Escaping the comfort zone
The comfort zone is a terrible thing. I’ve probably made this statement and tweeted it at least 20 times in the past month. This article is as much for myself as it is for many of you out there. The comfort zone is this wonderful place where you can sit pretty and be comfortable. In the comfort zone, you have a good level of assurance that despite not being where you are meant to be, you are okay for the time being. It might be a physical space or a mental one. One thing is certain though, the comfort zone is a dangerous thing. There are steps you should be taking, moves you should be making to put yourself out there. But you’re not. In your 20s and 30s, you have got the zeal and energy to make things happen. Your mind is fire and you have so much potential you need to explore. So, why aren’t you popping right now? Because you’re comfy…in the comfort zone. Unfortunately, the comfort zone isn’t where great things happen. You can’t realise your dreams or start the business you’ve been planning for the past six years in it. Sure, many of us have heard stories of how opportunities literally fell into the laps of unsuspecting people. This model was discovered by a scout as she went about her shopping in the local mall; Rita Dominic accompanied a friend to an audition and got discovered. But let’s be real, that’s just not everyone’s story. And while you’re waiting for the mystery opportunity, the clock is ticking. Haven’t you noticed that some of the greatest hustlers are those that started from the bottom? With no safety net or comfort zone, there is no other choice but to hustle for all it’s worth. Prison break It might be a plush prison, but you’re in a holding cell nonetheless. Girl, you need to step out and the time is now. Leaving is really scary. You’ve got a myriad of fears. What if I fail? Well, so what if you do? If you do, you pick yourself up and go back to the drawing board. If you don’t try, you’ll never know and will resent yourself in the future for wasting the prime years of your life saying what if? So what do I do now? – Tell yourself you need a change This first step is very important. It might sound so simple but you shouldn’t underestimate the power of the spoken word. If you aren’t convinced in your spirit that you need to take charge of your life, then it doesn’t matter how many times others tell you. You need to tell yourself this, and you need to believe it. – Start doing the groundwork and looking for opportunities Look for opportunities that excite you and scare you at the same time. – Take a leap of faith! Go out there and just do it. Take action. It’s not necessarily going to be an easy path but the heat refines the diamond. Once you get out there, you can really get your hustle on.
SLA Networking Brunch in Cape Town
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”16310″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Cape Town we’re coming for you! We are so excited to be hosting our first event in Cape Town, South Africa on 15 November, 2016. We love connecting with our community and helping young women build the skills they need for successful careers and businesses. We’re excited to host an intimate and engaging brunch for young women who are ready to turn their creative passions into sustainable businesses. Join SLA cofounder Afua Osei for an intimate and engaging conversation around how we can turn our creative passion into sustainable and profitable businesses. Host: Afua Osei is a co-founder and digital guru of She Leads Africa, a community that helps young African women achieve their professional dreams. Shes been all over the world with her career serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia, working in the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama in the White House, and working on more than 6 different political campaigns as a strategy and communications consultant. She moved to Nigeria in 2012 to serve as a business and operations consultant at McKinsey & Company, advising large corporations and multinationals across 3 continents. She has a masters in public policy (MPP) and business administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago. What you’ll learn: How to identify the right customers for you (hint: it’s not everyone) How to understand what your potential customers are thinking and give to them what they want What you should be doing to get bigger brands and partners interested in you How to create a roadmap to grow your influence and revenue strategies for 2017 Not sure if you should attend a She Leads Africa event? You must be crazy! But in any case, this is what you can expect from a She Leads Africa experience: Fun and engaging content: We aren’t boring and strive to deliver business content in a fun and relatable way. Young women