Uloma Ogba: Whenever I get serious about something, I get what I aim for
[bctt tweet=”@OgbaUloma has always kept herself busy observing & figuring out how to make sense of things” 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 contributors who selflessly share their writing through us. Uloma Ogba has given us advice on landing a job at the United Nations and shared her experience with depression. Before moving to Zambia to work with the UN, Uloma has lived in several cities across three continents. Wherever she’s found herself, Uloma has started something. Whether it’s a community of like-minded black women or the Lusaka Book & Brunch club. Uloma Ogba is an ordinary girl trying to save the world, get to know her below. What do you think started your interest in hearing people’s stories? I think I’ve always been this way…more interested in listening than in speaking. Even as a child, I was dubbed the “quiet one”. I was always busy observing and figuring out how to make sense of things, and of course how to take over the world. I also come from a family where we were encouraged to reason and talk through everything. We were encouraged to read a lot, learn history, listen to stories and talk about our feelings, our dreams and our needs. So I’ve grown up listening to stories. It must have clicked in me a long time ago that to truly understand people, where they are coming from, what they need and how you can be of service to them, you have to be willing to listen. Before I ended up in the line of work that I’m in today, I toyed with the idea of going into psychology. I imagined becoming a therapist to feed my desire to know what people are really thinking so that I can know how to relate to them meaningfully. Even though I don’t get to do that for a living, it’s a skill I try to apply in everything I do. People can tell when you’re really making an effort to listen to them and everyone appreciates being heard. And its not that hard to do, so I do it. Can you tell us something about the various countries you’ve lived in? Have you had any difficulty living abroad as a Nigerian? I was born in Canada while my parents were attending school there. So I’ve always had a Canadian passport which I won’t deny has definitely made it easier to live and travel in different places. My family moved to Nigeria when I was 3 years old. We lived in Kwara, Imo, Lagos and Abia states. When I was 16, I moved to the US to join my brother and sister and there I completed my first bachelor and master’s degrees (in Physics and Medical Physics). I moved to Canada when I was 24 years old because I wanted to “try something different” as I felt after 8 years I still hadn’t adjusted to life in America. I went back to university for a second bachelor’s degree in a non-science field (European Studies) at the University of Toronto. My school had an exchange program with the University of Amsterdam and I went on a semester abroad when I was 26 again to “try something new”. However, that one semester turned into almost 6 years. I transferred to and graduated from the University of Amsterdam and subsequently enrolled in my second master’s program (Medical Informatics). Of all the places I’ve lived, Amsterdam is definitely my favourite. It is the one place I would move back to if the opportunity presented itself again. Three months ago when I joined the UN, I moved to Lusaka, Zambia and that’s where I live now. You wrote about getting into the UN based on your experience yet your educational background is in the sciences. How did you find your way to the NGO sector? My second master’s degree was in Medical Informatics. At the time, my plan was to get a job as a consultant with a focus on healthcare. However, I was not successful with any of the consulting firms I applied to. This was partly because I did not have the traditional business background or go the MBA route like most consultants do. Also, I was not yet fluent in Dutch which was a requirement for a lot of the companies. As I applied for consultancy positions as a back up, I also applied for analyst jobs. That was how I ended up working as a junior analyst for PharmAccess after I finished my Masters. My initial intention was to go in and gain some experience as an analyst to help with my consulting applications in the future. In the end, I found that I really enjoyed the work I was doing. The fact that it was in the healthcare development sector and focused on Africa was an added bonus. Having spent almost half of my life outside Nigeria and Africa, I was excited at this opportunity, albeit an unplanned one, to learn about my continent. I was part of the work being done to secure Africa’s development, in this case through improving access to quality healthcare. PharmAccess has offices in 9 countries and I was fortunate to get to work in the Kenyan and Nigerian offices for a while. That experience made me realize that as much as I’d grown accustomed to life in the West, there was a part of me that really just wanted to be where the “action was”. I wanted to live and work on the continent for a while and so when the opportunity to apply to the job at the UN came up I jumped at it because I wanted to be based in one African country full-time. Even though I have a background in Physics and Medical Informatics, I’ve managed to pick up other skills along the way. At the time I was applying to the UN, I
Nonku Jijita: I make anything and everything with my hands and dolls was one of them
