7 lessons you can learn from Issa Rae and her InSecure journey
Issa Rae is an American writer, actor, and producer of the famous NBO series Insecure. She started out creating videos on YouTube when she got tired of seeing the same type of movies about black people. Issa Rae has been nominated for the golden globe award, her series has won the shorty award for the best web series. She also heads a media company called Issa Rae presents. If you haven’t watched any episode of InSecure you`ve just found yourself a new best friend. It’s like the dope movie for every girl seeking for some kind of succor after a hard week of work! It’s so relatable and funny. The story is centered around Issa, a black woman trying to keep it cool with her job in a non-profit, her relationship and her social life. I came across her show IssaRae presents on a lazy day when I was scrolling through my YouTube feed, and I was stuck. IssaRaePresents does not come up short. Trust me, they never disappoint. And oh, we’ve been waiting for the third series of Insecure like… And as usual, we won’t be disappointed. Now back to the main point. The backstage of creating media content is filled with people who never make it to the big screen. Writers, producers, camera, videographers, directors, editors etc. A lot of work goes into creating what you finally see on your screen. The backstage of the movie industry is dominated by males especially in production and directing. How did a black young woman break that glass ceiling to be her own boss? Let’s look at these lessons from her. On Starting Out: “I love creating content and YouTube was super accessible. I started my first show in senior year of college in Stanford and I kept growing that audience”. On Being Consistent: “I had two web series before the misadventures of the Awkward Black Girl. Those series did not gain instant fame but I was consistent throughout releasing those videos by 10 am every Monday and promoting constantly” [bctt tweet=”Stop finding the ways that you can’t and start finding the ways that you can – @IssaRae” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] On Working Hard “People constantly make excuses on why they can’t follow their dreams. Stop finding the ways that you can’t and start finding the ways that you can. Think about what you have now, friends, a camera, a room, whatever you have. Figure out a way to use what you have to make it work.” On Teamwork “I tend to have strong opinions about the characters in my shows because I feel I know them personally. Also, I try to loosen the rein and allow debates to go on. I love collaborating because there are people with a lot of great ideas I love hearing out. Resisting the urge to outrightly say no has been one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned” On Creativity “Life inspires me. I love little moments. I just like real life. Everybody has different areas of discomfort and seeing how certain things concerns people that won’t even matter to others intrigues me. I try to understand what makes people think that way and learn from them” On Overcoming Challenges “There are definitely challenges. At one end I want to take as many opportunities as I can, on the other hand, I do not want to disappoint myself and other people by not meeting up with deadlines. Trying to find that work/life balance for the past few years has been challenging” For Entrepreneurs in Film/Media “Know your goal. Make sure agencies & companies approaching you are aware of the vision you are working with. Be sure to have a good team. Utilizing the people around me was the best thing that happened to me. The team members that I have now started from the ground up with me, that organic growth is part of the reason this show has been a success.” Issa Rae has always kept it 100% real, affirming the fact that her show. InSecure, is a typification of her life as a young black woman trying to make it in a community that seems to tell her what to do. She has talked openly about her challenges and fears, and what accepting people’s approval has been for her. Her mother at first did not even agree to watch the show. From all of these, I learned two important lessons: 1. People crave authenticity They’ll gravitate towards people who are real and original. If you step into a new place and you’re a sheep amongst a pack of wolves or the only black female in the room, as long as you have a voice and you keep to that voice, people will gravitate towards you. 2. Everything takes time Issa affirmed that the first video she did on YouTube was crap, but as years went by and she gathered a team, it got better. You can tell the difference between her past videos in IssaRaePresents on YouTube and now. Just like a tree grows, slowly building stronger and deeper foundation which in the end will be able to stand the test of to such is the journey of a business which grows organically. P.S – All quotes from Issa were gotten from various videos you can find in the link below; A conversation with Issa Rae – AT & T Shape Issa Rae on InSecure, Jerry Seinfeld and Success – Larry King Show You’re the only one stopping you – Evan Carmichael If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your story with us.
