Ayodotun Rotimi-Akinfenwa: Social Media Is My PR Machine
Ayodotun Rotimi-Akinfenwa is a Brand Manager turned Writer, Blogger, Brand/Social Media Consultant, Content creator, and founder of Lifestyle Hues; a fun, lifestyle and inspirational platform where she shares inspiring personality interviews/stories and today’s issues from a slightly eccentric perspective. She has built 8 years worth of experience in Brand Building, Strategy, and Events for international brands across Nigeria and parts of West Africa. Ayodotun holds a BSc in Mass Communication and MSc in Marketing from the University of Lagos. [bctt tweet=”Social Media Is My PR Machine – Ayodotun Rotimi-Akinfenwa” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What inspired your decision to start a lifestyle blog? I wanted to able to talk about and showcase matters I’m passionate about, which happened to be a myriad of things. I wanted to lend my voice to subjects like life and lifestyle choices, money, fashion, marriage, faith and more. I also wanted to curate material to add value to readers at all times. The material on the blog is guaranteed to inspire, motivate, inform, educate, remind or entertain readers. I conduct personal interviews with achievers from all walks of life. Blogging isn’t all I do though. I run an SME Brand consultancy to help small businesses build their brands from scratch; on social media, websites and offline. What are the three key things you consider while trying to promote your brand online? I remind myself at all times that Social Media is my PR Machine and every post, article or whatever I put out there, is a seed towards building my image and my credibility. Content Marketing is everything. [bctt tweet=”Content Marketing is everything” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How has social media helped to increase your productivity? It has generated inquiries towards the brand and consulting arm of my business. It is the mainstay of my blog’s promotional activities. A huge percentage of my readers have found me via social media What was the major social media campaign or experience which put you into the limelight? For my blog, I would say it was the Nathaniel Bassey interview that I conducted at the height of the Hallelujah Challenge. I wanted to tell his story to encourage people, he hasn’t always been in the spotlight, but had been hard at work for decades. The blog was inundated with so many visits that it shut down for some minutes and I had to work frantically with my website administrator to fix that. I’m just glad people were inspired. A lot of interviews have with people such as Timi Dakolo, Lanre Olusola, Lala Akindoju, Adenike Oyetunde etc, have drawn people to the site. On the social media consulting part, we are still evolving, as most of my clients are small businesses. I simply manage their social media and website content. How have you been able to cope with social media fraud? To be honest, I haven’t had any issue in that area because I always seek to put a face to the clients and prospects I meet on social media. I am not unaware that it has its dark side and I will urge everyone to embrace the verification checks provided by the different platforms like: phone number verifications on Facebook etc, 2-factor verification on Instagram etc. [bctt tweet=”The only way to go is up- Ayodotun Rotimi-Akinfenwa” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Apart from social media, are there any online methods you use for promotions? Just my website, for now, I also make time to contribute to more prominent platforms – blogs and sites to expand my horizon. How would you encourage young females who want to build a brand using social media? Social media is your PR Machine, be consistent with sharing your business story and adding value; the only way to go is up. How has social media helped you grow and build a positive brand image, personally and professionally? Let us know more here.
