Yasmin Says: How to make your network your net worth
We’ve all heard the phrase “Your network is your net worth.” And though, it may seem like one of those cheesy phrases that’s only appropriate for fridge door magnets and tacky self-help books, its 100% true. For young entrepreneurs like us, networking is especially important for a couple of reasons: As you grow your network, you’ll hear more and more about interesting and unique opportunities It’s a good opportunity for you to practice your communication skills There are a number of different ways to network but today, we’re going to focus on how to #WIN at a formal networking event. Formal networking events are tough for us because both Afua and I are true introverts. So, even the thought of having to spend an evening talking to people we don’t know exhausts us. That said, sometimes, it’s got to be done. So, it’s best to be prepared. Come with a game plan You’ll never have a chance to speak to everyone, and if you’re able to preview the guest list before hand, come with a clear list of the people you’d like to speak to. If Afua and I are going to a conference, we’ll do more than come up with a target list. We’ll also prioritize the list so we have people who we MUST connect with vs. people who’d be nice to chat to. Once we have that list, we create a spreadsheet with these key pieces of information. 1. A few points on the person’s background Knowing a little bit about them will make it easier for you to strike up conversation. I was at a conference two years back and really wanted to meet the CEO of a large African bank. I did a bit of research and found out that he’d given a really interesting talk on Gender Equality. So when I went up to introduce myself to him, I opened with “Hi Mr. X, my name is Yasmin. I watched your talk at XYZ about gender equality and found it so inspiring.” And on the conversation went. 2. Why we’d like to speak to them It’s important to be clear (if possible) on why you’d like to talk to someone. It helps you steer the conversation in the right way and tailor your pitch appropriately. So, if I’d like to speak to someone about being a pitch competition judge, I’ll start off talking about our awesome pitch competition, the other judges we’ve had and how much fun those judges had. If I’m talking to someone about sponsoring our event, I’ll focus more on talking about the SLA community – growing it is. See the difference? PS: This isn’t being disingenuous. It’s just understanding that people care about different things and so making sure that you’re emphasizing the part of your business that they’re most likely to care about. Hang out by the food table If you don’t feel comfortable introducing yourself to people, try hanging out by the food table. Food is always a great conversation starter. If you see someone picking up that lovely mini cupcake you just tried, go up to them and say, “Those cupcakes are absolutely amazing. You should definitely try one. O … I’m Yasmin by the way. Nice to meet you. What’s your name?” And voila! You’ve struck up a conversation in a non-awkward and relaxed manner. Ask questions Most people think that networking is all trying to impress people with your amazing accomplishments. But it’s just as important to listen to other people and try to learn more about them. Not only is it polite but the more you learn about someone, the more likely you are to find interesting ways that they could be helpful to you and your business. I was at a conference once and struck up a conversation with a guy who worked in PE – his deals were all Europe-focused so there wasn’t that much in common with SLA. But after chatting for a few minutes, he mentioned that his wife sat on the board of an organization that we’d desperately been trying to reach out to! Now, you see if I’d spent the whole time blabbing to him about myself, I may never have found out about this awesome connection. Go for the number 2 Here’s a scene I see at networking events all the time. Important woman or man arrives and everyone swarms him/her, jockeying to get a word in, shoving cards in his/her face, begging for his/her card. Important man/woman is overwhelmed, a little uncomfortable and frankly doesn’t see individuals, instead he/she just sees a mass of overly eager faces. When this happens DO NOT join them. Here’s a little trick I’ve learnt. Look around for the people that this person arrived with. It might be a chief of staff, a PA, a family friend or just a friend. Target that person. Why you ask? Because that person is waaaaay more accessible than important man/woman and yet they have access to important man/woman. So, connecting with them gives you a good chance of securing a (maybe even private) meeting with important man/ woman in the future. More generally, that person may actually be able to teach you a thing or two. After all smart, successful people tend to surround themselves with other smart, successful people. So there you have it! A couple of short tips to help you become ace your next networking event.
