Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo

Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo is the founder of African Health Now, a nonprofit organization that has been gaining ground for providing healthcare resources to African immigrants. The organization focuses not only on diseases commonly associated in the media to the continent but also promotes awareness on other illnesses, including depression, breast cancer, and diabetes.

GGG: Are you living your dreams?

Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo: Yes and no. In real life, your dreams are never a full story. They’re more like snippets, and then you wake up, and try to put them together, and you’re like, “What did that mean?” So, in most ways, yes I am living my dreams but there are still other parts that I am working on.

GGG: Are your career goals in line with your personal goals?

NEA: My career goals and my personal goals are a lot like my “dreams” interchanging. Though I’m married, I can honestly say that was a personal goal, but it’s one that I’m extremely excited about.

GGG: Tell us about your company.

NEA: African Health Now is a small nonprofit organization that I started in 2006 in response to my father getting ill the prior year. AHN focuses on promoting health and healthcare resources to African immigrants. Our programs are based here in the U.S. and on the continent. Currently, we conduct a series of free health fairs that focus on non-communicable health issues that aren’t readily exposed or discussed when people think about Africans and health. Issues such as hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer, and depression. These are issues that Africans face as well. It’s not all about AIDS and malaria. Other things are plaguing Africans, and our job is to educate them on how they have the power to take control of their lives.

GGG: Has there been an event or person that has greatly influenced you to be the person you are today?

NEA: There have been many events and people that have influenced me. My parents are two of the most extremely giving people I know, and that has always played a huge role in my life.

GGG: How do you empower yourself? What keeps you motivated and staying on course to reach your goals?

NEA: Life is a motivator. Every day you wake up, God grants you a new chance to go at it again, so it would be disrespectful in a way if I didn’t keep trying.

GGG: Who or what keeps you grounded?

NEA: My husband is my biggest cheerleader, and he “checks” me when necessary. That’s important. He allows me to be myself and that can be very hard because I am a lot. I’m loud, brutally honest, insecure, confident, and all that can just be on a Tuesday. My friends also play a big role in keeping me grounded , as sometimes I can either get too down on myself or start feeling myself a little too much. I am happy that I have people around me that know me well enough that they can say, “Hey, check yourself.” And you know you can always count on your mother.

GGG: How do you embody guts, glamour, and grace?

NEA: I’m fearless and faithful to who I am as a person, and that takes a lot of guts in this world. My style icons are women like my mother, Diane Carroll, Mikki Taylor. Now these women exude glamour and grace, so if I grow up to be half the women they are now, then I’m doing good.

GGG: What are some key beauty or grooming tips you live by?

NEA: Hmm…I live by the perfect concealer and bronzer. NARS Love Joy and Mac Raisin and good, faithful Posner in Medium/Dark under the eyes. Pops your face and will do wonders, especially for dark or brown-skinned girls.

GGG: Who or what are your favorites?

NEA:

1. Animals: Pugs or dogs

2. Charities: African Health Now, Susan G. Komen

3. Cities: Accra, New York, London, Kingston, and Paris

4. Colors: Purple, yellow, and fuchsia

5. Designers: David Bromstead, DVF

6. Movies: Love Jones, Fried Green Tomatoes, Steel Magnolias

7. Seasons: Summer and spring

8. TV Shows: The Cosby Show, Law & Order, Good Eats

GGG: With your success, do you think money can buy you happiness?

NEA: Well, money definitely can’t buy you happiness, but it sure is nice to have it. But if you’re doing anything in life, just for the amount of money you can get out of it, then you definitely won’t feel fulfilled.

GGG: What advice can you give to other people on the rise?

NEA: Recently, a good friend of mine, Bevy Smith, said to me, if you do the work, the accolades will come.