like yourself looking to make an impact: Our community is full of smart and ambitious young women who want to live their best professional lives. Access to real business experts: At our events we always have exceptional speakers who have been there and can show you how to do that [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”13784″ img_size=”300×200″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”13785″ img_size=”300×200″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”13783″ img_size=”300×200″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJ3aWR0aCUzQTEwMCUyNSUzQiUyMHRleHQtYWxpZ24lM0FsZWZ0JTNCJTIyJTNFJTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jb20lMkZ0aWNrZXRzLWV4dGVybmFsJTNGZWlkJTNEMjkxMjI1NjMzNzElMjZyZWYlM0RldGNrdCUyMiUyMGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyJTNEJTIyMCUyMiUyMGhlaWdodCUzRCUyMjM2MCUyMiUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyMTAwJTI1JTIyJTIwdnNwYWNlJTNEJTIyMCUyMiUyMGhzcGFjZSUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBtYXJnaW5oZWlnaHQlM0QlMjI1JTIyJTIwbWFyZ2lud2lkdGglM0QlMjI1JTIyJTIwc2Nyb2xsaW5nJTNEJTIyYXV0byUyMiUyMGFsbG93dHJhbnNwYXJlbmN5JTNEJTIydHJ1ZSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRSUzQ2RpdiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyZm9udC1mYW1pbHklM0FIZWx2ZXRpY2ElMkMlMjBBcmlhbCUzQiUyMGZvbnQtc2l6ZSUzQTEycHglM0IlMjBwYWRkaW5nJTNBMTBweCUyMDAlMjA1cHglM0IlMjBtYXJnaW4lM0EycHglM0IlMjB3aWR0aCUzQTEwMCUyNSUzQiUyMHRleHQtYWxpZ24lM0FsZWZ0JTNCJTIyJTIwJTNFJTNDYSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIycG93ZXJlZC1ieS1lYiUyMiUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIyY29sb3IlM0ElMjAlMjNBREIwQjYlM0IlMjB0ZXh0LWRlY29yYXRpb24lM0ElMjBub25lJTNCJTIyJTIwdGFyZ2V0JTNEJTIyX2JsYW5rJTIyJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZXZlbnRicml0ZS5jb20lMkYlMjIlM0VQb3dlcmVkJTIwYnklMjBFdmVudGJyaXRlJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Find your way to Workshop17 [/vc_column_text][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
SLA Accelerator Demo Day
Join us on November 20 in Lagos, Nigeria for the Demo Day of our 2016 SLA Accelerator. Demo Day is a public viewing for investors, corporates senior executives and the press to view our most recent accelerator startups. The SLA Accelerator is a 3-month program designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s brightest female entrepreneurs. The selected businesses are: Art Splash Studio – A virtual art studio offering a social art experience through our Paint Nite painting classes hosted at different venues in Abuja. BathKandy Co. – Creates sumptuous dessert-inspired beauty treats for women who crave the finer things. Bubble Tii – Bringing the Bubble Tea phenomena to Africa. DeliveryBros – Helps you save time and stress through pickup and drops from the market to your house or office. Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services – An eco-friendly social enterprise that produces premium organic produce through hydroponics and community action. Keek’s – Designs tailored weight loss packages for busy women who want a plan that is both effective and simple to implement. Koko’s Kitchen – An indigenous brand of confectionary dry mixes specially tailored to suit the taste buds and pocketbook of the quintessential person on the go. Independent Personal Assistant (iPA) – Provides strategic virtual assistance to high-level executives across Africa. We take care of the mundane while you focus on what matters. Medsaf.com – Solves the medical industry’s procurement problem, by providing a technology enabled distribution solution resulting in transparency and simplicity. Shuttlers – Enables professionals to access comfortable and efficient transportation to and from work using seat matching technology. SLA Accelerator is in partnership with the Work in Progress! Alliance and Guaranty Trust Bank The Work in Progress! Alliance is focused on unlocking the economic potential of young women and men in Egypt, Nigeria and Somalia. The project aims to enable them to generate sustainable and living incomes – by finding regular employment or starting enterprises. Alliance partners include Oxfam, VC4Africa and Butterfly Works Guaranty Trust Bank is recognized as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Africa for providing quality service, ethics, professionalism, integrity, innovation and internationally accepted corporate governance standards. SLA Accelerator is also one of 16 global incubators and accelerators selected as a Village Capital Community VilCap Communities enables anyone, anywhere to use peer-selected investment to support entrepreneurs within their communities. In 2016, each VilCap Community will be running its own entrepreneur training program and investing in two ventures using Village Capital’s peer selection methodology.
