Judyana

Judyana, 28, moved to Australia from Ecuador with more than just a suitcase, she carried with her the knowledge and strength of generations of Indigenous women. “My mother and grandmother always taught me to trust plants first,” she says. “If I had a sore tummy, they’d make me a natural remedy instead of giving me medicine.”

That deep connection to nature only grew stronger once she arrived in Australia. Living independently and having to look after herself in a new country pushed her to be more intentional about how she cared for herself. “I started to see not just what I consumed, but how I consumed it,” she explains. “It’s not just what you eat, but what you put on your skin, what you read, watch, and listen to.”

With a deep passion for plants and a strong commitment to minimising waste, studying sustainability in Australia was a natural choice for her. Combine that with her passion for plants, and her business idea began to bloom. Nothing goes to waste in her world, for instance, if an avocado goes off, she’ll use the pit for her plants and the inside for homemade skincare.

It all started when her hair changed texture after the move. “I wanted to bring back the colour and strength naturally,” she says. Using chamomile, aloe vera, and water, she made her first homemade shampoo. It worked. Her friends noticed her hair’s transformation and asked to try it. Soon, they were buying her homemade hair oil, shampoo, and deodorant.

Even her sister, who once swore by store-bought products made the switch after seeing results. She was the one who encouraged Judyana to turn her passion into a business.

That’s when SisterWorks entered the picture. “I was so lost before. I had the ideas, but didn’t know how to bring them together,” Judyana shares. “SisterWorks helped me fill in the blanks on how to do more market research, manage finances, and access the right resources.”

Now, she’s testing her formulas in collaboration with three labs and has officially registered her business. Once her products are approved and certified, she’s ready to launch with SisterWorks beside her every step of the way.

“To me, graduating from the Small Business Program means everything,” she says. “It’s like planting a seed. I have the idea …the soil and SisterWorks gave me the first drops of water.”

Judyana’s advice to future Sisters? “Believe in yourself. If your heart wants something, it’s possible. With SisterWorks, you don’t walk alone. There’s a community here ready to support your dreams and boost your confidence.”