183: Askanya Chocolate CEO Corinne Joachim Sanon: Building a Business that Creates Social Change

For entrepreneur Corinne Joachim-Sanon, changing the negative narrative that is often forced on her home country of Haiti is part of her mission. Through her all-natural chocolate company, Askanya Chocolates, Corrine celebrates the beauty of Haiti as an agriculture center not only through the imagery used on her products, but also by creating lasting job opportunities and making the best use of the country's natural resources.

After attending the University of Michigan and Wharton School of Business, the self-described "book worm," who skipped the fourth and the eighth grade, became an industrial engineer and was in the flow of her career in New York City. But at 29, Corinne's passion for being a change agent in her community and creating a business that, at its core, was about social change in Haiti, called her back home. Since launching in 2015, Askanya Chocolates are now sold in stores around the world, the company has more than 30 employees and works with 3000 local farmers and it is Haiti's first bean-to-bar chocolate company.

On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Corinne talks about having the determination to experience all you want to experience in life, being clear on your mission for yourself and your business and how she created a business that makes shifting the narrative of her country a delicious success.

On this episode you'll learn:

Create short- and long-term lists of your goals.How to navigate the road blocks as you build your business.The importance of remembering that entrepreneurship is a marathon; not a sprint.Top tips for how to get your products into stores.The value of work-of-mouth.How to create a business that pushes social change and empowers women.Why you should listen to the naysayers, and let them make you better than ever. 

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Show notes for this episode including resources, links, etc, may be found at supportissexypodcast.com.

[Music: "Easy" by SPCZ]

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