Is the law keeping young African women safe from sexual violence?
It may be 2016, but young Nigerian girls are still being exploited by those who should be protecting them. I’m referring to the father figures, lawmakers, community leaders and even some parents. Only recently, the internet and media went into a frenzy over the notion that the age of consent had been lowered from 18 to 11. The reason for this confusion? A bunch of subsections under Section 7 of the Sexual Offences Bill postulating penalties for sexual penetration in girls under the ages of 11, 15 and 18. We’re all still asking ourselves why the need to highlight these three ages rather than the relevant one which is 18. This is of major concern as concerns two main areas: child marriages and rape. Source: BBC Africa UNICEF reports that Nigeria is the country with the highest number of child brides across Africa. The number of child brides across Africa is expected to almost triple by the year 2050. It’s been almost 2 years now since the world has been fighting for the return of the Chibok girls following the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Sadly, at this time, we are still waiting and hoping that they are rescued. Ese’s story Most people have been following the story of 14-year-old Ese Oruru who was abducted from her base by a man who took her to the North to become his bride. Reports made by the Bayelsa State Police Command as captured in Punch Newspaper state that her recent kidnapping from her home in Bayelsa to faraway Kano is a case of eloping. It’s almost laughable except that it’s not. This is a grave issue that affects every one of us regardless of gender. It thus becomes obvious that law enforcement and the rest of the community have failed to catch on that the law does not condone the violation of any woman especially one who is still a child. Ese’s predicament is our predicament and as such statements made by the very institution put in place to install law and order demonstrates our failure as a society. How on earth does a teenager elope? The fact that such a statement can be made by the police public relations rep confirm to us that child marriages are still very much a thing in this part of the world. This is a practice prevalent in the northern part of the country where matured men take on child brides. At this point of the century where societies are moving to expel inhumane practices, the reaction to Ese’s case is a prime example of the normalcy of such a practice. Whether or not Ese voluntarily left her base in Bayelsa for a faraway state or was kidnapped / coerced into doing so as certain assertions have been made, the baseline is she is still a minor. Although it has taken six whole months, the good news is Ese has been handed over to the police for her return to her family in Bayelsa. Just as author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been quoted as saying, ‘culture does not make people, people make culture’. Thus, the mere fact that something is a part of our culture is not a good enough reason to uphold it. There is certainly good culture and bad culture and as humans we are expected to evolve and be progressive. What are some of the risks? There are several risks that child brides are faced with including emotional and psychological trauma that may follow them way into adulthood and in fact for the rest of their lives In addition, if the ‘marriage’ had been consummated underage, pregnancy, Vesicovaginal Fistula and STIs are all common occurrences for child brides. As a society, where do we go from here? We need to close the gap between the law and its practice through proper information dissemination and sensitization. The Nigerian police force must undertake reorientation programs with the passing of new laws. The law should expressly state the age of consent for sexual intercourse by getting rid of the compounding subsections in the Sexual Offences Bill. It is also not enough that the law prescribe a penalty of 5 years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 for the perpetrators in child marriages! A part of her life is taken away from her as she is forced to grow up in the worst ways possible. The maximum penalty should be sought for such offenders. What can we do as women? As women, each of us has a responsibility to uplift other women especially those who do not have some of the privileges we do have. Speak up about it! Challenge the status quo! Tweet about it, blog about it, discuss with peers, make your voice heard. You may be surprised how little people actually think about this issue. Educate yourselves including other young girls and women. Females need to be aware of the dangers they face and to take extra precaution where necessary. Counsel and encourage one another. As women we need to quit slut shaming and blaming the victim. The guilty party is the aggressor or manipulator. Skimpy clothing or a flirtatious nature do not equal a license to rape. Parents and guardians also need to be receptive enough for their daughters to feel free enough to tell them about any funny business going on. Raise your sons to respect women. Men have as much a part to play as women do in the promotion of gender rights.
