YALI taught me not to limit myself: Sthabile
Sithabile seeks to impact her community by fulfilling her dreams and goals. She has managed to do so by establishing several projects such as..Langa – for rabbit and chicken rearing, Buffy Bakery – for commercial baking and currently working on an initiative called “Women in Wildlife Conservation”. Her main interest in impacting communities is through mentoring youths and helping them in achieving personal goals for their lives and their contribution to social development. In this article, Sthabile highlights how she’s developed herself personally and professionally, through leadership programs. As an entrepreneur, what key strategies do you think are vital to running a sustainable business? I founded ‘Langa Farm Produce’ after more than a month of always running to the banks looking for a start-up loan to start raising rabbits and free-range chickens. The terms and conditions for that time to get the loan were unfavorable. I remember some words from one wise lady who said: “You need to start small and build from there, and have a small project on the side as well that will enable you to get a $1 a day to inject into the bigger project”. This is how I started baking commercially (start of Buffy Bakery) and with the profits made, Langa was started with just 3 rabbits and 20 free-range chickens. To-date we have managed to supply city butcheries and Langa has become self-sustainable. The initial bigger project was Langa because the aim was to go international with the rabbit products. But Buffy Bakery got bigger as well through an increased clientele and high demands hence the need to also start mentoring and training young ladies and interested personnel. It was through these projects that I realized that there is no such thing called a ‘small project’ but it’s up to you to view it as small or big. To remain competitive in whatever industry they decide to venture in, be creative and innovative in your work. Don’t just do it for money. What made you apply for the YALI leadership program? I knew YALI to be a professional platform where individuals are able to mature, develop and acquire skills that will benefit them in skilfully contributing towards the development of their communities, nations, and Africa as a whole. By continuously following their programs on social media, I was keen to be part of their program and learn more about how best I can impact my community and network. So I applied for the Cohort 17 program under Civic Leadership track. What skills did you learn there and how will they help you? I was under the Civic Leadership track – a program on how to impact our communities by being the change we want to see. It focuses on improving the quality of life in our communities by identifying gaps and problems already there and using skill, knowledge, and values in tackling them and making a difference. I obtained vast knowledge on the establishment of civil society organizations; proposal writing for projects and grant funding obtaining. Two major things I learned were: 1. How to run a business YALI taught me the power of networking and partnerships. In all that you do; you need people to work with; you can never work alone. A business is not for me nor my family but my community. For me to be successful in whatever business I want to venture or I am in; the first question I should ask myself is how best will my community; a nation and Africa as a whole benefit from it and does it address the gaps that already exist in my community. And to change our communities we need to share our skills and knowledge; build partnerships and network. The depth of the knowledge I gained will allow me to achieve one of my goals I have had establishing a wildlife program mainly focused on resuscitation of idle parks and involving women in wildlife conservation. As one of my previous challenges was obtaining funding for these projects; through YALI. I also learned the proper way of writing Grant/Fund request proposal. 2. Personal development YALI taught me not to limit myself. To think of what happens when the vision and the goals are fulfilled; to ask myself “so do I just stop there because it has been fulfilled?” I used to think maybe I am just doing a lot of projects at the same time and there is no way I will be able to tackle them all. But through YALI I learned the power of building a team that shares the same vision with you; that will enable you to build the foundation and the groundwork that is needed and move on to the next thing that needs to be done. I learned to be confident not only in myself but my work as well so as to be able to present and articulate it well to interested groups. My advice to other aspiring game changers… Decide to start and stand with your decision because the environment will never be conducive for you to do so. Put your all into it; it doesn’t matter how many times you fall; rise up, dust yourself, learn from your mistakes and move forward. Build before you can start putting profits in your own pocket but above all; give back to your community. What challenges have you faced and how have you tackled them? But we didn’t let that be a hindrance in achieving our goal. For these two projects, we had to start with what was in our pockets and a few resources. Every profit we made was put towards building these projects and seeing them come to life. Right now Buffy boasts of having a vast number of equipment attained through profits, and some of its profits were put toward Langa till it became self-sustainable. For Langa, our greatest challenge was a continuous price hike of feed for both chickens and rabbits. With the realization that the expenses were now
