Dr. Vanessa Bouché is a professor of political science and co-founder of Savhera, a premium social impact brand that sells premium aromatherapy products to values-driven customers while forging a pathway to economic independence for survivors of human trafficking.  With a decade of experience as a teacher-scholar advocating for the eradication of human trafficking, Dr. Bouché realized through the voice of a survivor that what they need most is what is too often unavailable or denied dignified employment.  In 2018, she stepped into that gap and is now employing eight survivors of human trafficking in the U.S. and Delhi, India whose lives have been radically transformed by  Savhera.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I went to Columbia University and majored in History, got my Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Texas, and worked in the national security establishment in D.C., then received a Ph.D. in Political Science from The Ohio State University to become a professor political science.  My area of study is at the intersection of identity politics and public policy, and I have been teaching, studying, and advocating in the human trafficking space for over a decade. 

What inspired you to start your business?

In 2017, I was sitting on the floor of a medical clinic in the red light district of Delhi on a study abroad that I was leading on transnational human trafficking when a woman said, “You’re no different than those exploiting us for our bodies.  You’re just exploiting our stories.”  When I asked her what she needed, she said, “I need dignified employment to get out of this dirty business.”  I vowed on that day to help her find a job.  Six months later, with no prospects in sight, we decided to start Savhera. 

While most businesses start because of a market problem, Savhera started because of a social problem:  barriers to employment and economic independence for women forced into prostitution.

Where is your business based?

We are based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in Delhi, India. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

We incorporated Savhera as a Public Benefit Corporation in Texas and a private limited corporation in India.  Our first employees named the business Savhera, which means “new beginning” in Hindi because that’s what Savhera represents for them—a new beginning to live a dignified life.  We settled on our logo while simultaneously working out our business model and strategy.  We purchased the URL and put up a landing page within the first six months (without any products).  We commenced a crowdfunding campaign and a pre-seed F&F round to raise startup capital, and we started to post on our social channels to create a buzz all before we had any product to sell. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Thus far, the most effective way has been through the old-fashioned yet tried, true, and tested way—word of mouth! However, I will say that that is only sustainable to a certain point.  At some point, those connections are saturated and we needed to begin getting more creative about raising awareness. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them? 

So many challenges!  I’ll share just one: I waited with anticipation all day to see the very first shipment of essential oils arrive from India.  I opened the box and it was a complete catastrophe.  Bottles had been shattered in transit and labels were falling off bottles after having been contaminated with oils!  I felt utterly defeated and wanted to quit. 

The only thing in that moment that kept me going was that I was serving a larger purpose, so we had to figure out a path forward.  We pivoted our business model, and it was the best decision we could have made.  Stay nimble, stay flexible, stay humble when your ideas turn out to be disastrous! 

How do you stay focused? 

First, rosemary essential oil is amazing and helps my mental clarity and focus every day!  Other than that, we set forth our strategic plan annually, and break it into quarterly operational plans with monthly KPIs.  I have to start with the big picture—the entire map—in order to chart the best route to get there.  I also think that my academic training has helped me with this in that I am a deductive thinker, always starting big picture (strategic priorities), developing the hypotheses (strategic goals), setting forth the methodology (operational plan), and testing it all (KPIs).  

How do you differentiate your business from the competition? 

Savhera is vastly different from any other essential oil company on the market because we are the ONLY social impact brand.  There are other companies in addition to Savhera that sell premium organic essential oils that are 100% pure, therapeutic grade, and independently tested. However, there is NO other company that is transforming the lives of human trafficking survivors by providing them with sustainable, long-term, living-wage employment.  Our social impact is what sets us apart, and we invite values-driven customers to be part of this redemptive wellness journey with us because together, we can change the world!

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Thus far, the most effective marketing strategies have been partnering with like-minded brands for giveaways and shout-outs and attending trade shows and markets.  We have not had huge success with our digital marketing strategy yet.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Never, ever, ever give up.  You have to believe in yourself and your idea.  You will hear more "no's" than "yes's".  Not everyone is going to believe in your idea or think it will succeed, but don't let that stop you or get you down.  Stay positive!  

Support other women.  Our staff is 93% women and our Board of Directors is 80% women.  For far too long, men have dominated the board room, c-suite offices, and investments.  Women must support one another and raise each other up.  

Finally, always stay true to your values, always put people first, and always pay it forward.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why? 

My favorite apps: podcasts, book app, and news apps.  They are my still-productive windows to the outside world.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Business model canvas.  It helps you clarify your business on one page.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Oprah! She is brilliant, hard-working, confident, authentic, multi-talented, relatable, and no-nonsense.  Haters have been threatened by her for years and tried all the nasty tactics to take her down, and yet she keeps on rising. 

How do you balance work and life? 

It’s imperative to find time to do the things you enjoy with people you love or you’ll get resentful and burned out really quickly.  I try to have bounded work hours and make time for yoga, working out, reading, and spending time with my favorite people!

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Yoga, baths, getting lost in a good piece of fiction, or laughing with my favorite people really loudly!

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Big things ahead for Savhera, including some corporate partnerships that can’t yet be announced and the launch of a new product line!  

How can our readers connect with you?

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