Michelle Orlendo: Helping women appreciate African-textured hair with the Nywele Chronicles
[bctt tweet=”There is no harm in trying. Do not be afraid of failure, keep trying – Michelle Orlendo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Natural hair, especially 4c textured hair, styled in a simple yet luxuriant look has been frowned upon by many. We often hear people classifying it as an unkempt and unruly look. However, Michelle Orlendo, is changing that perception daily one head at a time. Michelle is seeing to it that as many women in Kenya transition and embrace the beautiful and natural look as possible. Tired of chemically and heat treating her hair, which had lost volume, and inspired by the fact that African women were rocking their natural hair and slaying, the 23-year-old Michelle woman embarked on a journey of being a naturalista. The big chop Michelle Orlendo went for the big chop in July 2015, to the chagrin of many. She had shoulder-length, flowing heat-treated hair, an ideal look for many. As she began her journey slightly over a year ago (on 25th November, 2015), Michelle vowed to involve other women. She especially targeted young girls who would aspire to go natural but lacked the motivation and/or guidance. The journey ahead was full of trials, criticism, moments of almost giving up and a lot of doubts. However, it began with the opening of a Facebook page dubbed “Nywele Chronicles”, (Nywele is hair in Swahili). Michelle invited her friends to like the page initially. Only a few liked it, but the fan base gradually picked up through her consistency in giving what the audience wants. The Nywele effect A few months after her big chop, Michelle’s hair grew tremendously and ladies started asking questions. Michelle describes her hair as a reflection of her soul, and her hair was glossy and really kinky —in every sense of African amazing kinky. Questions came pouring in, people wanted to know what Michelle applies, how she styles it and protective styles they could use. With every question came the realisation that she could start a blog. Michelle thought to move away from only posting pictures on her social media platforms, but also write reviews of the products she used and how she styled her hair. From it’s inception, Nywele Chronicles gained a huge amount of followers who genuinely wanted a smooth transition from chemically treated hair to natural hair. Michelle became a hair consultant of some sort. Ladies would approach her to feel her hair and request her to cater to theirs the same way. Her glorious mane turned heads in school, Moi University, as people started calling her by her page’s name, Nywele Chronicles. “It has not been an easy journey to keep my focus on updating my social media pages, getting the time to do tutorials amongst other things.” Michelle says. “I’d have given up were it not for my passion and the strong support system I have.” This is how Michelle Orlendo persevered through the challenges to get to the one year mark. Aiming to encourage women to love their natural hair Michelle hopes to have her own products that cater to African-textured hair in the market, in a span of less than 5 years. With a salon to her name and a degree in Trichology —a branch of dermatology that deals with the scientific study of the health of hair and scalp— a consultancy will come in handy. With her experience, Michelle always looks at people’s hair and analyses it even before touching. She can easily tell hair that lacks moisture, too much heat treatment and malnourished hair. [bctt tweet=”Michelle Orlendo stays motivated by the fact that Nywele Chronicles will soon be a business” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Now in her final year studying Actuarial Science, Michelle Orlendo stays motivated by the fact that she will soon be turning Nywele Chronicles into a business. Aiming to encourage women to love their natural hair is her tag line. This is being actualised as Michelle is helping transitioning women to wear their natural look, and feel glamorous while at it, through Nywele Chronicles. She further adds that the initiative has really helped build her confidence and esteem. Going natural has made Michelle appreciate herself holistically and opened a new window through which she views herself. To everyone that wants to venture in the formally perceived ‘not-so ideal’ courses and activities Michelle Orlendo says; “If you feel like the timing is right to do anything that you want to do, go ahead and do it. Forget what people will say and do it. There is no harm in trying. Do not be afraid of failure, keep trying.” Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
6 revolutionary resolutions from 2016 that’ll have 2017 smiling at you
[bctt tweet=”We know resolutions may be tired and old-fashioned but stick with us here” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] So maybe 2016 didn’t turn out to be the year you have been waiting and hoping for. However, I’m sure a lot of us will agree that it feels good to still be standing. Especially after all the shots 2016 gave us. I know resolutions may be tired and old-fashioned. Nobody really does them any more and most of those who still do, hardly ever stick to them. Whatever your view, we can all agree that if properly followed through, they can make a positive change. As a child, I thought resolutions were only concerned with changing bad habits. With time, I began learning that changing the way you think can very well be a resolution. Just because you pen them down at the beginning of a certain year doesn’t mean you haven’t been doing it. It serves as a reminder for you to keep on doing the damn thing! [bctt tweet=”Resolutions serve as a reminder for you to keep on doing the damn thing” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Most of us would say we went through the most last year, and we probably have (I know I have!) I also found, however, that I learnt more about myself than I ever did before, and those very lessons are the resolutions I’d like me and you to carry into 2017. 1. Yes, I can and I will! Just a few months ago, a 7-year old princess published her very first book, need I say more? Never stop reaching, Mamelodi Sundowns reached for the stars and caught one! 2. I will show up and stand up where I can The girls at Pretoria Girls’ High showed up together and stood up for their right to wear their crowns freely. The women who remembered Khwezi and the thousands of fed-up girls who spoke up and stood against rape culture across tertiary campuses knew they had to show up and stand up. The hundreds of women and men that run pad, clothing and food drives continue to tirelessly show up for society where no system does. And, it’s not even about that alone. It’s you refusing to be quiet about topics society won’t touch and linking people who need help with those who can assist. It’s you following your dream and teaching the sisters back in the hood how they can make it too. Sometimes, it’s really just the retweet, share, compliment and advice that matters most. We need to remember that sometimes, however unfortunately, the people that need help won’t ask for it because of what they’ve been through before. So this coming year, show up for those with no hope, it might change their lives. [bctt tweet=”The trick is to keep learning, no matter who bad things may seem, you learn!” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. I will choose love You must have seen this one on Instagram pics and Twitter throughout 2016 but I promise you it’s worth it. The best kind of love is self-love, the rest of it will translate outward to others. I know women who battle to find this love after bad relationships and maybe self-disappointment. It breaks my heart knowing I can’t love them where they need to love themselves, the best I can do is tell them they are worth it and hope they believe me. Every day of 2017, love yourself. That worth you seek in others can only be found in yourself, everyone else can only appreciate it. 4. Some people know better than you, learn from them Being a ‘new’ entrepreneur myself, I found that there are lessons I can only learn from people who have walked this journey before. I started following and reading about this special group of people and without even asking any questions, their stories taught me a lot of what I know about entrepreneurship today. MotherlandMogul Tip: While you ask for help, pointers or advice, don’t forget that no one can walk this journey for you, no one at all. You must be prepared to put in the work and research. 5. 2017 isn’t my year either Yes, 2017 isn’t your year either, but when last was any year for you anyway? We will still lose loved ones and great figures in society, fail, get hurt, worry, fight and cry in 2017. But just like in 2016, there will be jokes and stories that we think will never get old. We will achieve things we didn’t think we could, we will still regret watching ‘one more episode’. Twitter still won’t rest, there will still be too much sauce, we will discover a meme almost as great as baby Jake. She Leads Africa will continue to make us great (yay!) and you will smile again. So yes, 2017 isn’t your year, you and your choices are. If you plan on losing, make sure you learn, otherwise, win with positivity and inner peace. [bctt tweet=”2017 isn’t your year either, but when last was any year for you?” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 6. I will celebrate myself and others Absolutely, clap for yourself and all the black girls breaking ground around you! There is nothing quite like seeing girls celebrate other girls and themselves —treating the next woman like the queen they are themselves. Sometime in December last year, the hashtag #TheGirlsAreAlright was trending and in all honesty, this one is right up there as one of my absolute favourites. The reason for the trend was a thread that was tweeted by a queen herself, @SilindileM_, celebrating beautiful, no problem African queens! So for 2017, learn to clap when a fellow queen makes it, even if it is before you. You will be where you want to be someday, and until then, celebrate yourself for the small progress you make each and every day. Look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself YOU ARE ALRIGHT because you are a queen! Above all, teach the young princesses to do it too, tell them
Lebogang Chaka: I’m where I am today because I’m not afraid to dream
[bctt tweet=”Lebogang Chaka lives and breathes the values of being an African and is leaving a brilliant legacy” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Lebogang Chaka considers herself a multi-potentialite. She is a dreamer, a speaker and MC who has committed to travelling the world talking on pertinent African issues related to the continent. A firm believer in the notion that Africans need to tell their own stories, Lebogang believes that she was born to use her “voice” through her work and talks to become a “guardian” of the African continent. She is the founder of a consulting firm that offers management consulting services such as transformation, change management, organisational design, outsourcing and restructuring programmes including facilitation and coaching services. Lebogang Chaka has experience working with top-tier consulting firms such as Deloitte, KPMG and Accenture, with international experience in Dubai. She also currently serves as the Chairperson of the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute Alumni Forum as well as the advisory board for Africa Future Dialogue. Still, Lebogang is a small town girl from Mafikeng with a love for her continent and dreams of being Dr Chaka. Take us through your day I like to start off the day with a gym session to prepare me for the day and all that it comes with. Given all my passion and commitments, my days vary. I am a management consultant by trade, which sees me sitting in board rooms with C-Suite executives or leaders in the public sector. As a consultant, I understand the problems of an organisation and provide practical solutions to their various problems. My demands as a Phd student require that I come home, switch off and give my studies my full attention. My various volunteer activities —which includes sitting on boards, require me to review concept documents, set up meetings and respond to proposals. As a speaker and coach, I ensure that I prepare for my sessions with my various commitments. What I love about my day is that it is seldom the same. Time management is key and learning how to say ‘no’ has been my greatest lesson to make it through the day. And yes, I manage to cook and spend time with my loved one. I love a home cooked meal. One needs to protect their core, some things cannot be compromised. I love being present at home and not let all my passions be a source of guilt. How do you push through your worst times? After burning out after 3 years in management consulting and nearly passing away, I took sabbatical for a month. During that time, I met people from different walks of life. This was my greatest low and afterwards, I learnt the art of taking care of myself physically by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I was incomplete without my spirituality, I reconnected with God’s word and I now I draw strength from feeding my soul with the word of God. Through my worst times, I remind myself of how I overcame all the doctors had said. I remind myself of how far God has brought me. I push because I know that the light at the end of the tunnel is worth the wait, because I know that my success will inspire others. My doctoral studies have been the most challenging studies I have had to date but I stay grounded in the word. I maintain a healthy lifestyle to ensure the stress that comes with the studies is minimised to ensure that I can live a live that is filled with joy. [bctt tweet=”Lebogang Chaka learnt the art of taking care of herself after a burn out and nearly passing away” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What keeps you awake at night? The renewal of our continent. We cannot be the “dark continent”, I need to play my part. I constantly ask myself; What more can I do to ensure that I can build a continent that my children will be proud of? What are your success habits? The one thing that I admire about myself is my ability to dream like a child and to not have boundaries. My dreams are always larger than life, my dreams usually scare me but I always boldly talk about them. I got to where I am today because I am not afraid to dream and I am not afraid to work hard for my dreams. Above all, God’s grace is forever with me. I also believe that a life well lived is a life that does not mirror the vision of others but rather is based on one’s own journey. My measure of success is how well I have lived my life according to what I believe I am called to do. This is as opposed to what society believes I should do. Lastly, I was raised by parents who had an incredible vision for us as their children; to be more and to serve others. What is your meaning of greatness? Do you believe you have at some point achieved greatness? Greatness to me means being the best version of you. It means being able to achieve peace about what you were called to be, understanding your purpose. After experiencing a corporate burnout, I reflected on my life and realized that I had given all my talents to the corporate world. At that very point, I began to search for my purpose. Today, it is very clear how I can use my talents to serve and make a difference in the lives of many. My career as a speaker is birthed from me understanding my calling. Can you tell us about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about that, and what you did instead of giving up?’ This year with my PhD studies at the beginning of the year, I was struggling with my studies. I have never struggled with any of my previous studies as such, this was indeed a humbling experience. There was a time in class in February
Senanu Arkutu: I decided to follow a passion that I hadn’t realised was a skill
[bctt tweet=”Senanu Arkutu: The high quality is here in Africa but you have to do quality control ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Senanu Arkutu is the founder and CEO of DAAR Living, an interior styling firm that is diversely African, layered and interwoven, antique and contemporary, with European and Arab influences. While pursuing a career in Reproductive Health and International Development, she realised she had a flair for interior design after decorating her own home. Spurred by the compliments she received, she gave up her day job and opened DAAR Living in 2013. Senanu is also the set designer for the hit series, An African City. Her flagship store opened November 19, 2016 in East Legon, Accra, Ghana. How does one switch from a career in international development to interior design, and what transferable skills have helped you in your new calling? Hahaha! It was time for a change after a 12-year career —that I loved, by the way. I decided to follow a passion that I had not realised was also a skill until I designed and decorated my own house, and the warm compliments started coming. Transferable skills from a career in sexual health and family planning, I find new ones every day! But the most important one to date is listening to client’s concerns and finding an appropriate solution that is sensitive to their specific needs and feelings. Conducting consultations helps. You’re Ghanaian but grew up in Southern and West Africa, which obviously have influenced DAAR Living. Where else do you draw inspiration from for your décors? …And East Africa where my personal style probably leans towards. I draw inspiration from my mum, my clients, other designers, art and culture, trends, life. What have been your highest and lowest points since starting DAAR Living three years ago? The highest and lowest points all come together in establishing our first store. I hired an established design and construction company to carry out the design changes I wanted done to the retail space. This was a team that the landlord was comfortable with as they had done some work for another retail space in the same building, which I had seen. The experience was a disaster. They were rude. Communication, follow-up and quality control were terrible and on top of that, a four-week job took them four months to complete! My rent money just went to waste (Accra landlords insist on two years rent upfront whether you are a start-up or not). The highest point was the night I laid out and merchandised my store for the first time and went outside to see what it looked like from the shop window —I had a moment! With a physical space all done up as I wanted it, and DAAR Living signboard up in lights, it suddenly seemed like DAAR Living finally actually existed. [bctt tweet=”Senanu Arkutu’s highest point was the night she laid out her store for the first time ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] In an interview, you voiced your desire to see African arts and crafts showcased in other ways besides a market setting or market style setting. Would you mind elaborating? I would love to see more of quality African art and crafts being showcased in all their glory in a contemporary retail, gallery-like space, and not always in a busy market where it is not easy to see the skill and beauty of the piece. You do not see this often in Ghana or the rest of the continent, except in South Africa and, now, of course, Alara in Lagos. The new DAAR Living store aims to be the contemporary retail space showcasing African functional art and craft in Accra. We want to be front and centre in this emerging story. [bctt tweet=”Senanu Arkutu: I’d love to see more quality African art & crafts in a contemporary space” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You’re the principle set designer for the hit African series, An African City. How did you get the deal for the show and end up collaborating with Christie Brown, who designed some of the beautiful clothes on the show? Nicole (creator of An African City) and I are good friends. We believe in each other’s work and see the value and strength in collaborating. I offered my house for use in season 1, and by Season 2 the AAC team had realised the added value of set design and how it plays a large part in story-telling. DAAR Living was better established by then, but there was no budget allowance for set design, so Nicole turned to me and Nana Spio-Garbrah of Blueprint Africa (Assistant set design). Of course, we were glad to help Nicole, and there was also the added potential exposure An African City could give. As for collaborating with Christie, when I began DAAR Living I wanted to launch a brand and begin building it and its community immediately. I knew that the products and services on offer may change slightly, several times, but the concept was clear and would remain the same. As a client and lover of Christie Brown, I could not get out of my head how pieces of mine reminded me of outfits of Aisha’s (founder of Christie Brown). So I called her with an idea for an exhibition that brought interiors and fashion together to launch my brand and she loved it! She encouraged me, offered her then new flagship store for the launch, and the rest is history. How does DAAR Living ensure on-time delivery and high quality across all its offerings, especially since décor and furniture pieces are sourced from across Africa? Good question. The high quality is here in Africa but like everywhere else you have to do due quality control. This is my job and it takes a lot of back and forth but we get there. For on-time delivery, firstly, I do not offer items for sale that are not already ‘on the shelf’ —online or in the physical store. Secondly, if a client is making a bespoke order and I think
Ugochi Obidiegwu: The Safety Chic
[bctt tweet=”I started reading about safety and I loved what I was discovering – Ugochi Obidiegwu” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s time for you to meet one of the people that make the SLA website run smoothly. We’re talking about our contributor family who SLAY with their writing. Ugochi Obidiegwu has a somewhat unusual passion; safety. She’s written articles on the importance of health and safety in start-ups, and has shared a bit on her experience with YALI. The main reason Ugochi does safety is simple; she does not want people to keep getting ill, injured, die or lose property due of their source of livelihood. This is the main reason Ugochi shows people how to be safer in everyday personal and business life. Get ready to be inspired by the Safety Chic! From the articles you’ve written for SLA, you’re clearly interested in safety. Where did this interest come about? I worked in a Nigerian airline as a cabin crew staff. One day in 2013, my boss informed me that I was now a safety officer. In addition to my original responsibilities, I was to work with another colleague to bring safety information and solutions to the Cabin Services Unit. My colleague and I decided we would launch monthly safety forums to share knowledge on safety issues affecting crew members, on and off the job. As someone, who believes in doing whatever I do very well, I started reading about it and I loved what I was discovering. But of course for you to be termed a competent person, you need sufficient knowledge, ability, training and experience. I embarked on certifications and volunteer work during my leave and off days on my bill. It wasn’t easy to give up vacation and other stuff but it was a necessary sacrifice. In the course of doing all these, I observed that it was mainly businesses in aviation, construction and oil and gas industries that took safety systems seriously. I decided to start a health and safety business that would provide tailored and affordable safety solutions for businesses, especially SMEs. A lot of SMEs I got in touch with thought accidents were beyond their purview. Therefore, I started a system of reorientation because I believed that gradually with more information, a safety consciousness would be awakened. I started writing on safety issues in a simpler format that the everyday person could relate to on my blog and later on SLA. At some point, my mentor Steve Harris suggested I make videos as not everyone might want to read. So, the idea of #60SecondsWithTheSafetyChic on Instagram and The Safety Chic came alive. #60SecondsWithTheSafetyChic is a weekly 60seconds or less video where content of blog articles is summarised. This way, my audience can have access to safety tips on the go. I have found that our generation, and people generally, are quite interested in an awesome quality of life, so anything that makes them able to live better is welcome. Do you ever see Nigerians taking safety seriously? Well, if you check, you’d find that the majority of Nigerians that are safety conscious either worked in organisations that do not joke with safety; or picked it up from friends and family members who worked there. Sometimes in an emergency, we want to help but do not know the right thing to do. It’s not really ingrained in us. Take for example, the use of seatbelts when driving in Nigeria. Until the Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC) put a fine to it, many people did not use their seatbelts. As a matter of fact, I had to explain to someone recently the importance of seat belt usage. He felt the FRSC just wanted to have a reason to fine people. There lies the human factor, which is the major cause of so many accidents and incidents. The machine could work well, the work procedure could be perfect but if the human being engaged in the task refuses to do the safe thing, an accident happens. So, I decided to take safety education to schools through the Train Them Young Initiative (#2TYI) because this is a problem that can only be solved from the root. #2TYI is a free safety training for public schools on road safety, fire safety, first aid and personal safety. I believe that safety education for students goes a long way in grooming a future workforce such that complies with safety standards. This will reduce workplace accidents and incidents as the habits we form in our formative years shape our future behaviour. The future goal of this initiative is to get safety education into the curriculum of all schools. [bctt tweet=”@thesafetychic is taking safety education to students in schools with #2TYI” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Tell us about being part of the YALI project. I was privileged to be selected for the Barack Obama Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Nigeria Cohort 1. It was an amazing experience meeting like minds doing awesome stuff in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and the Gambia. I knew there were lots of activists, but I had no clue there were so many young people advocating for all sorts of stuff. Let’s just say the world I was coming from was totally different. Some colleagues wondered what a cabin crew was doing in their midst; considering I wasn’t advocating for human rights, gender equality, child marriage etc. I think it was the Train Them Young Initiative that got me in. This is quite funny because when I started it, it was just my way of giving back to the society. I just wanted people to be a bit more informed and safe. Despite being slightly different from my new colleagues, we found common ground in a desire for excellence. This led to wonderful friendships and collaboration. We now have this family bond, no matter what you need there is always someone with the expertise and know-how. [bctt tweet=”Leveraging on one another’s strengths means we achieve more – Ugochi Obidiegwu
Vivian “Jokotade” Adeniyi: You are the only limitation to your potential
[bctt tweet=”Jokotade: Believe it or not, The Jokotade Network didn’t happen by a plan” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Vivian Jokotade Adeniyi, fondly known as “Jokotade”, is a Nigerian-American author, speaker, and thought leader on topics relating to women, business and leadership. She is the founder of The Jokotade Network which hosts a variety of talk shows with audiences in over 100 countries. In addition to running her own network, Jokotade is a wife, mother and an entrepreneur. Her life as a serial entrepreneur began at the age of six ,when she started assisting her mother with her retail goods business in Lagos, Nigeria. Jokotade has since launched a growing list of businesses. These include a leading full-service design and print firm located in Houston, Texas —a business she started with less than $100 over 12 years ago. SLA contributing writer, Uloma Ogba, caught up with this Motherland Mogul to get the inside scoop on how exactly Jokotade does it all, while looking fabulous. What does Jokotade mean and what exactly do you do? My name Jokotade (pronounced JOE-KOH-TAH-DAY), is a Nigerian Yoruba name given to a child whose parents suffered the loss of a child prior to the birth of the named. Its literal meaning is “sit with the crown” or “sit with royalty”. This signifies that this child will not die, but will stay and live with her parents and family. This powerful name was concurrently given by both of my grandmothers at my traditional Nigerian naming ceremony. I use the name “Jokotade” for my speaking and writing platform because it is a very powerful and purposeful name. The name tells a story of my origin, gives you insight into my identity and speaks powerfully to my destiny. I write all of the inspiring details surrounding my birth in my breakout, bestselling book – Fresh Start. Once you discover my full story, I have a sense you’ll simply call me “Jokotade”. [bctt tweet=”Vivian Jokotade Adeniyi: The name Jokotade tells a story of my origin & gives you insight into my identity” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Could you give the readers some insight into your background? I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the United States of America with my parents in 1997. Shortly after I arrived in the US, I got to work beginning my American life as a hair braider. This was my only choice at the time, as I had to wait a full year to begin my university education. I finally gained admission to the University of Houston where I majored in Computer Information Systems (CIS) with special interests in marketing and communications. What drove you to start your first business and continues to drive you to reach for new opportunities? I’ll be honest —my motivation was hunger. I was hungry for the opportunity to live out my potential. I was hungry for the opportunity to start over in the United States; after experiencing a very rough and downward financial season with my parents back home in Nigeria. For several years my dad (who is now a retired surgeon) had successfully operated a private medical practice. But right at the time I was finishing up my secondary school education, his practice suffered grievous losses due to lack of payments. The idea of possibilities, of what can be, of who I can become, has driven me and continues to drive me everyday. It’s a beautiful thing to know that everyday you wake up, you truly can become more than you imagine. I see each waking day as a canvas to paint on. I hope to make each day a beautiful work of art to remember. [bctt tweet=”Jokotade of @jokotadeshow is motivated to reach for new opportunities by hunger ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] While in university, you started a business selling clothes and accessories to other students. How did you come up with that idea? What was the process like for you, setting up a business alongside your classes? How were you able to find balance there? Do you know of any university student who couldn’t use some extra cash? If there is one lesson I learned early as a hungry student, it is this —pay attention to the problems you can solve for people. In university, I became the go-to person when it came to shopping or finding affordable resources. The idea of selling accessories to other students was born from a place of paying attention to these kinds of problems and the questions I was often asked. I simply turned these inquiries into a business. I often say that the best business ideas are the ones that solve as many problems as possible for as many people as possible. Juggling my side business wasn’t easy but it was worth it —it helped me pay for a car. This reward motivated me to find a way to “juggle my hustle”. I made time to deliver goods over the weekend and focused on my classes during the week. [bctt tweet=”Jokotade: The idea of possibilities has driven me and continues to drive me everyday.