I never imagined that my path would lead me from the world of pharmacy to becoming a champion for Ethiopia’s honey sector. Born and raised in Addis Ababa until the age of 15, I earned my Pharmacy degree in 2002 from Butler University in Indiana, USA, and spent over a decade practicing as a pharmacist before returning to Ethiopia with my family in 2011.

My father, a visionary farmer and the son of a farmer, instilled in me the values of hard work, dedication, and the importance of education from a young age. My mother, on the other hand, nurtured my appreciation for diverse cultures, backgrounds, and the strength of community. Their influence shaped my approach to both life and business.

When I moved back to Ethiopia, it was at my father’s encouragement to join the family business, which distributes agricultural technologies and promotes conservation agriculture. Meanwhile, my husband’s work took him across rural Ethiopia, where he collected honey, coffee, oats, and regional artifacts. Before I knew it, I had amassed an incredible collection of honey varieties from all over the country. That was the moment I truly understood Ethiopia’s abundance of natural resources and rich beekeeping traditions. In early 2016, I founded Lal – The Honey Company to share this incredible wealth with the world.

Through my journey, I’ve had the privilege of meeting beekeepers from all corners of Ethiopia, each with their own traditions, knowledge, and honey varieties. I’ve learned about their methods, the cultural significance of honey, and the medicinal properties of certain varieties. With my background in pharmacy, I’m now exploring how specific Ethiopian honeys can be marketed for their medicinal benefits, bridging science with centuries-old indigenous knowledge.

My mission with Lal is clear—to bring the unique and diverse varieties of Ethiopian honey to the world while honoring the beekeepers and traditions behind them. I am committed to sharing Ethiopia’s centuries-old beekeeping heritage, celebrating the largest bee colony in Africa, and telling our collective honey story—one variety, one community at a time.