4 helpful tips from Angela Ochello in ‘The Governor’
There’s just something incredibly beautiful about undertakings that require us to literally break our own glass ceiling. So many women are told to forget about venturing into active politics. And the appeal of this sector, especially in Africa has been generally zilch. At least this can be spiced up in our imaginations. EbonyLife TV’s series The Governor follows the ups and downs of Angela Ochello the Governor of Savannah state. We don’t know about you but for us, The Governor is particularly inspiring. We’ve learned a lot about decking out our own spaces, whether in politics, business, career or whatever it is we do. Here’s what else we’re learning from The Governor. Dress the part The 42-year-old Governor has a signature style that’s all her own, one that features a pixie haircut, classic and figure-flattering dresses and yes, dark lipstick. Equal parts sweet and no-nonsense. It’s a look that says any woman can easily be the boss and still look effortlessly sassy, no matter her age. And it’s no surprise that we love it! Age like a pro! We’re a little, okay very, excited about the revelation that Angela is 42! She looks so fabulous. Yeah, we know there’s the popular argument that good genes are responsible. Still Motherland Moguls, you can be a busy smart woman and still look this good. The days of looking raggedy in the name of being ambitious are behind us. Armed with the right information and care, you too can age like a pro. Multitasking…our turf It will surprise you to know that highly successful women like the Governor of Savannah state, also run successful homes. Applying multitasking skills to your business or job actually works. Imagine that in addition to a hectic career or business, most African women still do school runs, cook, clean and get other life errands done. If that’s not superwoman-ish, I wonder what is! Politics actually looks good on women Any woman who can endure the brutalities of politics deserves our respect. If you’re unsure over your plans to join politics, Angela Ochello makes it look like it’s not such a big deal. Real life hasn’t yet determined if more women, especially of African descent can safely attain lofty political heights. Still, we think women should go for it. It’s possible, ladies! You can watch the series on Thursdays at 9pm WAT on EbonyLife TV (DSTV Channel 165).
5 things every startup should do to gain traction and attract customers
My parents always taught me that I have no limitations in life. Despite growing up in a society that tends to favour boys over girls, I grew up believing that everything I do will turn out well. And I always act out my belief everywhere I find. You can call me “Miss Optimistic”. In line with my “no limitations” mentality, I started Onpoint Success. I’m digressing but at heart, I’ve always been an entrepreneur. My first venture was at age 10 while planning my 10th birthday. I came up with the idea of custom-made invitations and was actively involved in every detail, from planning to music. Most people who attended were thrilled that a girl so young could pull such a feat. Soon, I was the go-to person for custom- made invites and party planning. In my middle, high school and college days, I was that girl offering to teach, share knowledge and empower others. An attitude that earned me the name “Mother Hen”. I found joy in helping others tap into their potentials and build something out of nothing. I didn’t really think much of it. After I graduated from college, I got married, relocated to the United States and started working as an environmentalist. Then, I made the decision to launch my events planning business on the side. However, something interesting happened. While minding my business, I started receiving messages from friends and strangers alike. They wanted me to share with them, tips on how to start and grow a small business. Being the “Mother Hen” I was, I spent the bulk of my time helping others build a better life for themselves. That was when I decided to launch Onpoint Success. I’ve been optimistic about getting it right from the very first day. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that thinking about a thing is very different from actually doing it. It was an uphill battle attracting customers who were willing to pay for my services. I had to wait fourteen long and excruciating months before the first customer paid me. I remember dancing when I got paid doing what I love and it felt so good! Today, even though I’m still working my way to the top, I teach, mentor and inspire other women entrepreneurs. I help them attract customers and get paid doing what they love. The only difference is —they do not have to wait as long as I did. Attracting customers All businesses need customers to survive. Unless your startup is a charity organization, the only way to prove your idea is viable is by getting willing people to pay for it. In my case, like I stated earlier, it was an uphill battle despite knowing that I had something valuable to offer. If you are a retailer, attracting customers might be easier, depending on what you sell. But even at that, prospects usually don’t like to be the first to pay you! As a startup, what then can you do to gain traction and attract the type of customers you’ve always dreamt of? Give freely “Touch the heart before asking for a hand” – John