Charlotte & Sheila Addison: Fulfilling the language needs of businesses
[bctt tweet=”Enlaza Global plays a pivotal rote in helping businesses transition to the global stage” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Sometimes, not getting to study what you’d like in university can be blessing in disguise. When the Addison sisters were offered a language course at university —a course that was not considered prestigious— they soldiered on. Today, Charlotte and Sheila are co-founders of Enlaza Global, a language translation service provider particularly focused on the language needs of businesses. Both sisters also work as translators at The Jeli, a literary publisher for black millenials. Here, they fill us in on why businesses need to use language as a tool and share what living in Cuba to perfect their Spanish taught them. What are the language needs of businesses? The language needs of businesses can be one of many things. There are untapped markets ready for products/services by businesses willing to operate across regions and markets. A language service provider like our Enlaza Global plays a pivotal role in helping businesses make that transition. Having international clients and business partners reveals the importance of having some level of communication in an international language. When working internationally, there will be a need to translate corporate and business documents to reflect in-country needs. Also, websites and social media sites can be translated in order to create diversity and reach a wider market online. According to the research survey, “Can’t Read, Won’t buy: Why Language Matters” by CommonsenseAdivsory, 52.4% of consumers buy only at websites when the information is presented in their language. [bctt tweet=”We create diversity by using the tool of translation to add value to technological products” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] We help to create diversity by using the tool of translation to add value to technological products such as apps, software and websites among others. Why do you think you were offered a language course? Why was it not considered prestigious? We believe we were offered a language course because of our academic background. We studied Literature, Christian Religious studies, Government and French at senior high school. These would have definitely played a role in the choice of course we were offered. The notion of prestige when it comes to academic courses in our societies, we believe stems from the belief that some courses map out a clear-cut career path for one whiles others do not. Another reason could be that most people have not come to appreciate and understand the tool called language and its role in a global village. I imagine you’ve received some odd questions for studying a language course. What are some of them? Some of the funniest questions we have received for studying a language course are : Is that a subject within your course or is it your main course of study? Will you gain immediate employment upon completing the university? Do you want to be a teacher? What are you going to do with it? What is the relevance of your course in an office (working environment)? [bctt tweet=”Living in Cuba fanned our desire to honour and celebrate people who have given us their time” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Tell us about living in Cuba. What led you two there? Our reason for living in Cuba was to study and improve upon our Spanish skills. We also wanted to acquire cultural knowledge and sensitivity. The experience was as fun as it was challenging. There are vital principles that we learnt to imbibe from Cuba such as patriotism and loyalty to ourselves as Africans, to our nation Ghana, to always be supportive and to push people forward. It also fanned our desire to always honour and celebrate people who have given their lives, time, effort or money in building us as individuals, organisations and Africans as a whole. On the other hand, living in a socialist state like Cuba, came along with its challenges. These include internet limitations, a lack of opportunities for foreigners, the daily low productivity, a lack of ingenuity on their part and the subtle racism that stares you in the face everyday. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Linda Mabhena-Olagunju: Entrepreneurs must learn to take calculated risks
[bctt tweet=”If you really want to venture into business you have to risk looking stupid.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] At SLA, we are always super excited to interview young African women that are trailblazers, game changers, leaders and positive role models for other African women. Linda Mabhena-Olagunju has all of the above qualities and more. Linda holds two law degrees: an LL.B. from the University of Cape Town and an LL.M. from the University of Aberdeen. She is the Managing Director at DLO Energy Resources, a renewable energy investment and advisory company based in Johannesburg. She is also the founder of the Renewables and Energy Forum in South Africa. Linda has received a number of awards. She received the 2015 Forbes Women Africa Best Emerging Entrepreneur Award. She also recently received the 2016 Elle Boss entrepreneurial award and the 2016 All Africa Business Leadership Award (Young Business Leader of the Year – Southern Africa). Congratulations Linda! Linda shares with SLA contributor Abisola, her challenges in the renewable energy sector, her entrepreneurial journey and her advice for young African female entrepreneurs. Did your legal education and training prepare you for entrepreneurship? I have always said being a lawyer gives you an overview of how a transaction works so that you get to understand the business model of a particular sector industry. Legal practice, not just my law degrees, prepared me to an extent for business. However, lawyers also tend to be risk averse, as our job entails avoiding risk. My legal training made me more afraid to take risks but after a while in the entrepreneurial space I learnt to take calculated risk. For a lawyer, that means risks that have gone through two sets of thorough due diligence. What would you attribute your current success to? Maximized opportunities or sheer good luck? Hard work, coupled with God opening the doors that needed to be opened and placing me in places and situations I had never imagined. I also attribute it to a strong support system. I stress a lot and my parents have been great pillars of support during these periods. My father, especially, who believed in my vision when I had basically no support. My husband also has this innate sense of calm and wisdom. His counsel has been the difference between me quitting at times and staying in the race. [bctt tweet=”Linda Mahbena-Olagunju recently received the 2016 Elle Boss entrepreneurial award ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What three things can help African women achieve their professional or entrepreneurial goals? Self – belief. God/Higher power belief. A real support structure, whether it be family or friends. What peculiar challenges do you face in the renewable energy sector, especially as you seek to expand to other African countries? A major challenge is regulatory clarity. Most countries in Africa need power but they do not create an enabling environment, at times, to encourage investment. Renewable energy projects are funded largely by banks and anyone that has ever borrowed money from a bank knows that lenders are averse to risk especially government risk and regulatory risk. [bctt tweet=”My husband’s counsel has been the difference between me quitting and staying in the race” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] The other challenge which is particular to Southern Africa, is falling tariffs. We have seen tariffs fall rapidly due to competitive price bidding. This is great for consumers, but may be a challenge for new investors that have to raise funds to finance projects. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self? You may be going through tough times now, but God has an amazing life planned for you. What final piece of advice do you have for aspiring female entrepreneurs? Take the first step. It may seem like a stupid idea but if you really want to venture into business you have to risk looking stupid. Hey South African #MotherlandMoguls, the SheHive will be landing in Johannesburg from November 3-6. Find out more here.