Sharon Moatshe: A PR Business Must Not Over-Promise and Under-Deliver
From the dusty streets of Kagiso township in Gauteng, South Africa, Sharon Moatshe has tapped into the world of entrepreneurship at a young age, and believes that she can create whatever door she wants to open. After many months of looking for a job after graduating, the solution was simple, start a business with the limited resources that she had and survive. Currently, she is the Director and Co-founder( along with Unathi Dingiswayo) at PR House of Creatives, a motivational speaker, wife and mother. In her words: she didn’t believe she would end up so great; but here we are. Take a walk with us in this interview as we look into Sharon’s amazing work, and how she’s helping startups thrive in South Africa. Take us on a walk through PR House of Creatives PR House Of Creatives was co-founded by Sharon Moatshe and Unathi Dingiswayo after a long time spent job searching, and the resultant unhappiness of not seeing the change we wanted to see in our lives for ourselves. We were then able to identify the necessity of PR and marketing, pertaining to brand management for SME’s within our community. What support systems are critical to companies like yours? Financial backing to ensure that costs are covered for: the technology used in ensuring we deliver real-time results, keeping up with current news & trends, graphics for content. As well as for our PR travels. Another important thing is mentorship from big PR Firms and structures. PR is not an easy industry for businesses to remain sustainable, your business many come and go because of lack of mentorship. What innovations have helped your business stand out from competitors? For a previous client of ours, Distinkt Vodka, we made media kits with vodka bottles and we had packaged these in potato bags, because the primary ingredient of vodka is potatoes. We draw our inspiration from client products/ services, and conceptualise from that point. What challenges have helped your company grow over the years? We have had challenges with regards to what we charge our clients. We have had to learn that SME’s are still growing and not making much money, but ,we must still charge a price that allows us to grow and sustain our business. [bctt tweet=”Know your WHY, your business exists as a solution to a problem ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What values are critical for success in the PR business? Intergrity. A PR business must not over promise and under deliver! Always be a person of your word. Execute and do your very best to match the concept you sold your client. What is your greatest success story thus far? Our greatest success story has to be TG Foods and Events! We started with the team in the township when they were starting out, we poured our hearts into our work with TG. After a few months of working together the team got their own shop which they cater food from in an uptown busy market! The place is big and beautiful. The teams understands the importance of their brand, even when they keep growing they continued using our services! It’s been beautiful watching them grow from strength to strength and knowing our creative team is a part of this journey. [bctt tweet=”Always be a person of your word” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What’s the next step for your company? Any plans to help small businesses outside the shores of South Africa? We would love to first help small businesses in South Africa grow and sustain that growth, then certainly the rest of Africa will have a piece of our goodness! The first thing businesses cut-out when they sinking/struggling is marketing and PR, which is more like stopping the clock to save time. We want to re-introduce to Africa what amazing impact PR can have for a business. [bctt tweet=”We want to re-introduce to Africa what amazing impact PR can have for a business.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] One phrase that resonates with your business strategy? Creative team of all trades and master of all! Do you run a PR company? Let us know more about you and your story here.
Kagiso Legodi: the little that I have to give means everything to me
“Whatever my mind can comprehend, I can achieve” these words are from 22 year old Kagiso Legodi, born and bred in the dusty roads of Gamashashane Limpopo, a rural Village tucked away from Polokwane CBD, South Africa. A Social Entrepreneur,Writer and Founder of ‘I am She’; a women empowerment initiative that aims to address and redress the social gender inequalities of the past. Kagiso studied Accounting at Tshwane University of Technology; is a certified Emotion coach from MHI leadership firm; and recently she wrote a book, ‘Flooded But Not Drowned’. Tell us about ”I am She”. What inspired you to start the organisation? The reason why I started I am She is because I saw how as women we are still told of things that we cannot do. Some of us dream of only being housewives and most men still see us as objects. Therefore, I wanted to inspire women and to remind them that they are capable of achieving anything, beyond the stereotypes and labels. Why women? I am passionate about women and their well-being. We are living in a developing country whereby a lot of people still go to bed on an empty stomach. Why was it important for you to create and run an organisation like this? I know that I cannot help everyone( I cannot feed every hungry child) but, the little that I have to give means everything to me. My hope is that those who I have helped, will one day go out and help other people too. What are the challenges you face when running your organisation and how do you overcome these challenges? Not having the finances to fund all my ideas. Sometimes people say things like, ‘she thinks she can change the world’. But, I never listen to negative talk and I don’t entertain it. I overcome my challenges because I believe that whatever my mind can comprehend, I can achieve. [bctt tweet=”I never listen to negative talk and I don’t entertain it.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What are your words of encouragement to young people out there who would like to be a helping hand? Be in it for the people you are helping, not for yourself . Be selfless and true. Things will not be a walk in the park, but, remember your ‘why’- why are you in it? Is it fame, recognition or your love of people? You recently wrote a book “Flooded But Not Drowned”, please tell us a bit about it. Flooded But Not Drowned is a collection of real life stories by women. These are women who came out strong and victorious from the many storms they encountered. I have featured 7 different women who have been through child molestation, rape, rejection and low self esteem. I want this book to touch lives, bring hope to the lost and heal the broken hearted. I call it ‘a book for the nations’ because of how it will change lives in Africa and beyond. This means you will be playing a huge role in the media and people’s hearts . How do you plan on using this platform? I plan to use this platform to groom myself into the woman I am destined to be. To create a positive name for myself in the media, and most importantly, to encourage other women to work on their dreams and transform their lives. Where would you like the organization to be in the next five years? My vision for I am She is beyond myself and beyond Africa. I see it as an international women’s empowerment platform. A platform addressing and redressing all the social gender inequalities of the past. I want it to teach women to embrace and inspire one another. Facebook: Kagiso Princess Legodi Instagram: KagisoPrincessLegodi Email: legodiprincess@gmail.com Are you involved in a women’s empowerment initiative? Let us know about you and your story here.