What you can learn about leaps of faith and other career lessons from Isis Nyong’o Madison
Isis Nyong’o Madison is a tech entrepreneur, investor and influencer in the African entrepreneurship scene. Aside from being named as one of the youngest power women in Africa, she is a principal at strategic advisory and investment firm Asphalt and Ink and previously served as the Vice President and Managing Director at InMobi and Google’s Business Development Manager in Africa. With numerous nods, including several acknowledgements from Kenya’s Business Daily’s Top 40 under 40 Women, Isis Nyong’o Madison is someone all young African women need to look up to. We went through some of her interviews and learnt a few career lessons. 1. Take a leap of faith Kenya in recent years has been touted as the hottest tech hub of Africa but in 2002, this was not the case. Isis chose to come back to Kenya against the advice of a career officer at Harvard in order to pursue tech opportunities in the market. Even if the steps you want to take in your career do not look like the correct ones to others, you need to be able to critically review advice from others and draw your own conclusions. Coming back to Kenya was a leap of faith for Isis and it has paid off. 2. Take a chance on you While she was still a student, Isis flew out to London on her own dime, to meet with MTV Africa head Alex Okosi. This is because she felt that she was the right person for the job. Taking a chance on yourself means not giving up on an opportunity you think suits you no matter the obstacles. 3. Make a decision and stick to it To achieve anything in life, clear decisions need to be made. Once you have decided what direction your career should take, it is important to stick to it. Isis has said in numerous interviews that there are no quick wins. Success takes time; you need to give yourself time. Isis has declined higher paying jobs in her career that did not meet her own personal goals of challenging work, responsibility, and growth. 4. Build/create/do something worthwhile It is not enough to just focus on moving up the ranks, you need something to show for it. It is just as important to build a track record or building something on your own or within a company no matter what role you are in. This is definitely something that can be said of every role Isis has held. 5. Be confident No one is going to hand it to you. You need to go after the career or promotion you want. Once you have taken the time to build something worthwhile, do not be afraid to show it. Use it as a portfolio to show just what you have accomplished and make it hard for anyone to pass you up for or question your promotion. Isis has been asked several times by people with more seniority than her whether she can do the job and her response as always been yes. You’ve shown you can do it, now prove it. 6. Be open to learning You can never learn anything enough and Isis knows this. Take every opportunity you can to learn something new. As Isis puts it, “learn about new ideas, build a new skill or deepen your understanding about a subject you are already familiar with.” 7. Be committed After it’s all said and done, Isis truly does commit to her work. In an interview with Forbes Africa magazine, Isis said about her former firm, “As we are a global organization (InMobi), there are often conference calls in the middle of the night and early hours of the morning. InMobi never sleeps.” To grow your career, you should be willing to give that level of commitment to your career.