Refilwe Kumalo: The South African content junkie
[bctt tweet=”We have so much to learn from each other but we lack the time to.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce the content of your favorite television programme? Refilwe Kumalo is from South Africa and she is a content junkie who produces television shows that keep you both informed and entertained. Content is information and experiences which are directed to audiences or users. Refilwe’s purpose is to create content that will be consumed so knowledge can be transferred. She has to spark conversations that can inspire people to be better. She works hard at producing content that is entertaining and leaves one wanting more. Refilwe wants to be able to create memorable content that will leave a mark in society. What are you most passionate about? People… I believe that everyone has something to offer the world. Everyone has something good and remarkable to offer. My work has made me realize how important it is to treat every single person delicately. I studied Anthropology as a major for this very reason, which is to be able to study human norms and values in our society. We have so much to learn from each other but we lack the time to. People’s perspectives need to be documented so stories could be told and generations to come can learn from them. As vast and different South Africa is as a nation, it has many facets and molds. Every child, household, taxi driver, miner, men-in-service, artist has a story to tell. Who is your biggest inspiration? Funny enough a lot of people inspire me every day of my life. The ordinary person who wakes up every day to fulfill their dreams inspires me. There are many individuals in our country doing remarkable things in different fields. I’m inspired by people who work hard and who dream big. For me it’s not about how much money you make but how you change people’s lives through the work you do. It’s about creating jobs which will put food on the table and take children to school. [bctt tweet=”The ordinary person who wakes up every day to fulfill their dreams inspires me” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] A few people who inspire me are Khanyi Dhlomo, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, Basetsana Kumalo, Dr. Precious Motsepe, Folorunsho Alakija, Isabel Dos Santos, Victoria Beckham, Oprah Winfrey, Mamokgethi Phakeng, Nunu Ntshingila, Thuli Madonsela and Serena Williams. These women are game changers and I follow their work. What is the most interesting television show you have worked on? Every show I’ve worked on in my ‘short’ career has been interesting and has taught me what I know today about television. From Diski Divas, which is a reality show about South African soccer wives to Mzansi Insider, which I am currently in production of. Right now, I have enough experience to conceptualise an entire episode on my own. It’s a process but one which I’ve grown to appreciate. I’ve been privileged enough to work with great producers who allow my voice to be heard. It is rewarding to see my work and ideas play out on the screen and also see viewer responses. What makes a great television show? These days television content is measured by how much it’s talked about on social media and if it trends. Well unfortunately, Twitter trends won’t get show ratings. What makes a great TV show is the experience and message it leaves the viewer with. A great show’s content is what keeps audiences tuned in and it will result in high ratings. A lot of elements go into putting together a great TV show and in my opinion, the team behind the show plays an important role. [bctt tweet=”What makes a great TV show is the experience and message it leaves the viewer with.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Being in television production I am privileged to see a show from its conception. Therefore, there are many aspects to a great TV show. From the team which is pre- and post-production, the content which is the topics on the show and what message they drive which will of course, give you high ratings. Where do you see yourself in media ? Definitely in conceptualizing futuristic content. Content which will engage the youth to think better and be better people. Where will African media be in the next five years ? Firstly, we need to treat media as informative tool not just for entertainment. I see media in Africa being driven by young people in the next five years. The biggest voices we have today are the young people who use smartphones and social media to drive content. It’s amazing to see a lot big stories today being broken with the use of media platforms. [bctt tweet=”I see media in Africa being driven by young people in the next five years.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] In the same breath, all media platforms have to be monitored by stakeholders so that it can be used in the right manner and be preserved. What is the last thing I watched on TV and why? Botched! Hahaha I’m a sucker for reality TV. As I said, I believe that people need to tell their own stories which will in turn teach people lessons. Botched is an interesting yet daunting show that exposes you to body image alterations which people have done to themselves. With the rise of body image issues in Africa like skin lighting and back door plastic surgery, it is an informative show. We need to create content which seeks to engage these issues which our society faces and depict the long term results of altering or modifying our bodies in any form. If you were a mobile app, which app would you be? I would be Twitter, mainly because it drives a lot of content and allows users to be news makers. The simplicity of it is what makes it the number one go to for us content researchers. One is able to follow trending topics all over the world by