Why Every Nigerian Girl Should March
We March so that the girls who come after us can walk freely, and run without being chased. If 2018 was a chapter in a history book, it could be titled The Year of Female Activism, and aptly so. The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements raised awareness on sexual harassment in workplaces for women worldwide. 2019 was the year of Serena and the catsuit, and the Women’s March Anniversary. It was the year that women in Saudi Arabia were legally allowed to drive, and even closer to home. It was the year Ethiopia and Rwanda and South Africa both named their first 50% female cabinets. ‘Good things arrive in multiples’, just as movements worldwide were being transformed from ideas to action. In Nigeria, on the 20th of October 2018, @MarketMarch opened a twitter account, and its first tweet – …sounded like something straight out of a UN document. The Twitter account – a creation of Brand identity designer Damilola Marcus, immediately blew up, receiving massive support from popular activists on social media, celebrities, and regular citizens who could either relate or at the very least understand why the Market March needed to happen. It also received support from groups like YALI, Whole Woman Network, andseveral media houses. Marcus, when interviewed previously, stated that her prior attempts to galvanize action from law enforcement officials on sexual harassment in markets, were met with the reply: It was not a ‘common problem’. Going to the Market in Nigeria is sometimes a war. Your armor is comfortable footwear (for ease of movement), covered up clothes, (to avoid sweaty fingers) and if you’re a woman, definitely no short skirts, unless you have a ‘strong mind’. Purchasers are often dragged, and upon resistance, insulted with sentences often chock full of sexual innuendo. And yet, it is not uncommon to find the traders leading a protest to our protest. The first #MarketMarch took place in December 2018 at Yaba Market, Lagos. Marchers then, just like us, were called prostitutes and lesbians. Just like us, they were injured, manhandled, heckled, thrown at, cursed at, for protesting the rights of female to walk unobtrusively in a public place. Public transport in Enugu Nigeria requires fortitude. A journey time of 30 minutes is easily tripled once you factor in wait time in bus parks, constant stops, and roundabout journeys. Nevertheless, I and three of my friends set out on a journey from Agbani -which for all intents and purposes is on the outskirts of Enugu- to Ogbete Market to participate in the Market March on Saturday the 23rd March 2019. With approximately 40 marchers, male and Female, indigenes and visitors, united by a common cause. On my first trip to Ogbete, the tour guide proudly informed me that it is the biggest market in the State, abundant in all, and lacking in nothing – a shoppers haven. The market march reached its climax at the clothes section of the market, populated by predominantly male vendors. One man called us Lesbians, and others then pitched in to deliver a fervor- filled ‘Holy-Ghost fire!’. Repeatedly. All the while making lewd remarks at us. In some other quarters of the market, we faced passive aggression. A man stroking the arm of a marcher holding a big ‘No Touching’ sign, all the while looking her directly in the eye, smug smile intact. Or a wheelbarrow pusher deliberately and quickly driving his machine through our midst. But it wasn’t only the men. A woman queried us softly in Igbo ‘Are we not human beings too? Why should we not touch you?’ and another, still in Igbo lowly snarled ‘You should tell the girls to dress better when they are coming to the market’ But it was not all negative. We received thumbs-up signs from some female traders, quiet nods from the male vendors, and the occasional ‘Well done’ or ‘Yes!’ Some, in solidarity, chanted back at us ‘Nwanyi bu Ife’ or ‘Nwanyi Bu ike’ which in its simplest translation means ‘women matter’. The market leaders, predominantly men, wore our shirts and marched with us. They led chants and spoke with the traders at different parts of the market, as they guided us to open spaces where we could address crowds. They largely acted as chaperones. On three different occasions, when the chants at the Market March turned rhythmic, the market women danced with us. It is not often that ‘twitter activism’ results in real-world action, and yet, the March has defied all rules to become a national movement. Testimonies from the first March at Yaba started pouring in almost immediately after. Too many to name, they all echoed the same sentiment: The March had changed something. My fellow Marchers were not particularly special people. We were University Students, traders, women’s rights activists, and white collar workers. Some of us did not speak Igbo, but we learned the chants to perfection on that day. We were united by sweat and a common purpose. In Nigeria today, marching is more than a sport. We March so that the girls who come after us can walk freely, and run without being chased.
