Mitsi Sellers has fifteen years of experience working in the international relief and development sector. During that time, she’s seen the effects of poverty up close and personal. But she’s also seen the power of commerce to lift people and communities out of poverty.

That’s what led her to start Bézi (bay-zee), a skincare and grooming line that combines rare phytonutrients from Africa with business practices that ensure mutual benefit from harvester to customer. A member of The Department since the beginning, Mitsi wrote for our blog last year during a trip to Africa.

In this video, we chat with Mitsi about the story behind Bézi and how she found her niche.