Lanji Ouko: I believe in second chances
[bctt tweet=”Our objective is to build strong, independent, empowered and self-driven women” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Crevit Mulier is derived from a Greek word ‘Creverit Mulier’ which means grown woman. Here at SLA, we take pride in celebrating grown women being the best version of themselves and Lanji Ouko is a perfect example of just that. A published author, legal consultant and entrepreneur, her company Crevit Mulier, is just one of the very many achievements she has under her belt at the tender age of 25. SLA contributor Diana had a quick chat with Lanji about the come up of her networking society. What is the inspiration behind Crevit Mulier? A rough patch in my life inspired it actually. I dropped out of law school in 2012 after failing a series of modules. After failing contract law again, during my re-sit, my degree was downgraded to a BA in Legal Studies. Being the go-getter I am, I quickly acknowledged my mistakes in the past and dropping out was the only way to continue the story about my journey as a lawyer. Between the period I dropped out and graduated from a totally different institution, a harsh reality hit me. Friends stopped talking to me, there were a lot of whispers within my family and generally a lot of voices in my head causing a lot of personal conflict. By not having a strong group of women surrounding me, to uplift me, root for me, I felt lost and lacked motivation. The idea came about exactly two months after graduation. I thought I should try a one-off event in Nairobi and see what would come out of women below the age of 25 coming together to root for each other. Upon it being a success and noticing a few pitfalls here and there, I decided to make it a members-only club, in order to ensure women involved are on the same wavelength and are equally thirsty for success and to better themselves and their community. How has it contributed to young women’s lives in Kenya? Crevit Mulier has positioned itself as the only ladies club that provides a safe haven for women to brainstorm, think critically and nurture healthy female relationships, which tends to be quite difficult the older we get. The members have become more confident, more powerful, more ambitious. It is a safe haven where people openly discuss rape, bad relationships, financial issues and much more. The goal-friend aspect in the membership has encouraged women to start a number of projects they were procrastinating on. Women have started charities and businesses thanks to the message within the open sessions we have. What sort of activities do you get up to within the group? We pride ourselves in giving women a vibrant and friendly atmosphere. Here, they meet ladies of all ages and from all walks of life, for formal or informal talks on day to day life issues. We recently introduced a co-working space at very affordable rates. This is for young ladies who cannot afford the expensive market rates of hiring meeting rooms or having monthly office space. In addition, we offer a diverse programme of events which has helped established a valuable means of access to top institutions, museums, colleges, corporations and well known retailers. The ladies enjoy spa treats, hair and beauty services from our very own door to door spa company. We also provide wine and cheese tasting, flower arrangement parties, cooking classes, financial classes, mentorship from investors among many more. The club-owned owns an academy, The William Hobsons Academy: School Of Etiquette, Social Protocol and Culture. The academy aims at empowering both boys and girls and training them on African culture and language too. Crevit Mulier believes in empowering the boy child too. This is to have a generation of men who can co-exist with the empowered woman, without feeling threatened. What do you want to ultimately achieve with Crevit? Our objective is to build strong, independent, empowered and self-driven women. We enable ladies to identify, address and resolve certain issues in their day to day lives. We want to position a new example of women for generations to come. This club will soon expand across the continent to work towards giving second chances to women of different tribes and backgrounds. I believe there are more important things in life than just being a beautiful woman. We therefore want to recreate and redefine the renaissance woman. In the future, I hope to establish a second-chances institution in partnership with various safe houses. This is in order for women fleeing from gender-based abuse to have a place to start over. I am what I am today because my family and society gave me a second chance. Inspire us with your story! Let us know how you’ve bounced back and done amazing things here.
