Trude Viole Stene: from Scarcity to Empowerment
By all accounts, Trude Viole Stene’s life has been a series of remarkable pivots. From a childhood in Norway marked by idyllic beauty to a teenage epiphany about global injustice, from elite boardrooms in Europe to remote villages in Northern Uganda, her journey has never followed a conventional path. But if there’s one thread that connects each chapter of her life, it’s a profound commitment to living purposefully — and using that purpose to build a better, fairer world.
A Promise Made in the Dark
Trude’s career began in classic form: the London School of Economics, a management consultancy, an MBA. Yet her soul seemed attuned to something deeper than shareholder returns. It wasn’t until a sudden and terrifying onset of blindness forced her to pause that her life began to radically shift. “Most of the things I enjoy in life,” she recalls, “had to do with being able to see.” When doctors could not guarantee she’d regain her sight, she made herself a promise: if she got a second chance, she would dedicate her life to something that wouldn’t happen without her — something that made a real difference.
She kept her promise.
Sight returned, mysteriously and miraculously. So did clarity. She transitioned from business to international development, joining World Vision in Zurich. Over five years, her understanding of systemic poverty deepened. But more importantly, so did her sense of agency. “My passion was education,” she explains, “because so many of the world’s problems can be prevented or eased through it.” That insight led her to launch Future for Children, a nonprofit operating in countries like Bolivia, India, and Moldova, and more recently, in the deeply challenged regions of Northern Uganda.
The Skin of the Land, the Skin of the People
It was there, in Uganda, that purpose and opportunity would once again collide.
Caught under a harsh sun and without a hat, Trude was offered a balm by local women. It was made from nuts of the Nilotica tree — an indigenous species growing only along the Nile. “It worked wonders,” she says. But what stayed with her wasn’t just the healing cream — it was the context. These women were survivors of war, many single mothers raising children born of violence. They lived in a barter economy with little income. What if, she wondered, this balm could be more than local tradition? What if it could become a vehicle for dignity, income, and global connection?
She returned to Switzerland with a few jars and sent samples to three pharmacies. The verdict: exceptional. Rich in vitamins A and C, deeply moisturizing, and entirely natural, Nilotica shea butter outperformed conventional skincare — without a single chemical. And so began her next chapter: a for-profit business with a triple mission — social empowerment, environmental protection, and holistic wellness.
Triple Solution Skincare is the resulting enterprise where nature meets science, combining rare wild botanicals with Swiss state-of-the-art biotech. It’s not just conscious consumerism, but what Trude calls “impact consumerism, grounded in real results and meaningful change”, — where skin visibly improves, communities thrive, and nature is conserved.
A Business Born of Belief
Trude’s new venture does more than deliver clean skincare. It creates a ripple of dignity and opportunity.
She works with groups of local Ugandan women, supporting them with education, entrepreneurship training, and access to microfinance. “They already had these tin boxes where they saved money collectively,” she shares. “Three women, three keys. They’d open them in December and divide the savings.” Trude introduced matched savings incentives and business development. The results? Seed traders. Goat breeders. Honey producers. Oxen owners. Self-worth restored.
And the ripple doesn’t stop there. “They’re no longer just surviving,” she says. “They’re thriving. Their status in society is changing. Their children are seeing a new model of what’s possible.”
She’s since replicated the model in the Himalayas and the Amazon, sourcing other powerful, wild-grown ingredients. The philosophy remains: protect pristine nature, empower local women, and deliver wellness products that are both ethical and effective.
Lessons in Resilience and Collective Wisdom
If you ask Trude what she’s learned from the women she works with, her voice softens with reverence. “Persistence,” she says. “These women are resilient. They face unthinkable challenges with a positive attitude and a deep sense of togetherness.”
That spirit of collective care is central to her work. “We’re not just focusing on child education anymore,” she adds. “We’re building entrepreneurial ecosystems. We’re co-creating dignity.”
There’s a memory that stays with her: a long, bumpy trip back to the village, welcomed by women singing in English, their only possible gift a group of live hens. “Seven of them!” she laughs. “They had nothing material to offer, but they gave the most precious thing they had. Their joy. Their gratitude. Their effort.”
Building the Future — Ethically
For Trude, entrepreneurship was never the goal. Impact was. “It’s not about me,” she insists. “It’s about purpose. That’s what keeps me going when the rollercoaster gets hard.”
She’s not religious, but deeply spiritual. And as someone who’s walked through both darkness and light, she knows how vital it is to have a reason to rise each morning. “Find a purpose beyond yourself,” she advises her daughter — and all of us. “That’s where fulfillment lives.”
As part of the EBBF community, Trude’s work is a living testament to the possibility of building the future ethically. She’s not just talking about systems change. She’s doing it — jar by jar, woman by woman, root by resilient root.
About Trude Viole Stene
Trude Viole Stene is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, development advocate, and founder of Future for Children and a social enterprise that sources wild, nutrient-rich skincare ingredients from remote, biodiverse regions. With a background in economics, business, and international development, Trude has worked across continents — from corporate boardrooms to post-conflict villages — always with a focus on justice, education, and empowerment. Her work creates dignified income opportunities for marginalized women while protecting pristine ecosystems and promoting holistic wellness. Based in Zurich, Trude continues to bridge the worlds of business and impact, guided by purpose, resilience, and the power of collective action.
Her Triple Solution Skincare enterprise is testimony to the values and ideals that drive her and her way of leading an impactful and meaningful life.
