses. I applied and eventually started their program. In 2016, I started working on ZUCCHI. I realized that the organic product business was still new in Zambia.
4. How did you come up with Zucchi as a brand name?
ZUCCHI was derived from ‘Tumbuka’ (a language in the eastern part of Zambia) meaning a tree stump that withstands all-natural elements and was established in 2017.
5. What is the best way for a young person to start their business?
To get in place, the best starting point is you, really understanding what you want before you even start thinking of the legal and financial aspect of it, think of your idea. What is the end goal? What problem are you solving? What is the solution to the problem that you want to solve? is it something you are willing to push for regardless of the obstacles that people may Do you have the emotional strength to ensure that you can push your idea? Once you have that set, get out there and meet people. Get around people you can learn from. Learn as much as you want. Do not be discouraged by people who will not help you. Opportunities will come.
AUTHOR:
Thando Chilufya is an entrepreneur, creative and educationist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Zambia. Thando is the founder of Ulimusuma Limited and co-founder and creative director of creative Space Digital. She is very passionate about Africa, personal development and entrepreneurship. Thando is a firm believer in the potential that people carry. She is always looking for ways to become better as s person and uses her experiences and knowledge to empower the people around her.