4 Steps To Get The Raise You Deserve
There is nothing like excelling at a job you love! This is the job you have always dreamed of, and this is a career which allows you to fulfill your purpose- Monday to Friday 9 to 5. There is just one problem, you feel undervalued, underappreciated and no one seems to notice how you go above and beyond for this company. You have been at this organisation for a number of years and you have worked your way up the ranks, however, your salary has not had the upliftment you feel you deserve. Well it’s high time you demand your value be addressed accordingly. Here’s a four-step process to help you get that get the raise you rightly deserve. Conduct thorough research Find out what other people in a similar role are earning. What is the current going rate in the market? Whilst you are it, find out what other people on a similar level to you in the company are also earning. You want to know what to ask for when you go in guns blazing. By doing your research, be sure to also find out what the role entails for other people at other organisations. The same role can be different at two different organisations, others might do more or less. I recall during my legal days. As I was working as a Paralegal, I met other Paralegals from other firms who were earning more than me. Now as they told me of their higher earning power I was infuriated, but it turns out their roles demanded more of them than mine did. Your research should expand to you as a person as well. What have you been doing that entitles you to a pay rise. If you have been turning up late, missing days, taking extended long breaks and not performing well, perhaps you need to go back to the drawing board and think about why the company should not deduct your pay instead. Napoleon Hill said, going the extra mile, “tends to make one indispensable, in many different human relationships and it therefore enables him to command more than average compensation for personal services.”. Initiate the conversation Schedule a meeting with the person at your company who has the authority to give you a raise ,or bring it up during one of your reviews. Put the issue out there/ on the table. Don’t be aggressive and don’t be emotional in your address. You’ve done your research, come armed with facts and data. Remember, you are worth something to them and if they don’t see that, that is their loss. You are in control of this. Sometimes the company will not think about giving you a raise until you mention it. If you don’t ask don’t expect to receive. Stand firm in your worth If you have asked for a pay rise, be brave enough to stand up for yourself and tell the company what you think you are worth. If they fail to give you a raise, be brave enough to exude your worth, politely remind them elsewhere this is what they are offering, and you have no issues going elsewhere if need be. I would advise having a plan, if you decide to go down this route, just in case they call your bluff. This should not be too much of an issue. The only issue is as human beings we get complacent. I have worked in firms where some of my colleagues had been there for years, not earning much because they were comfortable at their work place. You may not be getting the pay rise you deserve because you are unwilling to explore. Have you considered moving to another city or even out of the country? Execute Whatever the outcome of your pay rise meeting is, execute the results. If a pay rise has been agreed on continue working hard and go the extra mile. If one has not been agreed on and you still feel you deserve one, figure out your next step. Are the reasons for the pay rise being refused justified? i.e let’s review it in three months. Are you willing to wait around or are you ready to make a jump into the next role? You need to see the value in you before you expect anyone to. As human beings, we are sometimes oblivious to our faults. Evaluate yourself and be honest, would you give yourself a pay rise. If so get to working on it and show them why you deserve one. Do you have any tips on how to get a raise? Let us know here.
