6 ways to stay fit on the entrepreneurial hustle
The initial stages of starting up are always the hardest. You’re working tirelessly to lay business foundations, you’re probably not getting much sleep and you might be working another job. SLA founders managed 3-4 hours of sleep a night when starting the company as, they were both working full-time jobs at McKinsey. Becoming a Motherland Mogul means working hard, extremely hard, round the clock, so how does one stay fit when you have #nodaysoff? 1. Make it a priority This is just one of those harsh realities. If working out isn’t on your daily to-do list, you will always find some excuse not to. There’s no such thing as not having time to exercise. You have to make time. Just thinking about it also won’t get you anywhere. That burns about 0 calories. 2. Make it short You don’t have to run 10 miles every day. Chances are you don’t have the time. Unless you’re training for a marathon, you don’t actually need to. A thirty minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session four times a week should be sufficient. HIIT increases your metabolism and burns more calories than steady cardio and you don’t even need a gym to do this. Anything plyometric will get you well on your way. 3. Wakeup. Workout The early bird catches the worm. Beginning your day with a workout kick starts your metabolism and helps you burn more calories during the day than you normally would. You’ll be more alert and happier (rise and shine by releasing some endorphins), which is sure to help with building your empire. Morning exercise also frees up your day to focus on other things and you’re less likely to skip it if it’s the reason you get up. 4. Keep it fresh. Keep it clean The chances of any packaged food being healthier than a home cooked meal are slim to none. When you eat out or buy a packaged meal from the grocery store, you have no control over the quantity of butter, cream, or oil in it. Cooking your own meals affords you quality and quantity control. If pressed for time, cook enough food over weekend to take you through the week. Remember: Eat small meals through our the day to maintain your blood sugar levels. Salads and fruit are healthy. And your body will thank you if you eat lean protein. 5. Hydrate H2O is your best friend, especially after working out. Water helps vitalize your muscles so you don’t end up feeling weak after exercise. Also, drinking water before and after you eat makes you feel full. Substituting good old water for juice or soda is an easy way to cut back on those unnecessary calories. Water is also good for the skin. You’ll be a fine girl – no pimples. 6. R&R is a must Give yourself breaks for muscle recovery. Overexercising doesn’t give your body time to repair, and you’ll end up fatigued, too restless, or sore to be productive. Rest days reduce risks of injury and help you sleep better. What tips are you using to stay fit in your journey? Share them with us.
6 career lessons you can learn from South African singer Lira
Not many singers can say they have sung Nelson Mandela’s favorite song to him on his birthday, have performed with the whole world watching during the World Cup, or sold-out tours in the U.S.A. But, South African singer-songwriter, Miss Lira, can! With various awards and critically acclaimed albums on her shelf, Lira has plenty career advice we can watch and learn from. 1. Be open to inspiration Lira talks about personal influences and explains the effect Stevie Wonder has had on her growing up: “Music unifies people and expresses feelings they might not be able to articulate. That made me want to be a songwriter. I thought, if there’s any reason to write music, that’s a good enough reason right there.” Inspiration for a career or a business can come from reading , observation and listening to others. Being open-minded can really open new doors for you. 2. Choose what makes you feel good “I used to be an accountant, and chose to become a musician. And that whole transition, going from earning a great income to starting a career as a musician… I was like, am I out of my mind? What was I thinking? But I just wanted to feel good. On a daily basis, I wanted to feel excited about life and my plans.” If what you do for a living is not fulfilling, if it’s not what makes your heart beat faster, it’s not too late to chase after your career dreams. 3. Work with what you have A great quote from Lira: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are right now.” You may not have it all at once, but you’ve already got something. Lira lets us know it’s most important to keep going, and not let temporary circumstance weigh us down. 4. Explore your options Lira’s American fans had been reaching out online, requesting her to come sing in The States. But prior to her huge U.S. tour, Lira took some time to check out the scene, and did a mini-tour of 5 shows in different states. “We had sold-out concerts. There was quite an interest in what I had to offer.” Trying out venues and styles of delivery for your service or product can help you specify your professional approach and guide your career direction. 5. Allow yourself to break away from pressure In a 2013 interview, Lira explained that after 9 years of non-stop work, she wanted to take some time out: “I want to be able to just be, and not feel pressure for a while.” Encourage yourself to work as hard as your time allows you. And when necessary, after long, busy days, a little time to decompress will have you back on your grind extra strong. 6. Find power in humility Lira tells us she can find beauty in Africa, America, in Europe, in the East, but: “There’s something that Africa can offer to the world, that the world needs today. There’s an element of humility that we have, that I feel the world has forgotten. We still have a sense of community.” Taking values from your home front into your business can help you keep track of both your personal and professional growth. If what you’ve learned growing up is accurate to how you want to do business now, that’s something you want to keep close. What other lessons have you learned from this power house’s journey? Share them with us.
