Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Trenchard.
Taylor, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After attending the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017, I left D.C. vowing to do more to contribute to female empowerment organizations. I envisioned volunteering locally or making consistent monthly donations to my favorite nonprofits. I never imagined I would become a leader in a for-profit global development company.
I graduated from William & Mary Law School in May of 2017. I was thrilled to return home to Massachusetts to begin my career working in state government, but I just couldn’t shake that feeling that started while standing among the sea of pink hats on that inspiring day back in January. I learned about the opportunity to become a Fellow with Sseko Designs, and I dove in head first.
I studied for the bar exam during all hours of the day and shared the Sseko story through in-person and virtual events with family and friends at night. I began building a team of other women who shared the same passion that I did, which was an incredible way to reconnect with old friends and meet amazing new ones. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to visit our workshop in Uganda last April after qualifying for a trip with eleven other Fellows. I continue to work as a Fellow part-time in addition to my full-time job as an attorney. As a Senior Mentor, I lead a team of over thirty women from across the country and work with other leaders within the company to help expand our brand visibility and overall impact.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Balancing a senior leadership role in a direct sales company and a full-time job has certainly come with its challenges! I have to be very intentional about how I spend my time in terms of managing my own event schedule and mentoring others. After a few months of burning the candle at both ends, I have found a really great rhythm and balance in both roles.
Advancing to a leadership role has also taught me invaluable lessons about my own leadership style and how to effectively manage a team. I am really proud of the collaborative nature of our group: we all have our individual strengths and by identifying and celebrating those assets, we have been able to come together to form something truly special.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Sseko Designs – what should we know?
Sseko Designs is an socially conscious company that offers women in Uganda fair wage and dignified work opportunities. In Uganda, there is a nine-month gap between high school and university.
Unemployment is so high for young Ugandans that many bright students cannot afford to go to university and pursue their big dreams.
Sseko partners with a top-tier all-girl secondary school called Cornerstone Leadership Academy and employs some of their graduates during this gap, allowing them to obtain a college education become leaders in their communities. In addition to these university-bound women, Sseko has a team of forty-six veteran women who work full-time at the workshop with full health benefits, paid maternity leave, and paid time off. We are very proud to have a fully Ugandan management team, and as of this year, we will have sent 131 women to college.
Fellows here in the United States (like me!) sell the shoes, bags, jewelry, apparel, and accessories that are lovingly handmade by our co-workers in Uganda. We recently celebrated surpassing 500 members in our Fellows community, and to honor the occasion all five hundred names were painted on to a wall in the workshop in Uganda. This serves as a physical reminder to everyone who works there that they have hundreds of women here in the United States who believe in them and are rooting for their success every day.
The Fellows program and the Sseko business model are truly unlike anything I have ever been a part of. This fashion company that started out of the back of co-founder Liz Bohannon’s car has attracted some of the most passionate, motivated, fun-loving women — both in Uganda and here in the United States. I love having the opportunity to share the stories of our sisters in Uganda and it is incredibly rewarding to buy and sell gorgeous items that come with a tag signed by the woman who made it! It has really changed the way I think about the fashion industry and taught me a lot about the importance of knowing who made your clothes. It is unbelievable to me still that I can have such a connection to so many women across the country and world and I can do it all from right here at home.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Not being afraid of the word ‘no.’ I think unfortunately a lot of people have negative connotations about the direct sales model and as a result, they are initially hesitant about what I do. But I love sharing about our products and impact and I’m not afraid to answer the hard questions! I have been blown away by the business model of this company and the success I’ve had as a part of it–and I think it is mainly because I am not afraid to put myself out there and be completely honest about my role in this business. Our global impact sets us apart from many other direct sales companies, and I think that is our greatest strength.
Contact Info:
- Website: ssekodesigns.com/taylor_trenchard
- Email: sseko.t.trenchard@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssekotaytrench/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/taylorsssekoVIPs/
Image Credit:
Kara Delaine Photography, Bekah Taylor Photography
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