[bctt tweet=”Nonku Jijita: I have always been very crafty since I was little ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Move over Barbie, Love Nonku dolls are here to stay. Each doll in the Love Nonku collection is hand-crafted by Nonku Jijita. Raised in Zimbabwe but now based in the UK, Nonku chose to make dolls in order to share her love for craft with the world. Loving the satisfaction of sewing is one thing but making a business out of it is another. Watching cartoons with her kids lead Nonku to realise that comical cartoon characters are more beloved by children. Nonku Jijita currently plans on establishing a workshop in Zimbabwe that will distribute her dolls across Africa. Why did you decide to make a business selling dolls? I have always been very crafty since I was little. I make anything and everything with my hands and dolls was one of them. I wanted to chose one of my craft activities to share with the world, so I decided to share the dolls. What ideas went to developing this doll that is “not your typical Barbie-style doll”? I wanted to create a design that is simplistic enough to let a child use their own imagination as to what they want that doll to be. I’ve spent years watching cartoons with my kids and noticed that the comical simple cartoon characters are what made my kids laugh and be happy. This is as opposed to characters that where created to look a certain way. Children are a blank canvas when they come into this world. They should be given a chance to use their own imagination without being bombarded with certain imagery they feel obliged to conform to. What’s a typical day like for you? A typical day for me goes like this Take my kids to school, Come back home, make a coffee Get sewing in my home studio I have until 3:30 to collect the kids from school. When they are back home, I tend to them Sometimes, I go back to sewing in the evening. [bctt tweet=”Nonku Jijita: Each Love Nonku doll is made individually to ensure quality” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] In which countries do you operate and do you have plans to expand? I am currently delivering to UK, USA and Europe. My dream is to expand into Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe, so I am still looking for opportunities to do so. There are some very talented and gifted people in Zimbabwe who do not have access to opportunities. I want to empower and inspire them so they know that there is no limit if they wish to use their gifts and talents. Once my workshop is set up in Zimbabwe, I would like to use it as a base to later connect with toy stores and boutiques throughout Africa. I get a lot of requests for my dolls all over Africa and it would logistically make sense to have a distribution hub in Africa. The dolls would be easily accessible if they are in boutiques across different African countries. Before expanding, I will also need to start connecting and networking. I want to establish relationships with boutique owners, as well as look at marketing strategies that cover the whole of Africa. What processes have you put in place to ensure that your business is effectively run? Attention to detail is key. From the fabric used, to the quality of the thread and paying attention not to waste precious fabric. Each doll is made individually to ensure quality. There is a lot fine cutting as some pieces can be quite small. A steady hand and a good eye is required and definitely lots of light needs to be accessible. The eyes, lips and hair of my dolls are all done by hand and getting the correct measurements is crucial to achieve a uniform look. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Budget Like A Pro This Holiday Season
Don’t want to start the New Year with no money? It is the holiday season and if you’re like us, you’re very excited to buy your friends and loved ones great gifts and go to the best hangouts. And it doesn’t just stop there, you may also be planning a vacation for yourself. You know what this means once January comes around. We know you won’t be excited when you see how your bank accounts look after the season. To avoid this, you need to master the art of budgeting. Budget like a pro! Budgeting allows you spend your money wisely and still have some left. There is nothing wrong with going shopping with friends, buying gifts for your loved ones (or even for yourself). However that feeling after spending all that money is terrible. Topics this guide will cover: How to set financial goals Ways to keep your spending at a minimal rate Ways to save and keep track of your money We don’t want you looking at your bank account like this in 2017; This guide is complete with ideas and ways to budget better, save money and spend smarter! 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=57]
Hilda Mavhunga: I had no idea that one could become a food technologist