10 East African songs that will get you hyped for your next big interview
No matter how many times you practice your introduction or write down the skills you’ll bring to the position, interviews can be the most stressful part of getting a new job. We all know the stakes are high for an interview – you can go from the bottom of the pile to the #1 candidate by presenting yourself well and telling a compelling a story. With so much riding on your success, you can’t go into the interview room full of jitters and unsure of yourself. The best way to make yourself stand out is to be confident and calm. Not sure how to do that? We’ve pulled together a list of 10 East African songs to help center yourself and find some inner peace before the big moment. 1. Habida – Superwoman As the title suggests, this song will get you into a ‘conquer the world’ mood. With its catchy beat and uplifting lyrics, it is just the kind of song you need to conquer an interview. 2. Octopizzo – Black star Straight from the chorus, it is clear that the song is telling the listener to believe in themselves. “Forever you will be, a shining star… You will always be, a black star…” Go forth black star and rock that interview. 3. Khaligraph Jones – Yego This song is about Julius Yego, the Kenyan javelin thrower who broke the African record twice and Kenya’s national record four times. Seeing as the song is based on a champion, it shouldn’t be hard to get into a winning spirit when listening to this song. 4. Juliani – Exponential potential The title says it all and so does the video. The video is set within the confines of a boardroom which seems appropriate given the lyrics of the song. This is just the song you need to get the energy to unleash your full potential. 5. STL – Dreamer Stella Mwangi (STL) uses this song to encourage all the dreamers to go out into the world and follow their dreams while recounting her own story. It will definitely get you in the mood to conquer your fears and ace the interview. 6. Wangechi feat Karun – Analogue dreamer Although on the surface, the song seems to be talking about following your dreams, the more profound message is about being courageous enough to be different and to be you in a world clogged with similarity. Just the dose of courage anyone needs before an interview. 7. Muthoni the Drummer Queen (MDQ) – Nai ni ya who? This song was written for the city of Nairobi and what it takes to make it. But the song’s universal message also applies to any other city in the world. At its core, the song emphasizes the importance of getting up and doing something to change your life. The track’s awesome beat will get you hyped in seconds. 8. Avril feat Rabbit King Kaka – Ninaweza ‘Ninaweza’ means ‘I can’ in English. The song stays away from metaphorical analogies and remains as simple as its title suggests. It is the only motivation you need to get hyped for your interview. The message is clear, ‘You can.’ 9. Vanessa Mdee – Hawajui With a colourful video, Mdee encourages her listeners to overcome any obstacles that come their way, including unfair judgement from people who have no idea who you are. 10. Jua Kali – Baba Yao The song begins with these words, “Hauezi niekea chini, me ni baba yao” “You can’t put me down, I am a champion” (English Translation). Side Note: The Direct translation of the phrase, ‘me ni baba yao’ is ‘I am their father’ which is a sheng colloquialism used to refer to oneself as the best or a champion among colleagues. Which of these are your favorites? Any ones we missed? What is your all time favorite song for getting pumped your big interviews?
Smoothie Express: Bringing healthy food to the people
SLA quickly caught up with Tracy and Omowunmi the founders of fast growing fresh food startup Smoothie Express. They shared with us how they developed the idea for the company, how they get around volatile currencies and the best piece of feedback they’ve ever received from a customer. Where did the idea of Smoothie Express come from and how did you get it started? I was trying to do a smoothie detox and my biggest challenge was finding the right time to blend my smoothies as I was still working a 9-5 then. That’s where the idea came up, I had seen a problem that was not peculiar to me alone and I wanted to solve it. So I contacted Omowunmi and we both developed a solution for the problem hence, Smoothie Express. We first of all picked a name, Smoothie Express because we wanted to make fresh smoothies available to customers with minutes. Then we registered the company. We used our savings in starting up the company. We had to prioritize our capital expenditure because funds were limited. Why is healthy food so important to you? As adults, we have the tendency to go by our lives eating any piece of unhealthy food just to keep body and soul going. With lots of diseases coming up and ill health associated with being overweight, the best and easiest way to keep your health in check is to eat healthy. Healthy food plays an important role in our health and it’s important for me to indulge as much as possible. What is the most challenging element of running a food startup? I would say quality control for a food start up. Customers expect nothing less than perfect food/beverage not withstanding anything, all the time. So as a food company, you