Rising Stars: Meet Sonia Horn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Horn.

Hi Sonia, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
Hello, I’m Sonia; some may know me as Zuri. I’m a native of Los Angeles, California, and I enjoy making things! When I think about the impactful moments that got me to this part of my journey, there are three distinct eras that come to mind. First, there is my upbringing in Los Angeles, CA, the entertainment capital of the world. As a young child who enjoyed creativity, I have always been inspired by imagination and ingenuity. I not only enjoyed watching and/or being a part of various productions, I also enjoyed the processes behind the scenes, from dance choreography to set design. The process of developing an idea then following the steps to bring those ideas to life captivated me. The entrepreneur spirit has been a part of me for some time. I just had to learn how to embrace it. 

The next pivotal moment for me was stepping out of my comfort zone in Los Angeles, CA, and relocating to Atlanta, GA. Initially, I had traveled to Atlanta for a single semester through a university transient program. However, after graduating from college in California, I made the decision to return to Atlanta, where I resided for seven years. Atlanta holds a special place in my heart, its beautiful greenery, vibrant culture and southern hospitality. When I first moved to Atlanta, I couldn’t help but observe the profound excellence represented in the black community. It was unlike anything I had ever witnessed before; it inspired me deeply. It was in Atlanta where I was blessed to meet other entrepreneurs, creative and business-minded individuals who not only nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit but supported my endeavors. Atlanta is the city that transferred me, an ambitious young woman to a phenomenal woman. It was during my time in Atlanta that I founded and developed my children’s zoo-themed shoe and education brand, Zuri’s Zoo Kids (ZuZoo Kids), which led me to the experience that brought all of my impactful moments full circle. 

As an educator, I have 23 years of teaching experience (with the exception of five years in product branding and marketing). My journey began as a teacher’s assistant with the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks. Prior to becoming a certified educator, I was a summer camp counselor, dance teacher, art instructor, children’s theater show director, and teen coordinator. I’ve had the privilege of teaching in a diverse range of settings in various cities. Each teaching experience has enriched me with invaluable insights and special memories. Through it all, I have discovered that children, regardless of their language, socioeconomic background, race, or culture, all share a need to feel safe, heard, and understood. It’s when children feel secure that they truly blossom and flourish. 

Children have an innate ability to teach, humble, and challenge the grown-ups in their lives to be their best, yet they also possess a remarkable talent for inspiring and bringing an immense amount of joy into our lives. They remind us to find joy in simple things, encourage us to slow down or pick up the pace when necessary, and prompt us to appreciate life’s little pleasures. It’s amazing how a timeless hit like “Let It Go” remains a preschooler’s favorite jam, and when listening to the lyrics, it’s evident why children are drawn to its spirit and energy—it’s all about embracing the present moment. Embracing the present moment is just one of the many aspects of childhood, that is essential for balance but easy to get looked over when navigating adult hood.

Children have enriched my life in countless ways. They’ve inspired, taught, and encouraged me to stay present and enjoy life’s simples treasures. In return, I aimed to create products and services that captured the raw vibrance and joy that my students have offered to me throughout the years.

 

ZuZoo Kids is a zoo-themed children’s shoe, clothing, and education brand that provides products and services for families with young children. 