Vera Adu Amani: How I found creative ways to build my brand
Vera Adu Amani started her fashion company with no capital, no showroom and no PR services. All she had was a vision, talent and a voice which she used as a strong marketing tool on social media to build her brand. As the face of Adu Amani Klodin, she used her hairstyle (popularly described as Adomi bridge) to promote her brand at the 2015 Chalewote Arts Festival. This hairstyle went viral and led many clients to her company. After this great exposure, Vera’s brand story has been used as a case study in Professor Ato Quayson’s book “Globalization of Oxford Street”. She also won the 2015 urban designer of the year at the West African Fashion Awards; has gained recognition as influential designer in Africa and is currently a mentor/judge at the Ghana Coalition entrepreneurship leadership challenge. How did you discover social media as a great marketing tool? When I started the company, I had nothing! I had no money, no showroom, no team of marketers working for me. All I had was a vision, talent and a voice so I started sharing my work online just to showcase what I could do. As I connected with many people who reacted positively to my work, I became more active on the social media platforms. That was when I realized that social media is easy and a cheaper way to reach more people. After this realization, I equipped myself by reading and researching on digital marketing strategy and other social media materials to brand my company online. I then created my own style, my own platform to inspire, educate my followers and promote other brands. After your discovery, what steps did you take to use social media to build your brand? The only way your work speaks for itself is if someone is listening. When it comes to business you need to make some noise to get your message across so I started making so much noise about my work to get the attention needed. The steps I used to build my brand are as per below; I chose a memorable brand name which is easy to remember, pronounce and spell. I used the name on all of my social media networks. This makes it easy for followers to search and find my company. I repositioned myself, developed my voice and built my social media presence. I focused on one network (Facebook) which worked for my brand from the beginning since I didn’t have a team working for me. I adapted a social media marketing strategy plan. Thus a monthly calendar list where I created features like Facebook trade. I used visual marketing like videos and photos to promote my work. I engaged storytelling which has always been my number one key. It is one thing describing a product and another selling a product. I shared and commented on interesting articles, works by other people and trending issues. I asked questions; read and learnt from others especially brands/people I look up to. This was to help me distinguish myself from the others. I also engaged my followers, answered their questions, expressed my gratitude to them and sorted their opinions on things. I used their opinions to create content which they shared with their friends. I learnt to communicate with my followers effectively. For instance; I can’t use the same language and tone [contents] I use on Facebook /Instagram for Linkedin followers. What you say on social media will go a long way to affect you so I learnt to let certain comments roll off my back. You should know when to shut up. Which marketing tool skyrocketed your brand? I will say my hairstyle to the 2015 Chalewote Arts festival popularly described as Adomi bridge skyrocketed my brand. The plan was to look different, unique, to stand out, and have fun. As the face of my brand, I take every opportunity to promote my brand so the Chalewote Arts festival was a great place to showcase my work. I did not think the hairstyle will get such attention but it did and since then, my brand has been on the lips of many people. How has social media affected your company’s growth? Everything that I am now and have now was gained through social media. Through social media, my brand has gained exposure, income, clients, jobs and followers. Social media boosted my brand visibility, and boosted my self-esteem personally. My brand was unknown but now I don’t have to introduce myself anymore, there is this phrase I usually use; ‘Google my name’. Social media has connected me to people that I wouldn’t have been able to meet in real in life. Now that your brand has gained the exposure you wanted, what is next? Well, my brand has gained digital exposure but not physical exposure so my team and I are working on traditional marketing and building relationships outside the internet. I also want to develop, expand and own a successful fashion design business. Not just a onetime wonder but a sustainable, profitable fashion design company. I am hoping to rewrite the African story. When a person thinks of Africa, it shouldn’t be a story of slaves, monkeys, ugliness or violence, it should be positive. Beautiful kente shoes/bags by Adu Amani should come in mind. So I will say I am working on making the brand a vehicle to communicate the beauty of Africa to the world through fashion. I want to leave positive digital footprints. What is the most outrageous marketing tool you had to use to get your followers attention? I have used many funny strategies but the funniest was the one that skyrocketed my brand. This is the Adomi bridge hairstyle. I knew I would get some attention but did not expect the photos going viral. The hairstyle attracted both positive and negative reactions. I was made fun of when the photos went viral. Some comments were very mean and hurtful but I joined in
