Both co-founders have other occupations, but “having another creative outlet is worthwhile,” Ahmed said.
Achebe said she considers meeting people from all over the world the “most rewarding part.”
“I am just amazed at all the people we’ve met,” Achebe said. “These designers are so smart and savvy.”
When creating the website and deciding on the designs to promote, the women said that they aimed to pick items that they themselves would want to buy.
Since Osisi’s recent launch, Achebe and Ahmed said that it has been successful so far.
“The average time [people are] on the website is about eight minutes,” according to Google Analytics, Achebe said. After eight days, the website had over 6000 page views, which means about 800 people, she added.
“From all over, the people are checking it out,” Ahmed said.
A GOOD TEAM
Since their days as freshman roommates, Achebe and Ahmed have considered themselves best friends.
“I think that being good friends with someone translates to working well off one another and working off one’s strengths,” Ahmed said. “Even having worked together before—as president and vice president of HASA—how we worked together there translates to Osisi. We have a deep-set trust and a good base. It worked out.”
“You just know each other really, really well,” Achebe said. “We know what the other is good at.”
For example, Achebe said that Ahmed is very artistic, so she handles all the photographs and design for the site.
“Being friends with your business partners is really great,” Ahmed added. “Doing it together is better than doing it separately, and with small businesses, you definitely cannot do it alone.”
Both founders said their time at Harvard helped them create Osisi.
“Harvard has such a great collaborative environment, especially among the student groups,” Ahmed said. “Having been student leaders, we really learned how to connect to people in the Boston area and more.”
“Interacting with everyone who was there—dining hall conversations, late night chats—everyone just inspires you," Achebe said. "Everyone has all these big ideas and dreams."
—Staff writer Laya Anasu can be reached at layaanasu@college.harvard.edu.