Banke Ajayi is encouraging men to stay handsome with her skin and hair care brand – Ahjayee
Banke Ajayi is the founder of Ahjayee – a skin and hair care product for men. She studied Electrical/Electronic Engineering as her first degree. She later did an MSc in Financial Engineering and most recently an MBA focusing on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Her career started in Technology then she moved into Investment banking where she currently works as a Risk Consultant. In this interview, Banke talks about how she developed her brand and dived into entrepreneurship. Where did your obsession for skin and hair products come from? My journey in skin and hair care started over a decade ago when I couldn’t really find hair products in the market which worked for my hair but I wasn’t sure how to fix this problem. Growing up my mum also mixed different oils into the hair products she bought and I and my sisters’ hair flourished under her care. Honestly, I kind of forgot about this but it all came back when I happened to pass a store which used natural butter and oils for their products. I actually saw some oils my mum had used. From then on I was hooked, I watched videos, researched online, attended courses and started making natural hair and skin products for family and friends. I studied sciences and engineering which I think helped in understanding the “chemistry” part of this journey. As we used these products, we found our hair become healthier, creams worked better and best of all, we knew exactly what we using. What motivated you to launch Ahjayee? People asked why didn’t I start this as a business, but back then starting a small business was not as accessible as it is now. I carried on researching and mixing, then about 2 years ago, I started seriously thinking about starting a business. My main motivation was to create a range of products using the best nature has to offer, which do what they are intended for, where every ingredient plays a part in delivering results for the person using them. This was the first part, the second was to create products in which the customer played a huge part, products which fit into their lives easier. The products had to be of high quality, and customer feedback is an integral part of product development. Without the customer, there is no business. Why did you decide to focus on male products only? I was talking to a male friend and he mentioned how he felt there wasn’t a lot out there for him in terms of products he could use which were simple, easy and just functional. This was a light bulb moment for me. What if I could create a line exclusively for men, but not just a product line but one which gave men a little something special daily. Many conversations later, some more research and Ahjayee was born in 2017. Our aim, to bring a touch of luxury to his everyday routine with quality, effective and easy to use products. Do you plan on branching into women hair and skin products too? Not at the moment but certainly something we wouldn’t rule out. That said, some of our products are unisex. Such as the skin cream or face serum, and we have seen quite a few women who like the more woody or earthy scents who buy our products. Tell us about your products. Which is your favorite? The range includes Face & Body, Beard & Shaving, and Hair products. All their ingredients are carefully thought out and add a function to the overall product, cutting out anything unnecessary. Our products are all natural and free from any nasties. Our tagline: “Be your own handsome” encourages men to spend a little more time in taking care of themselves. Picking a favorite would be very difficult as each one was inspired by different instances or needs so all have a special place in my heart. Where are your products made, and who has access to them? The products are made in the UK and can be delivered worldwide. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Why did you choose your last name (Ajayi) AhJayee as your brand name? This came about one afternoon during a car ride. I was talking with my friend and her sister who does branding, we were discussing logos and my vision for the brand, then my friend says – why not a play on your name. We spelled it out phonetically and it just seemed to work. The rest they say is history. Have you experienced any challenges since inception? And how did you overcome them? I would say the first challenge was balancing my 9-5 with Ahjayee. The trick has been to understand you can’t do everything at once. Therefore, my to-do list and daily can-do attitude have been key to managing both. The second has been marketing and PR, I have had to pay a lot of attention to this as it is a new area for me. It has been a really interesting journey and I have learned so much and still learning. I had to take additional classes and speak to people who have been through this, all in all, I am loving the process. Where do you see Ahjayee in the near future? I hope to continue to grow and get new customers, getting valuable input from them which will allow us to give them better service and products. When you’re not testing or mixing creams and soaps, what are you doing? I love running, cycling, walking and traveling to new places. When I am keeping still, you will normally find me reading. Sponsored Post.
