GTCO Fashion Weekend: How Top American CEO Turned Hair Styling Experience into Business Opportunity
American businesswoman and President and Chief Executive Officer of Uncle Funky’s Daughter, Renee Morris, has shared the story of how a personal hair-styling experience inspired her transition from corporate consulting into entrepreneurship and the eventual acquisition of the natural haircare brand.
Morris, who leads the brand known for celebrating curls and textured hair, narrated her entrepreneurial journey during the first masterclass on Sunday, the second day of the just-concluded GTCO Fashion Weekend in Oniru, Lagos.
She disclosed that the idea of acquiring Uncle Funky’s Daughter came to her during one of her visits to the brand’s store to have her hair styled.
According to her, the experience sparked an interest in owning the business, prompting her to approach its founder and explore the possibility of acquiring it.
Although the founder was going through a difficult period at the time, discussions eventually led to the acquisition, after which she spent time learning from him and understanding the business.
Morris explained that her decision to venture into entrepreneurship followed a period of personal reflection, despite having enjoyed a successful corporate career.
“I was displeased with my career, which was great. I wanted something else. At that point, I had to do a lot of self-reflection about what I wanted to do at some point in my life. I considered the options of starting a business, joining another company or buying a company. Eventually, I bought a company and grew it,” she said.
With previous professional experience at A.T. Kearney, Coca-Cola and GE Capital, Morris brings considerable corporate business expertise to her role as an entrepreneur, combining strategic thinking with a passion for building purpose-driven brands.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Dillard University and an MBA from the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.
Speaking at the masterclass, which she said was her first visit to Lagos, Morris observed that entrepreneurs across different markets and business sizes often encountered similar challenges.
“I realised that large, multi-million-dollar brands I assisted during my consulting career, as well as entrepreneurs everywhere, have similar problems. They want to understand how to retain good employees, drive profitable growth and maximise daily resources. These are issues we deal with daily as entrepreneurs,” she said.
Reflecting on the factors that helped transform Uncle Funky’s Daughter, she identified the company’s entry into the national retail market as a major turning point.
“One key thing that changed the game was launching into a national retailer, which gave us credibility. It was the biggest decision that changed the trajectory of the business,” she said.
She also recalled repositioning the company’s identity by changing its original logo to appeal to a broader range of consumers rather than being perceived as a brand exclusively for Black women.
Morris said the company subsequently invested in educating its consumers and communicating its identity through storytelling, particularly on social media.
“We educated our consumers and made them understand us well through storytelling on social media. We walked customers through our story,” she said.
She attributed the company’s progress to clearly defined organisational values, noting that these principles continued to guide its decisions and business direction.
Morris, who is married and has four children, including a set of twins, encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to remain attentive to business opportunities, trust their instincts and be willing to take calculated risks.