Increasing your target audience
Although there are countless ways of achieving business success, I will focus on one specific element. The process of increasing your target audience. This process requires regular and continuous management and review. Here are a few guidelines to grow your target audience as an organisation: Studying- as a foundation for increasing your target audience Knowledge of the current audience is essential as it will serve as a starting point for where you intend to be. The success of growing your target audience will be determined by your knowledge of the current audience. I like the way Peter Drucker put it by saying “what gets measured, gets managed”. Once you know, in terms of the services or products you provide, which one most people are interested in, and which one resonates the least with people, you will be able to set a clear target market strategy. It is important to find out why your audience does or does not have a specific preference. Build relationships not clients On the basis of what is known about the current audience, the focus must be on building relationships rather than clients. Establishing a meaningful relationship with the current audience will build their trust. It will be of great benefit to you to if once in a while you have a small chat, to review. This can be achieved by follow-up informal interviews . It is import to be able to show that you are not only concerned about what you receive from them, but also the quality you give to them. Be SMART in order to achieve results The difference between people who say something and the one’s who actually DO IT is one word, “action”. SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, and realistic and time bound) goals are essential in increasing your target audience. Position yourself for the intended targeted audience Look at what you are contributing now and ask yourself what will be needed, in order to achieve the intended target audience numbers? Like Serena Williams, you need to position yourself during the’ game’, in order to ensure that the intended target is achieved. Summary, By taking the above steps, you will be able to assess where you stand with your current target audience and which direction you ought to take. Do you have any tips on how to growing a target audience? Let us know here.
TV Role Models Every Motherland Mogul Needs
T.V. has become more than a pastime after work, recently shows have moved from solely entertaining to also providing commentary on key social issues. Shows that are brave enough to address race, gender, family and relationship issues have sparked conversation that we so need in today’s society. Women are leading more t.v. shows, especially women of colour which is so important for representation. So here’s my list of T.V Role Models who inspire me to be a flawsome, hardworking and yet still witty Motherland Mogul. Oprah Winfrey, the Oprah Winfrey Show and her own television network HARPO We all grew up watching Oprah. Seeing her ask the hard questions, share her story and watch her rise as one of the most powerful figures in television history. When in doubt, I always ask myself ‘What would Oprah do?’ If there is any inspirational figure to look up to, it’s her. She shows the power of determination, hardwork and most importantly not leaving anyone behind. Her dedication to telling the stories of the marginalized and giving back shows that no matter how high you rise, you don’t have to do it alone. Gina Torres, Jessica Pearson in Suits Where do we even start: her impeccable dressing, her sharp one liners, or maybe the fact that Jessica was the managing partner of her own law firm. Her confidence is calm and elegant, with a sharp sting when she is tested. Feel inspired by her ability to always be calm even when things are unraveling and how she always manages to rise above the mess. Tracee Ellis Ross, Rainbow Johnson in Blackish I consider Rainbow the coolest and funniest mom on t.v. Blackish is one of the most intelligent shows, that deals with the dynamics of race, politics and society, in a way that isn’t lecturing but, rather starting the necessary conversations. She balances her work and home life, showing us that sometimes doing things the unconventional way may at times be the best way. Yvonne Orji, Molly in Insecure Now listen up, Motherland Moguls, if you have not watched Insecure you will be disowned. My love for this show aside, Molly is one of characters on t.v who is career driven and won’t let her hard work go unrecognised. When her bosses fail to show appreciation for her abilities, she doesn’t sit in a corner complaining, but instead, shows initiative by taking up more responsibilities; and when that still even is not enough, she seeks to have her talents appreciated elsewhere. She pushes her own career boundaries and so should you. Don’t be afraid to ask for that raise or promotion when you know you deserve it. It also doesn’t hurt to take on more tasks and various projects, as this indicates you are a team player. The biggest lesson we can learn from Molly? Your career is in your hands, the choices you make, and how you react to adverse situations will determine how you’ll move forward and succeed in your journey to the top. Naomi Campbell, The Face, Empire, Star Naomi is well known for being one of the world’s most famous supermodels. So having her on this list may be confusing but, she’s also a t.v. diva. Naomi has an attitude and she owns it. A lot of people may see this as a questionable trait, but I believe that a little attitude ‘ain’t never hurt nobody’. Naomi is inspirational to the Motherland Mogul who is told her brazenness is intimidating or unfriendly. She also doesn’t sleep on herself; know your worth and make it work. Kerry Washington, Olivia Pope in Scandal This one is for the entrepreneurial Motherland Moguls because: let’s admire Olivia’s business acumen; she is smart, outspoken and when push comes to shove, she stands firm. Her loyalty to her team is admirable, the gladiators stick together and they know they can rely on Olivia. Questionable life choices aside, her white coat and hat are untouchable; her clients come first and she always goes the extra mile to get things done. Plus we all want a piece from her enviable wardrobe. Gabrielle Union, Mary Jane Paul in Being Mary Jane I think anyone who watches the show has a love hate relationship with Mary Jane. She tests our patience often but you cannot fault her ambition or her confidence. The show does not gloss over her complex relationships and friendships and navigates around the ideas of suicide, infidelity and infertility, topics that are taboo in black communities. So how is Mary Jane inspirational? She takes risks at work showing that sometimes to propel yourself forward, you have to throw caution to the wind. It is completely okay to be invested to your career, set goals and be determined to make it work. Your professional ambitions are a character strength, and you have the right to make them your focus. Who are your T.V Role Models and why? Let us know here.