5 ways to escape uncontrolled consumerism
We are human beings and living as such requires us to consume things, even those of us interested in living a minimalist life. A minimalist is someone who operates a moderate or conservative approach when it comes to material things. I am from a polygamous home and boy do we own a lot and still try to consume a lot but personally, I have worked hard to escape uncontrolled consumerism as it becomes excessive when it extends beyond what is really needed. [bctt tweet=”Learn how to live a minimalist lifestyle by escaping uncontrolled consumerism with these 5 steps” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] We tend to mix up our wants and needs and forget or overlook how much space, time, strength and money we lose on things that are not paramount in our lives. Once we start consuming more than what’s needed, the boundaries set are removed, instantly. Our desires get reshaped and it happens so fast, we get used to consuming easily. A lot of people get overly trendy overnight, getting things that tickle our fancy, wanting to show up ‘right’ and live up ‘right’ and be in debt or be materialistically possessive. Now don’t get me wrong. There’s absolutely nothing wrong in wanting to be trendy and leveling up, living up to standard, but are we going about it the right way? Because going about it the excessive way consumes our limited resources. It’s about time we escape that cycle and embrace the minimal. Minimalism in this regard is living simply and subtly and the mantra is “less is more”. Living with the utmost intentionality and not deprivation, as the misconception people tend to have. Living a minimalist life seeks only to buy and keep the essentials, remove the frivolous items and keep the significant ones and in doing so, values intentional endeavors. Here are 5 practical benefits of escaping uncontrolled consumerism: Reduce debts This had to come first as our finances are very important. Being in any kind of debt isn’t fun and that causes a load of stress in our lives. It takes a toll on our health and mentally, we’re just not up for any vibe, whatsoever. But what if you could reduce your debts? What if plans to pay back your debts turn up positive? What if you could put your feet down and say no to debts? Your life would be stress-free. Resist the desire to live beyond your means The internet is double-faced. Its good and can be not so good at times. As a woman, I see my mates riding a 2018 Mercedes Benz GLA, in a fancy color, say hot red and I start comparing myself to that and then start calculating the amount I’ve got in my bank account or try to save up for it so I can post it up too and live a digital age life. The car is mouthwatering, yes. But that only invites lifestyle envy into our lives and the internet promoting the lifestyle of the rich as superior or enviable. This is where the intentionality of living a minimalist life comes to play. Only with an intentional rejection can one silence this constant yelling of uncontrolled consumerism. Have more contentment Many people believe if they reach a level of contentment, their desire for excessive consumption will diminish. But the truth is the intentional rejection of excessive consumption paves way for contentment in our lives. Pursuing minimalism realigns our lives around our greatest passions and results in a far better contentment with life than before. Remember what matters to you in the world Have we been too busy seeking happiness in the wrong places? Have we valued worldly things over family, relationships, religion? It’s time to realize what means important to us and make a priority list because true life and true happiness is found in the invisible things of life. Resist the need to keep up with evolving trends Change is a constant thing and as regards fashion and lifestyle, trends evolve. We are in the modern world and we can’t keep wearing style from the 90’s but that doesn’t mean we need to always change our wardrobe as trends come up. That’s our ‘want’ knocking our ‘need’ over. As a wise man once said, “Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but religiously follows the new”. The wisdom imbibed in this sentence strikes me as it relates and applies to fashion, decoration, lifestyle or design. Why don’t we remove ourselves from the pursuit altogether? Escaping uncontrolled consumerism isn’t as easy as ABC, it isn’t a walk in the park so is minimalism. But once you make up your mind and find that ‘intentional’ drive, you can do it. If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your startup story with us.
Ayisha Osori: Demystifying the Idea of African Women in Politics
[bctt tweet=”What is the view of politics amongst young women in Nigeria? Read this article by @OnukoguFavour ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] The right to vote as women was the main demand for the women’s movement in history. Fast forward to 2018, at the eve year of another fast-rising, monumental election in Nigeria, It seems women are less interested in politics, voting and running for office as compared to their male counterparts. It seems another year of time changing decisions will be made and women will not be part of the decision making. Regardless of what the government has done to break that re-occurring malady, women still occupy a mere 19% of every political office in Nigeria, sadly the same is to be said for almost all African countries. There are varied notions women have about politics in all. Politics is the most bizarre part of the public system. What do we know about politics except for the things we see on the news, and how many young African women are interested in politics enough to source out vital news in that field. It seems like the average African woman has given up on politics, she doesn’t believe in her public officers and she has completely washed her hands away from anything concerning politics, calling it brutal, aggressive and bad. So in general what is the view of politics amongst young women in Nigeria? Politics is not for women Politics is not for young women especially A woman cannot be a Public Leader, and a good wife and mother at the same time Politics is for greedy people who want to have a share of the National Cake Politicians cannot be trusted, once you become a politician you lose your trust. Stay away Even if we want to change things, we can never change things by voting or leading a Public office If you have ever had one or more of these myths in your head you’re not peculiar, so does millions of young women in the country. Ayisha Osori, is a writer, activist, lawyer and a fellow from the who ran for the office of the House of Representative in 2014. In her book _ Love does not win elections, she completely destroys all we think about Politics and tells all, beyond emotions what politics in the state of Nigeria really means. Her book is an eye-opener as it details her journey by becoming a member of a politic party, running for an office, experiencing the challenges of Godfatherism, and losing an election. She says from her experience running for a position, she understood that by the election date, 80% of decent leadership is already lost. This because not a lot of people get to vote for the representative of the party at the primaries. From her own words: “Political parties won’t change themselves without pressures from within and without. We’ve been putting pressure from outside. What might work would be going into the party and forcing change from within If young people join political parties several things happen”. “First they become part of the conversation, they can become delegates and they stand a better chance to be elected when they vie of an office,” says Ayisha Osori “Our political parties are generational. Nothing is going to die out. It has become a system, a process, and a culture. I met fathers who are preparing their sons to take their positions bearing the same mentality. Whether we have old people or young people it would be the same if we do not develop a different strategy to make things work” she continues. The 21st century has ushered young women in science, technology, and engineering, in all aspect of the society women are taking pace and leading. When it comes to politics, it seems we are only crawling at snail pace. Nigeria has never had a Female President and it doesn’t look like we will for the next twenty years. Coming down to the grassroots, towards and local government, only 19% of women are in the government. And most of them would be gone with this generation that is they have served for long they’d soon have to hand over. Do we have enough successors that are going to take their place? Do we have enough women right now who are active in political affairs? And why do we have to be interested in politics, after all, we can change the world through entrepreneurship? We can only do so much as entrepreneurs, small business is like small building blocks for a LEGO house, little by little can create a magnificent edifice. Politics is like the bond that binds them all together, if we have a decaying system, people will grow businesses that will only crumble due to forces beyond them. Through politics, we can create better incentives for smallholder farmers, startups, and budding entrepreneurs. All of these will be possible if we have good governance down to our grassroots level. If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your startup story with us.