Sandra Lopez: Value extends far beyond money
Group travel is in at the moment and X-Plaw Travel is one group-based travel company aimed at taking young South Africans outside their borders. Sandra Lopez is the Founder and Managing Director of the Pretoria-based company, A firm believer in the power of “Africa by Africans”, through X-Plaw Sandra focuses on African destinations first for tourism and travel. Although it took a while to discover her passion, when she found it Sandra would work 9 hours after her day job building X-Plaw. As Sandra grew up in an organisation for orphaned and abandoned children, she’s also passionate about giving back through her travel initiatives. Read on to find out how Sandra’s grooming a generation of travel-hungry South Africans. How do you think X-Plaw Travel will disrupt the African travel industry? By bringing great affordable quality valued tours and experiences to our customers. This is and has always been our mandate. I believe that value is something which extends far beyond the monetary. It includes but is not limited to the type of service you give to your customers, how much you engage with them, how much you allow them to feel part of what you are building and how much you allow them to connect with the people they meet on these journeys. Education is also a key factor for us, most of our travellers have not travelled outside of their home towns or outside of South Africa. For them to experience going out of the country for the first time with us, is an experience that even we get to appreciate with them. In most instances, they return from these tours richer in knowledge having learnt something totally new about a different country and its people. Why do you think young people should explore Africa more? I am a firm believer of “Africa by Africans”, we are the only ones who have the power to change how our continent is perceived by the outside world. We are the only ones who can tell our stories better. I feel that in many ways, Africa is being misrepresented by the global media. Half the time, this forces people to forget the beauty that surrounds us, sometimes even by ourselves. Travelling thus gives us an opportunity to understand ourselves better as a people, our roots, our cultures, our heritage. It also paints a picture which allows us to understand vividly that we are all connected as Africans and as a human race in some way or the other. Only when we are fully comfortable and confident with who we are, will it become much easier for us to invite other young people from other countries to experience this diversity with us. How have you combined giving back initiatives with your travel company? Giving back has always been at the fore of what we do as a company. It is actually something that is very personal to me. All our tours have give back initiatives tied to them. On a 5-6 day tour for example, one day is dedicated to enriching the lives of the less fortunate. In countries where we are not able to actively engage in these initiatives due to certain constraints, we pledge the funds to local projects in South Africa. We have also just launched the “One Traveller, One Child” initiative. Where for every traveller who tours with us, we will send a disadvantaged kid on a weekend camp educating them about nature, travelling and most importantly about themselves. Hopefully in a few years, we would be able to look back and realise that we have groomed a generation rich with an appetite for travelling. What did you have in place before you quit your engineering job to focus on X-Plaw? A lot of things actually. An idea, passion, a sketchy plan and a few Bible verses, but mostly I had will power & determination. Nothing beats the will to want to succeed and see something grow from an idea into something tangible. Every day after my 9-5 job, I would get home to read, research and work on X-Plaw for an additional 9 hours. This went on for a full year until I decided that I was ready to let go of one. In what ways has your childhood shaped your passion today? As a kid I was an all-rounder and an overachiever, which meant that with most academic subjects or activities I participated in, I excelled. This actually made it quite hard for me to discover what I truly was passionate about. I grew up in an organisation called the S.O.S Children’s in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg. It’s an organisation for orphaned and abandoned children. As ironic as it sounds, we were raised to believe in ourselves and to always extend a helping hand to others less fortunate. We were extremely fortunate growing up at the village. After school we were kept busy with sports and extra mural activities. During school holiday we were fortunate enough to travel or go out camping. This, in many ways is how my love for travelling started. However, I only truly discovered my passion for it much later in life. In your opinion, what is needed to successfully travel in a group? An open and curious mind. Travelling with an open mind gives you perspective, you see the world through different eyes, you appreciate things more. In some instances, you get to understand how little others have. You also learn to be patient, as time almost no longer defines your schedules. You get to slow down and enjoy the moments. Stay curious, by doing so you learn to expect the unexpected. And most of all, you learn something new every day. Hey South African #MotherlandMoguls, the SheHive will be in Johannesburg from November 3-6. Find out more here.