Colleen Higgs: Digital publishing has brought new opportunities for publishers
Colleen Higgs started Modjaji Books in 2007 as an independent feminist press that publishes southern African women’s fiction, poetry, and biographies. She felt African women deserved to tell their stories on an authentic and conscientious platform. Many Modjaji book titles have gone on to win numerous prestigious literary awards both locally and internationally. In this article, Colleen Higgs talks about her work and what it takes to be a feminist publisher. What are the top three things someone needs to consider before opening a publishing business? Do you have enough starting capital? Publishing requires money up front and it takes time to earn that money back. Think carefully about why you are doing it. After many years of publishing, you might find it tough to deal with all the many demands made of you, the lack of appreciation for what you have done for writers and how little money you make from doing the work. What is your focus going to be? It is good to have a very particular focus, it will help you to find an audience and to make decisions about what to publish. Tell us about your work as an independent publisher. Being a writer I understood what it was like to want to get published and the inflation and deflation of the relationship with a publisher. It didn’t prepare me for all the work that it takes though, the ongoing attention to the big picture and to detail that the publisher has to manage. Publishers do a vast number of things. You don’t just read through submissions and select books to publish. There is a huge amount of admin. You work out a vision and focus for your company and keep a firm eye on the money and cash flow. You must constantly maintain relationships with all the people you work with: printers, writers, editors, illustrators, artists, proof-readers, shareholders, accountant, book-keeper, bookstore owners and employees not to mention participating in book fairs and doing interviews! Why was it important to open Modjaji Books as a ‘feminist’ print? Modjaji fills a gap by providing an outlet for writing by women that takes itself and its readers seriously. Having lived through and enacted publishing only women, I became aware of how this has been a deeply political act. When you think about the way publishing is owned, media is owned, who gets to make the decisions, and how women are represented, here and internationally it just made sense. Women do have a different experience of the world – not just because they are women, but because of the way power is structured and filtered. I had experienced my own writing not being taken seriously because it is too ‘confessional’. I wanted to make a way that other women could be published where a set of values and perceptions that were not patriarchal and were not centered in the “Dead, White, Male canon” would make the decisions about what should be published. Many of your authors have been nominated to win prestigious literary awards. How do you feel about this? Modjaji has been lucky enough to publish the work of very talented writers. I like to think it is also because we have done a good job of editing the manuscripts and because of how the company is positioned and how we have framed and spotlighted particular works. We have published a lot of debuts short stories and poetry collections, many of these have won prizes, and yet they are books that most commercial publishers would not touch. How has society changed by reading your published books on infertility, stillbirth, homosexuality, etc. I have seen how these books have added to a growing discourse on topics that were taboo or not in the mainstream but now have a more prominent place. I’m proud to have had Modjaji Books be at the cutting edge of this kind of publishing here in South Africa. Haven run Modjaji for twelve years, have you faced any challenges running an African press? Yes, there are challenges, we are not supported by government policies that help us to grow and increase our sales. Recently the SA Book Development Council funded our participation in the SA Book Fair. I don’t think this goes far enough. I think there needs to be an active policy of buying local books for libraries. If we as independent South African publishers knew that even as few as 500 of our really good titles would be bought by the library system, it would make it all much more viable. Trade routes and avenues of distribution into other African countries are not nearly as strong as are those to Europe and the US. It would be great to see work on this taking place at a national level Publishing is a very expensive industry. As a publishing brand, how do you approach your need for commercial success? I have to confess I have not focused too much on commercial success! I thought that if I published something that needed to be heard it would be commercially successful. This has not been the case. I have tried to publish books and voices I have loved. With the increase of digital books, self publishing, and rumors of the “death of print”, how do you plan on staying relevant in the industry? If one continues to publish books that are well written, powerful and have a clear voice, a particular story, we as publishers will remain relevant in my opinion. It is important not to get stuck in a particular mind set and to be open to new technology and to new voices and perspectives. Having said that, there have been many changes in the last 12 years. Social media has become a force for publishing books, and for writers to connect with each other. Digital publishing has brought new opportunities for publishers. Self-publishing has its place, but there is still a great deal of room for publishers to work
How to rock these 5 Corporate Styles effortlessly
At the concluded MET Gala, head swooped and ears buzzed, we saw fashion statement from the future, from Queen mother Serena Williams’ magnificent dress, to Tracy Ellis Ross’ – Mirror in the wall black emblem. We are trying to not mention Cardi’s overflowing regalia and Lupita Nyong’o statement headgear. Nonetheless, Zendaya was the star of the ball or MET rather. She came dressed in an outfit that lit up from a wave of a magic wand. With her very own fairy Godmother or father. Wouldn’t it be great if we all had fairy godmothers that would wave a wand at our swarthy wardrobes and Gbam, we are all glammed up. While we are still waiting for a fairy godmother/Wakanda father, we put together a number of ideas and ways you can switch up. Let’s take a more practical approach to our wardrobe. These makeover and outfit ideas are for that goal-getter who knows she can slay and deliver at the same time and is doing just that, while she might be able to stretch her budget. This boss lady wants to be in the know of fashion trend, she wants to be creative and classic, turning both eyes and heads at the meeting, for her we’ve set up an array of methods to switch that glam up We don’t leave the entrepreneur out, she’s making boss moves, she’s running from an event venue to meeting