Maxwell I never gave thought to this quote by John Maxwell but once I started Onpoint Success, it all made sense to me. As a startup, one of the fastest ways to gain traction and make people believe in your brand is by giving things out for free. Most prospects may not want to pay for something that has not been “tested and proven”. To help people minimize their risk and open up the barrier of entry, consider giving things out for free. That’s what I did at Onpoint Success and it worked. I consulted for free with those who were trying to grow their business. I shared my expertise with those who were willing to listen. I consistently did this anytime I had the opportunity. This, in turn, helped me gain credibility and trust which then led to my first transaction and many more after that. Make your business presentable People send me emails to say how impressed they are with the way I presented my business. It’s all about being intentional and paying attention to details others might overlook. Simple things like having a blog, a company email address, and even a business card communicates to others that you are ready for business. In a mall the other day, I just couldn’t resist stopping by a cupcake vendor stand even though I had no plans to buy. Oh, how good looking and attractive it was! The cakes were well arranged on the stand, the decor matched the icing on the cake and the samples were strategically placed at the edge of the table. Eventually, I made a purchase. I have learnt and always shared with others that first impression really does go a long way. Yes, you might be a startup but presenting your goods/services to the best of your ability is a great way to gain traction and attract customers. Target audience One of the struggles I had was defining my target audience. And even when I knew exactly who they were, I was too scared to limit myself to those group of people. This made me stretch my resources too thin. It was almost like maxing out trying to reach those who barely cared about what I had to offer. The result? Wasted effort! The truth is, the marketplace is a jungle. Running to every tree in the jungle or telling every tree in the jungle to come to you is not the fastest way to attract customers or build a successful enterprise. The best way to go about this, is by identifying and deciding the specific species of trees that NEED your services. There goes your magic formula. Build your business focusing on specific customers. Make effort satisfying the needs of these customers and watch them begin to flock to you. Technical know-how I believe every business owner should strive for excellence. As a business strategist, I committed myself to learning as much as I could. So, when I met with prospects, I created an impression. Also, it’s better
Starting a Business: The Very First Step
Ready to be an entrepreneur but confused about where to start? Do you want to wake up every day doing something you love? Are you ready to be your own boss? Call the shots? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you just might be ready to be an entrepreneur. But wait…do you know the first step in starting your own business? Before you run out and buy a $5,000 domain name, read this free guide to get you started down the path to financial freedom and personal fulfilment. This free guide walks you through the very first step in starting your own business: coming up with an awesome idea that sells. In this guide, you will find: Soul searching questions to help you pin down a business idea that is the right fit for you The main criteria used to judge a good business idea Stories and advice from women just like yourself Business ideas you can start today The secret ingredient that all great ideas have in common No one ever said starting a business was going to be easy, but it can be extremely rewarding. Make sure you start off on the right foot by downloading this free guide today. It walks you through the first step every entrepreneur needs to know before embarking on their exciting journey! Don’t delay! Get your copy today. So how do you download this free guide? Easy – just fill out the form below to join our community and get access to this guide and AWESOME weekly content. [ninja_form id=21]
7 entrepreneurial myths standing between you and your empire
The non-profit and even the for-profit scenes are booming across different industries. They are helping to strengthen communities in rural and urban areas across the motherland. It is pleasing to note that some of these budding entrepreneurs are women. Sadly, a lot of companies, organisations, and partnerships never go past their formation stages. Some of these ventures go bankrupt, are debt ridden and unfortunately, wonderful dreams die. Now, how do we encourage entrepreneurs, especially women, to venture into the unknown well-armed to outgrow the incubation stage? How do we get them disciplined enough to endure the initial pains required to become giant corporations? Well for starters, let’s try eliminating the myths connected with being your own boss. 1. You will have more time on your hands Yes, more time to rest! Or not at all. Don’t be fooled, ladies. You’ll have to work ten times more than the average employee working in an established set up. Remember that this is really about your dreams and aspiration. Getting the planning stage and everything else right should be your hobby. 