SHE MEANS BUSINESS| The accidental herbalist: Harriet Ng'ok's move from top finance job to herbal remedy business

Having worked at powerhouse institutions such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, her trajectory appeared firmly set in finance—until a personal health struggle forced her to rethink everything she knew about wellness.

Harriet’s battle with endometriosis marked a turning point. After years of pain and countless medical interventions, she began searching for alternative treatments.

That search led her to the world of herbal medicine—an industry she had never imagined herself stepping into.

What started as a personal quest unexpectedly opened the door to a new calling. Harriet discovered relief and healing through plant-based solutions.

That experience compelled her to study further, ultimately becoming a certified herbalist. In time, what began as informal sharing of remedies with friends and family grew into Harriet's Botanicals, a wellness brand rooted in indigenous knowledge and natural healing.

Harriet takes particular pride in naming her products using indigenous languages—an intentional move to preserve local heritage, honour the origins of the remedies she works with, and reconnect people with the wisdom of their ancestors.

She says entrepreneurship has brought her a profound sense of freedom: the freedom to create, to experiment, and to solve real problems for real people without the constraints of corporate structures.

But her journey has not been smooth. Working within a largely guarded industry has meant confronting resistance—and, at times, outright bullying—from individuals who believe wellness must be shaped strictly through conventional medical frameworks.

Harriet’s growing success challenged those long-standing power structures.

This week on She Means Business, she shares more about her business journey.