[bctt tweet=”@didi_mamushka is a food technologist making a career out of her love for food” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] For Hilda Mavhunga, “food is passion, food is love.” But Hilda lives her passion for food in a way that is different from what you’d expect. She is a food technologist. Say what now? Yep, food technologist! It’s one of those professions that few know but that are well integrated into our everyday lives. “Food is my life, food was my choice, food is my career, food is my love,” says Hilda Mavhunga. And you know that the food industry is the largest in the world, we all need to eat. Yet Hilda doesn’t limit herself to her job as a food technologist. She’s also a model and founder of Vision 30 and Soweto Award for Economic Development. The Soweto Award for Economic Development was started to change the fact that Sowetans feel neglected in South Africa. Why did you decide to study food technology I must admit, I had no idea that one could become a food technologist. Some people don’t realise what a major role in the development of food products we play in the global market. The plethora of disciplines in food industry is vast and fascinating. Common products that you purchase each day have been researched, designed and modified by a team of food industry professionals. As food technologists, we make sure that what you purchase is consistent in quality and most importantly, safe to eat. It draws from many disciplines in an attempt to better understand food processes and ultimately improve food products for general public. It applies food science principles for the selection, preservation, processing, packaging and use of safe food. Food technology disciplines include food chemistry, food process engineering, food microbiology, food preservation, food packaging, food safety, food technology, new product development and sensory analysis. I love using science and engineering skills to research and develop food products and to ensure the safety of food supply. Therefore, food technology was an option to quench the thirst of this kind of love. I decided to be a food technologist because there is nothing more amazing than the chemistry of food and its technology. Can you tell us a bit about your work and its contribution towards developing countries. The food industry is one of the largest on the planet. People will always have to eat. The primary objective of food science and technology is to provide crowded populations with the kind and quality of food they demand at all times of the year. Food processing techniques developed by food scientists ensure that the resources required to produce raw food materials, and ingredients for food manufacturing are used efficiently. [bctt tweet=”Hilda Mavhunga: I love using science and engineering skills to research and develop food products” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What is your favourite dish ? My favourite dish pap and mogodu. What do you think is special about the food science industry compared with other scientific industries? When working in the food industry, you aren’t limited to lab work or a desk job. There is something for everyone, whether it be in quality, Research & Development , sales, e-marketing, manufacturing, teaching or in government. The food science degree is inherently multidisciplinary, which opens up a myriad of opportunities.We use principles of chemistry, engineering, microbiology and other sciences to ensure food safety and agricultural productivity. We discover new food sources, analyses nutrition content and finds different ways to process, package and preserve food in an attempt to improve the quality of the food that we eat everyday. What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time, I do modelling sometimes. I also run two projects; Vision 30 and the Soweto Award for Economic Development. [bctt tweet=”Hilda Mavhunga: We Sowetans often we feel neglected & our aim is to change that” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Tell us about Soweto Award for Economic Development We Sowetans often we feel neglected and our aim as an organisation is to change that. How so? By recognising talent/challenges, good/bad service delivery around our location. We figure out ways we can empower and be catalysts to turn and improve our locations into a better place where everyone wants to be. We also want to improve our education system, decrease unemployment rate and have better health services. That’s our mission as Soweto Award for Economic Development. What kind of sickness have you lied about so you wouldn’t go to work? I’m so passionate and live my work that I don’t want to miss a second of it. I never lied about any sickness to miss work. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
The Ts’ita twins: Phenomenal dynamites from the mountain kingdom of Lesotho
[bctt tweet=”Ts’ita twins: One company was not enough to feed our passion to provide the service” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] They are double trouble, double threat and authors of the twin book; “Distinguish or Extinguish Yourself”. They are well known as the Ts’ita twins in Lesotho and around Southern Africa as the two powerhouses serial entrepreneurs. The Ts’ita twins have a knack for success in developing and creating multiple enterprises that solve Lesotho’s high unemployment rate. The twins, Nts’epeng and Ts’epang Ts’ita have managed to consistently build one business after another. The Ts’ita twins empower Basotho women through the Finite women awards and build patriotism among the Basotho nation. For their many efforts the twins have received numerous awards. Among them are the Mantsopa award (2010), the Commonwealth Leadership award (2014), as well as the Gender Links awards. The Twin Talk brand is said to be the brainchild behind the many companies that both you two own? What birthed it? We began creating our brand from an early age due to being twins. We always loved to entertain people, whether it be guests at home, students at morning prayer parade, and fellow school mates at scripture union service. This grew to performing with celebrities at local concerts and ultimately we refined it to a more structured collective of ‘Twin Talk’. It was largely inspired by great and renowned world speakers. Of course, BAM group was centred around