2. You will make more money Of course, the ultimate goal is to increase your paycheck while being the next Bill Gates. But the honest truth is, you’ll not go above your budget without proper diligence. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in your ability to make money from your venture but it takes lots of discipline. There’s just no hard and fast rule to getting rich. 3. You are passionate about what you do and that spells excellence Contrary to popular belief, this is not a recipe for success. Sometimes, the things we’re most passionate about do not bring us financial gain. Finding ways to make your passion or hobby profitable is a skill on its own! 4. Your product/service will be sought after because you are popular This is another myth that has led to disappointment, especially for people with a wide network. People will not buy from you simply because they know you. If you’ve not proven to be an authority in your field with quick solution strategies, you may need to start thinking of ways of utilizing your own product or service. 5. Good entrepreneurs never fail As with everything, it is okay to fail. In fact, countless entrepreneurs failed repeatedly before succeeding at an idea. A perfect example is Evan Williams, co-founder of Twitter who failed at a podcasting platform called Odeo. Vera Wang also failed at different professions before becoming a fashion icon. Another famous example is Jack Ma of Ali Baba, the online shop. The list goes on and on. Be open to failure and keep trying! 6. The power card is all yours Refusing to be an employee and running your own empire is great, especially if your intentions are true. But if you’re driven by the desire to ‘lord’ over others, then you’ll be disappointed. Great empires are built on teamwork, shared ideas and collective effort. Mind you, though, you’ll need to work smarter than your employees. After all, it’s your idea. 7. A large capital investment with a great team makes a great company It’s true that capital and a great team are good tools for growth. But remember, some great companies started out in warehouses and backyards. Others started with less than five employees while investing in skills for their dream companies. The way forward Apparently, the best way forward for eliminating a stress-free work environment is by designing yours. Passionate people now lean towards innovation and job creation. It is the new cool to be called an entrepreneur as you can be the boss and set the rules. It’s no secret that in the last decade, new professions have emerged and improved existence and livelihood. Due to the needs of our dynamic environment, more intriguing jobs have evolved in the field of web app developing, blogging, SEO specialization and so on. Interestingly, women are at the forefront of challenging new fields in the service industry, science and engineering. Recently, the youngest female pilot, Zambian Besa Mumba made her maiden flight and she is only nineteen! In the end, Motherland Moguls, entrepreneurial myths or not, we can do this! Let’s begin, shall we?
Pricing as a start-up: Where do you begin?
You finally registered that business or online store, and already considering setting up packaging. Or maybe your website is up and running and you’re ready to pull out all stops to get your marketing underway. But there’s just one thing missing, how much should your products or services cost? Pricing isn’t easy; there are several factors to consider. You don’t want to seem too expensive and therefore alienate your target market. But you also don’t want to price it so low that it connotes less quality or cheapness. So what’s a girl to do? We all know that end at the end of the day, you’d want to cover your production costs and still make a profit. Because we all know those red bottoms won’t buy themselves. However, pricing has to be based on the value transferred to customers for using your product or service. Consider the cost of production and make comparisons between your prices and that of competitors. A general rule of thumb is to use the 10% rule by using the customer’s derived value and adding 10% to it. Got it? Good. Let’s explore some more. Know your customers/clients The better you understand your customers’ needs, the more accurate your pricing will be. Looking to your competitors for a pricing comparison should be based on the assumption that their pricing is ideal. Your competitors may be over or even under charging. So it’s still important to do a personal cost analysis and figure out the pricing that works best for you. Is your pricing above or below theirs? Does location, staff, size of the company, quantity, and quality of the products come into play? These are all worthwhile questions you should ask when looking to your for answers. “Profit is not something to add on in the end, it’s something to plan for in the beginning” – Megan Auman Price sensitivity It is important to note that clients and customers will only pay more if they have the assurance of value. So don’t be scared to test out several different prices at the beginning. It’s the same when you walk into a boutique, see a dress and instantly know it would be far cheaper at a regular clothing store. But because it’s an exotic brand, you believe it is of better quality and therefore, worth the high price. This is where price sensitivity comes into