In 2000, Eugenia Akuete returned to her native Ghana to care for her ailing mother. In the process of nursing her mother back to health, Eugenia rediscovered herself -- and shea butter, commonly referred to in Ghana as Women's Gold. Across Africa, women had been using shea for decades: during pregnancy to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, on their children to help alleviate rashes, and even as a cooking oil. As the secret spread across the Western World, shea provided yet another gift, helping women support themselves and their families financially, by harvesting shea nuts. After decades in the US and UK, Eugenia saw far too clearly how easily these hardworking women could be exploited. Eugenia decided to dedicate her life to propagating self-reliance by partnering with hundreds of cooperative members, offering them fair wages as well as training for both quality and personal finances/health. Over the years, Eugenia grew in prominence becoming an expert in the space advising governments and mentoring NGOs along the way, eventually becoming the President of the Global Shea Alliance, thereby practically defining what it means to produce high quality shea butter.