this. We have always had a dream to own businesses. This was nurtured from an early age as our father was a renowned businessman. He always encouraged us to visualise our lives as independent women who would not get into a relationship for financial security, but for real love. [bctt tweet=”Ts’ita twins: Our father was a renowned businessman who always encouraged us to be independent ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] As serial entrepreneurs whose main enterprises are socially driven, how has this shaped the business ventures you pursue? We began our first business in 2005 called BAM Consultancy, it helped us grasp the basics of business and harness our skill into perfecting our craft. However as the entrepreneurs that we truly are, one company was not enough to feed our passion to provide the service. There was so much needed out there, with so little needed to address the needs of the customers. We decided to venture into other industries such as media, later on arts and culture promotion, and eventually general promotions. Today we are still opening doors to more entrepreneurial opportunities. This is exciting for us as we get to explore new opportunities and not necessarily focus on one stream of income. What role does social entrepreneurship play in your business endeavours? All the business ventures we have embarked on to date at their core try to address our societies’ most pressing social problems. We are intent on ensuring that we engage with individuals and communities at large, while also creating platforms for sharing with people and experts in various fields. This is formalized in our corporate training ventures through BAM Consultancy. We train on business skills such as financial management, use of new technologies, recruitment services and project management. We also provide training on softer skills designed to help build leadership, management and self-mastery for those needing to excel. [bctt tweet=”All the business ventures the Ts’ita twins have embarked on try to address social problems ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Our promotions services recognize individuals and help them and their impact to be felt socially within their circles of influence. Finally, our various publications focus on women, youth and the general public, as well as entrepreneurs. They also address social issues at a familial level. We also provide mentorship services on group and one-on-one levels. We know that social evolution is centred around inspiring individuals to be brave enough to take on challenges at a scale that makes a signification impact for themselves and their environments. What birthed the concept of the Finite Women awards? What does it mean to be a ‘finite woman’? Do you think that after four years running, the awards have achieved their ultimate aim? We’ve always loved creating opportunities that put women in the forefront, that is one of the reasons Finite Magazine itself was born. It was something for Basotho women to be proud of. Being finite for us was the essence of completeness, of attaining a certain level of achievement. A finite person is someone whose story does not need to be refined any further because they appreciate who they are and are proud of what has made them be. It is about being a ray of hope to others, and sharing experiences to help others know that they are not alone. In 2016, the awards are in their 5th year of existence. This milestone was marked with the introduction of the Male Appreciation Awards. The awards are growing stronger and broader each year. Their impact is felt by those nominating and nominated, they are more vigilant about what is happening in the women empowerment space. [bctt tweet=”Ts’ita twins: Being finite for us is being the essence of completeness” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What challenges have you come across as one of the few female business moguls in Lesotho? How did you overcome them? When we started out in business, the challenge was mainly on age and not being taken seriously because we were women. We entered an industry dominated by males, and were new entrants. Obviously some people did not believe we could do it. Some did not trust us, others did not like us and some made it their business to chase us out of business. Perseverance, the love of what we were doing, our belief in what we could achieve, our daily practice and implementation of our EQ and our faith in God made us push beyond all these negativities. Being women with a strong sense of independence, one would think that we dominate our families, and particularly our husbands. This is not the case at all and we try by
Tsholofelo Dikobe: I grew up knowing I had a special relationship with clothes