Women at Wave: Empowering Young Africans Beyond the Limits
Wave Academies is a vocational training platform which aims to empower millions of disadvantaged West African youth. With skills that transform their mindset and employment opportunities that enhance their social mobility. Misan Rewan is the founder of WAVE Academy. Born and raised in Nigeria, Misan plays a vital role in the transformation of Nigeria’s education and skill development sectors. She has worked in management consulting with The Monitor Group on a wide spectrum of projects in both the private and public sector. She also supported aspiring Ivoirian entrepreneurs through, TechnoServe’s Business Plan Competition; and developed a scholarship administration model as a consultant with the Center for Public Policy Alternatives in Nigeria. Misan supported Bridge International Academies’ international expansion strategy, and is a Draper Richards Kaplan Social Entrepreneur. Noella Moshi is the Programs Lead at WAVE. She was on the founding team of African Leadership University (ALU) Education where she directed Marketing, and worked on the curriculum. Noella co-developed Goodbye Malaria, a social impact venture that works with private and non-profit organisations to eliminate malaria. She is a Mandela-Rhodes scholar, and a Praxis Fellow. Ifeanyi Okafor grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. She is passionate about helping young people discover themselves. Aissatou Gaye is a Senegalese citizen who works as a Finance Coordinator at WAVE. She is currently helping the organization draft its way towards financial sustainability through various revenue diversification and cost reduction strategies. Aissatou is also the co-founder of YAWcamp, a summer camp that focuses on developing critical, creative and proactive thinking among Senegalese youth. Amina Lawal is the training operations coordinator at WAVE. She is skilled in communication, research and creative writing. She firmly believes that having the balanced 360 degrees life is possible and steadily strives to have such balance. When she is not working, Amina writes for various blogs. We share the amazing story of these great women and how their awesome work at WAVE is creating the next generation of change drivers. What was the driving force that lead to creating WAVE? Lifting John Stott’s definition of vision as: a deep dissatisfaction with what is and a clear grasp of what could be, I’d say the driving force behind starting WAVE was a deep dissatisfaction with the state of affairs for West African youth. There are over 40 million unemployed youth in West Africa, but beyond the statistics are real faces, people like you and I, whose reality is chronic unemployment, disillusioned poverty and a loss of dignity that leads to growing levels of frustration across the region. WAVE was an attempt to stop complaining and to do something about it. So a few friends got together in a room and started designing a solution. Enter WAVE – an attempt to level the playing field for hardworking young people by teaching them the skills required to get a good job, increase their incomes and build a brighter future What has been the biggest challenge(s) you’ve faced and how have you crossed each hurdle? Biggest challenge faced has probably just been me dealing with my own insecurities (imagined and real) and coaching has been helpful in crossing the hurdle. I don’t hear enough leaders in this part of the world talk about their shortcomings and how they’ve built support networks to deal with them, and I’m no different. So overcoming has been through everything, from having a coach who helps bring self-awareness to my “automaticities” (my default way of responding) and helps me generate my best self, to family and friends who “hold the space” for me to JUST BE (rather than DO), to the serenity prayer that helps me discern where to focus my brain cells, effort and anxiety. I could give you a laundry list of other challenges faced but the critical challenge/hurdle is dealing with me first so I can see most other challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. [bctt tweet=”I see most challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What values have been crucial to your success in the business world? Inclusiveness – Most of what drives me comes from a simple notion I’ve had since I was a kid, of not wanting poor people to be poor. At WAVE today, this value translates as “Putting People First” – from the people we exist to serve, to our team who does the serving to our partners who support our service. Our clients see how we have designed our model, service delivery and feedback culture to put them first and so are able to be very forgiving when we slip up, give us feedback and grant us a second chance to make it right. What principles and skills are necessary for young people to possess in order to excel in today’s world? There are three things I think are important for success: Knowing your “why”: Understand what motivates you, and connect it to whatever work you are doing. For example, I care about learning for the sake of personal growth. That’s my “why”. As long as I am doing work that pushes me to stretch beyond my current capabilities, my “why” is being fulfilled. Learning from everyone: Everyone has something to teach us, and if at any point we aren’t learning, then we need to look harder for the lessons. One of my favourite things about working at WAVE is that each person brings insights from their unique experiences; from the driver to an intern, to the people we serve. Trusting yourself. No one knows you better than you know yourself. Take advice from everyone, but at the end of the day, whatever decision you make must come from you, so that you can stand by it. That way you avoid regret, and you avoid living someone else’s life. What innovations have helped in achieving the set goal at WAVE, and how exciting is it to train young people of diverse background and see them become more equipped Africans? Our goal at WAVE is to increase income for unemployed youth. We do