Fundi Zwane: It’s critical for artists to be exposed to business
Who says you have to choose between being creative and working in the corporate world? Fundi Zwane believes you can have both. As a Motherland Mogul, Fundi manages to successfully combine two unusual passions; art and the corporate world. Through her Industrial Theatre, Phezulu-Phambili, Fundi translates boring policies into informative theatrical shows. When she’s not running her creative/artistic company, Fundi acts and has appeared on soapies such as Generations. Find out why people in the performing arts should be exposed to business and the one important skill all artists need below. Why do you think people in the performing arts should be exposed to business? I think it is critical for artists to be exposed to business as it helps them navigate spaces beyond the creative world. It is a great arsenal in their “toolbox” when negotiating things like contracts and issues of strategically placing themselves as brands. It also adds enormous value to their package as an artist. Another way it comes in handy is that sometimes, as artists, we go through what we call “dry seasons” when there is not a lot of acting work available. So having a background in business can really assist in coming up with ways to sustain yourself during this period as it encourages thinking out-of-the-box and beyond your comfort zone. How does your Industrial Theatre, Phezulu-Phambili Collective merge both passions seamlessly? Phezulu-Phambili merges the corporate and creative worlds by taking something like a policy or a piece of legislation and presenting it in manner that is “out-of-the-box”. Another component that becomes critical is understanding the audience that you present that piece of Industrial Theatre to. Usually, it is a non-theatre going audience and most times, it’s their first contact with the creative world. So it becomes incumbent on my company to make the experience unforgettable and memorable. Phezulu-Phambili takes what is usually mundane, black and white, full of jargon and brings it to life! That is how we marry the worlds of corporate and creative seamlessly. How have you successfully combined your passions for art and the corporate world? What I mark as success is when Phezulu-Phambili did contracts for BROLL (one of the biggest property realtors in SA) and recently Transnet (one of the biggest parastatals in SA). The way we were able to interpret and communicate their health and safety policies through theatre was, for me, magical. I deem a project a success based on the response we get during and after a performance -and obviously the request for more business. It is always a gratifying feeling and makes all the hours spent combing through a policy and interpreting it through the creative process of writing and rehearsals worth it. I also consider it a success when Phezulu-Phambili manages to go into the corporate space and get people to engage with a policy in a way that is fun and interactive because of the way we present it to them. What keeps you going as a young black South African woman? What keeps me going as a young South African woman in business is an insatiable desire to succeed and leave a legacy. Not only for my daughter but for other young women who have dared to go into business in a country where the economic scales are still so imbalanced. Transformation, especially in the corporate space, is non-existent. I want to be part of the pulse changing the narrative of African woman, a pulse celebrating our glory and showcasing us as the amazing, determined success we are. What also keeps me going is my 3-year-old daughter, Bella-Rose. I’ve always wanted to be a mother that models black excellence to my daughter. Being a single mother in business has NOT been easy. There are times when you feel overwhelmed and want to throwing in the towel for something “easier” seems like the the “better” option. But keeping focused on the goal of leaving a legacy for my daughter and all other women who look up to me keeps me going. My motto is, ” I don’t stop because it gets hard, I stop when the work is finished”. What is one seemingly insurmountable challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it? One challenge that is forever present is the issue of capital. Be it to start a big project or to expand as the demand for work grows. This can be a very stressful and sometimes, a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The art of business, I believe, is the relationships you nurture and foster over the years. So in times where money needs to show up for operational purposes and the business coffers are running dry, there are strategic business synergies I have formed with people who are willing to assist. Creating a culture of taking care of each other financially is important. This obviously comes with one having to practice absolute financial integrity. Once our coffers are replenished, we give back what was borrowed to in times of need. You spent 4 years on the soapie Generations, what advice would you give on maintaining business relationships for the long run? I believe maintaining business relationships is absolutely crucial as I’ve mentioned above. Acting on a soapie like Generations really did teach me that. I always advise on maintaining a good working relationship, especially with people you enjoy working with, people who inspire you to do more and people who believe in your vision for success. What business skills do you think an actress must definitely have? As an actress, you MUST have the business skill of negotiating. This, I believe, is really important and makes people take you seriously. Be it negotiating a contract, or negotiating with producers/ writers about a storyline for the character you are playing, it is an important skill. I once witnessed actress Nambitha do this on the set of Generations and I gained such a profound respect for her. Nambitha knew her character in and out and there was a line in the
Josiane Faubert: The world needs African stock photos
[bctt tweet=”@JosianeFaubert believes stock photography is necessary for the African continent” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Stock photography should make our list of unusual business ideas, it’s not what will come first to the minds of most budding Motherland Moguls. For Josiane Faubert though, stock photography is necessary for the African continent. Josiane is the photographer who recently launched PICHA which provides a curated library of high-quality royalty-free African stock images. On one hand, PICHA provides a global audience with unlimited access to original content. PICHA also provides a platform for African photographers to make money from royalty fees on images sold while retaining their copyright. Stock photography is an unusual business idea, tell us how you came about it I have been a photographer for many years, so I was already familiar with the stock photography industry. As a photographer, I was regularly solicited by friends and relatives working in web/graphic design for photos of Africans doing everyday things. Then, I helped them find some photos from Africa from my own database. However, it is when I was working as a social media manager that the idea of PICHA started to conceptualized a little more clearly as a business