[bctt tweet=”@thekhoi_fro does any and everything pertaining fashion, the world of fashion is her oyster” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] In SLA contributor Kendi Sapepa’s last article the stylist profession was explored. What would be better than to follow up with an actual stylist? Botswana’s Tsholo Dikobe has put her country on the map through her artistic and creative nature. Tsholo has recently been nominated for the Abryanz Style and Fashion Award, in the ‘Best Dressed Celebrity’ category. Kendi recently had a chat with the renowned stylist, award-winning fashion writer, and curator Hello, Tsholo, please tell our readers a little more about yourself? I’m from Botswana and on the Voice On Fashion column in The Voice Newspaper, I give an overall forecast of the world of fashion. Furthermore, together with my partner, Gaone Mothibi, we feature established and upcoming local talent from in and around Botswana, and also around Africa and the world. How did you get into styling? Growing up, when words failed me, I spoke fluent volumes with my clothes. I grew up knowing that I had a special relationship with clothes because I wore them quite differently and uniquely all the time. When it was civic day at school, I was always the centre of attention! Fast forward to my early university days, I started dancing and working with some of Botswana’s top musicians and artists. My love for dancing required great costumes on stage, and looking the part. I was always invested in how we’d execute our looks on stage and how the final presentation will be received by the masses. This is how my styling career started. You call yourself a Fashion Artist, please tell us a little more about that title. I do any and everything pertaining fashion. I believe the world of fashion is my oyster. Also, I document and report about the world of fashion for the biggest and followed fashion column in Botswana, The Voice On Fashion. I blog about my fashion experiences and life at The Khoi-fro. In addition, I style renowned musicians and public figures in Botswana. I direct shoots for advertorials and more! Hence the term fashion artist. It’s a million fashion things in one. Please explain to us what your job entails? How does it works? What are the day to day activities etc? The world of fashion is an exciting yet disrupting pursuit. It’s exciting in the sense that no day is the same. You get to experience networking with great people and icons in the field and learn so much. Moreover, styling people is a great joy. From being responsible for how a person looks at themselves after you have styled them —the feeling is always great. The visible inner dialogue change that you get to experience with a client is a fulfilling feeling. From a technical aspect, I organise photos shoots, co-ordinate shoot outfits and develop a creative communication. Moreover, I develop a fashion trend report or fashion calendar for upcoming fashion seasons. You get to be responsible for deciding the creative influence and direction of a trend/product. There’s also supervising the work of photographers, models, clients, for a high end fashion editorial. Would you say that your field is fairly easy to get into? It is, but what you need far beyond anything else is passion and dedication. [bctt tweet=”Tsholofelo Dikobe: The world of fashion is an exciting, no day is the same. ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Are there other avenues someone could take with your experience? The world of fashion has many fields. There is the business side of fashion which involves fashion entrepreneurship and management. For the business-minded people, one can get into retailing, buying or merchandising. You have to know your area of interest and act accordingly. Often, some companies will encourage lesser known people and newcomers to work for free, however offer experience and exposure, what is your take on this? I believe there is an entry level to any career or profession. But the entry level should come with a monetary incentive. An entry level does not mean exposure. Exposure in my books just means it is unpaid work, which is daylight robbery. What would your advice be to people who are looking to get into styling? Learn and know the history of your craft. Identify a gap and creatively close it. Where can people see your work? You can follow me and my work on Instagram, and with my partner Gaone Mothibi. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
SheHiveCapeTown: February 18-19 2017
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1448373453827{margin-top: -30px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”20179″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]The SheHive train came Cape Town and it was litttttt. Check out the fun we had below and join our community to stay up to date on our next SheHive destinations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1448373453827{margin-top: -30px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text][timetable id=”3″][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][instagram-feed type=hashtag hashtag=shehivecapetown num=30 cols=5 height=1000][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”28596″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Catherine Nyagah: The inventor behind South Africa’s cheap water absorption sachets
[bctt tweet=”Catherine Nyagah – My aim is straight forward —South Africa must flush and save water wisely” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Get ready, we’re going to be talking about toilets here. Kenyan-born scientist Catherine Nyagah, 56, is a consultant for the Pretoria chapter of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Catherine has led food spice-quality testing teams for brands like KFC and DiMaggio in Nigeria, SA, and Kenya. Now from her own pockets, she has invented, “Smarter Flush Africa” —biodegradable small bags designed to “absorb” toilet water. Catherine has plans to scale her efforts across Africa. SLA contributing writer, Ray Mwayera met Catherine Nyagah over a lunch of Thai noodles and mango juice to find out just how much water Africans are wasting in their homes and establishments. We know, the UN is an exciting place but what is Smarter Flush Africa? Smarter Flush Africa is a brand that products sachets which are designed to “absorb” toilet water in hotels, offices