3 things you need to know before turning your creativity into a source of income
It was Jeff Goins who said, ”A creative is an artist. Not just a painter or musician or writer. She is someone who sees the world a little differently than others. A creative is an individual. He is unique, someone who doesn’t quite fit into any box. Some think of creatives as iconoclasts; others see them as rebels. Both are quite apt. A creative is a thought leader. He influences people not necessarily through personality but through his innate gifts and talents.” With this quote in mind, here are my three tips to getting started as a young African creative. 1. You are creative You were born with immeasurable gifts and talents, you influence through your gifts of leadership, communication and a unique way of seeing things. This is the first step; you must believe that you are. It’s not all about throwing paint on canvas or pumping out eBooks. That’s only part of it. Do you do excel sheets like no one else can? Are your PowerPoint presentations clear and concise, leaving everyone stunned? Can you conjure up delicious meals with meagre ingredients? That, my friend is creative. Untangle that knot in your head which says that you must ‘forget about your hobbies and concentrate only on getting a good job as an accountant/lawyer/doctor’. Do you know people are out here getting paid to wear different outfits every day? (Some do this while holding down a full-time job, but still… getting paid for that ‘I love to dress up’ hobby!) YOU.ARE.CREATIVE. Accept it, embrace it. 2. Your creativity often feels effortless but sometimes, it feels like it takes massive effort Do you intrinsically and effortlessly know how to arrange flowers? Can you look at a plant and know exactly if it has had too much water or too little? Let’s also say that you know how to arrange your office in a nice way, people always wander in and hang around, simply because you can decorate on a whim. You know how to use eye-shadow colours everyone has written off as too bright for girls of colour but you… you know how to use it in the right amounts. Or you’re a writer. Writing romance novels comes to you easily… but sometimes the words just don’t seem to come. You design nice clothes but some days it feels like you’ve designed it all, seen it all and you sit there looking at your sketchbook, uninspired. You are a TV producer but you haven’t had a good idea develop in months. Everything is boring boring boring! Understand that sometimes you are in the groove, and sometimes you’re in a funk. This is normal. You are always creative, but your creativity is affected by so many situations. For example, your attitude, how tired you are, how comfortable or uncomfortable you are in your surroundings. 3. You MUST learn to embrace criticism We are the generation of, ‘Oh, you made this? Well, it didn’t speak to me, therefore, it’s not good enough.’ We are quick to write someone off if we don’t like their work. We are also the generation that cannot take any form of criticism because ‘hating’ or ‘hateration.’ ‘She didn’t like my work; she is totally hating.’ Who made you the authority on all things? When you receive criticism it is important to listen to it, and decide whether it is constructive or destructive. ‘I think what you made was great, and I think you could improve it like this’, is constructive criticism. ‘This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen!’, is destructive criticism. I know you’ve seen it on popular TV shows, and we love to watch because we love to see other humans humiliated. Criticism shows you what is working and not working about your creativity. It makes you better. Embrace it. Learn to pick out the good criticism to help you move along. The way you sit and patiently pick out the bad beans from the good ones is how you must treat criticism. With patience, and determination. Go ahead, get started using your gifts , talents and those quirky things you wrote off as hobbies. Use them to start a business and propel yourself to heights you never thought you could reach.
How to protect your small business from day one
[bctt tweet=”5 key steps to protect your small business from a legal standpoint” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Congratulations on deciding to become a business owner! Are you wondering what you should be doing to ensure business continuity and profitability? Below are five key steps you should consider taking, from a legal standpoint, to protect your small business. 1. Determine what permits you require and whether you need to incorporate – Determine whether to incorporate your business Most small businesses start off as unregistered businesses or sole proprietorships. The need to incorporate immediately is country specific, as some countries require immediate incorporation for certain business activities. But, as your business grows, incorporation may be ideal, as it offers many benefits including separate legal entity status – Determine what licenses, permits or approvals you need. In addition, you should find out what permits, approvals or licenses you need to start and run your business legally. You can obtain this information by asking contacts in a similar trade or business. You can also reach out to regulatory bodies or organizations that assist small businesses. [bctt tweet=”Find out what permits or licenses you need to start and run your business legally” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. Protect your confidential information and intellectual property – Protect your intellectual property Consider registering your intellectual property with the regulatory body in your country, as that is the usually the most effective protection. – Register your domain name With the increasing importance of social media, if you intend to establish a web presence, you