Webinar with FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT: The balancing act – managing debt and building long term wealth (Oct 11)
“Staying out of debt is staying out of danger”. We don’t remember who said this, but its true! Not all of us make six figures today, and even when we try hard to maintain financial discipline, this economy sometimes makes it hard to stay out of debt or even pay what we currently owe. If you want to walk in financial freedom, it’s important for you to have a plan on how to manage your finance effectively and tackle your debts. Most importantly, you need to make sure you’re not uncomfortable around your friends if they have RIRI’s song as their ringtone everytime y’all are hanging out. In our previous financial planning webinar’s, we taught you How to make your first investment and how to Save and slay. Now, it’s time to go in deeper as we teach you how to improve your finances by managing your debts and building long-term wealth for yourself. She Leads Africa, in partnership with FBNQuest Asset Management is inviting you to a 45-minute webinar with skilled wealth advisor and financial planner – Emmanuella Ekhaguere, on Thursday, October 11th, 2018 at 3 PM WAT. Emmanuella will be giving some tips on how to balance your finances, how to manage your debts better and how to build long-term wealth for yourself. [bctt tweet=”Join SLA & @FBNQuest for a webinar on October 11th at 3 pm to learn how to manage your debts, build long-term wealth for yourself and how to balance both! ” via=”no”] Some of the topics we’ll cover: Understanding financial fitness and measures Managing your cash flow, budget and time value of money Top 10 ways to live a debt free life. Webinar details: Date: Thursday, October 11th, 2018 Time: 3PM Lagos // 4PM Joburg // 5PM Nairobi Location: We’ll send you the link to join the session once you sign up! Watch the webinar here: About Emmanuella Emmanuella Ekhaguere is Investment Advisor with at FBNQuest Merchant Bank, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc. She has over 15 years of Agricultural banking and financial planning experience from various Financial Service Institutions. Emmanuella started her career at Kakawa Discount house Limited as a Client Relationship Officer. She later moved to Oceanic Bank (now Ecobank Nigeria). In deepening her passion and experience in Wealth and Investment Banking, Emmanuella joined Metro Capital Advisory Group in 2008. She has an MBA from Aston Business School Birmingham, United Kingdom, and is a certified financial Planner (CFP), from Florida State University (FSU) FBNQuest Asset Management is a subsidiary of FBNQuest Merchant Bank, one of the strongest and most dependable financial groups in Africa. They work with individual and institutional investors to provide a strategy best suited to your investment goals and portfolios, from mutual funds to liquidity management etc.