and urban households. These sachets are biodegradable and are certified by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). How on earth do they work? We are science drop outs. One Smarter Flush sachet displaces 2 litres of water. This is how it works. First, you drop in the sachets into the normal 9 litre chamber that lines up the normal South African home or hotel. One sachet goes under the bulb of the water, while the other goes near the water inlet valve. After six to seven hours, the satchet takes in water and holds it! This is important. Unlike sponges, Smarter Flush is unique a very special way. If, the taps are switched off, the sachet will not release the water it took in. It will hold in water till the municipality’s water return to bathroom taps again. This way they conserve water. When I say the bags are biodegradable, I mean the materials used to build the sachet will disintegrate, dissolve and merge in with the natural soil once you throw away the sachet. I designed it this way to help communities. [bctt tweet=”Catherine Nyagah – The average South African visits a toilet 5times a day. We want to manage this” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Gosh, this is important! Tell us more about your initiatives to help communities. Helping communities is critical. We also mop off deadly plastics from dumps which are a menace in South Africa. I consider this to be a life saver because 12.5 % of all illnesses in South Africa are water-related diseases. What motivation sparked this invention? It came from my frequent travels to South Africa. I noticed that too many hotels and houses spend the biggest chunk of their water on bathroom activities. The average South African visits a toilet 5 times a day. We want to manage this better. Can Smarter Flush conquer bad habits? Is it economically-viable? My aim is straight forward —South Africa must flush and save water wisely. Smarter Flush Africa should be seen as a gift by policy makers. We don’t want to save hotels bathroom water while avoiding toilet re-plumbing as that could be too expensive. Hotels are more agreeable to technology like Smarter Flush Africa. We have made a lot of progress with hotels. They recognize that wasted water is wasted money. Smarter Flush Africa can easily be rolled out to two million urban households. One sachet costs only R100 and works for three years. We prefer that users pay the R100 in R20 monthly instalments over five months as a bundle with their water and energy bills. [bctt tweet=”Catherine Nyagah is innovative about saving water because water is not replaceable” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Has there been any scientific testing of your invention? We used the South Africa Census database statistics from 2011 to estimate that this technology will cut water expenditure by 27% if adopted. The data tells us that we need 2 million sachets assuming every hotel and house in Johannesburg has on average one toilet. If we save 2 litres per day, you get 6 litres of water saved. In a day, it could be over 6 billion metric tons of water saved! Are you ever angry with slow bureaucracy? I interacted with the South Africa minister for the environment in August. The appetite for Smarter Flush from ordinary mothers was overwhelming and the minister instructed her aides to engage with this innovation. The World Economic Forum has ranked vanishing water as a top security risk in the world so saving water should be of concern to everyone. We have highway billboards that call for water saving, are they helpful? Even if billboards say; sprinkle borehole water on your flowers, it’s still water, and water is not replaceable! Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Brigite Faustin: The future for women agripreneurs is blossoming
[bctt tweet=”@BrigiteF founder of OBRI is seeing an increase in ambitious agripreneurs across Africa” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When Brigite Faustin says the future for women agripreneurs is blossoming, we believe her. The Tanzanian #MotherlandMogul is Founder and Managing Director of OBRI (T) Company. Brigite’s company makes edible oil under the OBRI brand. From raw materials to manufacturing, everything is done in Tanzania. Brigite is a self-taught entrepreneur who has made agribusiness and human development her business. She runs OBRI company as a co-operative social enterprise, ensuring that farmers and communities are supported. Brigite wants to see more women in her industry and has suggestions on how to make this happen. Tell us about the concept of co-operative social enterprise your business is modelled after. Our business model lies behind the concept of co-operative social enterprise. This model promotes economic opportunities for cooperatives organizations, farmers associations and communities through the innovative application of sound business practice. The model supports smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, improve land use, increase the quality and quantity of their crops, and promote safe and efficient working practices. The model is a win-win to both farmers and the company, as it guarantees a sustainable market channel of agricultural produce to the local farmers while offering quality raw materials to the company without stressing on price fluctuation. How many years have you been in the industry you currently work in? How do you believe your business model will improve this industry? I researched this industry for three years and formalized our company October, last year. I believe our