Considerable thought and intentionality went into the development of the ZuZoo brand. I aimed to offer vibrant, joyful products and services that fostered meaningful thought. From the color choices and character designs to the company logo, storylines, educational content, and the setting, every detail was carefully considered. Each of the seven current ZuZoo characters is inspired by students I’ve taught in the past. These students have deeply impacted me in beautiful ways, influencing the essence of the ZuZoo brand. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been filled with many challenges, each offering valid reasons to give up. Yet, I found a couple of great reasons to keep going—one being the belief that anything is possible. As an African American female entrepreneur breaking into a male-dominated industry, I’ve faced numerous hurdles, including securing funding and investment, accessing information and resources, and balancing my work as an educator. I am striving to blend multiple elements into one brand, evoking nostalgia while leaving room for innovation in the early education and apparel industry. Creating my own path in this industry is both inspiring due to the endless possibilities and tricky because there is no established roadmap to follow. Throughout my journey, I’ve allowed myself to take breaks, recognizing the emotional load it can take, but I never completely stopped. It wasn’t until the end of 2022 that I committed to dedicating the next 2-3 years to launching my several business ideas, with ZuZoo Kids as the first venture. When I made the personal commitment to myself, I knew that significant changes were necessary. As a creative entrepreneur, I’ve come to understand that certain parts of the journey require individual effort, while others necessitate collaborative teamwork. In order for team building to happen, I had to adopt vulnerability. For some of us who have prided ourselves on being “independent,” the word vulnerability is like Kryptonite for an independent woman. However, as time goes on, and we learn new information and have experiences, our views change. I’ve embraced the concept that “teamwork makes the dream work.” Striving to achieve greatness, I’ve integrated the principles of team building into my personal, professional, and business life. 

As the African proverb goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I am profoundly appreciative of the ZuZoo team and our recent collaboration with Amazon and the Oprah Daily Network. 

I am also very grateful for my personal team; they are ones who keep me focused and present. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the founder, developer, designer, and co-owner of ZuZoo Kids, a zoo-themed children’s shoe, apparel, and education brand… 

ZuZoo Kids (Zuri’s Zoo Kids) is a children’s zoo-themed shoe centered around early childhood education. Our ZuZoo Shoe offers several beautiful, unique, and vibrant styles designed with young children in mind. Starting out, I didn’t know then that I was creating a brand; I was trying to find fun ways to connect with my students. Other educators can relate. It was my curiosity and drive that allowed me to take a closer look at the activities and learning projects I had developed in the classroom and at home. I began to notice they all followed a pattern and all used animals, specifically those beloved animals from the Serengeti, which is the largest animal plain in the world. 

Next, I decided to take what I was good at, which was being an effective preschool teacher, and what I “lost time in doing,” which was creating and developing and put the two together to make a brand that would offer fun, engaging, and meaningful products and services to young children. 

I started the ZuZoo shoe brand in 2015. Though I had seven designs at the time, I could only afford to have one manufactured, so I started with my first design, Jax the Monkey! The Jax shoe is a bright shade of yellow with brown accents to speak to that of a monkey’s brown coat. I chose to play off the signature yellow banana, which is associated with monkeys. Yellow is also a neutral color that represents sunlight, warmth, vigor, energy, and joy. 

My second design, Franny the Flamingo, is a dedication to my grandmother, Frances Harville, whose nickname was Franny. She was a very sweet woman, but she also had a genius way of gracefully letting people know she meant business. She was sweet as pie, but she did not play! 

She taught me to be graceful, live light, laugh often, but also take care of myself and set healthy boundaries. I’ve never seen my grandmother unkempt; she was always adorned with beautiful, elegant, yet stylish accessories. I attribute the colors of Franny’s shoe to the bright colors of water and the tropics, which is where you usually find flamingos, but also to my grandmother’s favorite colors: pink and green. My grandmother Frances was a member of the first black women’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which are also signature colors of the sorority. 

My grandmother was a lady of pearls through and through. It was divine for my Franny ZuZoo character to embody my grandmother’s sweet, intelligent, and beautiful nature, which may have even been a bit sassy at times. 

The ZuZoo Kids brand is currently only tailored for preschool; this is the age group where most of my experience lies. The preschool years, ages 3-5, are a very developmental time when a child begins to recognize and label others’ emotions, such as happy or sad. They are beginning to learn about the world and themselves, asking more questions and making observations. 

ZuZoo aims to offer children and their families a safe space to explore, learn, and grow, and the meaning and intention of our name further illustrates that sentiment. 

Story behind the name-ZuZoo Kids – Zuri’s Zoo Kids. 

Zuri is my nickname, but some assume Zuri is my alter ego, but not necessarily, because who I am as Zuri is also who I am as Sonia; the difference is I get referred to as Zuri more frequently in my social settings. So, in that respect, I would say Zuri represents grit, creativity, innovation, vibrance, and wit. 

