Turning Purpose into Enterprise

Shalom’s journey into entrepreneurship was sparked by a personal and deeply human challenge: her baby’s struggle with severe eczema. Though she knew the value of medicines, she wanted a natural solution grounded in sustainability, ethical sourcing, and health-first efficacy. Her search led to the creation of Naturally Tribal Skincare, a brand built around natural, traceable ingredients and values-driven impact.

The company later evolved into Naturally Tiwa Skincare, reflecting a deeper connection to heritage and community. To support this vision, Shalom remortgaged her home and established a manufacturing facility in Nigeria, building full traceability from ingredient source to finished product and creating employment opportunities for rural women. Choosing glass over plastic and ethical practices over convenience wasn’t the easiest route, it was the right one, reflecting her lifelong belief in purpose before profit.

Her international expertise was further demonstrated when she secured and led the launch of The Body Shop in Nigeria, bringing the globally recognised ethical beauty brand into West Africa and expanding its presence across the region.

Alongside her skincare brand, Shalom founded Emerging Market Quality Trials (EMQT), an organisation dedicated to increasing diversity in global clinical trials by connecting African patients with pharmaceutical research programmes. Across all her ventures, her approach has remained consistent: build businesses that create impact, operate with integrity, and grow sustainably.

Lessons from the Early Days

The early stages of entrepreneurship were not simple. Shalom speaks candidly about navigating complex decisions without a consolidated support network – from understanding how to structure her business, to interpreting tax and investment frameworks, to finding the right guidance at key crossroads. While accelerators and resources existed, they were fragmented. What she lacked was a trusted, holistic group of experienced professionals who could offer not only funding pathways but strategic insight, candid challenge, and reassurance when needed most.

Why The Investment Room

That gap is exactly what drew Shalom to The Investment Room. She believes that Milton Keynes and the surrounding MK postcode area is rich in ambition and opportunity, yet founders too often lack cohesive, experience-led support. For her, this initiative represents the “war room” she once wished she had – a diverse, connected collective of operators and mentors who can help entrepreneurs navigate every phase of growth with confidence.

Shalom’s philosophy is simple: business is about purpose, relationships, resilience, and people. Investment matters, but it is experience, integrity, and authentic support that sustain long-term success. Through The Investment Room, she hopes to ensure that founders in the region do not have to build alone – that they are backed not just with capital, but with insight, connection and care.