My mentor helped me learn my worth & start my business
It was the worst of times–I was jobless, broke, and in despair. Then I met a woman who told me to own my skills and know my worth, in that order. She is now one of my amazing mentors, and an inspiration for my organization, The Fairy Godsister, Inc. Mentorship is significant to career success and personal advancement. Mentoring is a relationship between two individuals, in which a more experienced person imparts insight, wisdom, and guidance that can be leveraged to help a less experienced person progress in their professional, personal, or academic development. In my career, I have had an opportunity to meet wonderful women who have empowered me to accomplish great things. As such, I have always enjoyed networking as a fantastic way to expand the cache of individuals in my rolodex. But simply increasing your number of acquaintances is not enough. Join a Network There are networks whose primary purpose is to help match you with a mentor that is the right fit for your goals and ambitions. Do some research, and identify a few that are of interest to you. Then, reach out! Here’s a tip: Before you begin your search, define a few goals that you would like a mentor to help you accomplish. This exercise will enable you to quickly filter out organizations that do not provide mentors that speak to your needs. Affiliate networks If you already work at a company, find out if there is an affinity network for women. If so, join one or five, and engage with the members in the network. Find someone who is more senior than you, whose position you may one day like to have, and ask that individual out for coffee to discuss their experiences. This is an organic approach to developing an advocacy relationship with someone at your workplace. Leverage your network The good thing about networking is meeting people; the bad thing is not following up. To avoid the pitfalls of this, make it a goal to find one potential mentor at every opportunity where you meet people. Set relationship building as a priority and find individuals from whom you can learn. I have developed relationships with individuals simply because I reached out to follow up with an email to ask for a phone call or coffee after an event or upon reading their LinkedIn profiles. A coffee, two dinners, and a Facebook/LinkedIn later, you now have a healthy relationship with someone who you will learn from and can leverage to your advantage. Final tip Mentoring is a mutually beneficial relationship, so before you reach out to someone, consider how you may be able to assist them as well. In our organization, we have found that many of the mentors report great benefits from their roles. They learn things about themselves through their relationships with their mentees. So, when considering finding a mentor, be prepared to be a teacher as well as a student. In conclusion, the relationships that are built through networking opportunities are seldom maintained beyond a few follow-up emails, resulting in a wasted resource. You need to build relationships, and most importantly, identify an advocate who will become a mentor. Yet, I know that finding the right mentor is not always easy. In fact, studies indicate that historically, women have reported greater challenges in finding mentors than men. This has led to the development of a number of networks and programs who aim to connect women with female mentors. The Mentoring Women’s Network, and The Fairy Godsister are two such groups.
Craft the perfect email for everyone in your office
In part I of emailing like a boss, I provided a checklist with the correct structure to slay all of your professional emails. In part II, I discussed how to tweak your content to suit you reader, be it a colleague, employee, boss, or client/customer. Understanding your reader is essential to getting an effective response. You wouldn’t talk to your sister in the same way you talk to your father. That’s foolishness, especially in an African household. This same principle applies to your email. Knowing your reader is important as it establishes their position and affects the tone of your message. Let’s dissect workplace roles and how to tailor your email for each one. Colleagues: Teamwork makes the dream work Be a great team player, do your part, and communicate in a productive manner. Find ways to personalize each message even when sending generic emails. This way, you aren’t victim to the bystander effect, where no one responds because everyone got the email. Communicate to everyone one individually. Be open, driven, and progressive towards an equal compromise . Employees: People want to be led by a visionary A person with a clear vision and passion for success is the best person to work for. Whether you know this or not, people choose to work for you because they believe your vision can and will get them paid. If that isn’t trust, I don’t know what is. Try using words that indicate appreciation and urgency to get a task done. Upper Management, ie. Boss: Busy, Busy, Busy! One vital thing to know about the lives of your boss and upper management is that they are far too busy taking care of the company to waste time reading emails that beat around the bush. In fact, you have the subject line to capture their attention. As an employee sending an email to upper management, your email has to be exceptionally purposeful, brief, and relevant. Every word and sentence counts so no need to repeat or go too far with descriptions (unless that is the task at hand). You can find seven fabulous tips to help you send emails to your boss here. Remember, potential employers are even busier than the management you work for. Why? Because they do not know you. So give them a reason to want to know you. Clients / Customers: Great customer service leads to profit Let’s face it, we love our customers because we exist to cater to them. And this catering comes with a price: communicating personally with a clear purpose is key to sustaining and building your brand loyalty. Always use positive framing. Listen and respond to your customers in a timely fashion. Give your customers what they want, which is to be understood. Acknowledge their comment and respond directly to their words. Because remember, a business is nothing without its customers. Have you used any other tips to save you from the proverbial African disgrace when writing email? If so, feel free to share them with us.
