Growing up on a council estate in North West London in a single-parent household, Ayesha Ibrahim saw her mum work incredibly hard as a cleaner while placing a strong emphasis on education. Ayesha went on to become the first person in her family to graduate from university before building a successful career in sales and marketing.
After becoming a mother, balancing family life with inflexible working hours became increasingly difficult. Entrepreneurship gave Ayesha the opportunity to build something of her own and create a different path.
Honey Corn grew from several parts of Ayesha’s life. As a child, she made lotions and remedies using natural ingredients and recipes passed down by her mum. Years later, after developing post-partum eczema, she returned to experimenting with natural ingredients.
Before Honey Corn, Ayesha also founded an agribusiness in Sierra Leone, producing cashew apple juice and creating around 300 jobs. The business ultimately failed due to production and logistical challenges. Although it was a difficult experience, Ayesha used what she had learned about farming, sustainability and entrepreneurship to start again — and Honey Corn was born.
Since starting by selling at Portobello Market, Ayesha has grown Honey Corn into a recognised founder-led brand, showcasing the business within major organisations and internationally. She is particularly proud of seeing the brand move beyond what once seemed possible for a small business.
Behind those achievements, however, Ayesha describes an “iceberg” of failures, financial pressures, sacrifices and moments of self-doubt. Access to investment has been one of her biggest challenges, forcing her to become resourceful and find new ways to compete with much larger brands.
Mentorship has also shaped her journey. Early mentor Albert Tucker, a founding figure in the Fairtrade movement, helped reinforce her belief that commercial success and social impact can work together. Her mum’s work ethic and the natural remedies she shared with Ayesha have also remained central to Honey Corn’s story.
For Ayesha, F100 has come at an important stage in Honey Corn’s growth, providing funding, community, expertise and visibility as she looks towards the next phase of the business.
Her advice to her younger self is simple: “Don’t quit.”
She believes that the journey will rarely be linear and that what initially feels like a failure can sometimes become the beginning of something new.