with her clients. She wants to make sure everything works well for her small business, and she wants to look like she means business to clients. She can’t bust a thousand box on clothes. What ways can she creatively switch up the narrative off her wardrobe from “please-help-this-newbie-entrepreneur” to “here’s -why-you-should-invest-in-my-business entrepreneur”. The Statement Stiletto A stiletto can transform your look from plain to classic. First, it elevates your status, gives you more moral to look people in the eye, and a statement stiletto draws eyes from your heels all the way up to your face. A statement stiletto can be stylish while remaining formal. They usually stand out in just one color. A bright red is an all-time favorite, a neon green will go too. Whatever you choose, make sure to pair them off with soft brown colors and power glasses. Make a statement without saying a word The Formal Ankara What better way to stand out than in an all in one Ankara print pants or skirts. While you rep the Wakanda nation. you bring with you that extra sauce and excitement that is otherwise drab in a suit and tie setting. Note: Ankara prints can get busy so it’s best to pair them off with single color, mainly white or black and minimal accessories. The Stylish Joggers Whoever told you pants can’t be stylish lied to you. There are days when a Motherland Mogul has to be on her feet, moving around to keep things in check, trying to meet up and staying all late to make orders move in the next morning. This is certainly no time to do a catwalk. When you really need that flexibility jump in from one car to another, a jogger’s gat you baby girl. It’s light, free and flexible, allowing you to be comfortable all day long. Paired with a jacket you can quickly make the switch from entrepreneur to the boss lady The Classic Pants Pastel pants come in all shapes and colors. Single-colored pastel pants bearing softer shades like woody brown or pastel pink are great together. Layering a turtle neck tee shirt or a tank top underneath the statement jackets makes your outfit pop. It’s easy, soft and comfortable and you can always switch from feeling classic in a jacket to party style in a tee-shirt styled into a crop top to fit at a party. However you choose to wear it, this outfit works for different occasions. The Multipurpose Jacket A bright colored jacket Is a must for any wardrobe. There’s barely anything you can’t rock with it. A bright colored jacket can be worn on a little black dress, a dinner gown, or even with a corporate dress. You can pair it up with a tee-shirt and you make a unique fashion statement. And if you dare, mix it up with sneakers or all stars. Now you have it, survey your wardrobe to find combinations that work. Here are 3 tips to help you recreate a new wardrobe in a week. Ransack your wardrobe, you would probably find a statement piece you didn’t know what to do with or a jacket you forgot from a long time ago, now is the time to bring out the slayer in you. Pair each outfit by color and accessories them. Next, you’d want to take photos of each outfit you think cuts the mark, scan through your Mirror, Mirror on the wall, and select the dopest of them all. Here are a few online thrift stores you can get clothing from, all of which can be found in Mall of Africa. Zara Boho Pretty Little things Budget shopping Fashionaova All outfits and dresses in this article can be found at StyleAmira’s fashion and lifestyle page. You can also find them on the gram. Till next time, let us slay together.
Chioma Ogbudimkpa: On creating Redbutton and using Green Fashion to meet the SDGs goals
Chioma Ogbudimkpa is a certified project management professional who has served in different capacities and projects across 5 countries and different industries. She has put in over 9 service years in FMCG, Consulting and Real Estate. Chioma is also a sustainability advocate and a Green Champion. She has been actively involved in the ‘Going Green’ Initiative from the YALI Network since 2015. She started her entrepreneurship journey with the launch of her women’s wear label, Redbutton in 2017 to explore her creative side. Following this, Chioma has received a seat at the table of various local and international platforms; she is a ‘She Leads Africa’ (SLA) Accelerator beneficiary of 2017, a 2018 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur and the winner, Creative Business Cup Nigeria 2019. She will be representing Nigeria at the Global Creative Business Cup in Denmark this July. She’s also an alumnus and beneficiary of the Nigeria Creative Enterprise (NICE) program 2019 powered by the British Council. She has a Bachelors in Project Management Technology and a PGD in Strategic Management & Leadership. Chioma loves to cycle and play scrabble at her leisure time. What led you to fashion at the beginning and what led to the switch to sustainable fashion My mum owned a fashion house back in the 90s, that’s where and when I started to sew, sketch and play with fabrics. I found that I was always stitching something (till date..lol), my mum’s tailors were tired of me because nothing they make for me stays the same. I loved to experiment and add my own touch here and there. It was fun and engaging so I continued on this path up until I started working in the corporate space. I made my work clothes and sometimes, people wanted me to make clothes for them when they realized I made the dresses myself. It was extracurricular until 2016 when I decided to start the business properly. I enrolled in Martwayne fashion school while I was still working, just to get a professional grasp of fashion designing and the business of fashion. Following that, I launched Redbutton in 2017. Because I am a Green Champion, it was only natural for me to incorporate sustainability into my fashion brand. I started to research ways I can be green, while still maintaining fundamental design principles. There are several ways I have built in ethical fashion principles in my processes, including using recyclable paper packaging, ensuring minimal waste, ethical production processes and fusing sustainable materials. What are the possible career options here? It’s quite evident that the Africa fashion space is experiencing the highest rave she has ever had, and doesn’t seem like it will decline anytime soon. The demand and interest in the over $50bn industry have been incredibly progressive which also implies that there are tons of career opportunities, even in a sustainable fashion. Some common ones are textile producers (in knitting, weaving, dyeing, etc). Even here in Nigeria, we are yet to scratch the surface in exploring our indigenous woven fabrics from different tribes. We also have fashion designers, illustrators, machinists, thought leaders in ethical fashion (not very popular in Africa but there are) who are consultants, show curators, editors, etc. Where do you see this line of business taking you? Building a strong ethical fashion brand that promotes African craftsmanship and design innovation, and of course, a profitable fashion