The fork in the road: Choosing the right business structure
Once you have decided to start your new venture, it is imperative that you choose the right business structure for your company. Do research to find out if you should register as a sole trader, a limited liability company, or a partnership. Don’t rush to the Corporate Affairs Commission to register an LLC because your friend did and their business is profitable. If in doubt, this piece will help you to make the right choice. Sole proprietorship (“the lone walker”) A sole proprietorship is owned and managed by one individual—the owner. The owner is liable for the business’s financial obligations. For example, in some jurisdictions, as a sole proprietor, your business profits and losses are included in your personal tax returns. Consequently, if your new venture experiences losses, such losses may offset your income from your “day job.” The drawback of this structure is that you’re liable for your new venture’s liabilities. Which means is your personal assets (houses, cars, jewelry etc.) are on the line if you fail to repay a debt or run into financial trouble. If you love working alone and do not mind being personally liable for your business, this may be a good option for you. But note that raising funds for your business as a sole trader will be difficult.Banks and institutional investors tend to shy away because of the risk of losing their investments if your business goes south. Partnership A partnership is appropriate if your new venture is owned by two or more individuals. Partnerships are named differently in different jurisdictions and vary in structure, which dictates you and your partner(s) liability. For example, under a general partnership, you and your partner(s) are responsible for the financial liability and daily operations of the venture. On the other hand, a limited partnership constitutes a general partner and a limited partner. A general partner owns and assumes the liability of the partnership, whereas the limited partner is the investor (the limited partner only provides the money!). The limited partner does not participate in the daily operations of the new venture and is not liable for the new venture’s debt. Generally, a partnerships have a better chance of raising funds from banks and institutional investors than sole proprietorships. More on partnerships Thoroughly review the different partnership structures in your jurisdiction and determine what works best for venture, then if necessary negotiate with your business partner(s) and sign a contract. Even if your partner is your best friend. Have these questions at the back of your mind when drafting the contract: What is your business continuity plan if your partner leaves or dies? What role will each partner play? Do you want only one partner taking decisions on behalf of the company (e.g. taking out loans)? How will you resolve conflicts between partners? (Stay away from litigation!) There is no better time to agree on the terms of the partnership than during the early stages when everyone is excited about the venture. Sign the agreement during the honeymoon phase as it will be extremely challenging to agree on anything during the divorce phase. Corporation Like partnerships, corporations vary from one jurisdiction to another. Nonetheless, corporations are generally separate entities from their owners, and personal assets not at risk. However, there are some exceptions where a court could pierce the corporate veil and make make owners liable. As with partnerships, banks and institutional investors are more likely to consider issuing loans or making investments. Corporations also have the benefit of raising funds by issuing stocks. Limited Liability Company A limited liability company has one or more partners (depending on the jurisdiction) and combines elements from partnerships and corporations. For example, all partners in a limited liability company can all participate in the daily operations of the business, but partners are not personally liable for the venture’s debt. What’s more, LLCs can raise funds from institutional investors and get bank loans. Nonetheless, this veil of protection against liability is lifted if you personally guarantee the venture’s debt. You want to keep a clean slate? Here’s how to do that… Once you have chosen a business structure, it is imperative that you register it with the relevant regulatory authorities. Contrary to popular belief, the Lagos Internal Revenue Services can track your Lagos-based business if your business fails to make relevant tax payments. Moreover, you do not want to give potential investors the impression of one who evades regulatory processes. Some practical steps to registering your business 1. Choose a name for the business. 2. Check with the Corporate Affairs Commission that the name is still available. In some jurisdictions, this search can be conducted online. 3. If it’s available, register the name or reserve the name (some jurisdictions allows for name reservations for 30 days). 4. After the name is confirmed, draft your legal documents e.g. Partnership Agreements, Memorandum & Articles of Association, etc. The Memorandum & Articles of Association should enumerate the purpose of the new venture, the name of the partners and their percentage ownership, the office address etc. 5. Register your company with the relevant tax authority and get a tax identification number. 6. If applicable, apply for a business permit/license. In sum, the business structure you choose determines the extent to which you will be personally liable for your business debt, your tax liability, your responsibilities as a business owner as well as the required regulatory filings. This is one of the most important early stage decisions you will make as a business owner so think through it carefully and decide what works for you! In the next segment, we will discuss legal considerations when raising funds for your new business. Have a question to ask? Write to us! We are listening. Follow this series with Part 1 of Efe’s Legal Corner on The Best Way To Resign Your Job To Start Your Business.
