Meet Fatmata Cole | Artist & Entrepeneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fatmata Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fatmata, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am originally from Harlem New York and my parents are from Sierra Leone, West Africa. My parents came to America in the 1970’s and struggled to make it in this country. They had to learn the American living the hard way including getting paid less than others because they were foreigners. I learned hard work and determination from their struggles just trying to make it in America. With anything that I do I put my mind to it even if I get discouraged from time to time. I was taught to never give up especially if it is my dream goal. Being a first-generation woman can be tough, but it is definitely worth it. It makes me want to work hard to obtain any goals that I set my mind to and to also make my parents proud.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional career is working in healthcare and is completely different from the business that I created. Getting to where I am professionally was definitely a struggle including being involved in a terrible car accident that has left me with chronic back pain every day. From my up bringing I could never give up so no matter how long it took to get my degrees in the healthcare field and evolve, I did that. What I learned along the way is that nothing that you want is going to come easy. What determines if you will get to that goal is your determination to finish what you started. You may have some downfalls and it can be quite a few downfalls, but you have to pick yourself back up. Having that support also does help you because sometimes you cannot just do it by yourself. Having that motivation from someone else takes you a long way. My brand is to show my creative side and also my culture. I started making waist beads first which is a part of the West African culture to now creating different resin works from coasters to keychains to black greek accessories. It wasn’t easy to start this brand but it is worth it to be able to express my creative side.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course, we would have to go to an amusement park because those are always a great time. I would either have us go to Six Flags, Disneyland or Universal Studios. If we wanted to go out to a party, I’m sure that 88tx11mile would have some event going on and would be a great time. We would also find a nice brunch spot to go to in LA and have some mimosas and chill with good vibes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The people that I would like to shoutout for helping in my success are my parents especially my mother. She’s has always been my number one support system in anything that I do. Even if at some point I am not believing in myself she is always there to encourage me to keep going because she knows I can do it.

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