What happens when three friends sitting on a coffee shop bench during a pandemic decide to reimagine what a coffee brand can be?

On this episode of the Visionary Life Podcast, Kelsey sits down with Sandrine Somé, Co-Founder of Nile Coffee, a black-owned coffee company that’s reshaping the industry by infusing every aspect of their brand with art and culture into everything they do!

Sandrine’s entrepreneurial spark didn’t ignite in a boardroom or brainstorm session. It happened way off the grid visiting her family in Burkina Faso, completely cut off from WIFI. What could have been an entrepreneur’s nightmare became her creative breakthrough. 

The idea for Nile Coffee was born on a bench outside SAm James Coffee in Toronto, where Sandrina and her friends spent countless hours talking about life, work and their dreams. They recognized the gap in the coffee space and an opportunity to build something that spoke directly to their creative community.

Rather than sell coffee as fuel for the 9-to-5 grind they positioned it as inspiration for 5-9 passion projects. In a market where nearly everyone’s coffee tastes good, they decided to stand out through culture, community and meaningful connection. 

Some of Nile’s biggest wins came not through big marketing budgets, but through authentic collaboration. This is your powerful reminder that success in business isn’t just about reach, it’s about resonance.

TIMESTAMPS

[03:21] Why traditional structures feel suffocating and how to carve out new ways to work and live!

[09:45] How Sandrine’s early entrepreneurial sparks and how design + cafe culture helped her imagine new kinds of gathering spaces.

[19:06] How her creative deepened when she gave herself full permission to rest and go inward

[34:14] How you should be building a business that serves the future version of you, not just the present moment.

[44:10] Rebuilding health, creativity, and work life from the ground up.

[51:25] What a ‘creative commune’ could look like

TO CONNECT WITH SANDRINE:

• Sandrine’Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santreezy/ 
• Nile’s Coffee instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nilecoffeeclub/ 
• Estralar: https://www.instagram.com/estrelarsound/ 

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