should register and secure your domain name as soon as possible. – Protect your confidential information Determine how much information on your business know-how (information peculiar to your business that gives you a competitive advantage) that should be disclosed to third parties. Before you speak to a lawyer or intellectual property expert, err on the side of caution, by not disclosing or disclosing little, about distinguishing aspects of your business. – Sign confidentiality agreements Sign a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement with potential investors/ business partners. While this may not always be well received, you should still try. You can conduct an internet search for websites that offer agreement templates that you can tailor to your needs or ask a lawyer to draft an agreement for you. 3. Pay attention to your contracts – Review it Before you sign an agreement, review it thoroughly. Some useful questions to ask are: What are my rights and obligations? What are the other party’s rights and obligations? When do each party’s obligations end? Are there any red flags or issues of concern that should be discussed or resolved before signing? – Document your understanding Also, as a best practice, have an agreement for every business relationship. If a dispute arises, an oral agreement would be very difficult to prove. Even if both parties agree on the existence of the contract, they will definitely not agree on the exact details. But, if a signed contract is not practicable, have a paper or email trail that highlights the important details including your understanding and expectations. – Address payment concerns Payment for services rendered is another common concern. You should, therefore, always inform clients of your fees and timelines before you commence work. More importantly, know your client’s payment reputation, based on past interactions or market research, it will help you decide whether to do business with them or not. [bctt tweet=”If a signed contract is not practicable, have a paper trail that highlights important details” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 4. Talk to a lawyer Another way to protect your small business is to seek legal advice on key aspects of your business early on. You can avoid or save on legal fees by asking a skilled lawyer friend for free/discounted legal advice. If your friend does not practice in that area, they may be able to refer you to another lawyer that can provide premium services at competitive or discounted rates. 5. Monitor your brand Finally, use the internet to your advantage. Set up Google Alerts. It’s a great way to monitor your brand/business because you get updates any time your brand or business name is mentioned. I wish you every success in your entrepreneurial journey! Note: This article is for information purposes only and it should not be used as a substitute for legal advice.
Twitter Chat with Iman Mkwanazi: Building your brand while in school (Nov 10)
Your university years are an important time to lay the groundwork of your career and build your brand. Many people even choose to begin a side hustle while in school. This side hustle can become a full blown business or just work towards establishing your authority in a certain field. While the idea of building a brand is great in theory, the practicalities of doing so can be daunting. We assure you it’s not too complicated. Building a brand consists of not acting a fool, and planning your moves. Whether you are looking to be a blogger, a model, an entrepreneur or simply be an authority in your field even before you receive your diploma, building your brand while in school is essential to all your future endeavors. Join us Thursday Nov. 10th for a twitter chat with South African entrepreneur, blogger & model, Iman Mwkwanazi. While studying for her BSc Honours, Iman was also hustling to co-found a construction company, build her modeling and blogging careers and establish herself as a creative director. Needless to say, it took lots of branding and planning ahead. She will be sharing her advice and processes for establishing her thriving brand while completing her studies. Whether you are in school or not, this webinar is one you will not want to miss. Some of the topics we’ll cover: What it means to have a brand Balancing school & your side hustle Finding and networking with people in the right industry Establishing your voice & authority early one What to do when your studies and the industry you are going into don’t align Webinar Details: Date: Thursday November 10, 2016 Time: 7:00am New York City // 12:00pm Lagos // 1:00pm Johannesburg Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Tune into #SLAChats on twitter Nov. 10 @ 11am GMT to learn from @ImanMkwanazi about building your #brand in school:” via=”no”] About Iman Mkwanazi Iman Mkwanazi is a busy girl. As a Bsc Graduate, entrepreneur, blogger, model, creative director, influencer and speaker, she works with companies and brands to optimise their brand awareness through digital, content and social media marketing. She is also the co-founder of Mkweni Groundwork. Mkweni Groundwork was founded two years ago and they are contractors for City Parks and Studio Six interior design. In the short time that the company has been around, it has been featured in Forbes Woman Africa and Iman and her partner Nene Mboweni are Levi Pioneers Nation speakers. Iman is also the Creative Director and contributor for online magazine; MadMash, which focuses on lifestyle, health, wealth and fashion. She most recently covered Africa Fashion Week for MadMash. Iman has collaborated with various brands on an array of projects, including Puma, Spitz, and Styling for Mr. Price. Iman has also modeled for companies such as Edgars, Legit, Cell C, Adidas, Nike, Samsung and Foschini.
