A Flawless Career Arc: Entrepreneur Goes From Fashion Model To Mining Magnate

“I opened my first company, Camara Diamond Gold trading network, in 2009. My second I started in 2012, Tigui Mining group which is a holding company. We also have advisory companies that link businesses in the U.S with businesses in Africa.”

She says she was lucky because she had a solid support network when she wanted to get her firm off the ground. Her real challenge was money. It was tough getting the requisite funds required to finance a mine.

“I started my business during  a period when the economy was shaky. The global Recession. People were a lot more skeptical about putting money into businesses. As for the banks most of them just looked the other way. In the end we had to use our own money.”

It paid off. Today her business is expanding.  She’s currently in negotiation to acquire more mining permits in Ivory Coast. In addition to the licenses in Guinea. But it’s tough to overemphasize the effect of Ebola on the emerging market.

Consider this, according to the World Bank, unless the epidemic is quickly contained The outbreak of Ebola could cost the West African economy $32.6bn by the end of 2015.

“For now everything is on standby until the situation clears. Its impacting our trade a great deal because the zone where the first outbreak hit is the area where I have my activities. It’s been rough. We are actually near the the zone where the villagers killed about eight or nine people because they didn’t want the government or anyone coming there, because of suspicions they were there to infect them.

She also tells us Ivory Coast temporarily closed its borders to Liberia and other hard hit countries.

“For the last couple months the government has closed up all the borders, no planes coming in and out from the affected countries and all the land borders are also closed. It was a bit of a relief when two weeks ago the government said they will begin to open borders. Especially the airlines which can start flying into and out of the affected countries. These include Nigeria, Guinea and Sierra Leone. If that is the case that will be really good.”

As a dual citizen of the world, Camara considers herself African American. And she believes its time for Entrepreneurs of color to seriously consider doing business in Africa.

“We share a continent. This is our home. They just need to take the initiative and be courageous.”

She believes Real Estate, the Mining sector, Agriculture and Energy are the most promising markets for those who wish to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit.

“These are the most lucrative fields and the governments are always willing to work with the right kinds of investors – especially the ones bringing in technology or simple know-how.