In a world where equality and justice continue to be at the forefront of the news, and as Black History Month comes to a close, Humber Polytechnic alumni Takiyah Wedderburn, shares her insights on thriving as a Black entrepreneur in todayʼs business landscape and the importance of paying it forward as an industry sponsor for the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology at Humber Polytechnic.
Takiyah is the founder of NKM Dolls, a company born from the Natural Kids Movement (NKM). NKM Dolls set off with a mission to foster cultural identity and self-love for Black and racialized children by combining play with learning, offering a unique blend of companionship and educational tools for different cultures.
When speaking about the importance of why she created NKM Dolls, Takiyah highlights she wanted to address the inequalities that exist within society. She says: “NKM Dolls was inspired by my work with the Natural Kids Movement, a non-profit organization I founded in 2015 to address systemic inequities in Ontarioʼs child welfare system. While providing culturally relevant resources, I noticed a critical need for representation in toys and products for Black and racialized children, especially those in foster care. NKM Dolls emerged as an extension of this mission, aiming to promote cultural identity, self-love, and empowerment through realistic dolls with Afro/curly textured hair and authentic cultural representations.”
Education played a big part in Takiyahʼs vision and success, and she shares how the polytechnic has enabled her to develop her skills and become a successful entrepreneur: “Humber provided me with the foundational skills and knowledge to help me learn the skills I will need to launch and sustain my many business ventures such as Natural Kids Movement and NKM Dolls. At Humber, I gained valuable skills in business research, marketing, operations management and community outreach, all of which have been instrumental in my entrepreneurial journey. The practical, hands-on learning approach helped me develop the confidence to lead a mission-driven organization like Natural Kids Movement and an extension of my non-profit with NKM Dolls.”
While Humber provided Takiyah with the crucial skills that helped her succeed as a business owner, entrepreneurship also comes with its challenges, such as setbacks and failure. Takiyah emphasizes that aspiring entrepreneurs can reduce their risk of failure by staying focused on a clear mission and remaining committed to it. She says: “Start with a mission that’s deeply meaningful to you and your community. Representation and authenticity matter—create something that fills a gap or addresses an underserved need. Build a network of mentors and like-minded individuals who share your vision, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Most importantly, stay resilient and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.”
Takiyah is also a capstone sponsor for the Information & Communications Technology programs in the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology at Humber Polytechnic. These culminating projects allow students to apply learning outcomes from each course and showcase the skills they've acquired throughout their program while applying real-world solutions to real-world problems. Capstone projects often involve an industry or community partner, which enables students to network and demonstrate their career readiness directly with individuals in their sector.
She says her mentor told her about the opportunity and encouraged her to apply to be a sponsor as she “was looking for an opportunity to work with ITS students looking to gain industry experience.” She is working with a team of students to develop and launch an official website and e-commerce platform for NKM Dolls.
When Takiyah reflects on her career journey, the most important lesson she has learned is staying true to herself: “The most important lesson I’ve learned is the power of purpose-driven work. Staying true to your mission and values not only attracts the right people to support you but also keeps you motivated through the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Representation and quality are non-negotiable in building trust with your audience.”
As Black History Month comes to a close, shedding light on Black entrepreneurs who are making a difference is so important, and Takiyah is the epitome of creating solutions to problems whilst being innovative, creative and true to themselves and their community.
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