have to make sure there is quality control checks all day everyday. How has currency fluctuation affected your business and what are you doing to creatively manage it and keep your products affordable? We have always been a company that believes in patronizing Nigerian products. It’s been a struggle everywhere, but we have been able to manage the currency situation because of that. Although, we are struggling with increased prices for a few items. It’s such a shame how dollar still controls our economy this much. What is the best thing and the worst thing about having a business partner? The best thing about having a business partner is that, there is always someone to cover your weaknesses and loops. The worst thing about having a business partner is that you guys get to disagree a lot of times but the ability to push past it makes it worthwhile. What is the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received from a customer? Oh well. A couple of customers say we make the best smoothies in the world. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
The mentorship advantage
Sugar. Spice. And everything nice. What do you need to be a successful entrepreneur? More than it takes to make the Powerpuff Girls. Some say passion, commitment, and willpower are top of the list —all very true. I believe to be a successful entrepreneur you need a viable business model and a good mentor. What is the role of a mentor? One of my favorite books on this topic is, “Expect to win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace” by Carla A. Harris. She defines a mentor as “someone you rely upon to give you good, tailored developmental advice”. According to Futurpreneur Canada, the advantages of having a mentor are described in six points. A mentor helps you: Gain insights and perspective by having someone to bounce your ideas off of Focus on and strategically work towards your business vision Shorten your learning curve Identify opportunities and risk by learning with someone experienced Grow and enhance your business network and acumen Build confidence knowing you have someone in your corner Key traits of mentors As I write this, I think of all my mentors and the two key traits they all share: Expertise and integrity: Find a mentor you believe to be brilliant, knowledgeable and trust worthy. You want your mentor to be someone you will listen to because you trust their expertise Genuine interest in my development: This is what I call the mentor/mentee chemistry. Choose a mentor who is genuinely interested in who you are, understands your strengths and weakness and wants to help you develop and grow. Mentorship is a deep and personal relationship and for the relationship to be truly useful, you both must feel safe sharing the “good, bad and ugly” How to be a good mentee Having discussed the importance of mentorship and what to look for in a mentor, how do you become a good mentee? Listen Consider the advice you get and apply when relevant (This is why your mentor has to be someone you can trust) Set SMART goals and hold yourself accountable Ask for feedback and provide feedback in return Be honest and communicate openly with your mentor Invest time and effort in your relationship Most importantly, as a mentee, remember to pay it forward Peer mentorship is a form of mentorship that is often neglected but I find very valuable especially in my professional and business life. Keep in mind; your mentor must have some expertise and be genuinely interested in who you are and your development from a point of low self-interest. Many times, you can find these qualities in a peer. To my mentors: Thank you for teaching me to be positive and fiercely myself. Reminding me I have all I need, to be who I want to be—a healthy mind and body. Thank you for demanding I think big. Because, why the heck not.
From passion to profit: Strategic planning for the woman-owned SME
I am fascinated and excited by the growing number of professional women entrepreneurs all over the African continent. Women who dreamed of being in the corporate world, then went on to leading universities at home or abroad, and then joined and rocked the corporate world in the business and financial enclaves of Nairobi, Johannesburg, Lagos or Accra. Women who then decided that they wanted to own their own corporate world. Brave, heroic and adventurous women. Women determined to dream, and women courageous to pursue those very dreams. I salute you all, my sheros. Accolades aside, it’s a tremendous undertaking starting and running a business. As a management consultant and business adviser with two decades of international consulting experience, I have seen the highs and lows, the joy and the pain, of running a business. The joy and pain of those who want fame and celebrity from their venture, the highs and lows of those who want to execute their enterprise demonstrating best practice, the success and disappointment of those who pursue business for purely monetary gain, and the frustrations of business owners as they deal with the inefficiencies of their value chain. Yes, it is immensely trying. Tremendously tough. Plan: Think deeply about your business aspirations But many women generally start their businesses out of a passion. Why else would you leave that well-paid management position