On today’s episode, I sit down with the incredible Kadjahtou Balde, social entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of Modify, Harlem’s first modest fashion thrift store. Kadjahtou shares her moving journey of taking over her father’s longtime shop and transforming it into a vibrant retail space that's also a living, breathing community hub.

We talk honestly about the surprises and challenges of working with family, especially in immigrant households where legacy, healing, and “building with what you have” are a way of surviving and thriving. Kadjahtou opens up about learning to honor both her father’s wisdom and her own vision, blending intergenerational knowledge and modern sustainability practices. One of the most beautiful parts of our conversation is exploring how Islam grounds her in patience, compassion, and the drive for community-centered abundance.

What struck me most is how Kadjahtou is redefining wealth, not just in dollars, but in resourcefulness, deep relationships, and collective care. She speaks openly about launching Modify shortly after giving birth, fundraising with limited resources, and learning to give herself the grace to move at her own pace.

I invite you to listen in and ask yourself: What could become possible if I trusted my own resourcefulness, my people, and the wisdom of those who came before me?

About Kadjahtou Balde:

Kadjahtou Balde is a social entrepreneur, community builder, and the founder of Modify—a Harlem-based thrift shop reimagining modest fashion through sustainability and accessibility. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Faithfully Sustainable, which offers faith-rooted, capacity-building programs that inspire Muslims to adopt environmentally conscious practices and build community-centered economic systems.

Before launching her own ventures, Kadjahtou served as a Program Manager for Entrepreneur Development with the New York State Small Business Division, where she helped deliver millions of dollars in funding and support to small business owners across the state.

Rooted in her experience as the daughter of immigrants and now a mother herself, Kadjahtou’s work is guided by a vision of legacy, healing, and community self-sufficiency. She builds with what’s available, leads with intention, and creates spaces that reflect care, dignity, and collective resilience.

Where to find Kadjahtou Balde:
Instagram: @kadjahtou, @modifythriftshop, @faithfully.sustainable

Website: Modify Thrift Shop

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