S03 #157 How a South African surgeon disrupted the beauty industry | Dr Ashley Naidoo
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Lessons for your entrepreneurial journey.
What happens when a specialist surgeon can’t find a product that helps his patients’ scars heal better, and nothing on the market works for his own eczema and acne?
In this Built Not Born episode, Dr Ashley Naidoo shares how he went from operating theatre to founder of Biome Renew, using African microbiome science, AI skin analysis, and patient data to create world-class, affordable cosmeceuticals for South Africans.
He and host Carmen Murray unpack the real work behind turning a personal problem into a scalable product: protecting your IP, pricing for a price-sensitive market, navigating Clicks’ supplier development journey, learning “foreign” skills like finance and marketing, avoiding burnout, and knowing when to say no to the wrong deal.
If you own a business, or are planning to start one, this conversation gives you practical advice and important lessons to think of, to build success for yourself, and also how to define what success looks like.
About Conscious LeadHERS:
Conscious LeadHERS is a transformative movement empowering Women in Leadership to reach their full potential, from the boardroom to the living room. We’re here to inspire, educate, and uplift women, encouraging them to lead with audacity from the inside out.
Through our engaging show, masterclasses, workshops, retreats, networking events, and immersive experiences, we help women unlock their potential in business, leadership, conscious living, and spirituality. Join us to embark on a journey of growth, purpose, and authentic leadership.
What happens when a specialist surgeon can’t find a product that helps his patients’ scars heal better, and nothing on the market works for his own eczema and acne?
In this Built Not Born episode, Dr Ashley Naidoo shares how he went from operating theatre to founder of Biome Renew, using African microbiome science, AI skin analysis, and patient data to create world-class, affordable cosmeceuticals for South Africans.
He and host Carmen Murray unpack the real work behind turning a personal problem into a scalable product: protecting your IP, pricing for a price-sensitive market, navigating Clicks’ supplier development journey, learning “foreign” skills like finance and marketing, avoiding burnout, and knowing when to say no to the wrong deal.
If you own a business, or are planning to start one, this conversation gives you practical advice and important lessons to think of, to build success for yourself, and also how to define what success looks like.
About Conscious LeadHERS:
Conscious LeadHERS is a transformative movement empowering Women in Leadership to reach their full potential, from the boardroom to the living room. We’re here to inspire, educate, and uplift women, encouraging them to lead with audacity from the inside out.
Through our engaging show, masterclasses, workshops, retreats, networking events, and immersive experiences, we help women unlock their potential in business, leadership, conscious living, and spirituality. Join us to embark on a journey of growth, purpose, and authentic leadership.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:29 The importance of microbiomes
- 03:18 The entrepreneurial journey and success
- 06:35 The problem-solving journey
- 11:26 Building products in Africa
- 14:11 Business lessons and financial challenges
- 15:59 Marketing insights and team building
- 18:17 Defining moments and scaling challenges
- 23:11 Time management and avoiding burnout
- 24:38 Scaling the business
- 29:23 Product development with Clicks
- 32:10 The future of medical research in Africa