10 TED talks by African women that will inspire you this year
Chimamanda’s Danger of a Single Story remains the most popular TED Talk on Africa of all time. The talk boasts more than 9 million views on the TED website and 1 million+ views on YouTube. I researched other African women sharing great insight on the TED stage and found 10 of the best that was produced in 2015. Here are 10 African women who gave inspiring Ted Talks last year: Memory Banda At 18, I was most concerned with getting the latest Iphone. Memory Banda on the other hand, successfully influenced the Malawi parliament to raise the legal marriage from 15 to 18. After watching her sister get pregnant at 11, Memory vowed to defy the traditional practice of kusasafumbi, a practice in which young girls are forced into marriage once they begin menstruation. Now an avid girl’s rights activist, Memory shows a glimpse of her strength and resilience in this passionate speech about girls right to choose at the TEDWomen 2015 conference. Taiye Selasi Discounted by some as a “First World Problem”, Taiye’s Selasi asks the question, “Where are you from?” in reference to migration around the world. Taiye has lived in four continents, and her critically acclaimed book “Ghana Must Go,” details the complexity of human identity. MaameYaa Baofo Although Nollywood has established itself as an industry to be reckoned with in Africa, many African parents are still unlikely to be thrilled with a child actively choosing acting as a desired profession. MaameYaa Baofo, a New-York based Ghanaian actress, is also gifted orator. In this talk, she uses her experience of pursuing acting despite discouragement from others to discuss the importance of being your authentic self without apology. Zodidi Jewel Gaseb Zodidi is a Namibian woman who discusses the impacts of Western beauty ideals on women through her personal journey of wearing her hair natural. She was inspired to grow out her naturally kinky hair after she realized that her daughter perceived her long flowy extensions as the standard of beauty. She challenges negative stereotypes about black hair in this short but poignant video: Yawa Hansen-Quao “Your voice is your Power” is the key message of this inspiring video by Ghanaian born and US raised Yawa Hansen-Quao, the leader of the Leading Ladies Network (LLN). Her talk aligns with the ethos of the LLN, an organization dedicated to encouraging young women to participate in entrepreneurship and leadership. Mallence Bart-Williams Malence is the founder of Folorunsho, a Not-for-profit organization that she says is “not a charity”. Mallence believes charities in Africa foster the rhetoric of poverty and dependency on the West. She briefly explores the impact of post-colonialism on African countries as the impetus for her collective which connects a group of street boys aged 14 – 20 living in the slums of Freetown, Sierra Leone Lion Base and encourages them to be self-sufficient through creativity: Ola Orekunrin Becoming one of the youngest medical doctors in England at the age of 21 was just the tip of the iceberg for Ola Orekunrin’s promising career. She went on to create The Flying Doctors initiative, West Africa’s first emergency air ambulance service. The success of her initiative earned her a New Voices Fellow at the Apsen Institute and a Young Global Leader title by the World Economic Forum in 2013. In this TEDxTalk, she address the sexism women in business and positions of power experience, despite their noteworthy achievements. Afua Hirsch An experienced journalist, Afua Hirsch is the social affairs and education editor for Sky News. In this refreshingly honest video, Afua asserts that we do not live in a post-racial society as there are still several stereotypes associated with blackness. She refutes the popular “ I don’t see colour” rhetoric by explaining that we cannot transcend racial tension and microaggressions without having honest conversations about race. Ekua Armah Ekua was a senior at the University of Southern California majoring in health promotion and disease prevention students at the time of this speech. As a public and women’s health educator, Armah discusses using social media as a transformative tool to enhance women’s lives. Salima Visram Visram is the founder of the social enterprise, Solour Backpack. The problem: school children in certain rural areas in Kenya do not have access to lights and electricity to complete their school assignments, thus creating a vicious cycle of poverty. To address this issue, the backpack company leverages the power of the sun by outfitting their backpacks with solar panels which provides electricity to the school children at night. In this TedxTalk, Visram discusses children’s inability to stay in school and the work we can do to prevent this. What were some of your favourite speeches in 2015? Do you plan on giving a speech or TED Talk this year? Do share with the community.
