Helen Aboah is the CEO of Urban Zen, a design vision and philosophy created by Donna Karan that defines the space where creativity, culture, and collaboration converge with retail, technology, wellness/healthcare, and social impact. Aboah oversees the brand’s operations including the Urban Zen Collection and artisanal partnerships, Urban Zen retail stores, Urban Zen Center, and the Urban Zen Foundation. She also leads the groundbreaking Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT) Program that integrates eastern healing modalities with western science, certifying over 900 UZIT-trained therapists who operate in leading research hospitals across the country.
A graduate of Columbia University, Aboah first achieved success in television and film before pivoting to the retail industry. Prior to joining Urban Zen, she served as the Chief Merchandising Officer and Executive Vice President at Alexander Wang and earlier as the Global Director of Merchandising and Product Development at LVMH/Donna Karan International.
Aboah is on the advisory board for Lubin School of Business at Pace University and is the Board Director at Project Rousseau a charity that empowers youth in communities with the greatest need to reach their full potential through pursuing higher education pathways. The Urban Zen Foundation also provides funds for an education and healthcare centre in Haiti. Aboah also openly speaks about and advocates for the representation of women and minorities in business. We at SIA-Africa are pleased to have collaborated with Urban Zen in the past to raise awareness of African culture and heritage through fashion at the Global Fashion Collaborative Summit.
We award Helen Aboah as SIA-Africa’s Person of the Month for December 2021 for being an inspirational woman in business and her commitment to worthy causes.
Helen Aboah's speech at the Moves 2021 Power Women Gala:
