Why 2017 will be the year of the extraordinary woman
[bctt tweet=”If you’re a Motherland Mogul, you’re already an an extraordinary woman. If not, this is for you.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Being a woman is a great privilege, it may not always feel like it, because society has never been taught the true value of a woman. However, we are now seeing more and more women embracing each other and celebrating the extraordinary beings that they are. More women are realising their worth and the world is slowly benefiting from this. As the new year starts, I predict 2017 will be the year of the extraordinary woman because: Her body The extraordinary woman will work to build and keep the body that she is comfortable with. An extraordinary woman will know that her body, that she is truly comfortable with, is the perfect body for her existence. An extraordinary woman will fall in love with her beautiful and healthy body and know, she does not need to compare herself to anyone else. She is enough and she is perfect. Her presence When an extraordinary woman walks into the room, her presence will be felt by all. Not because she will be loud, rather, her energy, spirit and positive mindset will fill the room. The way she interacts with others in the room will indeed be, extraordinary. She will be attentive when others are speaking, she will take a genuine interest. She will leave others feeling increased after speaking to them. They will remember her because of how she made them feel. Her presence is a privilege to those who meet her. Her love An extraordinary woman will not allow her love to be taken for granted. She will give unto the others the same love she would like to receive. However, should the same courtesy not be extended back to her, she will learn and fully understand. We all don’t share the same intentions in this world and just because you have been stung, does not mean you have to cage yourself off in order to stay out of harm’s way. Heartache builds character. An extraordinary woman will know, love starts within. She will fall in love with herself, flaws and all. An extraordinary woman will know, putting herself first is not selfish. Her cup needs to be full and over running before she can start pouring out to others. She will always love herself until the end of time. Her mouth An extraordinary woman will use her mouth to build. Before speaking out loud, an extraordinary woman will know to say the words in her head first. She will ask herself, “what purpose will these words serve?”. Each word that comes out of the extraordinary woman’s mouth will carry value. She will speak only words of increase to herself and others. Her mouth will be a tool and she will know and appreciate it. At times it is better to listen than to speak and silence is not ignorance, it speaks louder than words. [bctt tweet=”Four points that every woman needs to keep in mind to be extraordinary.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Her confidence An extraordinary woman will be so sure of herself that no praise or criticism will stop her flow. She will humble herself and her work will speak for her. She will not place her confidence in mankind, but in a higher power. The extraordinary woman will set standards for herself and if you cannot rise to her standards she will be happy to part ways. She will know we all have different callings and purposes for our existence. Therefore, she will not feel threatened by anyone else in this world. She will know if she tries to compete or compare herself to others, this will distract her from her purpose. An extraordinary woman will help others up knowing that despite her confidence, one day, she too may fall. Let’s hop aboard on this journey together and make this year our year. We might not be there yet, but thankfully we are not where we used to be. We are still on our way and that’s even more important.
Salha Kaitesi: Many of our traditions and stories have been lost
[bctt tweet=”Salha Kaitesi of @ElleAfrique shares her advice on starting a blogzine. It’s not so hard!” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Salha Kaitesi is a social entrepreneur currently managing two projects: Beauty of Rwanda, a not-for-profit organisation that economically empowers women and girls in Rwanda; and ElleAfrique, a blogzine dedicated to challenging the perceptions of African girls and women in the world today. The blogzine features writers and wide-ranging topics from across Africa, providing a space for African women to empower and celebrate one another and unite through their stories. How does ElleAfrique stand out in comparison to other lifestyle magazines that target African women? ElleAfrique stands out for several reasons but what truly makes it special is that it’s a platform dedicated to the everyday African woman. Most of our contributors are not “professional” bloggers/writers, they’re just everyday women with a story to tell and wisdom to share. ElleAfrique bloggers are university students, stay at home mums, professionals and everything in between. Our blogzine also covers a range of topics, from the negative effects of the war in Burundi to the latest fashion trends in Cameroon, and span the entire continent because we have gathered women from many different parts of Africa and given them a voice through our platform. The special ingredient to our success is our contributors. What’s the most difficult aspect of running an online website in an age where advertising money is hard to come by and entry barriers are low? Starting a blog has never been easier. What’s important is uniqueness because there are thousands of blogs out there. Attracting new readers with fresh content while maintaining our current readership has been vital to the success of ElleAfrique. It’s a constant balancing act. Constantly monitoring the performance of the blog has been key to keeping on top of things. I have an amazing management group of women that work with me. The blog would not be what it is today without them (and those who share their stories, of course). ElleAfrique is successful because of the entire group. [bctt tweet=”@ElleAfrique is a platform dedicated to telling the stories of the everyday African woman ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Are there stories about African women begging to be told that no one is telling but should? I believe the stories of our mothers and grandmothers are absent in magazines and media in general. However, they are important because these matriarchs, through their life experiences, have shaped today’s African woman. Through modernization, civilisation and the mass exodus of many towards the “Western world”, many of our traditions and stories have been lost. Writing and reading about them will strengthen our connection to our past and bring greater perspective to our present. What’s your advice to anyone starting an online African magazine? Having a unique niche is great, but even if that niche is already being covered elsewhere you can always turn your model into something that is still appealing to future readers. Starting an online magazine isn’t as hard as you might think, but you must be prepared to work really hard. Your small idea can become a household name! When I started ElleAfrique, it was being managed by someone else because I knew nothing about blogging. But I took the time to learn about web design and building a blog. Knowledge of online marketing was also an advantage and an important area to be familiar with. [bctt tweet=”Salha Kaitesi – What’s important is uniqueness because there are thousands of blogs out there” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What does the future hold for ElleAfrique? The African woman is multifaceted, multitalented and multicultural and it is because of this that we want all of her represented. I think the best way to achieve this is to have at least one contributor from each country in Africa. We want to attract brands that cater to African women and to be a bridge for businesses to reach their target market. Ultimately, our mission is to change the narrative about the African woman, and who better to do this than the everyday African women, living on the continent or in the diaspora. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Yeniva Sisay-Sogbeh: You have a rare gift to share with the world
[bctt tweet=”Yeniva Sisay-Sogbeh of @EXCEL_SL is passionate about Sierra Leone with her leadership” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Picture a fully rebuilt Sierra Leone where every citizen has fulfilled their potential. Yeniva Sisay-Sogbeh is trying to make that a reality. A consultant and value creator, Yeniva is bringing change to her country through education and youth development. For Yeniva, what she does isn’t just a job. As a consultant, her goal is to create value for her clients and inspire people to expand their horizons. Yeniva also does this with her experience in youth development, she’s spent over 18 years in that sector. You call yourself a value creator, what does this mean? As a consultant, facilitation is at the heart of what I do. My work is to help programs, products, and people expand. I approach my work from a creative manner. What that means is throughout my career I have worked in education, training and development, marketing, facilitation and business development. These are very diverse experiences. I love what I do and I don’t just consider it just a job. In any one of my consultancy assignments, I have my goal to create value for my clients. By way of growth, capacity development, increase in sales, brand recognition, visibility or whatever the assignment may be, I show up to create and deliver value. The twist to being a consultant is you are with each client for a specific amount of time. It can be anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 years, so you have to be focused on the value creation you bring to the table in that set amount of time. [bctt tweet=”@iamyeniva – I teach to inspire people, especially young people to expand their horizons.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Tell us about starting EXCEL Sierra Leone, what were the particular challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? I first began my work in youth development over 18 years ago. As a beneficiary of after school programs, I know the value of the life lessons I learned inside and outside of the classroom. Founded in 2007, EXCEL Sierra Leone (Educational Excellence, Community, Empowerment, Leadership —a community based organization CBO) has endeavoured to reach some of the most promising young people in Sierra Leone to participate in collaborative educational enrichment activities, programs and support services. EXCEL seeks to pioneer the transformation of the education system in Sierra Leone in order to develop a culture of academic excellence. This transformation focuses on empowering the next generation to become leaders, creatives, innovators, thinkers, and change-makers who are not only inspired, but in action to re-define Sierra Leone. We envision a Sierra Leone where everyone has an opportunity to fulfil their potential and achieve educational excellence. Running an organization comes along with many challenges, from staffing to keeping overheads low. I would say our biggest challenge however is finding the funding needed to support our programs and services. Many grants are focused on primary schools, girls child education etc, which are very important causes. However, I find that there are few geared towards secondary school students. We have had to remain creative, finding alternative ways of raising funds inside and outside of Sierra Leone. I have been determined not to allow these challenges to derail or discourage the team. We remain optimistic and seek assistance through partnerships and mentoring from other experienced organizations. What motivates you everyday? Getting up everyday and setting out towards my goal of and doing the work I love and enjoy. Knowing the work I do in the community, private sector or development; impacts my community and my country. That is powerful. I am also motivated by the shift that is happening on the continent and how people in the world see, view and respect Africa. That makes me proud and I am motivated to contribute to the shift. [bctt tweet=”Yeniva Sisay-Sogbeh: We envision a Sierra Leone where everyone can fulfil their potential” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Your mantra is “I teach to revive the heartbeat of a generation gone numb”, tell us the story behind this Being an educator is my passion. I teach to awaken the possibility that is in each of us. There is so much happening in the world and we see our youth growing up way before their time due to a variety of circumstances. I teach to inspire people, especially young people to expand their horizons. To revive the heart beat and thirst for change through education and excellence. My greatest wish is to see all of the young people I encounter #EXCEL. You’ve appeared in the documentary, “Am I too African to be American or too American to be African”, can you share how this experience was like? This was a dream come true. Being a first generation African in America, we have a unique experience and story to tell. It seems as though we have heard the Jewish- American, Asian-American, Latino- American story but never our own. It was such an honour to share my perspective and my story as a part of the cast. I think it is imperative that African women tell their own stories and through this film, I have been able to contribute to the discourse around what it means to be a part of both worlds. It is something I wanted to do for a long time so I am grateful for the opportunity. It has been awesome connecting with others just like me all across the world! Why do you think you were awarded the Young Fem-Leader at the Illumessence National Women Awards (INWA)? I was humbled by this great honour. To be recognized amongst some of the most powerful and inspirational women in my country blew me away. I have been a catalyst of many movements which advance opportunities for changing the narrative of the Sierra Leoenan’s especially woman and girls. As the founder of EXCEL Sierra Leone, many young people from the program have gone on to attend some of the best universities all over the world. As
Esther Mahlangu: It is my passion to transfer this skill to the generations after me
Esther Mahlangu may be the oldest #MotherlandMogul we’ve shone the spotlight on but she is serious goals. She is the world-renowned artist credited with elevating the Ndebele painting and culture on the world stage through her work. Esther is has created a successful brand of her products in Mpumalanga, Kwamhlanga where she lives. She is known for her bold large-scale contemporary paintings that reference her Ndebele heritage. Esther has worked with the likes of BMW, FIAT, Belvedere and many other globally-recognised brands. SLA contributing writer Khethiwe Mndawe interviewed Esther Mahlangu at the Lilizela awards. Khethiwe also got a special invite at her her 81st birthday celebration. When and where were you born? I was born in 1935 on a farm outside Middleburg, in the Mpumalanga province. Being the first of nine children —six boys and three girls, I had huge responsibilities at a young age. Yet, my parents and family allowed me to be a child. When I got introduced to art, they realised that they couldn’t keep me away from painting no matter what duties and chores I had to take up. I started painting at 9 years old, being taught by my mother and grandmother. I was inspired by both women. From as far as I can remember, I followed traditions passed down from my mother and grandmother. I learned traditional Ndebele wall painting and bead-work, as a child that was all I did every day. I can say I became an expert in executing murals as a teenager, using a wide range of paint colours. Initially, we used to gather traditional soil paint from the forests and by the rivers but eventually we started using modern paints. [bctt tweet=”Esther Mahlangu: I started painting at 9 years old, taught by my mother and grandmother” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What type of work were you doing before you were discovered as a renowned artist? Who discovered you as an artist and icon for the Ndebele culture? Between 1980 and 1991 I lived and worked at the Botshabelo Historical Village, an open-air museum of Ndebele culture. I can say I was discovered in 1986, by researchers from Paris who were travelling the world to document traditional arts. These artists saw the paintings of Mahlangu’s house. They learnt more about why we paint like this and the significance of the paintings. They invited me to create murals for an exhibition of international contemporary art, the Magicians de la Terre (Magicians of the World). I travelled to France in 1989, and stayed there for two months. I painted a house in front of thousands of spectators that included the media and art lovers. People form Europe got to know about me, where I come from, and the Ndebele culture in South Africa. After a few months, I was asked to also decorate a wall inside the Angoulême Museum of Fine Arts and so I went on to other locations in France. In 1990, I began to paint murals for public venues in Johannesburg and elsewhere in South Africa. This was soon followed by more locations in Europe and the United States. My work appears in exhibitions in more than a dozen countries. How did BMW approach you? BMW got hold of me through the government. They asked me to decorate a so-called BMW “art car” in traditional Ndebele design in 1999. I stepped into the league of Andy Warhol and David Hockney (both world-renowned artists who created previous art cars for the company). From what I know I was the first woman artist to have been honoured as such. [bctt tweet=”Esther Mahlangu was the first woman artist to be invited to make a BMW art car” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Which other projects have you received and achieved at? What awards have you received the past couple of years? I exhibited locally and abroad in Australia, America, Japan and in many European countries. Also, I was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver by the South African presidency for my contribution to the development of indigenous Ndebele arts. I had a painting project with FIAT, British Airways, Belvedere ReD and a project for HIV/Aids with John Legend. Also, I have many award which I received in South Africa for arts and craft. I have been honoured in the tourism sector nationally and in my province, and in the arts and craft sector. In 2016, I was again involved in a BMW project, painting Ndebele patterns on the real wood interior trims of a BMW 7 series. This was shown for the first time at the Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park, London. This car now takes pride of place at South Africa: the Art of a Nation, a major exhibition currently showing at the British Museum from 27 October 2016 – 27 February 2017. I had the opportunity to interview you in IsiNdebele for SA Tourism, at the Lilizela awards. How did you feel winning the Lilizela Ministers Overall award 2016 by the Department of Tourism South Africa? I was not expecting this award at all. I was so happy in the manner which my country honoured me. The attention I received after that, made me feel proud to be a South African artist and I am glad that you came in to interview me in IsiNdebele. It was difficult to understand all the journalist/radio station who were there to hear what I had to say about this once in a lifetime award. Tell us about your art school. I have always had the calling to teach the science and significance of the Ndebele painting, and why we paint. Over the decades it has become my goal to preserve my cultural heritage. I built an art school in the backyard of my home in Mathombothiini (Weltevreden) in the Kwamhlanga district in Mpumalanga Province. I have been funding the school myself. When I am not travelling for exhibitions, I still spend most of my time mentoring young artists in the traditional style of Ndebele design. I teach mostly
Samantha Chovuchovu: Logistics is not just a man’s career
[bctt tweet=”Samantha Chovuchovu shares her experiences as woman dominating in the logistics sector” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Addressing the stereotype that the logistics or transport industry is a career option for a very specific gender is a challenge. The most common managerial positions undertaken by women are in secretarial, communications and human resources. What’s worse is that the industry’s positioning in the manufacturing sector unfortunately, means that very few women are employed in or run businesses. It’s been for ages considered a male-dominated field, but women have developed a significant presence in the industry workforce. From railways to roads, urban transport to civil aviation and as seafarers and dockers, women are working as drivers, conductors, pilots, mechanics and officers, as well as in administrative roles. Samantha Chovuchovu, started her own logistics company and here she shares her experiences as woman dominating in the sector. Why did you choose logistics? Logistics is an industry that continues to grow, be it on the local, national or global scale. It links me to different people. I saw this as an opportunity to grow my network and get exposure to people in different businesses, which made good business sense. Funny enough, growing up I always wanted to do law (which I’m still studying by the way) but I had a vision to run my own business one day. What does one require for such a start-up? First things first, a business plan and the ability to identify your target market. Then obviously, capital to get up and running. Once capital is established you need to source reliable suppliers and manpower. [bctt tweet=”Samantha Chovuchovu: Logistics continues to grow, be it on the local, national or global scale” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What common challenges come with this business? Running a logistics company can be very demanding, yet it offers a rewarding work environment. Suppliers can be unreliable and the main issue is that the business has a lot of risk factors involved. To be prepared for this one needs to be insured to cover any accidents. How do you handle competition from the male competitors? Competitors are everywhere. Being a woman in logistics has never been an issue to me. What’s more important is the role that I have to play and making sure the job gets done. I am aware of competitors out there but I consider them more of an encouragement than a challenge to me. [bctt tweet=”Samantha Chovuchovu: Running a logistics company can be very demanding, yet it is rewarding” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Going forward, what are your career prospects? There are a lot of opportunities in logistics apart from just transporting goods. Operations, purchasing warehousing material handling and inventory control all fall under the umbrella. I would love to seize and take advantage of all these. Any recommendations or advice to young women considering logistics business? I recommend that young women should seriously consider a career in logistics. As globalization moves forward, manufacturing and consumer behaviour will be influenced more and more by global and local markets. Hence, there’s a growing need for logistics services in the supply chain. It is not easy, but one just needs to be very diligent and it will surely pay off. Would you be in a position to mentor other women and/or offer internships to help them get ahead? Sure, I am. Mail me visit our webpage or contact me via email. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Kendibone Sapepa: Barbara McKenzie started off with me making garments for myself
[bctt tweet=”@Kendibone_S I wanted my brand @_BMcKenzie__ to be a brand with purpose ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Imagine starting out making clothes for yourself and then moving on to make a business out of it due to popular demand. That’s the story behind Barbara McKenzie, a clothing brand, styling service and consulting service based in Joburg. Barbar McKenzie is run by Kendibone Sapepa, a fashion enthusiast who wants to provide customers with classic fashion-forward clothing. You may have read some of her writing right here on SLA where Kendi schools us on different careers in fashion. Read on to find out how Kendibone Sapepa, a Marketing Management graduate is growing her brand and what she has to say about New Year resolutions for businesses. Tell us about your journey to starting Barbara McKenzie clothing. Barbara McKenzie started off with me making garments for myself. When people took an interest in what I was making, I decided to create a business out of it. You established Barbara McKenzie in 2013, how has your brand grown? Has it exceeded your exceptions? It has grown to become what I had wanted from its inception and much more! From just making clothes at home for fun, I’ve dressed admirable women and it continues to grow. [bctt tweet=”Kendibone Sapepa: Barbara McKenzie’s target market is women who emanate elegance & femininity” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You have a degree in Marketing Management, do you use what you’ve learned in university in running Barbara McKenzie? If so, how? Every single day. Brands need to be marketed, other wise, how would people know that Barbara McKenzie exists? Activities vary between advertising, collaborations, to anything you can think of, as well as the strategic side of it which the public sometimes does not see. 10% of your profits go towards helping a girl-child, can you tell us more about this initiative? It is a new initiative that I’ve just started. I often come across many stories about how girls cannot go to school and I’ve decided to do something about it. 10% of Barbara McKenzie profits will go to an organisation that helps young girls in need, or directly to these young girls. This of course does not exclude those who cannot afford school fees, and with FeesMustFall —we will help where we can. I wanted my brand to be a brand with purpose, so if people are buying clothes to look good, let them also feel good as well by knowing that when they buy from Barbara McKenzie, a young child is helped as well. Tell us about your consulting service, it sounds quite unique to bring clients on to be part of the design process. How did you come up with this idea? Have there been any particular difficulties implementing it? It is not really unique, as many designers offer this service to all clients. It was not really a matter of coming up with it, but rather clients who wanted a specific looking garments. Difficulties vary, from clients wanting garments that do not compliment my brand, to changing their designs half-way through production, but at the end of the day customers’ happiness matters most. What/who would you say captures the Barbara McKenzie style? The brand’s target market is women of all ages who are feminine and prefer classic style with a modern element in their clothing. Women who emanate effortless elegance and femininity. [bctt tweet=”Kendibone Sapepa went on a mini-mission to find out more fashion-related careers” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] From your articles on SLA, you seem passionate about different careers in fashion, how did this come about? A couple of months ago, a young lady in grade 10 came to me to somewhat “job-shadow” me as her school does on an annual basis. When we spoke I learned that her parents, like most, wanted her to follow a career in science. They thought a career in science ensures a comfortable and secure life, but as one can see today, this is not how it goes. I’ve seen many a picture of people with degrees, standing at robots asking for jobs. So I went on a mini-mission to find out more about these fashion related careers to better inform these young people about what they entail. I mean with employment in RSA at its worst, why not follow what you like anyway, and also encourage entrepreneurship? What will be your New Year resolutions for Barbara McKenzie? I’m not sure if a entity can have New Year Resolutions, but I personally don’t. One need not wait till January of each year to start doing something, one just starts. Why wait for the next year to start doing something, when you can do it sooner? [bctt tweet=”@Kendibone_S – One need not wait till January of each year to start doing something” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I’ve started the help-a-girl-child initiative at the end of this year, I don’t think waiting until the beginning of 2017 would be any better, just so I can say that I have a “New Year Resolution”. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Rose Mutsau: I believed in myself enough to make my own perfume
[bctt tweet=”@Summer__Rose – All I ever wanted was to make women feel beautiful” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Rose Mutsau is a nurse, a nutritionist and runs an online shop. But perhaps what she’s really known for is her personal brand, Summer Rose. Summer Rose is also part of the name of a fragrance Rose has created. Belle by Summer Rose is a perfume that the streets are saying smells like a million bucks and lasts the whole day. We’re tempted to add perfume-making to our growing list of unusual business ideas. Think about it, how many scents created by African women do you know? Read on to learn how Rose Mutsua found her way to creating her own fragrance line. Please briefly tell us who Summer Rose is. If you don’t mind me asking, is it your real name? My name is Rose Mutsau but most people that know me via social media know me as Summer Rose. Summer Rose is my brand name and my social media handle. I was born in Gutu, Zimbabwe and I grew up in Glenview area 8 Harare. I also lived in Gwanda for a couple of years, then Gweru before I moved to the UK in 2002. You have ventured in one of the most difficult fashion businesses and produced your own fragrance line, what inspired you? My business inspiration is definitely my mother. She was always selling something at any given time, what a woman! God rest her soul. I have always had love for fragrance and over the years I have spent a lot of money on high end perfumes such as Tom Ford, Dior, Jo Malone etc, they are a few of my favourites. When a business opportunity presented itself to me, the first thing that came to my mind was perfume. I knew that it was not going to be easy. At that point, I did not have a clue on how to make perfume let alone convince buyers that it was a worthy product to spend their money on. I believed in myself and that I could turn this dream into reality, so I started working on it straight away. My aim was to produce a fragrance just as good in quality as the high-end fragrances but a lot more affordable so that women from all walks of life could afford it. I think I have managed to accomplish that. How long did it take for you to discover the final scent of Belle? It was a longer process than I anticipated. I had to change the mix three times before I was happy with it. I wanted to release a product that I would be happy to use on myself before I expect other people to love it. All in all it took about six months to approve the final scent. I noticed that your clientele all love Belle and have been gushing over it, how does that make you feel? Are you going to offer a different scent as yet? It makes me so happy, you have no idea! I believed in myself enough to make the perfume and I totally loved the scent. Yet, I was not sure how people would receive it. The feedback has been so amazing. Most of my customers send me pictures of them holding their Belle boxes and it makes me so happy. The name Belle simply means “beautiful woman”. All I ever wanted was to make women feel beautiful and boost their confidence and I have managed to do that through this beautiful fragrance. As for what’s coming next, just watch this space… [bctt tweet=”Rose Mutsau: Business is actually at an all time high during this period” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Besides producing your own perfume line what other business are you into? I have an online shop where I sell the perfume and clothing items. I’m working on revamping the website soon. I’m also a rep for a nutritious weight loss programme which has helped me and many women reach their weight loss goals. In addition to that, I am a mental health nurse by profession, a role I’m very passionate about. We are in the festive month and about to close up on 2016, is this a slow time for your business? Business is actually at an all time high during this period. Many people are buying the perfume as Christmas presents for their family and friends. There’s no better time for business than right now. Describe your fashion sense in three words. Also, what’s one 2016 fashion item you will take with you in 2017. My fashion sense is trendy, adventurous and elegant. One fashion item I will take with me into 2017 God willing is none other than my Belle By SummerRose. It goes everywhere with me, my little bottle of heaven. [bctt tweet=”@Summer__Rose – Believe in yourself first before you expect anyone else to believe in you” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Any words of encouragement to aspiring business women out there? Dream big and work hard to turn your dreams into reality. Believe in yourself first before you expect anyone else to believe in you. In your journey, there will be many obstacles but never give up. Let that drive you to push even harder until you reach your goals. Don’t be too proud to ask for help, you’ll be amazed how helpful people are if only you ask. Above all pray. Never under estimate the power of prayer. Compliments of the season to you all. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Twitter Chat with Bloggers: How to become a pro-blogger
Is becoming a blogger one of your goals for 2017? Have you started a blog but can’t quite get it off the ground? Interested in blogging but not quite sue what it entails, if it’s right for you or how to start? Are you already a blogger but want to connect with other bloggers and ask some of your pressing questions? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you need to join our twitter chat. You’ll get a chance to hear the stories of 4 awesome bloggers around the African continent and ask any questions you have. Join us Thursday Dec. 22nd for a twitter chat with 4 bloggers who have been in the game for a while. Nantobeko Tshabalala is a Swazi blogger who writes about pressing topics in politics and culture. Tuke Morgan is a Nigerian blogger who writes about fashion, travel and food. Thembi Terry Zulu is a Zimbabwean blogger who blogs about her personal life and the adventures she faces daily. Cassie Daves is a Nigerian blogger who writes about fashion, blogging and her lifestyle. All of them have unique and interesting stories and insights to share. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Is blogging right for you? How to get started in blogging Best tips for growing your audience How to balance your blog with other life goals How to use your blog to make connections Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Dec.22nd, 2016 Time: 1pm Lagos // 2pm Lobamba // 3pm Harare Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Dec. 22nd @NonoTsh @TukeMorgan @cassie_daves and @ThembiTerry will give #blogging tips on #SLAChats ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] About the bloggers: Nontobeko Tshabalala, a blogger and social media extrovert, believes good writing enhances the experience of life. She is passionate about the youth and its involvement in making worthwhile contributions to the discourse around issues such as gender disparity, Afrocentricity and firmly believes they hold the answers to how we can achieve sustainable development as a continent. Nono is a member of the AUC/IPPF young Journalist’s Network and has worked in her country, Swaziland, to sensitise other youth on using their voices to speak out more on global issues. Adetuke Morgan is a Vivacious Nigerian Lady with a keen interest in the Arts. With a BSc in Economics from the Prestigious University of Nottingham, UK, she is paving a name for herself in the Creative World by expressing her talents through various outlets. She is an award winning , Food Photographer, Lifestyle Blogger, Saxophonist, Content Creator and Performing Artist who blogs about Style, Food, Beauty, Hair, Events & Experiences at www.tukesquest.com. Thembi Terry Zulu studied Journalism and Media Studies at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). She is a personal blogger by passion and a publicist by profession. Her interests lie in women’s development, the youths in arts and the environment. Thembi contributes to several publications such as Induna Magazine, Divas Inc magazine, Kalabash Media and Kwantuthu Arts magazine amongst others. Her blog is an opinionated yet humorous take on a young woman’s journey through life, love and everything else. She has been blogging for over 3 years and aspires to go into vlogging next. Cassie Daves is a Medical Doctor. Creative Entrepreneur, and a fashion and lifestyle blogger.
Maria Ebenezer: I decline clients unwilling to comply with our standards
[bctt tweet=”Maria Ebenezer: I believe women should enjoy exclusivity in this particular profession” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Emerald Green Ushering Services is a Nigerian-based event hostess agency, providing professional staff for international corporate and luxury social events. Founder, Maria Ebenezer’s entrepreneurial drive was birthed from modelling and her experience in ushering, which gave her the basic knowledge to kick-start Emerald Green Ushering Services. Though Emerald Green Ushering Services’ clients include multinational and indigenous firms, catering for weddings, birthdays and annual general meetings are also par for the course for the firm. Why was it important for you to hire only female ushers as opposed to a mixed staff? Ushering is a profession I have always considered to be best suited to women considering the glamour and hospitality skills that are often required. I believe women should enjoy exclusivity in this particular profession. More so, I have found that it is easier working with female staff as they maintain a better professional conduct. Quality customer service is quite difficult to come by in Nigeria. How does Emerald Green Ushering Services avoid this pitfall? We pride ourselves in excellent service delivery. One of our basic requirements for recruitment is work experience; afterwards hostesses undergo basic training. We are constantly researching innovative ideas to ensure our services are on a par with global professional standards. Feedback forms are given to my clients at the end of each event to evaluate the quality of our service for improvement purposes. So far, feedback has been great. [bctt tweet=”Maria Ebenezer’s core focus for @EMushers is attracting multinational corporate organisations ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How do you handle difficult clients? Initially, I accommodated excessive, unreasonable demands because we needed to build a portfolio. But now, I decline clients unwilling to comply with our professional standards. What’s the biggest challenge facing Emerald Green Ushering Services, and how has it been able to overcome or mitigate it? In our first year, we were enlisted by an indigenous multinational company to bid for their annual conference. Their vendor’s form stated ushering companies were required to have 5 years of experience with renowned firms. Clearly, we didn’t have that and though we lost the bid, I was grateful for the experience because it gave me a clearer picture of what was required to win my dream clientèle. It made me re-strategise. I put in a lot of work to improve staffing and our brand, and in a couple of months, I landed my first international client and then another. But like every other service provider, our biggest challenge has been acquiring new clients. Plus, my core focus is on attracting multinational corporate organisations, which require more work as they are highly competitive and often require rigorous processes. [bctt tweet=”@EMushers aims to be the first firm companies looking for ushers will call upon” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What does the future hold for Emerald Green Ushering Services? Currently, every business move we make is geared towards our 5-year goal of establishing Emerald Green Ushering Services as a model framework for event collaboration and partnership between West Africa and multinational companies globally. We aim to be the first firm companies looking for ushers will call upon for their corporate events in Nigeria. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Naa Oyoo Kumodzi: How to survive a lay-off