Dziffa Ametam: Tools and tips for building an e-commerce site
From Amazon to Alibaba to Jumia, ecommerce has taken the global retail market by storm. Data suggests the trend is here to stay. With internet penetration improving across Africa, we expect ecommerce industry to expand. Dziffa Ametam of Dziffa is on a mission to create an online marketplace for authentic handmade African goods. For any one who had spent time on the continent Africa, this is no easy feat. Internet speed and pricing are two of several hurdles ecommerce business have to surmount. In this piece, Ametam shares tips that have helped her build her business, and pitfalls to avoid. Can you give us some insight to some of the important tools you started out with? 1. Stick To Your Principle At Dziffa, our principle was simple: sell authentic handmade African goods that add value to our local economy and expand the global reach of our local artisans. We started by combing Ghana for artisans who made high quality goods from locally sourced raw materials. We partnered with them, providing professional photography, branding, and marketing services free of charge. As they had nothing to lose, they agreed to the partnership, and that helped stock the site with products that are aligned to our principle of creating a store with authentic African goods. 2. Focus on the Supply Chain Most ecommerce sites fail because they are unable to meet demand. It was very important for us to maintain consistency by fulfilling all orders. This sounds very basic but it is actually the hardest part of our job. We work with artisans from various regions and each has his or her own challenges with getting the products to us on time. I moved to Ghana to ensure that all orders, no matter how small, would be fulfilled. Fulfilment is crucial to turning curious customers to loyal customers. Someone could buy a bookmark out of curiosity, but if she received it on time and is satisfied with it, she just might become a loyal customer. Plus, her friends will know about her new discovery. Pitfalls to avoid Getting heavily involved with manufacturing. Because we work hand in hand with artisans, we are always tempted to get involved with the manufacturing process. This was a big distraction in the very early days of Dziffa. We would get consumed with the manufacturing process that we didn’t have time to focus on our core responsibility, which is selling. What are some tools you started without that you soon realized were necessary? Social Media, Blogs, and Magazines. Stories matter and we underestimated the power of storytelling in the very early stages of Dziffa. We communicate to our audience through our weekly blog post and bring them along with us on our journey. We reach out to magazines to share our discoveries. We also leverage social media to brand and sell beyond our immediate market,Ghana. What is your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs trying to get into the e-commerce space? 1. Do your research I cannot stress this enough. As an entrepreneur, every mistake you make is costly. Do your research or speak to someone who has been down a similar path. Make sure you thoroughly research the market you are going into and fully understand the opportunities and challenges. 2. Embrace the struggle Entrepreneurship is not easy. You will be faced with a lot of challenges. Embrace the struggle; they teach you a lot about yourself and your potential. Remain persistent and always remember why you chose this path. You can learn more about Dziffa? You can find out more on her website and social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. Want to learn more about ecommerce or running an ecommerce business? Comment below and let us know.
