LIBERTY ROAD with Nada Jones

Brittany Merrill Underwood is the Founder and CEO of Akola Project, a non-profit jewelry brand that empowers marginalized women through training and employment in Dallas, Texas, and Uganda.

A 2006 trip to Uganda and a meeting with a woman named Sarah, a woman who cared for the stray kids, changed Brittany’s life forever. Seeing first hand that the creation of employment opportunities would, in turn, transform the lives of women, their children, and their communities prompted Brittany to launch Akola Project.

In this episode, Brittany shares how she pivoted Akola Project from building an orphanage to employing women to make jewelry and earn a steady income. She details Akola’s deep dive into the entire production process, ensuring each step from sourcing materials to distribution yields a positive impact.

In addition to her work in Uganda, Brittany expanded Akola’s social impact to include opportunities to marginalized women in Dallas. This growth had lead to the expansion of their collection to include an exclusive line at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide.

10+ years in, Brittany is now growing a family alongside her non-profit. She shares how she juggles these roles by embracing her unique gifts and build a team around her weaknesses.
Brittany offers practical advice to anyone interested in running a non-profit, and helpful tips on how to raise funds without compromising the mission.

Please follow Brittany at @akolajewelry on Instagram and @akolaproject on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out Akola’s jewelry at www.akolaproject.org.

Don't forget to follow us at @libertyforher on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please let us know your thoughts about this episode by using the hashtag #libertysessions and please rate and review us—it helps to know if this podcast is inspiring and equipping you to launch and grow your ventures.

Show Notes

Brittany Merrill Underwood is the Founder and CEO of Akola Project, a non-profit jewelry brand that empowers marginalized women through training and employment in Dallas, Texas, and Uganda.

A 2006 trip to Uganda and a meeting with a woman named Sarah, a woman who cared for the stray kids, changed Brittany’s life forever.  Seeing first hand that the creation of employment opportunities would, in turn, transform the lives of women, their children, and their communities prompted Brittany to launch Akola Project.

In this episode, Brittany shares how she pivoted Akola Project from building an orphanage to employing women to make jewelry and earn a steady income. She details Akola’s deep dive into the entire production process, ensuring each step from sourcing materials to distribution yields a positive impact.

In addition to her work in Uganda, Brittany expanded Akola’s social impact to include opportunities to marginalized women in Dallas. This growth had lead to the expansion of their collection to include an exclusive line at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide. 

10+ years in, Brittany is now growing a family alongside her non-profit. She shares how she juggles these roles by embracing her unique gifts and build a team around her weaknesses. Brittany offers practical advice to anyone interested in running a non-profit, and helpful tips on how to raise funds without compromising the mission.

Please follow Brittany at @akolajewelry on Instagram and @akolaproject on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out Akola’s jewelry at www.akolaproject.org.

Don't forget to follow us at @libertyforher on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please let us know your thoughts about this episode by using the hashtag #libertysessions and please rate and review us—it helps to know if this podcast is inspiring and equipping you to launch and grow your ventures.

What is LIBERTY ROAD with Nada Jones ?

Pursuing your future doesn’t end at 40, in fact, it may mark the beginning of knowing who you are, what you’re capable of and what you really want. But knowing what’s next and how to get there can be a challenge—especially when old narratives play on repeat. I’ve come to believe that the best way to understand your possibilities is in hearing from others—what they have done and how they have done it.

LIBERTY ROAD is here to share stories so that you can consider your possibilities, pursue your purpose and move into your future with intention.