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] After university you were involved in a couple of different activities which eventually culminated in what we now see today as The Jokotade Network. Can you take the readers through the journey of how you got to this point? What were some of the major milestones and challenges you faced along the way? Believe it or not, The Jokotade Network didn’t happen by a plan. It happened by growth. Let me explain. I began the Jokotade platform as a fashion and style blog…can you imagine? You see in 2013, I noticed there were several fashion and style bloggers but rarely did any of the bloggers feature the style of clothes I love to wear –classic, sophisticated, refined and polished. Back then, there were hardly any who even featured stylish African clothes in these preferences. So you know what I did? I saw a gap in the market and I rose to fill it. I started blogging, featuring a choice of clothes
Maajoa Yeboah: I basically started with a Facebook page, a mobile phone camera and my passion
[bctt tweet=”Making accessories gives you the flexibility to still have a full time job @Maajoa_Yeboah” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Maajoa Yeboah makes accessories, mentors girls and is one of 30 young achievers in Ghana. Her passion and determination have paved the way as she initially wanted to work in a bank. Maajoa started her brand Asabea Ayisi while still in school, the initiative has since grown to include other projects such as the One Girl One Skill foundation. Through her work, Maajoa Yeboah ensures that she’s giving back to the community and helping other girls become financially independent. Tell us about the steps that lead to launching Asabe Ayisi. I started Asabea Ayisi whilst still a student in the tertiary institute. I basically started with a Facebook page, a mobile phone camera and my passion. Before commercializing the accessories, I was making them for myself and a few friends and family members. This was up until I started getting amazing feedback for the pieces I was creating. So I thought why not start a fashion business? This was however a great battle for myself and my family because I was an studying Accounting with dreams of being a banker like my father. My family equally had these dreams for me, I had started studying business in high school. Eventually my passion won! I built a fashion accessories brand as an accounting student with no knowledge of fashion trends and the fashion business in general. Yet, I made a conscious decision to learn all I needed to learn. Even though I made a huge load of mistakes, eventually I built a fashion accessories brand through hard work and lots of passion. Why did you decide to start the One Girl One Skill Foundation? A few years after I started Asabea Ayisi, I decided to take up a charity project. On the occasion of my birthday, I went into an orphanage and taught young girls how to make basic accessories like hair accessories, earnings and simple necklaces for themselves. I also wanted to mentor these girls. After one successful project in 2015, I started getting training requests from basic schools, churches and some community members who wanted their young girls to learn accessory-making skills. So I started One Girl One Skill foundation to reach out, train and mentor young girls on how to make accessories and also to instil in the them the relevance of following one’s passion. One Girl One Skill has since 2015 trained and mentored over 500 young girls in the eastern, western and greater Accra, as well as the central regions of Ghana. I still receive a great number of requests daily. I am hoping to organize training projects in other regions in the country and hopefully go beyond the boarders of Ghana. [bctt tweet=” @Maajoa_Yeboah has a track record of serving as a mentor to young people” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How did you come to be listed as part of 30 young achievers in Ghana? Why do you think you made that list? I believe my passion, hard work and commitment landed me the honour to be listed as part of 30 young achievers in Ghana. A total of thirty individuals were honoured in the categories of business and leadership, society and education, creative arts, healthcare and food, and technology and media. 2016 marked the third consecutive year of the report. It was the first time ever that an equal number of male and female achievers made the honour list. More than half of these achievers were entrepreneurs like myself. The achievers are selected by a rigorous consultative methodology that ensures honourees have actually achieved something that will be considered outstanding among peers. They also have to have demonstrated potential for greater future impact and I believe I qualified for the spot! Tell us about being selected for the US Global Leadership Coalition’s Entrepreneurial Challenge. The Global Leadership Coalition entrepreneurship challenge was open to young people from across Ghana. Business proposals were sought in the areas of agriculture, sustainable energy, climate change, education, health, and cultural industries. Some 25 budding entrepreneurs were invited to attend a four-day leadership and entrepreneurship boot camp held in Accra in June 2016. At the end, 15 entrepreneurs were selected to participate in a four-month virtual internship run by the Global Leadership Coalition. Over the course of the internship, the entrepreneurs were monitored by carefully selected mentors including myself. We were given the task of monitoring progress over a 3-month period. My role as the youth ambassador was to help each of these participants develop their leadership and entrepreneurship skills. My selection for this role was as a result of hard work and a great track record of serving as a mentor to many young people. As a mentor and a judge, how do you think mentors should effectively manage their mentees? As a mentor, I believe it is your role to help your mentee set realistic expectations. Also, if you know you will be unavailable because of business or personal travel, let them know. Encourage communication and participation and help the mentee create a solid plan of action. Help your mentee set up a system to measure their own achievements. A mentor should also be truthful in evaluations, but also tactful. Also, engage in your own learning while you are mentoring, collaborate on projects, ask questions and experiment. Share your ideas, give advice and be a resource for new ideas. A mentor should also be very much reliable because the more consistent you are, the more you will be trusted. It is also very essential for you as a mentor to stay positive; recognize the work the mentee has done and the progress made. Finally, offer feedback without criticizing. These I believe, will go a long way to help effectively manage mentees. How are you giving girls a chance to earn multiple streams of income? Teaching young girls how to make basic accessories like hair accessories, earrings, necklaces etc isn’t only imparting them a workable