in Citibank, GE or MTN? They want to serve that deep cry within them to step out into the deep and start their very own entrepreneurial odyssey. When they separate from their employers and well-paid jobs, the new business card is printed, the website is set up and one or two well-meaning and even carefully chosen employees are recruited. A few years down the line, things start getting complicated and the business’s reality may not match expectations and aspirations. Then disillusion sets in. Whilst this is ‘normal’ and or to be expected, I often think one of things that smaller women business owners on the continent do not do at all that could ease this dark phase of their entrepreneurial journey is strategic planning. Whilst to some that may sound like a big phrase, something that only big corporations indulge in and something that is not necessary for the small business, a documented strategic plan is a critical planning tool for the endurance of a business –even in the small and growing business sector. I would even say, especially in the small and growing business sector because of the aspiration to GROW.One is already tested by the very fact that one is an entrepreneur in the SME sector – with many more established, larger, older, and trusted businesses around the corner. Add to that the desire to make profit, satisfy customers and be responsive to their needs, listen to and train staff, and deal with third party suppliers. Exasperation then sets in. Envisioning the future of your business Whilst a business plan is used to assess the viability of a business opportunity, a strategic plan provides focus and direction for moving a business from where it is now to where it would like to get to. It is a futuristic document that documents your vision, your mission, your goals and the ensuing activities for your business over a specified period –usually 3 to 5 years. Not that you cannot run a business without one, but a more deliberate and focused picture of where you are going and what activities and initiatives it will take to get you and your business there is a valuable exercise in horizon planning and scenario mapping. Let’s start with the envisioning. Having to deliberately consider a vision statement for your business forces you to think of the purpose of your business, ‘the Why’. And ‘the Why’ is where it all starts. Your response, a succinctly documented vision statement, puts a lot into perspective. Let’s move on to your mission. What do you do? More importantly, what do you do expressly well than other businesses? What will distinguish your business? In many ways your response to these questions (in a mission statement) will then shape your goals for your business. I always say it is best to have a maximum of five goals –have one on organisational and people issues, one on branding and communications, including social media, have another on revenue targets, and yet another on your products focused on how you will distinguish your service, your brand and your brand outputs. Having documented the goals, we then move on your initiatives and all activities. For each goal agreed on, you need to articulate the activities you and your business will undertake to realise each goal. These can be as many as six or seven, but I would say ideally limit it again to five –we want to ensure the possible, let’s KIS and keep it simple. Have Done All, Do Having done all that, do. Execute. Have timelines for the achievement of each initiative- I like to say these should be quarterly targets. To support you in execution, for accountability purposes I would say institute a small Advisory Board, or a group of friends who you trust and who are professional enough to respect and value your business aspirations but also comfortable enough to ask you the tough questions about your business. Alternatively, you could also get a business coach. Many of us doers are driven by our passions and our passions alone. A runner wants to run, a golfer wants to golf and a business owner with a passion for jewelry wants to make and sell jewelry. That’s all very well and good, but if you really want to excel at what you do, whether you are a golfer, a runner or a CEO, a lot of the time you need a little, or a lot of, extra help. Conclusion Strategy planning is a tremendous exercise in self-examination and business planning. It takes a lot out of you. It’s hard. You must
These are the 7 can’t miss sessions from Social Media Week Lagos
Social Media Week Lagos is finally here!! From the 22nd – 26th of February, there will be a new kind of traffic as Social Media Week takes over the city. I kid, I kid. Traffic aside, there are several reasons why you should care about this event. Social Media Week is a conference held in cities all over the world that aims to highlight the different ways business, culture, society, and even politics can be affected through technology and social media. With over 100 events per city spanning across a wide range of industries from fashion to finance to technology to government, there is something for everyone. In Lagos, some of the companies hosting events include Facebook, Intel, Andela, Google, and Paga. Besides the undoubtedly great knowledge that you would gain from attending the events, it is also a wonderful opportunity to network with other young professionals. As I’m sure you can already tell, Social Media Week Lagos is exactly where you need to be. But how to choose from all these events? Well, because I’m all for efficiency, I have compiled a list of the 7 sessions you simply must attend: 1. The Networked African: Etiquette Of Building An Engaged & Creative Professional Profile This event is for those of you looking to boost your online profile and learn how to get a richer networking experience. Hosted by Poise Nigeria, a soft skills consulting firm, the session will cover topics on personality and image management. The event is especially relevant if you’re currently job hunting, because it will leave you with unique ways to stand out from the pack and leave a lasting impression for recruiters. 