Dr Enibokun Orobator: Understand your workplace dynamics
Dr Enibokun Theresa Orobator is a young African doctor, a visionary and public health enthusiast. She works as a Medical Science Liaison officer in a multi-national pharmaceutical company. Dr Orobator is also a student at the University of Edinburgh, a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) 2016 fellow, a KECTIL colleague and member of the Kectil youth leadership Council, and she was also a finalist for the McKinsey’s 2017 Next Generation Women’s leaders Award. In this article, she shares insights about getting an entry level job and distinguishing yourself. How did you get your first job? I got my first job in a very interesting way. I had just rounded up my national youth service and, I got a call from a colleague I had interned with, about a job opportunity. I took it, and had only worked for about 4 months before I got another call, from a recruitment agency, inviting me to come in for an interview in a pharmaceutical company, for my present job. The interview went very well and I was offered the position. Did you meet resistance in the new workplace? Oh yes I did. Quite a lot of resistance actually. Do you think it was because you were a young woman? I was considered quite young and fairly green and thus, I did not come with much experience. This meant that I had to learn a lot on the job, gradually gain the respect of my colleagues, and earn my seat at the table. I don’t think the resistance I met was as a result of the fact that I was a woman, although this may have also played some role. The ratio of male to female colleagues in the workplace is still disproportionate, this is why it has become necessary for young women to build themselves for success in the workplace. How did you handle the resistance? Well, truthfully, I was not prepared for the kind of resistance I encountered. I was brilliant and quick to learn, and ready to perform at my job, but, that was not all that was required. I had to go back to the drawing board, step back from myself and began to study both my work environment and my colleagues. I began to understand what made my colleagues tick, what their interests were and how best to work with them. It required a lot of focus on the task to be accomplished and less on the personalities of those involved. I read a lot, and took counsel from older colleagues. I prayed a lot for wisdom too. Basically, for me it was building emotional intelligence, improving my leadership skills and capacity to handle stress and still produce excellent results. [bctt tweet=”Go the extra mile. Seek to be the best in your area of interest” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What would you advise female job seekers? My advice to young female job seekers is to build capacity. Opportunities always come, both to the prepared and the unprepared, but, only the prepared can make the most of the opportunity presented to them, to climb to the next level. Go the extra mile. Seek to be the best in your area of interest. Keep learning, constantly seek to develop your skills set and your knowledge, so that when opportunities come, you will invariably make the most of it, because now you are prepared. Also, do not limit yourself, search for opportunities actively, apply for the jobs you want, put yourself out there. It is also great to volunteer. You get to build your skill sets and build experience. It is also important to make the most of your online presence. These are not the times to make posts on social media that you would regret later. Build your LinkedIn profile, take online courses, some of them are free, and network! Let people know what you have interest in, you may never know who would be linking you to your next opportunity. Be resilient and persistent, be dogmatic and hold the faith. [bctt tweet=”Be resilient and persistent, be dogmatic and hold the faith.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How can young women distinguish themselves after securing a job? First of all, note that you may not get your ‘dream job’ in the first few years of your career. You make your current job your dream job, because, it is only when you can do your best at your present level that, you can either get promoted or be built up enough to establish your own business. Work hard, work smart, and give your best. Work well with your team, understand your workplace dynamics and organisational structure to see how you can progress in the organisation. Always continue to develop your skills, experience and your knowledge and lastly, trust your process. What can more young women do to position themselves rightly for future opportunities? To position yourself rightly for opportunities, be thankful for all you have achieved. But, constantly appraise yourself and seek to always become better. Do your work well, and don’t stop learning. Realise that every achievement you have conquered is a step on a ladder. There is more, so never restrict yourself. Any final words? Trust your process. Every experience has a lesson in it, learn it so you don’t have to repeat the lesson again. Learn from others, both their successes and mistakes, remain teachable and know that with God, success is inevitable. Do you have any tips on how to stand out and progress in the workplace? Let us know more here.