Kajsa Hallberg Adu: Why social media is revolutionary and you should take online friends offline
[bctt tweet=”Kajsa Hallberg Adu believes everyone who wants to get somewhere should get on social media” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When it comes to the benefits of social media, Kajsa Hallberg Adu will know all about it. She and her co-founder started Ghana’s biggest network for social media enthusiasts BloggingGhana using social media. As a blogger of 10 years and a lecturer of Communication and Politics at Ghana’s only liberal arts college Ashesi University, Kajsa knows the importance of the various mediums of communication. She also knows that we should take advantage of the technological world we live in to reach our ultimate goal. Kajsa Hallberg Adu believes social media is revolutionary and everyone who wants to get somewhere should get on this fast speeding train. As an advocate for taking online friendships offline, Kajsa tells us the reasons why and the processes we need to undergo to benefit from these friendships. How has social media impacted your life and work? Where do I start? Social media has shaped my life and made it so much richer and more interesting. Initially, I was very tech-suspicious, I was the last to have a cell phone among my friends. I held on to analogue writing and reading when many others loved the screens. Back in the day, I read blogs and loved the medium, but had a hard time finding my voice and my topics. All of that was resolved when I moved abroad (from Sweden to France) because suddenly I had stories to tell and impressions to share. Around this time, a blogger I read to prepare for moving, “Petite Anglaise”, invited her readers to a meet-up in Paris. Meeting people that only had that we liked to read one particular blog in common was an enormous aha-moment for me. Some of the people present felt like friends from the first moment. One worked at the same organization as myself, we had just never talked! A year later when I moved to Ghana, I brought the idea with me, that it is doable, and much fun to take online conversations offline. Why do you think social media is revolutionary? Social media gives you a voice. If you are a blogger, it gives you, the individual, the possibility to publish. It is huge! Before blogging, you could not publish anything at all unless you asked for permission from an editor, another person with power or printed all copies and distributed them yourself. Now I can several times a day hit “publish” and send my ideas, beliefs, thoughts, and opinions to THE WHOLE WORLD. Even more important is that we all can respond. What used to be a one-way-communication is now an enormous conversation. If that is not a revolution, then I don’t know what that is! Surely, not everybody is on-board in this conversation. Ghana has a large majority of people who are not connected and do not have a voice. Still, social media is already affecting them in that traditional media listens to the social media and amplifies it. If a village only has one person who advocates for it and reports from it on social media, chances are much bigger that the rest of us will know what happens there, good and bad. My hope is that that will soon lead to everybody having a voice, facilitated by internet access. [bctt tweet=”Kajsa Hallberg Adu: BloggingGhana is all about friendship and technology.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What steps should one take to keep up with this revolution? One would have to create as much as you consume online and respond as much as you listen. Communication is a two-way thing and you cannot always take without giving back in return. If you want to benefit from this revolution, you have to give to others what you know and take from others what they know. It is a give and take affair. Why and how can online conversations and friendships be taken offline? I am a huge advocate for taking online conversations offline. When human beings convene together it has some magic powers to it. Meeting is like charging the words, the conversation and the relationship you had online. When we go back online after having met, we can do more. BloggingGhana is all about this —our two pillars are friendship and technology. We might meet offline to discuss a new technology such as podcasting, but what comes out of that conversation is likely more than knowledge transfer. I can’t explain why this is, but I see people every month hugging after having found out the handle of the person in front of them. Who knows where they go from there? What and when should you consider taking online friendships offline? I think it does not have to be complicated. When my friend Sandra and I started BloggingGhana in 2008, we emailed the eight bloggers in Ghana we could find at the time and we met in a bar. We repeated the meet-up monthly, every time in a different place to also get to know the city. Some of the people who came to the meetings in those first years are some of my best friends today. The first meeting happened in March because I was new in Ghana and I needed friends. I think one could probably be much more deliberate —do I want to take this Facebook interest group offline to gain momentum? Do I want to invite all the people that used my hashtag to a thank you tea party? What group should I take offline if I want to talk to like-minded people? I also think groups that are more specific might be more efficient. For instance the Facebook group I created for Swedes in Ghana “GhanaSvenskar” shares very specific information online and only meets offline once a year for Swedish Christmas in the tropical heat. [bctt tweet=”Kajsa Hallberg Adu: When human beings convene together it has some magic to it” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Are there any particular processes one should undertake when taking online
Ways To End (The Year) Strong