business that will birth several other ethical fashion advocates and workers is my overarching goal. Our zest for color, patterns and the intricacy in our embroideries are phenomenal and it appears we are not exploring what we have enough. This is what I want to project to Africa and the world by exploring eco-friendly materials and African art. What are the challenges in the fashion business, and how do you manage them? Production is slow and expensive. But I have realized through this journey that the process and result are far more important than the speed. It’s also more expensive to run, because eco-friendly materials are not exactly cheap (more expensive than regular fabrics), meaning that your pieces will not be cheap. But once you can properly project your value and find your target market, you will be just fine You use water hyacinths for some of your products, why water hyacinths? What was the reception like at the UN? It was just an experiment, to be honest, I didn’t expect that it will be this serious o..lol! I was researching on sustainable fabrics, something different from our woven fabrics, I bumped into this social innovation enterprise who also up-cycles waste for furniture and home decor pieces. I found that water hyacinths can be dried and woven into panels like our Aso-oke. I said, ‘I never saw anyone try this out in fashion, is it even possible?” The fact that it wasn’t popular in Africa drew me further into the research. I tested it and realized it could work but the dress will be dry clean only, no machine wash. We are constantly exploring more eco-friendly materials we can fuse into our designs to create statement pieces. Some of the water hyacinth pieces we fused with Adire were showcased at the 4th UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi and received resounding acclaim from assembly members and delegates. We were published in the Kenyan dailies and featured on the UN Environment news updates. Between April and today, we have shipped over 50 pieces to the US and UK, following the contacts made from the UN event. This is a testament to the fact that, even though our designs have the African aesthetic, they are also globally appealing. Got any advice for younger fashion entrepreneurs? Some say the industry is saturated, well maybe in some context. But also remember it is growing incredibly and the demand is looming. There are several ways to stand out. Look around you, look inside of you, talk to people that have the capacity to help you discover new territories. You can tweak your strategy, innovate,
Memoirs from the Forbes Africa Leading Women Summit 2019 – dedicated to women by women
Getting an email that I have been invited to attend the prestigious Forbes Africa Leading Women summit on International Women’s day was everything I hoped for in 2019. I had to make sure that I made the relevant arrangements to ensure that I was a part of this. Forbes Women Africa hosted their 4th edition of their Leading Women Summit in Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal, and the event theme was – New Wealth Creators: the female entrepreneurs who are making a profit from unconventional ideas and industries. In addition to this, these phenomenal women are those who have created an impact in their various spaces by transforming a market or company, or innovating a product or service and are pioneering their organization(s) in generating new untapped streams of income. The nominees will have achieved positive financial results, have adopted sustainable development initiatives, increased shareholder value, created jobs, and have sound management and corporate governance, together with a set of values such as integrity, vision, and leadership. The idea of a new wealth creator, as described by Forbes Women Africa includes emerging industries that are disrupting the global landscape. What was this year’s summit about? The Forbes Africa Women Leading Women Summit 2019 took place on International Women’s Day (Friday, 08 March) at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and hosted around 500 influential women across the continent. Having been selected to attend last year’s summit with only 120 women at the Hyatt Regency in Rosebank, I was blown away by the platform provided by Forbes Women Africa. I was at an event dedicated to women by women and was taken aback by the caliber of women I got to interact with. Women such as Prof Thuli Madonsela, Vivian Onano, Rolene Strauss and other phenomenal women across various industries. This year, the summit brought together women that are disrupting their industries and introduced them to their first ever Forbes Women Awards. It also celebrated a collection of female entrepreneurs on the African continent running businesses and social enterprises that are new, radical and making an impact on the economy. Women from different industries and sectors and those who are changing the African business and societal landscape. The Keynote speaker was none other than supermodel & activist Naomi Campbell, who believes that Africa is one of the leading continents in the world. “Africa means a lot to me, and right now I feel that it is a time where in my industry that this continent is recognised by the fashion industry in having their footprint here” – Naomi Campbell I totally agree with her and believe that many industries feel the same. Africa is growing and it is indeed where organizations, people and economies should be investing in. My experience at the summit My mentor, Vivian Onano was attending the summit too and we were both taken away by the presence that filled Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. From women in government, CEO’s from various sectors, women in sport, fashion and television, it was a day worth celebrating. There were great women across the African continent spoke at the event including Linda Ikeji, Simidele Adeagbo, Noëlla Coursaris Musunka, Gugulethu Mfuphi, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and more. The day ended with the Forbes Africa Women Leading Summit Gala Dinner & Awards where remarkable women on the continent who have made significant strides to only change their industry but shape perception of Women across a variety of sectors we recognized, such as Sho Madjozi, Discovery Vitality Ambassador Caster Semenya, Arlene Mulder, and other phenomenal women, full list available here My Takeaways Being a woman in Africa who’s passion lies in women development and empowerment, this summit was the best experience ever. I am committed to being involved in initiatives like this that are dedicated to women in Africa and abroad. It was such a thrilling experience meeting phenomenal women, making life-long connections and being able to be in an environment that celebrates and puts women who are doing such great work in the spotlight. I strongly believe that more organizations should be involved in such initiatives, looking at where women are going, the impact women are having on their networks, communities, industries and the world. Watch the full video here.