The best comebacks for the 7 worst workplace mistakes
Mistakes happen. But what do you do after a mishap? Since different mix-ups require different solutions, we have put together a come back list for these 7 common work place mistakes. They might help cut you some slack. 1. You miss a very important meeting When you come in, don’t act as if you did not forget. You might be smooth, but people will notice. Slide in quietly and take your boss to the side. Tell her you honestly forgot and that you’ll adjust right away. Don’t speak if you’re not up on the subject. Rather, listen and take notes so that you can work back from there after the meeting. Take note of upcoming meetings and write them down immediately so that next time, you’ll be the first one in the room. Prepare yourself cautiously and never repeat this in the future. Before you know, no one remembers that one time you forgot. 2. You made quite the typo Your boss asked you to send a crucial e-mail regarding an important deal, and you used the verb? Let it be. Messed up a time-schedule? Correct it. But then, there are the real pain-in-the-behind typos. Let’s say you got a little enthusiastic and spelled your biggest clients last name ‘Yerk’ as J-E-R-K. Normally, this does not happen to you, so don’t beat yourself up – what’s done is done. Send out an email with an apology. Keep it light – perhaps you could humorously point out how close these letters are to each other on ALL of our keyboards. 3. You ate someone’s sandwich This is super disrespectful. Someone was counting on that. We can’t help you here. 4. You had the best time at the office party …And may have told your handsome co-worker that “you love a man in a uniform”. And now you can’t remember whether you kept talking after that… Oh dear. You’ll still have to walk into that office, so you better come correct and look a hundred when you do. Be fresh and in a good mood when you enter, and when someone comments on your frills from the night before, you say: “I’m sure you had a great time. Wasn’t I charming?” or “Man, that was some champagne”. 5. You deleted a document that you can’t get back anymore You better pray. The century of technology has provided us with so many comforts – but my, oh my, with it comes the stress of saving, saving-as and… well, losing. If this problem is beyond your technical skills, get someone who can fix it for you. 6. You’ve gotten into it with your co-worker He’d been on your nerves for weeks and now it’s come to an altercation. He said some things and so did you, and now it’s hard to concentrate around each other. If you guys can’t solve this issue together, tell your boss. Either go together and address the issue in a respectful and mature manner, or book some solo time with your boss to discuss what you think might be a solution to the problem. 7. You lack sleep and therefore empathy You’ve been putting in extra hours and it’s made you cranky as can be. Although you try to leave that at home, people notice you’re not in a happy mood. If you can, take a day off, or work from home for a day. Being in a different, lower-pressure environment might help you snap out of the funky mood. Get some sleep. Eat a decent meal. Do a fifteen-minute work out, and right before bed, read a few pages from your favorite book. Then watch yourself turn up at the job refreshed. After all, rent’s up and you need this money. These tips should help save the day. And if they do, send us some jollof too. Also, if you have other tips for making an office come back, please share the SLA community.
Diarra Bousso: It’s hard to be taken seriously in the beginning
Diarra Bousso is making significant waves in the global fashion industry with her bespoke luxury brand Dakar Boutique Group. The brand houses DIARRABLU and Diarra Bousso target swanky and contemporary consumers. Her work has been featured in The New York Times and The Huffington Post among others., and was showcased at New York Fashion Week. Diarra has gained recognition and acclaim from the global business community. She was a panelist at Harvard’s Africa Business Conference last year where she discussed the evolution of Africa’s consumer growth story. We caught up with her to talk about her journey. Tell us a bit about yourself I was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal and moved to Norway at 16 to finish high school. Upon graduation, I moved to the States where I attended Macalester in Minnesota for a B.A. in Maths, Economics, and Statistics., before moving to New York and starting a career on Wall Street. Two years later, I resigned and returned to Senegal to found Dakar Boutique Group, a luxury holding company that celebrates ‘Made in Africa’ through my various brands: Diarra Bousso and DIARRABLU. The Dakar Boutique Group – what does it do and why did you decide to start it? I always knew I was going to end up in fashion and for me. And it only made sense to do it in Africa, because I wanted to also focus on development and rebranding the continent. Dakar Boutique Group is a luxury holding company and basically owns other companies such as Diarra Bousso and DIARRABLU. Each subsidiary has a particular focus but they all share the ‘Made in Africa’ signature. Diarra Bousso focuses on premium leather goods whereas DIARRABLU focuses on womenswear in geometric cut. Coming up with an idea is the first step. What did you do next? My next step was to raise awareness. We launched at a big party on a private island and followed it up with a traveling fashion show in June 2013 titled African Voyage. This allowed us to get a lot of attention, both in Senegal and abroad. It also marked our first appearance in the media. Talk us through the first 6 months of starting up DB. What were your priorities and how did you determine them? My main priority was visibility. I was focused on the African Voyage event production and PR and put all our energy