Zoo is the bridge that connects children to one another. I chose animals as the theme for the brand because animals, specifically safari animals, act as a universal language for young children. The seven safari animals featured in our safari shoe series were each carefully chosen. I chose animals with distinct traits and characteristics that young children could comfortably relate to. Whether you’re fierce as a lion, tall as a giraffe, unique as a zebra, fancy as a flamingo, curious as a monkey, shy or easy-going as an elephant, and edgy or mysterious as a crocodile. ZuZoo was made for children to express themselves. Some children may find two or more characters that they gravitate to; either way, ZuZoo shoes are a tool for children to connect to the world around them in a fun and meaningful way. 

Kids represent my 21+ year experience as an early childhood educator. It speaks for the various children I’ve been able to meet and work with as an educator in Atlanta, GA, to Greater Los Angeles. The word “Kids” in ZuZoo Kids is the most important part of this brand because, without the children, there would be no ZuZoo Kids brand. 

Though there is much to accomplish, I must say that I am really proud of the brand and what it represents. ZuZoo Kids is a love letter to children across the world. My intention is for ZuZoo to inspire curiosity, imagination, and expression in young children. Why? Imagination play helps children gain independence and understand the world around them. Imagination play allows for a deeper understanding of stories and events. It also helps with problem-solving and enhances cognitive development. Imagination, or looking beyond the immediate, has encouraged me to make it through really tough times by reminding me to look at the bigger picture. It has inspired me to rise above the noise of statistics, naysayers, and even self-doubt. I am the capable, lively, and strong woman I am today because of the people who inspired me to use my mind, dig deep into my creativity, and see the power and ability I have inside. 

ZuZoo is a reflection of my journey as an ambitious dreamer. It also serves as a reminder to live out loud. This experience started by me drawing a doodle of a shoe on the back of a notepad’s cardboard to have it in a boutique storefronts in the Los Angeles area, and then being recognized by Oprah is truly inspiring. ZuZoo is not just a brand but a dedication to dreamers and visionaries, inspiring those who are making things happen and those who want to make an impactful difference. It’s a celebration of dreaming big and taking action. 

It was important for me to write the blueprint for what the ZuZoo Kids brand is. I’ve written stories for each of the seven characters, which offer more insight into their personality traits, interests, and hobbies. We aim to find more meaningful ways to help bring our characters to life. 

On our website and social media pages, you can find age-appropriate book suggestions, as well as engaging art and science activities. We are honored to participate in donation opportunities with local organizations that advocate for the well-being of children and look forward to hosting special STEAM programs in collaboration with subsidized education programs. 

Eventually, I would like to bring other educators and child specialists in to offer their expertise and build on the educational foundation that has already been set. My goal for ZuZoo was to be a leading brand in the children’s shoe and education industry. To some degree, that goal has remained, but in other regards, that goal has evolved. Stay tuned… 

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’ve come to realize that there isn’t a single path to achieving our goals—numerous routes can lead us to where we want to be. Maintaining a mindset of abundance is essential, even if it may seem delusional or idealistic at times. It’s important to keep your vision vivid and clear. Launching a small business demands a great amount of emotional, mental, and sometimes physical effort, so it’s important to prioritize our well-being. I try to engage in nature at least once a week. This practice, along with a few others, helps me keep a perspective on the big picture. Engage in activities that inspire and ground you, allowing you to find your anchor in the process. These tools and practices will serve as a foundation, providing stability during challenging times. I try to surround myself with individuals who create a safe space for me to be my authentic self, acting as mirrors when my vision becomes clouded. Remember your “why” it will allow you to evolve as you gain more knowledge and experiences. Sometimes, it may feel like you’re the only one championing your vision, leading to moments of self-doubt, but having wellness tools that reinforce belief in your vision, abilities, and overall self is crucial for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and creatives. 

Warm Wishes 

-Zuri 

Pricing:

• $54

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zuzookids.fun
• Instagram: @zuzookids
• Facebook: ZuZoo Kids
• Linkedin: @zuzookids
• Twitter: @zuzookids
• Youtube: ZuZoo Kids