What went down at Face Africa’s Annual WASH Gala – March 19′
Rewriting The Story of Africa through water. – Adebola Williams The narrative of Africa is changing, and (we) the offspring are joining hands in numbers, working towards a better tomorrow for generations to come. Africa has and always will be one of the richest places in the world with resources that can build many nations, nurture and develop talent in various sectors of life and most importantly provide clean water systems in every home and community. Having clean water may seem like the most accessible thing that everyone should have in 2019, but unfortunately, it is a struggle that millions of people are still facing. Like any math problem, the goal is to find the answer by solving an equation. Saran Kaba Jones’s answer to contaminated water in Africa is creating access to clean water systems for everyday people through FACE Africa. Saturdays are usually for Aso-Ebi, headwraps tied in perfect origami style coupled with highlights, contour, and lashes that completes the ultimate glam. Well, this Saturday was different. The African culture graced Guastavino’s with couture dresses, hand-stitched suits and ties made from fine textiles for the most prestigious event of the year, FACE Africa annual WASH GALA. The WASH GALA was an evening that captured and honored voices that want to and are changing the narrative of what home really looks like and their trials and tribulations in home improvement. FACE Africa’s keen eye to detail and prestige was felt from the moment people walked up to the stairs and through the doors of Guastavino’s. Africa is home when you invest your mind and soul the journey is built brick by brick with our hands and not by the colonizers. FACE Africa’s journey to supply clean water started 10 years ago and of course, it was no easy task raising hundreds of dollars in the beginning to now raising millions in its 10th year. There is power when we join forces to enhance our resources. Aqua blue, forest green, these colors illuminated the entire venue creating the vibe of taking in the fresh air that trees provide and drinking crisp water through clean water. What a feeling. This year’s WASH GALA honorees are Didier Drogba, Nomzamo Mbatha, Mr. Eazi, and Bozoma Saint John. Nomzamo Mbatha Rising Star Honoree Nomzamo Mbatha acceptance speech was filled with cries, laughter and the room responded with a standing ovation. “The credit and the bragging is so different nowadays. It is not about what designers you have, or the different houses you may have across the world. It is how many people that are on your payroll, and how many organizations we have started to make sure that the blood of our ancestors that were used as fertilization to grow the natural resource, and that the natural resource that we have as the African continent is not just the resources as gold or diamonds, it is us. Those that are scattered across the world”. Nomzamo told her story in a room that felt like home because home is where her heart lives. We all come from different sectors of the continent, some experiences different from others but we share a common fight, developing Africa. Adebola Williams Adebola Williams CEO of RED Media and WASH Gala Co-Chair touched on many successes on the continent such as three major banks in Nigeria having women as chairman and President Sirleaf paving the way for women in politics. But still, many women face challenges and are slowed down by fetching water when this energy can be put to good use by doing other things in society. Williams continued by shedding light on new millennial problems in the world. Back-aches and hands aching him from long texting, but Africa is still dealing with about two million water-related diseases. Bozoma Saint John A room full of advocacy, people who want to do better for our continent. We were reminded about the importance of voice by Bozoma Saint John CMO at Endeavor and WASH Gala Voice of Change Recipient. “Once you have been silent, you have been forgotten, it is important to use our voices to change the narrative”. Bozoma demonstrated what it meant to lead by example and using her voice for change and impact by sharing the stage and honorable moment with her daughter Lael Saint John. Didier Drogba Like the good old saying “If not us then who” exuded the room by Didier Drogba who was WASH Gala Humanitarian recipient. Drogba was unable to attend the gala in person due to an emergency in Côte d’Ivoire but left us with a beautiful video message. “It is our responsibility to bring awareness and change in Africa. Water is life, so invest in clean water for the community,” he said Caroline Wanga Caroline Wanga, Vice President of Human Resources at Target Corporation and WASH Gala 2019 keynote speaker commended all attendees in the room and noted that “Guastavino’s ain’t neva have these many Africans in here before”. For those that know the upper east side of New York City, the upper class and diplomats fill the area where the average rent is $2500 – $3000 a month, just imagine how much hosting an event on that side of town would be. Wanga key points were the importance buying and labor market, “ Africa Immigrants are the answer to developing our nation, rent to pay, Louboutin’s to wear, outfits to make, either way, someone somewhere does not have clean water”. Wanga also implored everyone in the room to “Get this Shmoney” and invest in Africa. Every day is another opportunity to be better and do better, technology has increased the number of collaborations between people and spreading awareness to causes at a fast pace. I can just imagine the impact and change that will occur between now and five years with FACE Africa clean water initiative. We are definitely on our way to a clean and thirst quenching society. Got a story to share with us? Click here to share.
