A Letter from the Founder: On Growth, Questions, and Finding Clarity

Hi Orijin fam,

Three months ago, I thought I knew exactly what Orijin needed to succeed. Clear goals, perfect execution, unwavering confidence. Sometimes the most important growth happens when you realize you don't have all the answers and that's exactly where the real work begins.

The Unexpected Journey

When we announced our acceptance into the W.E. Build accelerator program earlier this summer, I felt this rush of validation. Someone believed in what we were building. But stepping into that space in Tulsa, surrounded by women building incredible companies while I was secretly questioning everything about my own abilities, reminded me of something crucial: external wins don't automatically create internal confidence.

Tulsa surprised me in every way. I expected cowboy hats and country music. Instead, I found a city rebuilding itself with intention, honoring its complex history while creating space for new stories. Walking through downtown, learning about the legacy of Black Wall Street, being part of a community that genuinely invests in underrepresented founders…it all reminded me that the most meaningful growth happens in unexpected places.

What Questioning Everything Actually Taught Me

Here's what I learned while working through my own self-doubt: questioning everything isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s exactly what Orijin needs to evolve from a good idea into something sustainable and meaningful.

Those moments of uncertainty forced me to get clear about why we exist. Not just to make beautiful products (though we do that), but to create something that genuinely serves people who've felt overlooked by the beauty industry. To honor heritage while building for the future. To prove that questioning your path doesn't mean you're lost, sometimes it means you're finally ready to find your way.

This program is teaching us about building with intention. Every formulation decision, every partnership consideration, every step forward comes from a deeper understanding of what we're actually trying to accomplish.

The Work: What We've Been Building

This period of reflection has informed (and in some ways, confirmed) everything we've launched. Our new Jasmine collection represents skincare that doesn't ask you to choose between gentle and beautiful, between effective and meaningful. The Jasmine Milk Cleanser, Essence, and Nectar are handcrafted for sensitive souls who want their daily routine to feel like a moment of peace.

Most importantly, we're building from a place of clarity about our purpose. Not just to grow for growth's sake, but to create something that genuinely serves our community while honoring the heritage that makes Orijin possible.

Moving Forward Together

Building a business means building yourself simultaneously. This season of questioning taught me that confidence isn't about having all the answers, it's about being honest about the questions and doing the work anyway.

Thank you for being part of this journey, for supporting not just our products but our growth as founders and as people. The best businesses are built by communities that believe in the vision even when the founders are still figuring it out.

Your support means everything as we continue building something meaningful together.

Ti bo (kisses),
Kora