Your blackness is enough on “Jesus and Jollof”: Podcast by Yvonne Orji and Luvvie Ajayi
The levels of hilarity from the Jesus and Jollof will have you spitting out your coffee and drenching your OOTD. By listening to this podcast hosted by two proudly American- Nigerian women – Yvonne Orji and Luvvie Ajayi, you’re let in on the secrets from being highly degreed women to breaking it into Hollywood as top class comedians, they spill the tea on glowing up and stunting on haters to make the best out of your hustle. If you’re about badass captions on the gram and Twitter- you’ll have a whole decade of content with Jesus and Jollof. Facts, no printer. I was introduced to Jesus and Jollof by my sister, after her non-stop giggles got me curious, “What was so funny”, I Thought. She’d just started listening but seemed to really enjoy it so I gave it a try “Couldn’t be that funny”, boy was I wrong. Yvonne Orji and Luvvie Ajayi easily switching between their Nigerian and American accents, talking about how they connected to their encounters with smooth-talking Naija boys, I was hooked. I think it’s incredible that these two Goat queens are out here breaking bounds. In short, listen to the trailer of Jesus and Jollof here Growing up in a whitewashed society, it’s hard finding your voice when you’re forced to think and talk in a certain way and especially when you have African parents waiting on you to finish your masters and bring home a suitable husband. Luvvie Ajayi, otherwise known as the “Professional Troublemaker” has got a lot to say on a lot of topics, as seen on her Twitter and IG, she’s hilarious all around. Luvvie is an award-winning writer, speaker, digital strategist, activist, and comedian- Ajayi is nothing short of a game changer. She has another podcast called Rants and Randomness, where she talks about her most pressing rants, raves, and faves on pop culture and the world right now. I have been a fan of Luvvie Ajayi since her incredible Ted talk on “getting comfortable with being uncomfortable“. Yvonne Orji, 34, received her masters in Public Health but opted to be a comedic genius against her parent’s wishes. I would say she’s the spicy half of the podcast, she isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Fairly new to the scene, this woman is here to break bounds. I listened to Yvonne’s Ted Talk where she talked about on her decision to remain a virgin until marriage. I was so inspired listening to her and kept looking for more. That’s where I found Insecure, where she stars as a headstrong lawyer. Luvvie joined forces with Yvonne Orji, to speak on the challenges of being immigrants, goal-oriented women with a heavy dose of comedy on their days starting up and living out loud, raising consciousness about real women and girls today. Jesus and Jollof is my top-pick for the podcast of the year. It might be a bit of an overstatement but I have never heard anything so raw, inviting and relatable as a young black millennial. It’s like having incredibly supportive besties as you rush through your day. Why Jesus and Jollof, they mentioned them to be “the two things they can’t do without”. I appreciate these amazing God-fearing women for giving me the courage to go for what I’m worth. We need more black voices sharing their stories, I think this podcast is a pop culture staple, If you don’t leave as inspired as I, I don’t know what else can do the trick. Catch Jesus and Jollof every Wednesdays on SimpleCast and do follow these queens on their social media @yvonneorji and @luvvie on Twitter. You won’t be disappointed. If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your story with us.
Ms. Ebba Kalondo: Being a black African woman in leadership is not for the faint-hearted
Ms. Ebba Kalondo is the spokesperson in the Chairperson’s office of the African Union Commission. Prior to that, she has held several senior positions in strategic and Risk Communications at the World Health Organization, Foundation Hirondelle, France24, and Reuters. In this interview, Ms. Ebba talks about her work as a leader in the African Union Commission. [bctt tweet=”Be the exception to the rule. Go to that meeting that no one invites you to, sit there like you belong and speak up – @EbbaKalondo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What was your ambition growing up? Growing up I read a lot and questioned everything around me. I was always inquisitive and analyzing the information presented to me with a desire to learn more. So upon reflection, I must say that my ambition was always to learn more. Would you say your family environment/childhood shaped the person you are today? My parents’ relationship which each other forged my personality. They were and remain a strong united front. They had five daughters and a son. We were always allowed to ask questions and encouraged to read. My mother was soft-spoken but strong. She was a disciplinarian and my father taught us the importance of family. Did you ever think you would end up in international affairs, or at the AU specifically? Yes, I worked in international news and in development with a strong focus on security and the humanitarian industry. With my desire to constantly learn, I grew a desire to ignore the headline and discover the more nuanced reality behind the story. What was your path to working at the AU? What factors helped you along the way? It is the people I met on this path that I walked and the rich experiences that brought me to where I am. I always knew that I wanted to be of service to my continent and I am very fortunate that I have been able to do so. The AU is the platform to do this, and I will always be grateful for the call to be of service. Can you compare the AU with other organizations you have worked with? The AU is a microcosm of the state of its evolving Union – a 55-member Union of nations with different governance systems, varying levels of socio-economic development on a continent that is home to a third of humanity but that is still fighting for its rightful place in the world as a primary actor of its own development and indeed that of the world. Born of a unique history of colonialism not seen in any other continental grouping in contemporary history, the African Union is also the largest intergovernmental in the world. There is no other organization quite like it, that I know of. The AU is currently undergoing a process of institutional and financial reform. Why is the reform of the AU essential? Our continuing existence in the new world we live and engage with depends on making our Organization more fit for purpose to better serve the needs and aspirations of the people of the Continent. This is not a choice, this is a stark existential reality and an obligation to the founding fathers of our Union. Are the reform’s youth and women targets attainable by 2025? (35% of AU staff as a youth and 50% as women). Why should they not be? Self-belief and the ambition we have set out for ourselves is key. What do you say to critics of the AU who point to its bureaucracy and who doubt its capacity to change? The AU Commission is a bureaucracy like other multilateral intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union