Dear Entrepreneur. It’s time to develop a Global Perspective
I’ve called 2019 the year of global distinction, and I believe we are in the most exciting period in recent history. In fact, I’ve called this the era of creative distinction knowing to birth and leading with your innovation is a key to global distinction. One of the things which distinguish the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Facebook is their local influence and global impact. So, as an entrepreneur, leader or employee who now has to be entrepreneurial minded, how can your distinction be felt locally as well as globally? [bctt tweet=”Dear entrepreneur, start local, think global and constantly raise the bar of excellence – @Onyianyado777″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] From my message of Cutting Edge Distinction, I combined excellence and branding then created my 3 V’s of branding. So from now, anytime you see the word excellence, it actually represents your vision, your values, and your voice. What are you going to do in the next seven days that will cause your vision to be recognized, respected and regarded locally and globally? “Dear Entrepreneur. With the growth of social media and the global market now local, now is the time to grow your leadership brand. ~ Onyi Anyado” In this era of creative distinction, social media now represents your personal brand, your CV, your business card, your website, and résumé too. So, with this truth, if I went to your Twitter account, do your last 20 tweets represent cutting edge leadership or blunt ended leaderSLIP? One of the things which distinguish the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Facebook is the constant sharing of their vision, values and voice across social media knowing if they’re not doing that, their competitors definitely are. It is estimated that there are 7.7 billion people on planet earth. The components include different races, languages, cultures, and religions. But, isn’t it fascinating that an entrepreneur in Madagascar and an employee in Malawi both have to use their iPhone to login to Facebook to discuss why there’s such an issue of ordering products from Amazon. (Did you catch the irony?) [bctt tweet=”Dear entrepreneur, the world is now a global village, and your vision has to transcend different races with different faces in different places around the world – @Onyianyado777″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] So there you have it, we are now in the era of creative distinction, the global market is now local so, with this truth, how are you going to serve your vision, values, and voice with a global perspective? As a leadership speaker and workshop facilitator, there’s no way I’m not going to practice what I preach, speak and teach. “Dear Entrepreneur, it’s time to wave goodbye to average and say hello to a new wave of distinction. ~ Onyi Anyado”. Got a story to share with the world? Click here to share with us.
Holly Irasubiza: The young Rwandan mentoring the next generation of Young African Leaders
Holly Irasubiza is an activist, researcher, and mentor committed to building a stronger, more equitable Rwanda. She served as a 2017-2018 Global Health Corps fellow at Partners in Health. Born and raised in Kigali, she blossomed into a vocal leader during her time as a student at Bugema University, where she headed multiple student organizations and worked as a teaching assistant and instructor. After graduating, Holly mentored other female students to encourage them to dream big and work towards a brighter future. Passionate about the power of leadership to transform societies, Holly authored a piece titled “Why Care and Compassion Are Core Leadership Competencies.” In this article, Holly talks about the powerful impact of mentorship, both for mentees and mentors. [bctt tweet=”As a mentee, I grew significantly both personally and professionally – Holly Irasubiza” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What inspired you to become a mentor? I have a passion for people development, and being a mentor is a way to share my knowledge and experiences to impact another’s success. It is fulfilling and keeps my motivation high, knowing that I am touching a life by giving back. My life has been shaped by the mentors I have met throughout my journey, and I hope to support the younger generation to go beyond their limits and change the world. Why should mentorship be important to young African leaders? The African continent has struggled under bad leadership, and some of the consequences are still faced by the African population. But it has also experienced some of the most brilliant and visionary leaders, which have shed the light, banished the darkness, and brought hope for today and the future of Africa. To maintain and develop great future leaders of Africa, we need to be proactive, starting with the empowerment of our youth. By some estimates, up to 60% of the African population is the youth, and they need to be empowered and encouraged to explore their potential and use available resources to their advantage. This will not only provide us with great leaders in the future but will also speed up the continent’s development now. With mentorship, young leaders can learn from past experiences and success stories, and stand on the shoulders of giants to go further. What makes a good mentor/mentee relationship? I sum this up as the 4 C’s: Commitment: The mentee must identify the right person for mentorship, including past experiences and areas of expertise, to ensure that the mentor is in a position to help them to achieve their goals. Communication: The mentee should have clear goals and communicate the agenda they want to be mentored on, how often they would like to check-in, and a preferred communication line (email, Skype calls, or face-to-face meetings). This will help both mentor and mentee to schedule their regular meetings and track their progress. Compassion: It is the responsibility of the mentor to create a positive and friendly environment for the mentee to share openly their opinions and challenges. They should check if they are meeting the set goals, and maintain objectivity throughout the course. Care: The mentor should take ownership of the program, make sure that they listen clearly to the mentee’s needs, and use their best abilities to support their growth. The mentee should respect the mentor’s willingness to share their time, wisdom, knowledge, and experiences to support and guide them towards achieving their life goals. [bctt tweet=”Read how this @ghcorps fellow – Holly Irasubiza