Feeling down and unaccomplished as the year comes to an end? Or just feeling down because the stars aren’t aligned in your favour? Each day brings so many different feelings. Some days are happy and celebratory. However, others leave you feeling unaccomplished. This can be heightened at the end of the year when you see others celebrate all they have accomplished during the year. We’re here to say, so what if you haven’t accomplished all of your goals? There is definitely something worth celebrating. This guide is a self-esteem boost that will ensure you finish off strong! No matter how big or small your achievements are, don’t think less of yourself. This guide will give you that kick you need to finish out strong and take on new challenges like a boss. Topics this guide will cover: How showing gratitude helps, Ways to stay calm and focused, Celebrating the little things, How to prepare for the fresh start. This is how you should after this guide Complete with worksheets, templates and ideas to help boost yourself esteem regardless of the time of the year. Getting access to this guide is easy: just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide, as well as AWESOME weekly content. [ninja_forms id=72]
Aida Bamba: The gourmet in the city
[bctt tweet=”What makes Serial Foodie unique is me and my pen – Aida Bamba” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Ever heard of the saying that the period after a break up is your most creative? Aida Bamba started blogging in July 2015 after breaking up with her then boyfriend. Aida had put a pause to her passion for writing for her ex but then after the break-up decided not to put the desires of others ahead of hers. Firm in her resolve not to stop herself anymore, Aida Bamba eventually started blogging at Serial Foodie. Serial Foodie explores and reviews restaurants in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. As a foodie with a flair for cooking and an Agro-Food engineer, Aida brings her unique background to food blogging. This lady can tell if you haven’t put enough mint in a mojito. Why did you decide to start Serial Foodie? I decided to launch Serial Foodie in December 2015. I started my blog on advice from Orphelie Thalmas one of the best bloggers in Ivory Coast. She informed me that several people had loved an article I’d written reviewing a restaurant and suggested that I might have to specialise. I had already made a tour of many restaurants at that time. Not to mention, I have a talent for cooking and I’m an Agro-Food engineer by training, therefore have an understanding on a number of processes. I decided it was a good idea to specialise in food blogging and that I was going to follow Orphelie’s advice. Together, we chose the name of the blog, Serial Foodie and the slogan, “A gourmet in the city”. And that’s how Serial Foodie was born. You started blogging after a break up, can you tell us about that? I have always had complex emotional relationships. I have too many things to think about, there are many things in mind that I would like to achieve. This often disconnects me from reality. When you’re in a relationship, it is not obvious. In that relationship, I wanted to give the maximum and that lead to sacrificing myself. I put my passion for writing on hold. Unfortunately, my sacrifices did not lead to anything and we parted ways. What do you think makes Serial Foodie unique? What makes Serial Foodie unique is me and my pen. My way of transcribing the experiences lived in restaurants is my own. For me, to describe an experience in a restaurant is not limited to just saying; “I went here, I tasted these dishes, I liked it or not, the price ranges are, the place is located here and the number is…” For me, what counts is reception. How did I get to this restaurant? Do I like its decoration and ambience? What of the hygienic aspect? Then, my special feature is to focus on the dish. To give information on the components that I perceive; the recipes, the good flavours, the bad flavours. I will know for example if a cocktail lacks an ingredient or if a step has been missed. This is what I propose to those who read my blog; a unique experience that until now has only been offered by me. Abidjan has the reputation of being very cosmopolitan, what’s the foodie scene like there? Since the end of the crisis, the city of Abidjan has seen an increase in the number of restaurants. These restaurants cover all edges and are diverse. From Asian specialities to local cuisines, the foodie scene is moving and well. What do you do outside blogging? Apart from being a blogger, I’m an assistant at Instant2Vie, a photo studio. I’m also a social media manager. I manage brand image, from person to enterprise. I am freelance and work from my home; it’s not easy but I love this! I entered into the world of freelancing through my blog but I’m also an Agro-Food engineer as I mentioned above. [bctt tweet=”I will know if a cocktail lacks an ingredient or if a step has been missed – Aida Bamba” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You’re also a writer with a published novel, can you tell us more about this? I wrote my first non-fiction book in 2005. The title is, “Les Revers de la Vie” or “The Reversal of Life”. To be honest, the publishing house has never paid me my rights even though the book is still on sale. I decided to overcome this disappointment on my own and come out anew after the loss of my father last April. “The Reversal of Life” is available on Amazon Kindle. #love #instagood #follow #followme #foodie #picoftheday #abidjan #food #france #blog #blogger #foodblog #foodblogger #serialfoodie #follow4follow #followforfollow #followback A photo posted by Bamba Aida (@serialfoodie) on Oct 24, 2016 at 3:11pm PDT Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner in Abidjan, where would you recommend people reading this go? My suggestions for Abidjan are: Breakfast: Pause Café, Nougatine, Comptoir des Artisans, Bao Café, Couleur Café, Flow. Brunch: Flow, Nougatine, Norima, Pause Café, Radisson Blu Lunch: Le Kallisté, le Rallye, Salad and Sun, La Maison des Combattants, Norima, Le Bao, Le Comptoir des Artisans, Dinner: Wasabi, Oishi, Kanpai, Kallisté, Don Antonio, Hippopothamus, Norima, Mondial, Saakan, Chez Jay’s. If I were to choose one restaurant, it’ll be Norima Restaurant Vallon. My menu options are; mini cowboy burger and buffalo chicken wings for starters. The Mongolian beef rice bowl for main and kiwi mojito or pina colada for drinks! If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.