Dorcas Tshuma: Making Every Women Count
Dorcas Tshuma is the South African founding member and programme director for Triumphant Hand of Mercy Initiative (THOMI Africa). THOMI Africa empowers women and girls, who are helpless or homeless, with the skills and confidence necessary to secure a job, create a healthy lifestyle, and regain a home for themselves and their children. Dorcas has participated in prestigious events across the globe: The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York, the Civil Society Policy Forum in Washington DC and as the guest speaker for NIMSA (Nigerian Medical Students Association) on their Empowering women to Empower Humanity female international summit. Please briefly highlight what THOMI Africa is about? We are a non-governmental organization which support the UN Women’s flagship programme of ”making every women count”. We look at challenges women face, and suggest different solutions. We equip women with the knowledge that will enable them to be skilled at all levels, irrespective of their geographical location. THOMI Africa is against the abuse of women and children. We also campaign against the abuse of drugs, alcohol, and form of substances. We raise awareness pertaining to breast cancer, TB, HIV & AIDS, including the care and counsel of victims dependents. Additionally, we make every women count by assisting the elderly, disabled and widowed in our community. Why and when was THOMI Africa founded? I founded this organization a long time ago, but it was officially registered in 2015; due to my natural passion for gender equality. It used to sadden me every time I saw girls and women suffering, begging on the streets with kids on their back, starving, being raped, abused and murdered. That is what triggered me to be involved in making every women count, through empowerment programmes which equip women and girls. As a Programme Director what does your role entail? I oversee the administration of policies and programmes; and I monitor and report on the economic empowerment portfolio and provide assistance when needed. I also communicate with all project/programme partners at all levels, and ensure that the organisation strategy is developed across all areas. I play a role in in decision making and provide financial analysis, and provide guidance on all activities, plans, targets and business drivers. What is the best book you have ever read? Animal Farm by George Orwell. Since its inception what are some memorable THOMI Africa achievements? Attending the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit (New York) in 2016; Being part of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings as part of Civil Society Policy Forum in October 2016 in Washington DC,USA; Being guest speaker at NIMSA Female International Summiton on the topic, “Empowering Women to Empower Humanity”. We also participated in the Anti Female Genital Mutilation Campaign which took place on Saturday, 19th of November, 2016; and were nominated by United Nations women last year, as a 2016-2017 Global Champion for change. Any challenges? Being unable to secure adequate funding to execute programmes and campaigns. But, every organisation face challenges and they differ depending on the circumstance at hand. For anyone who would like to contribute to ‘making every women count’, which qualities are you looking for? Someone who will contribute to ‘making every women count’ must have, among other qualities, a natural passion for helping the underprivileged. That individual needs to be able to listen, give appropriate counsel and mentoring. They need to have a strong sense of compassion and empathy for people. In conclusion they need to be able to meet deadlines and interact effectively across many levels of management. I have developed multitasking and prioritization abilities, and willingness to do whatever is needed to empower women. And a positive attitude! Do you know of or run an organisation which positively impact women? If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more here.