idea. I had a hard time buying contemporary photos of Africa/African people. Why do you think it was necessary to create a stock photography site that specializes in Africa? In the US and in Europe, the stock industry has been around for very long. As we are consuming more and more internet and technology in Africa, there is a growing need to find images for communication and marketing needs especially. If you have ever looked for a photo on a huge stock image platform you’ll see that the selection for Africa is very limited. With the continent being as diverse it is, I wanted that diversity to be represented on PICHA too. PICHA is still very young but our goal is to have photographers from very corner in Africa who submit their photos on the website. [bctt tweet=”I had a hard time buying contemporary photos of Africa/African people – @JosianeFaubert” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] As a photographer yourself, what do you see PICHA adding to the global imagery of Africa and Africans? PICHA is a marketplace that allows photographers to sell their photos and that allow creatives to have access to these photos. Our goal is also to allow photographers to get money from their photos. Our catalogue is fresh and contemporary, it reflects a dynamic and diverse Africa. With this diversity, we will challenge the image of Africa and Africans. [bctt tweet=”PICHA reflects a dynamic and diverse Africa and challenges the images of Africa & Africans” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Are there any challenges unique to this business that you did not expect? PICHA is a user-generated content platform so we need to constantly educate our community on the benefit of being a contributor. We also need to educate them on various points ranging from legal to quality. Many photographers never request a release form when photographing someone. In our industry it is problematic! Where do you see PICHA in the future? How do you plan to take PICHA there? PICHA is growing and in 5 years I see it being a necessary tool for creatives in Africa. We’d also like to have presence in West, East and South Africa. To achieve this, we are reaching out to photographers across Africa. In your opinion, what’s the best photo you’ve taken so far? That is a tough one. A few year ago, I used a few taxi-moto in Lome and there was this taxi-moto driver who would only dress in a suit. He had such an amazing personality. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Starting a business while in school
So, you’re in school and you want to go into entrepreneurship? Cool! I like playing dangerous too. Gone are the days of waiting after graduation and getting a job. Gone are the days of “business is for uneducated people”. Come on, you and I know better and frankly, starting a business when you are in school is probably one of the best ideas. It gives you time to prepare for “post-school” days. Starting a business is never easy, but here are a few tips to help you get started and stay on the hustle. Eureka! First, get the idea! You can either be innovative by starting something new or redefining something old. Usually, most student campuses are filled up with people peddling the same wares in the same manner. If your idea is based on an already existing idea, then you should be one step ahead of those already in the business by having a modification. New ideas are always fresh. Analyze the demand rate for your product (goods or services). This can be done either by studying the existing market for an already existing idea or carrying out a mini survey for a new idea. You should be sure of your target market, which should mostly be students. But also consider, do you provide services for the non-student members of the community? Make sure your idea has no legal implications. Evaluate yourself How much technical know-how is needed in the business? How much do you know or can you provide? Do you have what it takes? Should you first acquire certain knowledge and skills? Do you have the time to see it through? These are some of questions you need to ask yourself when self-evaluating. Research the competition No, this is not spying or “copy-catting”. This is purely a form of business survey. Some of the important things to research include, who your competitors are, any similarities in business (yours and theirs) and how long they have been in business. How do they relate with their customers? What is their price range? et investigating and uncover these facts about the competition. Plan You remember this… (s)he who fails to plan, plans to fail? You might think you’re an expert in the field you plan on venturing into, but if you do not make concrete plans, you are just an over experienced failure waiting to happen. I want to debunk the notion most student entrepreneurs have about starting a business in school and ending it after school. Except you are only into business as a means to pay the bills and not interested in expanding what will become your brand, then you shouldn’t think of a business that will stop after graduation. Most successful #MotherlandMoguls started in school and grew it from there. So, your business plan should have room for growing the brand outside and after school. Partners? Is this a one woman venture or a partnership? Your partner can either be someone who has been there from the word go and is willing to invest time and money, or someone who started with you but wants to only invest money. She can also be someone you pair up with later on. Is it necessary to have a business partner? The nature of the business will determine that. If it is a service providing business like home cleaning services, then the answer is yes. You will need a partner, if not at the beginning, then later on. Let’s talk money I know this is a the one that will probably interest you the most. Where do you get money for your business? Well, this should also be in your business plan. Here are some sources you can raise money from: Personal savings- You should have savings, everybody should. Donations from family and friends Loans- check to see the types of loans available to you as a student and the general ones you’re eligible for. Thrift collections- These are local saving schemes that afford members the opportunity to take loans based on the arrangement. Ajo/esusu is a popular type of thrift collection in Nigeria. Crowdfunding. On your marks… Ready? Before you start, check to see if you have most of what you need, and if you do, start. Do not wait to be 100% ready, just do it. Advertise and network Well, what are friends for? Get your friends to use word of mouth, social media and even school related platform to blow your horns. Use colourful fliers (duh) to drag attention. Oh and hashtags are another way to go. Network among your peers and locate your customers. Goodluck You are in business, yay! Keep and eye on your profit margin. Don’t be too keen on the profit at first, just make sure your service or production cost are being covered. Breaking even at the beginning is a really good thing. But watch your monthly returns and weigh them against your expenses. You should notice a slight growth. Always take reviews. Do an audit after the first 3 or 4 months and see the places you need to improved. Good luck dear student Motherland Mogul!