business model will improve this industry because most edible oils in Tanzania are imported and sold at high price. Majority of local companies fail to meet the required quality. Our business model emphasises quality control and value for money. We only source our raw materials from co-operative unions who are dedicated to quality. [bctt tweet=”Brigite Faustin: I researched this industry for 3 years before formalizing my company” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Was there a point where you didn’t take your journey seriously? What happened to change that? Yes. Running a business is like riding on a roller coaster. Although it is fun and exciting, there will be times when you’ll be scared and feel powerless. The first three months after I started my company, I wasn’t 100% sure that my brand will stand out in the market and survive the competition. I had limited perception of what my business is capable of! I chose to shed my illusions, understood the core value proposition in my business model and demystified the workings of the business world. Finally, I found myself achieving more than what I have ever dreamed was possible. What are your experiences as a woman in Tanzania’s agriculture and manufacturing sector? My experience has been both challenging and exciting. Like in many parts of Africa, running a food manufacturing company in Tanzania is not easy. There are lots of challenges from the policy point of view to market acquisition. The biggest challenge so far is brand awareness. Being that I am building a proudly African brand, it takes a lot of work to penetrate the market and get people in the know. I have a global plan for my brand. Weak policy implementation and a lack of small business support is another challenge. The government and other key stakeholders have to work on this to encourage more women and young entrepreneurs to invest in the sector. What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far? Seeing my products competing with both local and international brands is the biggest highlight for me. Some of these brands have over 10-20 years in the market! [bctt tweet=”Brigite Faustin: Our business model emphasises quality control and value for money.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What keeps you going every day? I always believe each new day brings an opportunity to get it right. I’m driven to become and remain successful. My goal is to grow and sustain my company. As my business grows, so does my responsibilities. I see my company in the next three years growing across Eastern and Southern Africa, employing young minds and contributing to the society. This keeps me going and pushes me to get it right every day. Interest in agriculture is slowly growing across the continent, what do you think needs to be done to encourage more women to go into this sector? I see an increase in ambitious, devoted and motivated agripreneurs daily across the continent. It is inspiring! Women are no longer waiting for someone to dish them riches on a platter of gold. They are ready to work for it and I am confident that the hard work will pay off soon. Even with the success stories, a few has to be done to encourage more and more women into this sector. [bctt tweet=”Brigite Faustin: I always believe each new day brings an opportunity to get it right.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 1. Mentorship, coaching and role models. I wish when I first began my business that I had a coach. Someone to learn to and take me through the journey. I would not have made so many careless and uninformed mistakes. This would have helped me save a lot of resources (time and money) and I could probably be one or two step ahead of where I am today. Again, the more coaching and women role models there are, the more women will think, ‘maybe I could actually do this’. So hopefully, as we start to get more role models in the agriculture industry coming through, more women will think seriously about their ideas. 2. Support As agriculture has become more commercially-orientated, the glass ceilings which held restrictions have been lifted. There are now far more opportunities within agriculture businesses for women to actively participate. Governments have a key role to play in this relation. They should support access to land, provide financial opportunities and design friendly policies that will encourage more women to take agriculture seriously. The future for women
The SLA Guide to Closing Up Shop
Ready to end your year the right way for your business? You have worked extremely hard for 12 months and the year is finally coming to an end. It’s time for you to close up and take a break. But wait! You can’t just leave like that! You have to close up the right way. The end of the year is the time for you to step back and look all what you have been doing. It’s the time to figure out what worked and what didn’t. Its also the time to appreciate everyone who worked and helped to make your business successful. That’s how you leave with a bang and get ready for the new year. Topics this guide will cover: How businesses should reflect on the year, Why you should appreciate your clients and referral sources, Reviewing and analysing current business strategies, Changing and setting new goals for the new year. We want you to feel like this after closing up; Complete with worksheets to help you keep track of who you’re thanking and templates to guide you in creating new strategies. This is a guide all businesses need! 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=60]