Sekayi and Tukiya: We want MaFashio to represent Zambia on a much more international scale
[bctt tweet=”When sisters Sekayi & Tukiya started @MaFashio they didn’t know that fashion blogs existed” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] With big smiles and charming personalities to match, Sekayi and Tukiya Fundafunda have a star-like quality about them. Popularly known as Kahyi & Kii, the powerhouse sister-duo are behind Zambia’s hottest fashion blog, MaFashio. According to the sisters, “MaFashio” is a slang that describes someone who either looks really good —or really strange. In other words, fashion that makes a statement. That is essentially what MaFashio aims to deliver —content that celebrates the uniqueness and strangeness of Zambian fashion and culture, packaged in a way that is fun, inspiring, and accessible. Since bursting onto the scene in 2012, MaFashio has positioned itself as the premier “style house” in Zambia with its one-stop shop approach to fashion solutions, including blogging and styling and creative direction. Kahyi & Kii have carved out a permanent place for themselves on the fashion and lifestyle scene in Zambia and are well on their way to becoming a successful and well-recognized international fashion brand. The sisters recently opened up to SLA contributor Uloma about their blog, fashion, and some of their favourite things from 2016. How did MaFashio begin? Where did you find the inspiration to start a fashion blog? Kahyi: We had a lot of artistic influences growing up —mom made wedding dresses and dad was an artist. As teenagers we dressed very differently from our peers, which wasn’t something that was popular in Zambia at the time. One summer towards the end of our high school years, Kii and I happened to spend a lot of time together, and we discovered just how cool the other [person] was. As we spent time getting to know each other and observing the people around us, we both simultaneously had this realization that we were encountering a lot of people dressed in really interesting and diverse ways. That was how the idea for MaFashio came about. One day we just decided that we were going to start telling people they looked nice, take their pictures, and create a place where we could post and share these pictures. At the time we started, we didn’t even know that “fashion blogs” existed. All we knew was that we had found this project that we were really passionate about and we were determined to pursue it as far as we could. We built a simple blog on Blogger put up pictures, then spammed everyone we could think of to direct them to our blog. One day we got a call from Gareth Bentley, who had somehow caught wind of our site and was impressed by what we were doing. He showed us how other bloggers were doing it and gave us tips on how to make the site appear more professional. From there things sort of took off. When did you realize that MaFashio had finally broken onto the Zambian fashion scene in a big way? It was definitely when we got invited to attend and blog at Fashion Week in 2013. It was such a surreal experience, getting the VIP treatment and being introduced to some major players in the Zambian fashion industry. Being at that event and getting to blog about it definitely put us on the map and opened doors for us. After that, we knew it was time to take MaFashio to the next level and that was when we decided to register the brand as an official entity. [bctt tweet=”We never back down from a challenge and we are motivated to continue improving our skills” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Your story sounds almost like a fairytale. Coming from an artistic background, having a flair for fashion and design, and then starting what was probably the first fashion blog in Zambia at a time when there was no one else in the space. Were there any parts of this whole process that did not come easy to you? You’re right, we do have a natural affinity for styling and writing, but the photography and other technical aspects didn’t come easy and took a lot of effort. In fact, we are still learning, but that’s what I love about us. We never back down from a challenge and the more MaFashio grows, the more motivated we are to continue improving our skills, acquiring new ones, and also asking for help when there is something we can’t do ourselves. How does the division of labour within MaFashio work? Kahyi: I have a background in Economics and Finance, so I would say I am the more business-savvy one of the team. I love structure and I enjoy creating systems so I am always looking for avenues to incorporate that into our business. Kii: I have a background in Law, which has come in quite useful in interpreting the contracts we are presented with. When it comes to MaFashio, while Kahyi focuses more on the planning and organization, I would say I contribute more to creating the content and aesthetics for the site. In the best of ways, Kahyi is the yin to my yang and we complement each other in a way that is good for the business. As frontrunners in the fashion blogging industry in Zambia, how have you embraced this role as leaders and mentors? Also, as others come onto the scene, what has it been like dealing with the competition? Kahyi: Last year we organized an event called Fashion for Brunch and honestly it was a struggle to scrape together 16 bloggers at the time. This year, we hosted the same event again and we had 35 bloggers. We even had trouble picking the 20 we needed for the event! It has been a pleasure for us to watch this new generation of bloggers come onto the scene, and we don’t necessarily view them as competition because we understand our role. The only yardstick by which we measure our growth and success is ourselves. Kahyi: I attended a lecture earlier this