2. #TalentDebate: Technology As A Catalyst For Economic Growth & Competence Development Here, industry gurus will debate the critical issue of unemployment and what (between a job and skills) is important for sustainable economic and technological growth in the current market. The session will begin with a crash course on the current economic climate and review statistics published by the World Economic Forum and GE. Additional topics to be explored include skills and talent development. Overall, it will be a good way to glean information about how to remain competitive in the market. 3. The Beauty Of Tech Who doesn’t love beauty? Check out this event to explore new ways to innovate in the beauty industry. Speakers include Bukola Akinmboni from House of Tara, recently featured by SLA Tress Co-founders Esther Olatunde and Priscilla Hazel. There will be discussions on the impact social media has had on influencing beauty trends, and the future of beauty on the continent. 4. FB Start & Free Basics For Developers – Powered By Facebook A workshop catered to tech innovators, this session aims to educate on current opportunities provided by Facebook to aid the up-and-coming start-ups. The session will go over services like Free Basics and FB start. A must-see for any entrepreneurs in the tech space. 5. Channeling Fashion: How African Fashion Media & Brands Tell The African Fashion Narrative Calling all fashion lovers! Here’s a session tailor-made for you. Featuring a very exciting panel which includes fashion moguls like Lisa Folawiyo and SPICE TV Channel Manager, Yoanna Chikezie, this session explores a range of topics. Some of these include: the influence of technology on fashion communication, the challenges faced in the industry and ways to overcome them. If you are creating a brand or are simply interested in getting more information on the industry, this is the place to be! 6. Launch Of Women In Tech Africa Nigeria Chapter! For those of you interested in STEM, this session is a great place to meet some very successful women in the industry from all over Africa. With panelist members including representatives from Google, Facebook, and TechCabal, there will be no shortage of expert knowledge during the session. Women in Technology Africa is an organisation that aims to empower and bring attention to women involved in technology throughout Africa. The organisation also plans to start a chapter in Nigeria, which you can join during the event. To find out more about the organisation, visit their website here. 7. Small Is The New Big: How SME’s Will Transform Africa… And How You Can Be A Part Of It If you have a startup, this is a great event to get some practical business advice from industry experts. The event is hosted by PAGA and will overview opportunities that exist in Nigeria and how to tap into them. The session explores the unique situation presented by Nigeria’s need to diversify as a result of the current oil crisis. Bonus: Internet Of Me Masterclass – Making Connections, Building Community & Sharing Your Voice Come see She Leads Africa’s own Afua Osei at this event! Along with Matthew Sedze from Facebook, they will be discussing ways to use social media to create an impact in the issues you are passionate about. So don’t miss out! Register for Social Media Week here! Images from Social Media Week Lagos 2015
7 reasons you should try a side hustle instead of a business
For a long time, growing up in Africa, especially in the western region, meant you had one path to take which was usually defined by an education in Medicine, Law or Engineering. To most of our parents and the generations before theirs, to succeed in life meant working very hard and long at a steady 8am to 5pm (or later) job in the hopes of retiring with a good pension package. There was no alternate plan (Plan B) so we rolled with it. However, with recent advancements in technology and rapid globalization, people have found other means to succeed through entrepreneurship (Plan B). At some point, some, if not all of us, have been tormented by the “which path should I take?” question. Plan A provides security/comfort of a steady paycheck but tends to seriously lack in the fulfillment department, while Plan B allows us to reach for the stars but takes a lot of tears, sweat, and even blood before a business breakthrough. The good news though is that you can enjoy the pros and negate the cons of both by creating your own path through side gigs. Motherland Moguls, it is time to take destiny into our hands; to build castles that reach to the stars 1. Show me the money! It is often said that the customer is king, but running a business teaches you that cash is the kingmaker. Let’s face it: life is expensive! Starting a side hustle while maintaining your day job affords you the opportunity to cater to all aspects of your daily needs and set aside savings to build capital for your business. 