is mentoring the next generation of African leaders” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What do you hope for the next generation of African leaders? How can mentorship help achieve that future? I am very optimistic about the next generation of African leaders. Having worked in multicultural settings, I have had the opportunity to interact with amazing, bright young women and men across the continent. My peers are very ambitious and innovative, with brilliant ideas. Their aspirations for African development are incredible, and they have already made a remarkable impact in their respective communities. I have no doubt about the great future leaders they are. The youth are eager to learn from leaders’ experience and take up their wisdom. Mentorship will guide them and show them how to apply this knowledge to make them better future leaders. How has your career in global health impacted your mentorship skills – and vice versa? Global Health Corps provided me with great opportunities to interact with leaders and experts in different areas. So many willingly shared their experiences and wisdom, and they are still great resources for my success as an alumna of the program. I am provided with guidance, encouragement, and support to achieve my goals. This experience has strengthened my passion to give back. How have you benefited from mentorship—both as a mentor and a mentee? Being a mentor has improved my leadership skills; my mentee looks up to me, so I have to set a good example and be the type of leader I want to see. It has also boosted my communication skills and keeps me engaged by offering me fulfillment, seeing the impact it makes. Mentorship has broadened my network and offered me opportunities to learn from my mentees as well. As a mentee, I grew significantly both personally and professionally. Learning from the best offered me different opportunities and extended my professional network. The leader that I am today is the result of these relationships. What are you doing to gain a global perspective? We want to share your story! Click here to share.
Chiedza Museredza: Making the move from Zimbabwe to Canada
Moving to a whole new country, a whole new continent may seem like the scariest choice you could ever make. Will you like your job, will the move be worth it, or what if you never manage to settle in? These are just a few questions you may ask yourself. On the upside, what if it becomes the best decision you will ever make, what if you find a great group of friends and your job is the best career choice you could have made? Chiedza has previously detailed her experience on immigrating to Canada to be a lawyer. Starting as a Masters student, she got an internship at one of the biggest law firms in the country and currently is completing her articles at McMillan LLP. She details below her experiences moving countries to kickstart her career There are various ways you could immigrate to a new country – as a student or as a professional. The choice may lie with your experience and qualifications. Professionals who qualify have the option of applying for an Express Entry Visa into Canada whilst students have the opportunity to qualify for a post-graduate work permit. Consider what your best option could be. Making the move… Going in blind when making such a seismic change to your life requires preparation. Moving to a new country takes a lot of research, time and money. Plan what you need to do to, how you’ll do it, then take the huge leap and DO IT! Sometimes it means finding new ways to create opportunities for yourself and opening doors through your own initiative. Chiedza describes the experience of moving to another country as challenging. In particular, moving to a country where she did not know anyone. It felt like starting all over again. “To prepare for my move I connected with people on LinkedIn who had made the same move as I wanted to make. They, in turn, connected me to other people. I was very lucky to connect with helpful people.” The power of networking… Qualification and experience from back home may not always be recognized by potential employers. Some may prefer someone with Canadian experience and those with prestigious work experience or attended Ivy League or Oxbridge universities may fare better on the job market but not everyone has this experience. Networking has a major impact on the impression you could make to your future employer. Before approaching someone to discuss opportunities it is definitely worth it to research the company and anything else you can find out about the person off LinkedIn (i.e. Google them). This helps you determine how to approach them- what do you have in common and more importantly what do you specifically need help with. “I found the best way was to network with someone in the company/firm/organization and they would recommend me. Most companies trust recommendations from their employees. I have noticed that broadly worded networking emails are not very helpful. Being specific with emails always shows that you know what you want So in essence what makes one the best candidate as a foreigner is effective networking that will result in getting recommended for the job you want.” Be mentally prepared… The job hunt is one of the hardest processes you could go through, but remember, perseverance is key. “You have to have a thick skin and be resilient. You will be told “no” more than “yes”. Don’t take it personally – just keep going until you achieve your goal.” Nobody deals with rejection well, but one small setback does not necessarily mean you should give up. “I believe that what is meant for me will be for me and that rejection is not a denial of my dreams. So, I keep it moving. In terms of managing my expectations, I hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.” Managing the corporate world has been extremely busy. “I struggled with impostor syndrome the first days. I had to remind myself that I worked very hard to get where I am so I deserved to be at the firm just like everyone else.” Chiedza shares the key lessons she has learned from her immigration to Canada: Failure is the best form of feedback because it forces you to change and grow – so failure works for you and not against you; Don’t let your achievements set you back. It is very easy to relax after getting successful at something; and Be grateful. Each time you want to complain (even when the complaint is valid) – just think of what you’re thankful for. This is one of the best ways to deal with stress. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.