Fairygodboss Of The Week Selena Cuffe

Fairygodboss Of The Week Selena Cuffe Our Fairygodboss of the Week founded her company over ten years ago and has since turned it into the worlds largest importer and producer of African wines. Selena Cuffe has a strong entrepreneurial spirit that she uses to create award-winning brands as well as pay it forward to those in need. Read on to learn more about Cuffes inspiring work.Fairygodboss of the Week Selena CuffeFounder and CEO, Heritage Link Brands, LLCLos Angeles, CAFGBTell us about your career. How did you get to where you are now?SC I am the co-founder, President and CEO of Heritage Link Brands, a company transforming the worlds view of Africa and its diaspora through the medium of pioneering brands. It is the largest wine importer and producer of African descent in the world.In 2005, I married and subsequently founded Heritage Link Brands upon learning South Africa had a $3 billion wine industry, yet less than 2 percent of the industry was owned by blacks, who make up over 85 percent of the countrys population. From PBS to TIME, my company has been recognized for its innovation and award-winning brands, rooted in stories of triumph. Im a California native and a graduate of Stanford University. I also hold an MBA with honors from Harvard University. Prior to founding Heritage Link Brands, I served as a global marketer for the Council on International Educational Exchange and Procter Gamble Company.FGB What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?SCIm an avid activist of global trade, education and exchange. So Im very proud of becoming a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and my service, generally, including as Advisor to Alcove, Face2Face Health, Stanford Universitys Overseas Studies Program and the Global Fund for Widows. I am also Vice President Emeritus of the Harvard geschftsleben School Global Alumni Board and a current Alumni Advisor.FGB What is a challenge that youve faced and overcome?SC Competing in an industry where the incumb ents are either publicly traded and/or multiple generations into their wealth and ownership of the wines, vineyards and brands.FGBWhat is the 1 career tip youd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you?SC Dont start a business with your own money I wish someone had schooled me before I founded my companyFGB Why do you love where you work? SC I wake up every day knowing that Im making the world a better place by helping to transform the wine industry to become more inclusive of women and people of color, one glass at a timeFGB Who is YOUR Fairygodboss? Why? SC Oprah her very essence says it all. She is transparently kind, generous and actively inspires the greater good in us allFGB What do you do when youre elend working?SCIm a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a womens empowerment advocate, mother of three young children, lover of diverse culture and food and Spanish and Portuguese speaker.FGB If you could have dinner with one famou s person dead or alive who would it be?SC Nelson Mandela.Lightning Round FGB What is your karaoke song?SCKiss, Prince.FGB What is your favorite movie?SCBeaches.FGB What book would you take with you on a desert island?SCAmericanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.FGB What is your shopping vice?SC Amazon.comFairygodboss is all about women helping other women - so each week, we celebrate a woman who made a difference in another womans career. Is there a woman who has made a difference in your career?Celebrate her and thank herbynominating her here.