Commission. And like all institutional bureaucracies, it is a slow-moving ship. It is not as agile as say a start-up. This is not unique to the AUC. What is unique is that unlike the UN and the EU, the AUC has started to implement its reform agenda. Who influenced you the most in your professional life? Not one person in particular. There have been so many people who have, through their experiences, mentored and supported my journey. Have you ever received a painful rejection in your career? How did you handle it? Not rejection per se, but definitely some occasions where I could and should have acted differently. The first thing is taking responsibility and then fixing it and learning to do better. [bctt tweet=”In case of a rejection, the first step is taking responsibility and then fixing it and learning to do better – @EbbaKalondo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When have you felt most out of your comfort zone? On the contrary, I actively avoid comfort zones, I feel most comfortable pushing myself outside of comfort zones. Growth has always been more important to me than comfort has. Having worked in war zones where putting oneself in harm’s way is part of the job, I’ve learned that security comes from within. What have you learned in your career about women in leadership? Any advice for women who aspire to leadership positions? Being a woman in leadership is tough, but being a black African woman in leadership is not for the fainthearted. Be the exception to the rule. Go to that meeting that no one invites you to, sit there like you belong and speak up. Your opinion matters. Even if there are other women there, and none are speaking up, be the one that does. Stay informed about everything around and never take the bait of being treated as the “affirmative action” or “gender sensitive” presence. Your results will not be judged on your gender. You got the job, not your gender, so do it. Never fear ridicule. Ever. [bctt tweet=”I’ve learned that security comes from within – @EbbaKalondo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Have you undertaken any measures to support women in the professional workplace? There is nothing I can teach, but I can share my experiences truthfully and what has worked for me, and what has not. I find that we
4 important signs you’re in a toxic work environment
Our work environment affects our happiness, productivity, and success. Through my experiences and discussions with colleagues, I understand how different workplaces can affect you positively and negatively. If you’ve been contemplating whether your work environment is the right place for you, here are some key points that could help you: 1. Low Employee Retention If you realize most of the employees at a new workplace are new, this can affect how you fit in. Sometimes, for certain start-up environments, the case of low employee retention is prevalent. The structure in a start-up environment is different. So before you make the decision to join an organization where most of the employees are new, you have to consider what your main goals are and what you hope to achieve at the company. It’s best for you to take this into consideration before you make a decision. You should be prepared for how you can fit into the role and the organization. At one of my former jobs, I noticed that a lot of employees were new. I remember a co-worker told me there was a “revolving door” at the organization. As the months rolled by, I understood why. There was a lot of negativity in the office. After various discussions with my colleagues, I found out that most like myself were unhappy and also seeking other jobs. I eventually left that negative work environment. If you’re about to take a new job, I suggest you ask (in a subtle way of course) how long the former person held the role you’re about to take. Another option would be to ask generally the amount of time their employees stay with the company. 2. Lack of free speech/ expression of ideas One of my favourite work environments was an internship I had back in university. I was an editorial intern for the school magazine. What I enjoyed most about the internship was my experience with my boss. She created a very open environment where I was encouraged to present my ideas and actively participate. Having an encouraing supervisor who supported my progress enabled me to accomplish quite a lot in that job. Now, I’ve also been privy to work environments with a rigid structure, where you don’t feel open to discuss your ideas, and your superiors show no interest in your growth or progress. Though one can still thrive in such an environment, I don’t necessarily believe it helps you be very productive. You may not feel content in your workplace because there’s no good rapport with your colleagues. One way to fix such issues would be speaking up. You will have to make an effort to express your ideas and opinion. This matters because unless somethings are communicated, not everyone will pick up on whether there is a problem or issue to be addressed. Communication is key in contributing to a positive work environment. [bctt tweet=”Communication is key in contributing towards a positive work environment” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. Constant Tension in the Office In any workplace, there are going to be high-pressure days and low-pressure days. Pressure in the workplace is normal because different situations arise and demands have to be met. However, if you’re in a work environment with constant tension among co-workers, that is definitely not a good sign. If there is consistent tension in your workplace, it would be best to bring it up to your supervisor or take it to the Human Resources department. The HR department often addresses the communication issues between the management and staff. They can advise you and your co-workers on how to resolve issues. 4. You Always Leave Work Feeling Emotionally Drained Yes, work is just a part of our lives and adulting really isn’t a vibe sometimes, but if you always feel terribly sad, drained, or anxious at the thought of going to work – that’s even less of a vibe and a major issue. This negative work environment can end up seeping into your personal life and take over your mind. If most days at work are causing you depression, you have to consider if that’s the right environment for you. Word of advice: get a new job sis, you can’t come and die just to meet KPIs. Start looking for a new place of work and do intense research on the environments those companies possess, I promise you when you leave and start afresh, you’ll be much happier. Another option, if the specific work is the problem, communicate with your supervisor about a challenge you might be encountering. They could provide you with some resources to make things efficient. If the negative emotions are due to the people around, also be open to communicate that with a mentor or your HR department. They could best advise you on how to move forward. Have you had experience with problems in the workplace? What were the signs, and how did you rectify such issues? If you’d like to get featured on our Facebook page, click here to share your story with us.