7 fashionable pieces to shop for in varsity for the office life
[bctt tweet=”Start shopping for the office life while in university with these tips” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Most people who make the transition from being a student to a working individual know the truth. Contrary to the popular notion that it gets better once you can tweet “pay day”, the financial side of your life won’t get any easier for a while… Those first few months will have you catching a case while you wait for the bank’s notification. With justifiable reason, companies that hire and place interns/trainees to low-earning entry-level posts expect them to dress in a way that’s not just fashionable but professional. School-leavers then face a huge challenge. How can you quickly adapt to the professional standards at the office while stuck with a very small rigid budget? After struggling to put together a ‘formal’ outfit for my very first presentation during my first year of varsity, I made up my mind to start shopping smart. I have become one of those people who spend hours in one shop, mixing and matching outfits, trying on tens of clothing items. Since then, I have learnt something new about shopping. It is fun and fabulous, but it is also a whole process on it’s own. Unless your budget stacks plenty of digits, you need to take your time and be strategic about it. Following some research in my own closet and on trending fashion blogs, I have 7 dress ideas for just-graduated women. 1. Wide leg pants Better known to me as palazzo pants. When I first spotted these in the market years ago, I didn’t think I could ever wear them. But when they came back in a whole variety of heavier fabric and colours, I couldn’t help myself. They had suddenly become more fashionable. I loved and got this simple but gorgeous high waist black pair early this year and I have been Olivia Pope’ing successfully since. For the office, you can go for a normal button-up shirt and throw on a blazer, complete the look with a simple neck-piece and graceful heels. Once you leave the office, you can ditch the shirt for a fun top and finish off the look with a pair of sandals or pumps. MotherlandMogul Tip: This is the best time to play around with different fabrics, try to keep your selection light because heavy fabrics tend to formalise most outfits. The benefit of owning a black pair of wide leg pants is that it makes it easier to play around with the colours of the top and shoes. Popular colour alternatives that are just as easy to transform between the two styles include beige, khaki, brown and rose gold. If wide leg pants aren’t your style, you can opt for the newly popular paper bag waist pants or classic straight leg formal pants. 2. Black pump I know a whole lot of girls that can testify that the black pump saved their lives, I know I can. Whether it is for the walk to the office or for school, this fashionable item can do it all. Not only are they durable if you take good care of them, but they are affordable and can be found almost everywhere. Remember to give them a good wipe down every now and then. Also, keep them in a cool place, dirty or smelly pumps don’t do much for anyone. [bctt tweet=”7 dress ideas for just-graduated women navigating office dress codes ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. Plain t-shirt That is actually a men’s shirt (yes, that can be fashionable for ladies too). I had bought it as a gift for a friend, but I found myself falling for it so I got him something else instead. I would suggest you settle for colours like white, grey and black or any light shade. If you can make any other bold colour work then by all means, go for it. You can finish off the shirt for both styles with dark accessories (depending on the shade of your shirt). For the office, it helps to cut the shirt off way up top, a high-waist skirt should do the trick. For a more laid back look, pair the boyfriend jeans with walker boots or pumps instead of heels and if it tickles your fancy, throw a kimono over the shirt. This look is especially convenient for when you have a casual occasion to attend after a short day at the office because you can quickly change out of the skirt into the jeans. 4. Court heels Where do I start? I absolutely love courts! Whether they are floral, lace-ups or just plain, these babies are beautiful and fashionable. Once you find your ideal pair, you’ll find that they go well with almost every outfit you can scramble together. When shopping for court heels, like with every other shoe, it is very important to shop your correct size! If you buy a size that’s too small for you, you might not have any toes after walking in them! The truth is, that pointed little front can be quite cruel to your feet, if you give your toes little to no room for movement. [bctt tweet=”Did you know a delicate chiffon shirt is one of the easiest pieces to style?” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 5. Chiffon shirt Whether it is long sleeved or short, a delicate chiffon shirt is one of the easiest pieces to style. It is a very light piece of clothing so ideally, make sure you wear heavier bottoms with it. These type of shirts usually have some kind of detail along the neckline or collars so you need not worry much about accessorizing. Any plain pencil skirt works with this shirt. To bring the fashionable look together, add in a bold pair of platforms or boots. Platform and boot heels are usually heavier than any other heels for obvious reasons and like I said, the heavier your bottom, the better. For a casual look, switch the skirt for a blue denim. If your
Help a sista out! Answer this quick 3 minute survey