[bctt tweet=”There is no quick fix to surviving a lay-off, follow these guidelines to prepare for it. ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] “Everyone is dispensable in a workplace. As long as it’s not your company, then yes you are dispensable. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. If the company you work for today, decides that they are bankrupt hence they are shutting down or they are unable to pay you, what can you do? You just move on.” These were the words of Naa Oyoo Kumodzi as she spoke of her lay-off experience at Tullow Oil, Ghana after working with the company for six years. Before the lay-off, Naa Oyoo worked as an officer in the health and safety department where she was training into Occupational Hygiene. Though the layoff had been communicated to all employees worldwide and she had prepared herself for it, it still came as a shock. It is only natural for you to question the company when you realise how dispensable you are. This was what Naa Oyoo did. She was hurt and confused as to why a company would invest so much in her and still choose to let her go. Despite these natural reactions, the lay-off was not hard-hitting for Naa Oyoo compared to others who experienced the same fate. The reason is that Naa Oyoo started blogging five years ago. This job had gradually turned into an income earning source. So when one income source was cut-off, Naa Oyoo knew she had other things going on for her. Today, the lifestyle blogger, entrepreneur and social media marketer uses her experiences to educate others to prepare for the unexpectedness in life. To Naa Oyoo, a lay-off is an experience which some people have to go through. The memory of this incident rises up even after a long period of time, but it does not have to be traumatic. If you’re adequately prepared, you can survive this. There is no quick fix to surviving a lay-off but you can follow the guidelines below to prepare. [bctt tweet=”Naa Oyoo Kumodzi: Anything can happen any time, you should always be prepared financially” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Prepare yourself mentally and emotionally Preparation is always key. When a lay-off is communicated to you, you just have to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally. You have to ask the questions; Is it going to be me? What if it is not? If it is going to be me, what will be my first mode of action? If not, what should I do to prepare myself for any future lay-offs Should I resign soon? These are some of the mental preparations you have to go through in order to be alert and ready for the unexpected. You should also come up with an action plan that you will follow. Have multiple streams of income and never be okay with one stream of income Naa Oyoo Kumodzi may not have been aware of it at the time but starting out in blogging and creating content prepared her for the future. While she was with Tullow Oil, she managed social media accounts for companies, this was also a source of income for her. Due to this, the day after her lay-off, Naa Oyoo was not wallowing in self-pity. Rather it was another day for business as she had to rise up early and work on the accounts she managed. [bctt tweet=”Naa Oyoo Kumodzi: Anything can happen any time, you should always be prepared financially” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Learn about savings and investment and start investing now You cannot go through life without a dime to your name. You have to have some sort of investments and savings, no matter how small it is. As you generate income from pay-check to pay-check, you have to save some somewhere for unexpected circumstances. There are so many banks and investment companies around, it would be advisable to find one that suits you. Anything can happen any time and you should always be prepared financially. [bctt tweet=”Naa Oyoo Kumodzi: Do not be satisfied in staying in your little corner always” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Learn more about yourself and improve on your strengths You will need to be strong to face life’s storms. They can come at you when you least expect it. By learning more about yourself, you are able to identify your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you improve upon them and equip you into reaching your ultimate success goal. Knowing thyself is the first step to success. Given the fact that the world is a learning ground; you should learn to open yourself to explore new opportunities and experiences. Build a strong business network even whilst you have a day job Everyone needs somebody at a point in their life. Who are you going to call if you do not network? You never know when you need to call up someone. Even though you may have a day job that takes all of your time, it is an obligation to go out there. Build strong business networks, they will definitely come in handy one day. Do not be satisfied in staying in your little corner always. Learn to make new friends, go for business seminars, meet your friends’ friends. Just network! Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.