Learn how to trade and get paid with FXGEOMETRY’s bootcamp for women
The term ‘trading’ has been linked with men since the days of testosterone-filled trading floors. To this day, when online trading is accessible to anyone with an internet connection, the word remains synonymous with the male gender. Today’s preconception of women who choose to trade – and we must clarify they are women because the word traders alone can be perceived as a reference to men – may have to do with the vision brokers set and the audience they’ve chosen to advertise to. More often than not, mass opinions are affected by the media and its reference to a group of people, in this case, the people of the financial industry. Could the general correlation between trading and gender be diluted? [bctt tweet=”The number of women interested in trading has been noticeably increasing – @kenny_simon78″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Trading education hub FXGEOMETRY is looking at things from a different angle; it just announced the launch of a boot camp directed specifically at women, despite the fact that the company reaches a broad audience predominated by men. According to founder Kenny Simon, the number of women interested in trading has been noticeably increasing. The birth of this boot camp derived from the observation that more female traders have been showing interest in educational packages and trading mentorships, in addition, Kenny has seen an increase of female followers through social channels. Among approximately 10,000 followers worldwide the percentage of women among the followers has risen from 10% to 37% in the past 3 years. While the number of women who have signed up to personal one-on-one courses has moved up to 45%. Beyond FXGEOMETRY it seems like the entire financial world is moving away from its relic thoughts and gender-based judgment. In 2017, 23-year old Lauren Simmons became the youngest and only full-time female employee to hold the position of equity trader in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In June of 2018, Stacey Cunningham became the first female president of the NYSE. Some may view this as proof that women are still not fully welcome in the financial industry or it can be seen as the first steps of progression. Considering Kenny’s background lies within peak performance coaching in trading, it comes as no surprise that part of his mission to expand the Geometric Patterns community includes a focus on the overlooked members of the trading world and whether they can be an equal match to men in the industry. Kenny, however, is not the first to give attention to this issue; many have previously gone out of their way to find out how women could make better traders. In Terrence Odean and Brad Barber’s 2001 study “Boys will be boys: Gender, Overconfidence and Common Stock Investments”, they went on to prove that men’s natural overconfidence tends to work against them. They analyzed account data for more than 35,000 households at a large discount brokerage between February 1991 and January 1997. They discovered that on average, men traded 45pc more frequently than women and that this incentive trading reduced their net returns by 2.65pc a year, compared to 1.72pc for women. [bctt tweet=”FXGEOMETRY’s @kenny_simon78 is conducting an exclusive 3 days FX trading boot camp for women in Nigeria this September. Read more..” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] For those interested to attend whether just for the FREE preview or the 3 days Workshop, simply register here : In simple terms, the study showed that men trade more than women due to overconfidence and that tends to reduce their overall returns. Another interesting story in the history of women in the financial industry is the case of Bloomfield Hills investment club ran by Thomas O’Hara. The male-driven firm had been posting annual losses after 20 years of existence. In 1982 the men let their wives join the group and act as co-decision makers, within four years the club’s stake tripled, jumping from $180,000 to $500,000. Kenny’s latest event has prompted a lot of interest from women in the industry. A large number of women volunteered to join within the first few minutes following the announcement of the boot camp, accepting the challenge to learn a new trading method. The boot camp itself will choose 25 women through personality tests designed by Kenny – based on his big 5 personality traits that make up a good trader. The women will undergo a free 3-day boot camp with Kenny himself where they will learn the rules of trading with Geometric Patterns. The boot camp will be followed up by a trading competition in which all women will participate and compete for one of three prizes – $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 consequently. If you’re interested, send an email to kenny@fxgeoemtry.com FXGEOMETRY’S boot camp is another effort to shed a bright light on female traders and what they can achieve in the financial world, putting preconceptions aside and shedding general judgment. The era of female traders may have not yet begun but a glimpse of light might be making its way in at the end of the tunnel. This article was written by Deema Osman. Deema is a content writer at 120advertising.com Sponsored Post.
