Making Room At The Table

On this episode of Industry Night, I’m back at the serious art-flecked Jackie in the Navy Yard. And, I am sitting down with two dynamic women who are making waves in the hospitality and food space — Nina Oduro and Ehime Eigbe. Nina Oduro is the co-founder of Dine Diaspora and Black Women in Food, organizations dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the voices of Black women in the food industry. Through curated experiences, storytelling, and community-building, Nina has been instrumental in connecting culinary talent with opportunities for growth and recognition. Ehime Eigbe is the founder and CEO of Sweetkiwi, a health-conscious frozen yogurt brand that combines rich flavors with clean ingredients. Born in Nigeria and inspired by her own health journey, Ehime created Sweetkiwi to provide better-for-you desserts that are as delicious as they are nourishing. Both Nina and Ehime are passionate entrepreneurs whose work is redefining the intersection of food, culture, and community. Today, we’ll dive into their journeys, the impact of their work, and how they continue to elevate the food and hospitality industry. Once again I’ve got the Anacostia River on one side of me and Nationals Stadium on the other —Dmitri Chekaldin is my generous host and you may remember, Jackie has a new chef — none other than Chef Domenico Cornacchia and later in the show, I will be back in the kitchen with him — I see something delicious in my future. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:43 - Dine Diaspora: Connecting Through African Cuisine 05:20 - "Empowering Black Women in Food" 08:40 - Inclusive Community Empowerment Journey 10:40 - Nutrition and Hydration Focus 15:38 - From Catering to Pop-Ups 18:47 - Shared Funding Struggles and Support 20:11 - Navigating Business Through Male Gaze 23:16 - Innovative Growth Without Compromise 28:32 - Pepsi-Sponsored Pitch & Networking Event 31:29 - "Mutual Allyship in Action" 34:28 - "Chef Dominica's Culinary Journey" 36:24 - Globally Influenced Culinary Creations 40:24 - Follow & Connect with NYC Cinellis 41:08 - Outro Key Takeaways: Culinary Connections Overcoming Barriers Black Women In Food: Celebrating and Elevating Empowerment Through Dine Diaspora Ehime Eigbe's Sweet Success Journey Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges Building an Inclusive Ecosystem Wellness and Innovation as Pillars Breaking Bread, Building Bridges Quotes: "Creating a community is about fostering connections and uplifting each other."- Nycci Nellis "Inclusivity drives us to uplift our community and create paths for everyone to thrive."- Nina Oduro "Without funding, I’ve innovated and overcome challenges, building something unforgettable."- Ehime Eigbe Nina Oduro https://www.instagram.com/blackwomeninfood/ https://www.instagram.com/ninaoduro/ Ehime Eigbe https://www.instagram.com/theehime/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/sweetkiwiusa/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/theehime/ Featuring Nycci Nellis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyccinellis/ Website: https://www.thelistareyouonit.com/ Produced by Heartcast Media http://www.heartcastmedia.com