Meet Eldonna Fernandez | Founder, Baskets and Beads Kenya

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

Hi Eldonna, what principle do you value most?
Integrity First, service before self, excellence in all you do are the Air Force Core values that I followed the 23 years in I served in the military. I still live by those core values today. Keeping those as my foundation along with my faith helps keep me on track to do the right thing, even when no one else is looking. Striving for excellence doesn’t always mean it will turn out excellent but keeping the bar high ensures if you shoot for the moon and miss you will at least land among the stars. Also making sure to do an after action review of tasks you accomplish is a foundational principle. Looking at what worked, what didn’t work and what can be improved for next time is another thing I learned in the military. It keeps me focused on constant improvement.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Before COVID I was speaking and training professionally and working with the artisans in Kenya to market their hand crafted products creating micro enterprises and teaching leadership and business skills to women in poverty in Kenya. COVID tanked my speaking business as there were no more in person events. I had to take a corporate job to sustain myself and Baskets and Beads. COVID also caused most of my wholesale customers to go out of business and sales plummeted. I had to pull out of 2 of the 3 retail spaces I was renting as I was unable to make rent. It’s been slow to build back up and we are working on ways to get the word out about our mission, create popular products and attract more customers both wholesale and retail.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Prior to moving to OC I lived in Redondo Beach for 10 years. Many of my favorite spots in LA are in the South Bay

First place would be Fair Trade Long Beach Retail Collective. I have a space in the store and its a must see for Fair Trade shopping. Named the Best of Long Beach for 2022 and finalist in the LA Times Best of the Southland. After we would go to El Burrito who was voted the best tacos in the Best of Long Beach 2022 and Eco Coffee House.
We would visit the Rivera Village in Redondo Beach, Sailing in Marina Del Rey, Santa monica Pier, USS Iowa , Downtown LA Garment District, and South Coast Botanical Garden. Griffith Observatory and Pasadena.

Favorite Dining Spots
Good Stuff Hermosa Beach
Gaby’s Mediterranean Venice Blvd and Motor
Miceli’s Hollywood
THe Stinking Rose
Poulet Du Jour Hermosa Beach
Downtown LA Hot Dog Stands
Urth Caffe Pasadena Location

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I could not do what I do without the teamwork of our Director Leila in Kenya. She coordinates everything with the ladies who make the products. She also coordinates the care and support of 11 kids that our non profit helps fund their school fees and other support. Without her Baskets and Beads Kenya would not exisit.

Website: https://basketsandbeadskenya.com

Instagram: instagram.com/basketsandbeadskenya

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eldonna/

Twitter: @EldonnaF

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/basketsandbeadskenya

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtAITIvg0hPC-VIE9x1eewg

Image Credits
All but the one of me and my pup are credited to photographer https://www.instagram.com/dennisekeyombe/