Christine Sesay: Make the right financial choices, choices that you can live with
When Christine Sesay decided to study mathematics, her parents were not enthused, as they believed she would never find a job in Africa in this career field. Christine however did not want to part with her love for Mathematics so she convinced her parents to allow her pursue a career in Accounting and Finance which was an easy sell as they were very supportive of her decision. Upon attaining a Masters in Finance, Christine went on to work with a construction /maintenance company in Dublin as an Account Assistant, then an accountancy practice where she progressed from the Real Estate accountant to the Financial Controller over a 4-year period. At this time, she wanted to move back to Africa but there were not many jobs available so she had to take an Assistant financial controller role with an Irish Organization in Niamey. Within 4 months, she was working in the capacity of the Financial Controller managing €5 million projects then progressed to take charge of all operations within a year. While working on a nutrition and livelihoods project in Niger, Christine was shocked by the abject poverty that people lived and her desire was to change the situation. But as there was a security situation in Niger, she had to move back to her birth country Sierra Leone where she started Africa’s Moneypreneur to bring about financial freedom to all Africans. She believes that individuals would be more interested in talking money and finances when it is made easy and fun. As a determined and driven leader who is passionate about wealth management, she wanted to make sure that her African brothers and sisters started taking money seriously. When she started the financial literacy blog, she hosted a few events for women but no one attended as they were not interested. To overcome that challenge, she moved on to open a facebook page where she featured different women and hosted 12-days of Christmas challenge. These different pieces created traction and landed her some features on a few publications addressing the different areas of finance, a workshop on business finance tips for teenage mothers at the Aberdeen Women’s Center, teamed up with SheVestor for their training materials and wrote several articles in magazines mostly locally in Sierra Leone. Christine hopes to teach others how to implement effective financial strategies that support the lifestyle they aspire and deserve. [bctt tweet=”Christine Sesay’s “@AMoneypreneur” seeks to challenge Africa’s views about money & Poverty, and help individuals enjoy life” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What are your views about Africa and money? Do you believe our way of thinking has forced us into poverty? Like most things in life, if we are not educated, we will tend to misuse it. Financial education is a major part of life in the western world as people are aware that until they make conscious decisions about what they want for their lives and start early, it will be difficult to live fulfilled lives. For example, it’s almost second nature to see that after a man has worked for many years, he could have nothing saved up a pension for retirement. Instead of enjoying old age, they are forced to work for longer and sometimes end up dying miserably. There are also choices that are being made in terms of choosing to make the right choice now, with the future in mind. Personally, I started early! While studying finance, I learned how the multiplier effect works on finance saved over long periods. I made conscious efforts to have pension funds and also started a college fund for my kids (nope they are not here yet!). How can we become financially free? Would you say being financially educated is the first step to financial freedom? There are quite a number of areas that could be covered when we talk about financial freedom. I think even before we get educated, there is the need to have a shift in mindset. The way we think about our finances. People consciously paint a picture of how they want to currently lead their lives and what the future needs to look like. Charting the course of your life, like anything else helps you decide what decisions you may need to make now. Once that picture is clear, then seek financial education. Make the right choices, choices that you can live with. Avoid looking at what others have done and try to emulate those choices. Your risk appetites and pocket sizes may differ. Why do you believe Africa needs a platform to challenge our views about money and poverty levels? I find that at the moment we are comfortable. People are happy to continue working, spend without the future in mind and hope that a family member will eventually foot their bills. Things are changing and as we are emulating the behaviors of others cultures we also need to develop our own culture when it comes to financial planning. At Africa’s Moneypreneur, we want to be at the forefront of those changes. We currently use our platform to: Provide financial advice for youth, start-ups and Women-owned business in Africa Developing communities for youth and women to engage them in making informed financial choices Sharing success stories relating to women in finance and in business Discussing personal stories relating to work-life balance and family, travel etc. to give a personal touch Introducing current events relating to the brand areas, like finance and pop culture events, Lifestyle etc. Embracing African roots and culture as it relates to finance management With these efforts, we hope that the next generations of African families can help pull Africa out of poverty. [bctt tweet=”Knowing exactly what you spend your money on is important to have a solid financial plan and a healthy attitude towards your finances – Christine Sesay” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How do you intend to make discussing money and finance fun? What are you currently working on? I think the first thing we need