Victoria Mbabazi: I’ve learnt that age is no guarantee of maturity
Take a minute to consider that what you watch on TV could determine your future business. Growing up, Victoria Mbabazi spent a lot of time watching the Food Channel. She experimented with different recipes and wanted to study food production at university but was instead advised to study Software Engineering. It all turned out great because now, Victoria’s three passions are culinary art, technology and agriculture. In 2013, she started Kahwa2Go, a cafe and restaurant with her business partner and mentor. She also works with technology innovation, encouraging women in the tech. Victoria was part of the 1,000 African entrepreneurs selected by the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program (TEEP) in 2015. Read on to learn about Victoria’s the 40/60 approach to working, her four skills for running a cafe/restaurant and being judged by others as a young #MotherlandMogul. What launched your interest in the culinary industry? Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved nothing more than school and play time. As life would have it, play time slowly dwindled away as is the norm for many when all the elder brothers and sisters head out to boarding school. As luck would have it, I spent most of my lazy days watching the Food Network channel and experimenting with different recipes as my mum made lunches and dinners. I paid no mind to it; it was something fun to do, period. The first call to fate was when I was joining university in 2012, my gut feeling was I should pursue a food production and hospitality course. However, I was advised that this was not yet a lucrative industry in Uganda thus the Software Engineering course I opted for. I worked in the technology eco-system all through my four-year course and along the way I met my now business partner who is very passionate about entrepreneurship. He mentored me into both the technology and entrepreneurship industries and before we knew it, we had merged our two passions —culinary art and entrepreneurship. We have been at it since 2013. Tell us about Kahwa2Go. What do you seek to fulfill with the products/services you provide? The birth of Kahwa2Go was quite immaculate, my business partner and I first spoke of the concept on the eve of Christmas in 2013. Kahwa2Go is a Ugandan trademarked business of The 2Go Guys Limited providing a quick service, convenient food place for the middle class, commuters, urban dwellers, families or colleagues that are looking for an opportune meeting and co-working point in Ntinda. Our food menu is a blend of modern fine dining whole meals with a touch of delicious fresh homemade snacks. We also offer a variety of coffee beverages, juices, milkshakes and teas, all with an option of takeaway or dine-in. Kahwa2Go is already signed up on Uganda’s most visited online food ordering platform, Jumia Food. We also have a steady growth of both new customers from social media and repeat customers. Kahwa2Go is competing in a market size of 1 million middle class potential customers in Kampala. This market is shared by less than 50 upscale (white collar) restaurants. It’s this fact here that provides an opportunity for us to venture into the food industry. How did you go about setting it up? The initial concept of Kahwa2Go was to establish coffee carts along the streets of Kampala. This did not come to pass due to regulations by the city authority. In mid-2014, we got some space in an innovation hub, set up one espresso machine and served an average of ten people per day. We embraced our share of lessons and in June 2015, we launched as the first coffee shop to partner with Vivo Energy Uganda at one of their fuel stations in the city center. Our menu was simple but creative comprising of different hot and cold beverages as well as snacks and casual meals that our customers would enjoy in our fifteen-seater space. This year (2016), we set out to maximize KahwaGo’s potential, closed operations with Vivo Energy and opened an ambient, fully-fledged restaurant and café seating an average of fifty people situated in Ntinda; the heart of one of Kampala’s suburbs. Our core principles of execution were minimalism, leverage, negotiation and user-centered design. We understood our limits and combatted them head-on by equipping ourselves with adequate knowledge and exposure about the culinary industry as well as entrepreneurship through programs like the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program (TEEP) and the CURAD Agribusiness incubator program. Also, we have a 40/60 rule when it comes to getting work done. We spend 40% of our time planning and ensuring that we have the right people, organizational and operational structures, equipment and most importantly the knowledge to execute our business road map. What four skills have you found necessary to run a restaurant and cafe? Why are they necessary? The fundamental areas of competence are; having the basics of accounting, great passion about customer service, creative marketing and a firm grip on management. From inception, it is paramount to understand your work; your product and systems. This will holistically inform what kind of marketing strategy to implement. Once you know your customers, you then dive into discovering what kind of experience they expect considering the fact that you want to create a loop of loyal clientele. Accounting is a core because you need to understand how money and other resources get in and out, the menu pricing models and be able to interpret the sales and expenses of the business at the bare minimum. Lastly, great management is the adhesive component that will ensure the employees continually work as a team to understand the all-round needs of the business in peak and off peak seasons. What were the unexpected challenges you encountered while starting out? We knew right from the beginning that starting a business would not be a walk in the park. Being a relatively young entrepreneur at 25 years old, the most astonishing challenge faced thus far is being judged