This Women’s History Month, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to rise.
Not in a poetic, abstract way — but in the real, gritty, build-it-from-scratch kind of way.
When I first started creating Sienna Naturals, Issa would literally come over to my house. We’d sit together testing formulas, talking through textures, performance, ingredients. She gave feedback like a founder, not a spokesperson. Dream Curl Cream? That was her brain child. And to this day, she is still shaping our products.
What many people don’t know is that when Issa decided to formally come onboard, she had offers from major beauty conglomerates — deals that far outpaced anything Sienna could offer. We couldn’t pay her. Not a dime.
What we asked for instead was her time.
Her likeness.
Her ideas.
Her belief.
And she chose to build with me.
That decision — to invest in ownership instead of a corporate check — is something I will never take lightly.
In those early days, we shipped sample after sample to friends and family. We sent survey after survey. We tweaked formulas over and over again based on community feedback. And honestly? That’s still how we develop products today. We build with you. This brand has always been a family effort.
That feels especially meaningful when you look at the bigger picture.
- Women now own 42% of all U.S. businesses — over 13 million companies generating $1.9 trillion in revenue (National Women’s Business Council, 2023). That’s the highest share on record.
- Women of color are the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau Annual Business Survey).
- And yet, women-led startups receive only about 2% of venture capital funding (PitchBook, 2023). Black women - less than 0.05%!
- We are building nearly half the businesses in this country — with a spec of the capital.
- In beauty, an industry worth over $400 billion globally, women drive an estimated 70–80% of consumer purchasing decisions (McKinsey; Nielsen). We are the core audience and increasingly the owners.
- In film, women directed 16% of the top 250 grossing films in 2023, up from just 4% in 2002. Women now hold 35% of major behind-the-scenes roles, an all-time high (Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film, 2024).
Progress isn’t equal yet. But it is undeniable.
And what makes women in business different? The data is interesting here too.
A Boston Consulting Group study found that women-founded startups generate more than 2x the revenue per dollar invested compared to male-founded startups. We tend to build capital-efficient companies. We prioritize sustainability. Community. Long-term value.
We don’t just scale fast.
We scale intentionally.
When I think about all of this, I can’t help but think of Maya Angelou’s words:
“Like dust, I’ll rise.”
“Still I rise.”
Those lines are simple — but they capture something real.
We rise when funding is scarce.
We rise when doors close.
We rise when we’re underestimated.
Sienna Naturals exists because two women decided to build something on our own terms — with community at the center. No shortcuts. No big corporate backing. Just belief, feedback, iteration, and resilience.
This is how we continue to rise. Together.
With gratitude,
Hannah Diop
Co-founder + CEO
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, originally published in 1978 in the collection And Still I Rise. I encourage everyone to read the full poem — it’s a masterclass in resilience and power.