Starting a business is tough and can be pretty scary when you’re going from just an idea to actually putting yourself out there. You have a vision and a dream and no clue if it will actually work out. We always encourage fresh entrepreneurs to get out of their heads, off their laptops and into the streets to survey potential customers and see if their ideas make sense to the people who might actually buy from there. We’re always happy when people actually listen to us and then of course come to SLA for help. Two young women are working on a business concept that will provide a global audience access to the freshest and most creative beauty and fashion products that Africa has to offer. Their brand will focus on high-quality tailoring, textiles, luxury and accessibility for an international market while celebrating the best of African talent beyond patterned prints. They have big dreams but need your help to get there. Basically they need you to be the Beyonce to their Nicki. Help a sista out and fill out this quick 3 minute survey below. As a special thank you, we’re offering one lucky person who answers the survey the opportunity get featured on our Facebook page and be seen by our 45,000+ community. [typeform_embed url=”https://sheleadsafrica.typeform.com/to/BsOxOK” type=”embed”] Sponsored Post
Stacey’s “big move”: Tips for when you’re a repatriate
[bctt tweet=”@Staceyy_Stace traded London for Kampala and was welcomed with open arms” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Born and raised in London, I’d never imagined living anywhere else —until I graduated from University and joined the working world! The rising cost of living, poor work-life balance and miserable weather (which I will never get used to) slowly made me lose love for my home city. Meanwhile, the ‘Africa Rising’ narrative was opening my eyes to the opportunities on the continent, including Uganda, the land of my parents. My holidays to Uganda became more frequent —and boarding my flights back to the UK became more of a battle! With my parents indicating that they would move back to Uganda within a few years, the idea of joining them became an attractive option. By early 2015, I was certain that I would try living in Uganda at some point, but I had no idea it would be this soon —even before my parents! The opportunity arose earlier than I expected and I couldn’t pass it up. Getting into Jumia Uganda I’d been applying for new jobs in London, until one day, a tweet advertising an attractive marketing role with Jumia (Africa’s biggest e-commerce platform), appeared on my timeline —and it was based in Kampala. I reached out to the Country Manager through LinkedIn expressing my interest in the role. A couple of Skype interviews later, I was offered the job and was on a flight to Kampala the next week! It all happened so fast, I didn’t have time to over think the move or discourage myself. If things didn’t work out, I could easily be on the next flight back to London —so it was worth the shot! [bctt tweet=”At times, I was made to feel like an expatriate and at others, a local” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Life in Kampala Generally, Kampala welcomed me with open arms. My job has been exciting; the sunny weather makes days more pleasant; the social scene is popping and although my immediate family are in London, the majority of my relatives are here, dotted in every corner of the city. I felt new to the city, but I also felt at home. At times, I was made to feel like an expatriate and at others, a local. I wasn’t quite sure what to refer to myself as, until I learned the term ‘repatriate’: one who has returned to their country of birth, citizenship or origin. I’ve met a few other repatriates which is encouraging, however I wouldn’t say there’s much of a ‘repat’ scene here just yet, unlike in places like Lagos and Accra. As of now, returnees and repatriates tend to blend in with Uganda’s local middle class and expatriates. It’s also important to mention that absolutely every one has a side hustle! There are many opportunities to make (legal) side money and it’s the way people overcome the challenge of earning a weak currency. Now that I’m in Uganda, I’ve been inspired to utilise my time better and actively seek paid opportunities beyond my job! [bctt tweet=”Us Londoners tend to speed walk, it took some time to get used to the laid back way of life” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Main challenges Note: Having a generator and a mifi means I do not have to complain about power cuts or lack of consistent WiFi. Money: The Ugandan Shilling is not the strongest of currencies, especially in comparison to the British Pound. Travelling abroad now requires more careful consideration than I was previously used to, due to how weak the Ugandan Shilling is when exchanged. Furthermore, a lot of business in Kampala involves dealing in US dollars, which isn’t always easy! However, although I’m earning less than I was in the UK, the cost of living in Kampala is a lot less —so my money does go a longer way in Uganda. Friends: As expected, most people in Kampala have friends whom they’ve grown up with —and having never lived here before, I did initially feel disconnected in that aspect. I had to actively try to make new friends, but I never wanted to come across as desperate! Nonetheless, with the help of cousins, colleagues and people I’d met on previous visits, I’ve networked, met and continue to meet some great people. The laid-back culture: Us Londoners tend to speed walk regardless of whether we’re running late and get frustrated if our train is delayed by any more than 2 minutes. It took some time to get used to the laid back, less time-conscious way of life in Kampala. At first, I criticised it, but later realised it probably contributes to how happy and stress-free most people seem here. The slower pace isn’t necessarily wrong, it’s just different and requires a lot of patience if you’re not used to it!