Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariam Ba.
Hi Mariam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Bâdi Naturals in 2017 in my mother’s kitchen. I always took an interest in holistic health but I became super conscious of the food I was consuming after going through personal health scares. I wanted to take it up a notch and also focus on what I was putting on my body. After doing a lot of research and playing with some ingredients, I decided to give jars of butter to my family and friends. My dad is a nurse, and one day, I asked him to take a few jars to his hospital, and that’s REALLY where it started. As time went on, a few jars turned into boxes because his colleagues loved my product and saw the benefit of using Bâdi Butter. A lot of my customers would give my butter to their friends and families and tell me that it helped with things like psoriasis and eczema. I always laugh when people ask me how I got the name Bâdi because it’s just a combination of my last name, “Bâ” and the word “body” My best friend jokingly threw that name out because it sounded good but years later, I learned that the term, Badi (in Arabic) denotes the idea of originality and creation.
While starting Bâdi, I studied Health Science for undergrad and decided to pursue a Master’s in Social Work because I wanted to work in the mental health field. Bridging my love for holistic health and my culture, my brand, Bâdi Naturals is a true embodiment of my passions and what I stand for.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not a smooth road at all… I got laid off in January, and that took a toll on my livelihood and confidence. Some barriers that I’m constantly facing are consistency and believing in myself. I say my story is forever unfolding because I’ve had so many pauses while trying to meet my goals, and I’m sure there will be more. I’d also add that the need for “instant gratification” hindered me. I had to change the way I view success. Now, I feel like success is getting up every day and working towards my goals regardless of the outcome or milestone I “think” should be obtained.
The interesting thing, though, is that even with the challenges and obstacles I face, I feel like there is always something more meaningful on the other side. My health issues prompted me to take my health more seriously, and getting laid off forced me to leave a position I was unhappy in onto something more fulfilling–these are wins to me! My faith, my spirituality allows me to view these things through a different lens. Ultimately, I experience the most growth and purpose through some of these hardships. I know deep down that I’ll only be unsuccessful is if I’m not putting any action behind my ideas.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the founder of Bâdi Naturals, a wellness brand that carries natural skin and self-care products. During the day, I’m a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Health Consultant. I meet with clients for individual/group sessions, and I consult with hospitals to improve their workflows. What am I known for? I’m known for making cool sh*t… can I say that? I’m most proud of my education and working as a therapist. It has its challenges, but seeing people improve their lives and become a healthier version of themselves is really rewarding to me! I don’t want to compare myself to others because I don’t know their story, but what makes me unique is my love for my culture and community. In both my personal and professional life, my goal is to uplift Black people. I want to create more safe spaces for people who look like me and be a part of the change that’s shifting how mental health care is valued. It’s also another reason why I’m so motivated to continue with Bâdi Naturals. Initially, I just wanted to make butters and soaps, but I see it going much further.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Podcasts–I love Honest Tea Talk: a group of Muslim women addressing real, raw life topics
Books–Love by Toni Morrison, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
My Auntie Jude & Uncle Cleve Overton (may he Rest in Peace) are Mixed Media Artists. They’ve always inspired me…still do.
Underrated resource-my family and friends for sure. They hold me accountable and always challenge me to be better and go get what I want.
Contact Info:
- Website: badinaturals.com
- Instagram: @badinaturals and my personal: @mariamxba
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/bamariam
