Grace Yeboah Ofori + Her Products of Place

It’s past time we remixed the entrepreneur archetype. The tried-and-true definition of an emerging or aspiring business owner feels tired. The modern entrepreneur is a mover, shaker and doer who’s not content with simply breaking all the rules. Our 52 trailblazers featured in the October issue are rewriting the rules, tearing them up and doing it all over again. It’s creation at its purest, because the fruits of one’s hustle are not actualized overnight or by following one jet-lagged recipe. It’s no longer adequate to measure entrepreneurs by the brick-and-mortar spaces they manifest or the jobs they create. Those are all important elements but fall short of what it truly means to build something — often with blood, sweat and tears. Whether you’re revamping the vintage clothing industry, introducing a fresh dining concept, cultivating an advocacy-focused creative agency or advancing the cause of equality for the LGBTQ+ community, the only thing that matters is freedom — the freedom to march to the beat of your own badass drum. Read our full rundown of trailblazers here.

Grace Yeboah Ofori, founder of TrufacebyGrace, builds a bridge between entrepreneurship and preservation of cultural heritage with her exquisite jewelry and company. Taking inspiration from a wide array of African influences, Grace Yeboah Ofori understands the value of authenticity and excellence. Both stars and Hollywood have also taken notice of her incredible talent, with her pieces being worn by Janet Jackson, and featured in “Coming to America 2.”

Advice that keeps you hungry
You can do anything you want in life. No one can stop you, no one can distract you, no one can interrupt you — except you. Chase your dreams and never give up, because eventually something has to give. Don’t get discouraged when you have defeats. If you keep pushing, you will soon get pulled. So, don’t give up and always remember that success is a journey and not a destination. This quote sums up my mindset in life: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” – Goethe

What your day is incomplete without
Coffee.

Your power outfit remix
Your power outfit is derived from deep within yourself. It’s all about authenticity and personal expression. Embrace your different-ness and dress to impress yourself. Originality: That is the best advice for any outfit choice.

What every entrepreneur needs
Resilience. You learn from mistakes and losses and never give up, and one of the main strengths of being an entrepreneur is to never stop learning and pushing forward regardless of setbacks.

Early bird, night owl or in-between
Night owl.

Burning question for an iconic trailblazer
If I could ask an iconic entrepreneur one question, the entrepreneur would be Rihanna and the question would be, “What is your philosophy of what makes a successful business and communicating that vision to your marketing, PR and branding team?”

The current soundtrack to your life
“It Is What It Is” by Adekunle Gold.

@trufacebygrace + @trufacemakeup // trufacebygrace.com/pages/about-us