on it. I have no background in fashion but I definitely knew that I needed to set a high standard for the brand’s image. For me, the best way to achieve that was through a high profile original event. What were the key challenges you faced when you first started? How have they evolved over time? I think it’s always hard to be taken seriously in the beginning, especially when you are not trained in the industry. I was always confident about my vision and so I didn’t let anything discourage me. I focused a lot on communicating aggressively on social media and sharing the essence of my brands in a very transparent manner. I believe this makes you more credible and engages your audience. You’re a fashion designer but you also run a fashion business. How do these roles interact? Is there ever a conflict? The two roles compliment each other very well actually. My background is in finance so business comes naturally. That said, I spent all my free time growing up daydreaming, drawing, painting and designing. This job now allows me to align what I learned in school and what I am naturally good at, which creates the perfect balance. In the fashion business, making beautiful clothes is one thing, getting them to your customer is another. Tell us about your distribution strategy We are available online on the main website, www.dakarboutique.com, where customers all over the world can shop at their convenience. We are currently working on a few in store placements, especially in New York, and will be announcing that very soon. Our strategy focuses on distributing to areas we have customers. You created two lines DIARRABLU and DB . What was the business rationale of creating two separate labels? I wanted to reach two different demographics: DIARRABLU is a very trendy womenswear brand priced under $500. The brand focuses on daydreams which is something accessible to everyone and suits the bold, fun and modern shopper in major cities such as New York, Lagos, Paris, Rio etc. It is therefore only natural for us to aim for distribution in such places. Diarra Bousso is more exclusive and focuses solely on leather accessories. Everything is limited edition, so the customer has to find us, create a relationship, live the experience and then get their bags made to order. It’s a completely different business model as well as a different customer. How have you funded your business growth and what was the fundraising process like for you? Any specific tips and tricks for startups out there? We have been self-funded so far which has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. I think it is important for startups to first try on their own and show what they can deliver before approaching investors. It’s a good test of the viability of your business and definitely makes you more credible when it’s time to raise capital. Can you talk to us about some of the specific marketing strategies that you have used? We have a very strong marketing team that’s very focused on the digital space. Our customer is modern and online, thus it is important to focus on high quality images alongside strong social media fluency and transparency. Lifestyle marketing has also played an important role, and we achieve this with the African Voyage concept which we share on social media through photographs and videos. You’ve managed to get over 12,000 followers on Instagram. What role does social media play in your overall strategy? How have you grown your following? We have grown our following in a very organic manner. I think our audience likes to
Webinar with Andrea Barrica: The Do’s & Don’ts of Investor Pitching (Feb 2)
Don’t miss another event! Join our community and always stay informed. [vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”RSVP for the webinar” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fplus.google.com%2Fu%2F0%2Fevents%2Fcdig7e0ir5ci7h33r7napcvkts8||target:%20_blank” css=”.vc_custom_1454250856561{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;background-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-left-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 4px !important;}”][vc_column_text]If raising capital from an investor is one of your top business goals for 2016, then you need to join us on February 2 for a special webinar with an experienced entrepreneur and venture partner from Silicon Valley. Some of the questions we’ll cover: At what stage in your business should you be looking to speak with investors? How long should your business pitch be? How can you find investors interested in your business? Do you need a professionally designed pitch deck? About Andrea Barrica: Andrea Barrica is a Venture Partner at 500 Startups, a global seed fund and accelerator for early stage startups based in Silicon Valley. She was previously co-founder at inDinero, an accounting and taxes software solution where she led the team to the first $1M in sales in 10 months. Andrea was a guest trainer at She Hive Lagos and coached our bootcamp participants on effective pitching and is excited to work with the SLA community again. RSVP for the webinar here. Make sure you’re part of our community to get access to more upcoming events and programs. Want to learn more about preparing for pitch events and competitions? Read our article on 4 things you must have to be pitch perfect.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”RSVP for the webinar” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fplus.google.com%2Fu%2F0%2Fevents%2Fcdig7e0ir5ci7h33r7napcvkts8||target:%20_blank” css=”.vc_custom_1454250918263{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;background-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-left-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #d1d1d1 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 4px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGA7ZMH0vBk”][/vc_column][/vc_row]