Women at Afroes: Anne and Gathoni are Leading the Mobile Gamification Path
Afroes , short for ‘African heroes’, is a mobile-first enterprise. They’re on a mission to position African youth for productive futures by, innovating in skills acquisition, engagement and connecting to opportunity. Anne Githuku-Shongwe is a Social Entrepreneur, Social Innovator, a Development Professional and a thought leader on digital and social innovation. Anne founded Afroes in 2010, as a digital enterprise. Creating gamified learning solutions designed to reach, teach and connect Africa’s young women and men to life skills, through their mobile phones. Her vision is to revolutionise learning in Africa, with a focus on delivering positive, Africa-focused mobile phone entertainment to the youth market across the continent. Anne and Afroes have received multiple awards including, the prestigious Schwab Foundation/World Economic Forum Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2013. Gathoni Mwai is a Sustainable Development professional. She has over 7 years experience working on social development issues in Africa, and on the use of data, technology and innovation for development. Having been brought up in Kenya she is passionate about the country, its people and seeing them all thrive. Gathoni joined Afroes as project manager for the development of the PeaceApp award winning Haki II: Chaguo Ni Lako, ,a mobile game that was used for peace building in Kenya, in the run up to the 2013 elections following the post election violence experienced in 2007-8. She recently completed her Masters in Sustainable Development Corporate Responsibility. Currently, she takes on the role of Kenya programme manager, where she is tasked with scaling the Afroes product range and developing partnerships. Join us on this inspiring journey as we share the stories of these two front-running African women in tech. Tell us the story behind Afroes Afroes (the name comes from a play on the words African Heroes and Heroines) was inspired by conversations with my children. I was worried that they weren’t being exposed to any positive African media content; and that their ideas and aspirations for Africa were being influenced by the Western media’s pervasively negative messages about the continent. I wanted to do something to change that. But it was whilst I observed my son excitedly relating things he’d learned while playing the computer game, Civilisations, that I realised that, children who play computer games are a captive audience for anything you want to teach them. I knew from that point onwards that I needed to harness the power of computer games, to deliver positive messages to African children. Given the growth of mobile phone usage and ownership across Africa the idea of computer games evolved to mobile phone games. How effective has the Afroes’ strategy been, in achieving its set goals and what successes have you recorded in recent times? The Afroes strategy has had to be very adaptable to the changing times, technology and issues that affect African youth. At our core ,our main goal has been to inspire and empower young Africans with 21st Century skills, which will help them transform their lives and the lives of people in their communities. We have set out to build partnerships with like-minded organisations that see mobile phone technology as a medium to change mindsets and positively impact young Africans. In the last 3 years we have been lucky enough to receive the following awards: Winner of PeaceApp – promote digital games and gamified apps as venues for cultural dialogue and conflict management, 2014; Winner, Gender Mainstreaming Awards, Empowerment Initiatives, South Africa, 2014; Winner, ICT Innovation Award for Gender Youth and Vulnerable Groups, Kenya, 2014; To date we have had over 800,000 users download our games and 100,000s more through offline activations. [bctt tweet=”Our core our main goal has been to inspire and empower young Africans with 21st Century skills” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What challenges have you faced in the course of running your business and how have you been able to walk through them? Sustainable financing has been a major challenge. We have been lucky enough to have our games fully funded by our project partners, but this has been quite limiting. Another challenge we have had is convincing programme/ solution stakeholders to adopt an alternative media/ mediums, strategy and methodology to reach and engage their traditional intended audience; as well as appeal to a new demographic of social issue based content advocates, stakeholders and consumers. How important is technology for Africa’s future and how well has the African market tapped into it? Technology is important on a global scale. What is more important for Africa is appropriate technology to enable sustainable growth and livelihood development for all. The African markets have not only tapped into the technology, but are leading the charge in technological innovation. From Mpesa (mobile money), to the use of drones to transfer essential goods. Recent statistics have showed that 2/3 of young people own a smart phone, giving them access to a world of information, allowing them to tap into new ideas and adapting it for themselves. [bctt tweet=”Technology is important on a global scale” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] If you had to binge watch any movie series, which would it be? The Wire – because it’s on my watch list but I’ve never watched it. Tell us about the Job Hunt game launching soon and the concept behind it JobHunt is a mobile game designed to simulate the online/ digital work experience. The concept of this game is to create awareness on digital jobs and the opportunities to earn an income for young people. In the game you bid for jobs, improve skills and ultimately build the skills required to win jobs in this space. What is the greatest lesson you’ve learnt on your entrepreneurial journey so far and how has it helped you in the course of your work at Afroes? Being an entrepreneur is not an easy life, very often you need to be motivated even when things may not be working in your favour. There is this image of a man digging in a cave with a huge diamond just a few digs