2.Calculated Risks Side hustles help you advance your career or business before taking any major risks e.g. changing careers or launching a business in a particular industry. You can take incremental steps/investments and review to see if it is profitable. 3. Career diversification It is the best way to prepare for an uncertain future and mitigate risks such as job loss or bankruptcy by creating the opportunity to develop multiple streams of income. 4. Experience/Career accelerator A side hustle enables you to build skills and new business ideas that kill it at work and makes you an authority in your field of expertise. It also increases your marketability by adding a wealth of experience to reference at job interviews and client meetings. 5. Experiment It gives you the opportunity to explore different passions, experiment with creative ideas and find your purpose without the added pressure of having everything figured out. 6. Altruistic expression Some moguls want to run the world while others want to save it. Solving the world’s problems could be a thankless feat but doing it as a side gig is rewarding enough. Not only are you attending to your basic survival needs, you are also able to find fulfillment by playing your role in helping to shape your community for good. 7. Because you can Why not? You are only young once. What better way to live than embarking on projects that either fail or succeed? By embracing failure, we learn to be/do better and by achieving successes, we build a better tomorrow. Many have said in the past that the life of an entrepreneur is not for everyone. This much is true, however nobody ever said you could not succeed as a part-time entrepreneur. So a big shout to all our Motherland Mogul hustlers and to those thinking of starting something…Start!
5 careers hacks we learn from Susan Younis-Khobane’s move back to Africa
Nothing screams a fresh start quite like packing your bags and hopping on a plane across the world to move back home. For Viacom Africa Boss Lady, Susan Younis-Khobane such a ballsy move took her from freelancing for companies to overseeing production for the entire MTV Base network in Africa. Susan’s life from being born in Nigeria to schooling in the U.S. and the U.K. and then returning to Africa, is a classic success story with many lessons to glean from. 1. Embrace New Beginnings In an interview with Octavia Goredema, Susan talks about her decision to become a freelancer after working 6 years for MTV Base UK. While freelancing, an opportunity presented itself for her to shoot a series in Nigeria for MTV Base Africa and she said “Yass”. The rest is history as the short-term opportunity became an awesome life changing adventure. Africa is the land of new beginnings and you have the power to shape and tell your story in the direction you want it to go. It might take some sacrifices but the end of the story will be richly satisfying. 2. Explore the silver lining of unpaid work Prior to landing her first paid job at MTV, Susan undertook several unpaid work experience placements to gain an increasing level of experience in the entertainment industry. A major issue that has plagued our generation for decades is the lack of sufficient work experience to qualify for roles in the job market. Taking up unpaid work and delivering outstanding results is one way to get into a company or open up many opportunities. 3. Never forget your roots Susan stated that her family is the reason behind what she does and her mom is her main source of inspiration. It was her mom who taught her how to hustle, to not rely on one paycheck, and to become her own boss. There is no better place than home to begin again or build the life you have dreamed of. Home is what keeps you grounded and gives you the tools to succeed on a global level. 4. Showcase your talents Susan spent time developing her innate talents. This work has played a critical part in her journey of creating amazing content with other talented people. Identify and develop your talents (no matter how unrelated they are) and find other talented people to work with who will propel you to be better. 5. Keep the big picture in mind When considering if a move to Africa is the best decision for your career, think about your career goals and what you plan to accomplish with your life. The world is looking for problem solvers. Susan stated that she tries to make the best out of every situation/opportunity and always works with the big picture in mind, which leads her a step closer to her dreams each day. It is only a matter of perspective. Many might see Africa as a continent filled with countries stricken with problems; it takes a select few to see these problems as opportunities for impact. There are many just like Susan who took a leap of faith to advance their careers on the motherland. Kindly share lessons you have learned from their lives that will inspire others who are looking to do the same.