play. Price sensitivity is the degree to which the price of a dress in this analogy, affects the customers’ willingness to buy it. I like to call it the fine line between “too good to be true” and “dirt cheap” and therefore a bargain. You do this by offering a different price, typically with a 5% difference, to individual customers for the same service or product. The general idea is that if you aren’t getting pushback from at least 20% of your customers, then you’re on the right track. Also, it is important to note that there is less price sensitivity when the product is unique and hard to find. So make sure to distinguish yourself from competitors in a big way. The price would be worth it if the boutique is making just one dress per size. The exclusivity is almost like getting a custom-made dress. “The reason it seems as though price is all your customers care about, is because you haven’t given them anything else to care about”- Seth Godin Smaller versus bigger Giving customers a choice between several tiers in pricing helps establish how well your products/services are priced. Have you ever come across the low, middle, and high price offerings? This is called ‘Goldilocks Pricing’. With this, you get to choose between the inexpensive but not ideal and the expensive but full package. You then end up with the pricing that is just the right fit, like your very own Cinderella shoe. It typically has just enough features to get you started and is often the bestseller. More often than not, it’s a few steps away from that ‘premium’ package which you can upgrade to anytime. For instance, if you sell an 80-gram tub of shea butter for R60, then a 160-gram tub would cost 10% less than buying two 80-gram tubs. Chances are, the customer will go for the bigger tub which means more money for you, provided the production cost is not higher. Similarly, a “buy 3 products and get the cheapest one free” sale in a specific high-end product range/ service market will ensure that you still get your money’s worth. Make sure that you always capitalise on these opportunities by offering any extra features that come with the package. For example, 10% to upgrade to the premium package from a 7-day free trial. In summary, if your product or service is amazing, of standard quality and worth the price, customers will come flocking. Good luck!
May the odds be in your favour, financially
Fans of the Hunger Games series will be familiar with the phrase, “May the odds be ever in your favour”. While most people may understand odds to mean luck, in truth, odds have nothing to do with luck. And not only can they be applied to a game of war, they can also be applied to real life. You see in mathematics, odds = probability and what is life but a sequence of numbers. Everything that exists is literally a number. From statistics which study behavioral patterns, population, litres, volume, distance, percentages, angles, probabilities, averages, binaries used in coding and so on. In the grand scheme of things, we’re all numbers, 1 in 5 million, 1 in 7 billion (you get the gist) and finance is the ultimate game of numbers. I’m neither a scientist or billionaire, but it’s pretty evident that those who acquire financial success aren’t necessarily the most cunning. They’re not the most brilliant or hardworking people on the planet either. Rather, they’re those who realized early the math of financial success and tilted the odds in their favor. So briefly, let us look at the basic advantages of the world’s richest: Born with great socioeconomic bearing Better looking or smarter than the average Attended good schools Charted their career according to the predicted needs Remained consistent Number 1 already rules out 90% of the world’s population. You see, according to UNICEF, only 10% of the world’s population fall into the category of being above average socioeconomically. Number 2 cancels out 75% of the world population. Only roughly about 25% or less of the world’s population are deemed to be above average intellectually and physically. Number 3 is more within your control. But it is linked to your socioeconomic bearing, intellectual abilities, and decisions made by your parents and guardians. That leaves number 4 & 5 which are actually 96% within your control. So forget what you think you’re good at (technology proves that the world is constantly changing) and what everyone is doing. Instead, look into what the future looks like. Think, what are the strongest sectors that will stand the test of time? What are the most financially sustainable sectors? And similar questions. Once you have figured what this is to you, factor in the skills that you possess. At this point, you’re probably saying “Wait! You said forget what you think you’re good at!” Yes, I meant like knowing how to make good hair or being great at drawing. Innate skills such as creativity, musical talent, numbers, patience, social skills and others are inherent and not easily learned. They are your talents. Now, with these points in mind, chart a future for yourself with timelines and remain consistent. Let’s face it, without the advantages above, the odds of you cashing out big time before 30 are a lot slimmer. So ladies, let’s manage our expectations and never give up!
5 unsexy business ideas to get you started
Quirky title, hey? You see, when many of us ladies venture into business, we often look for the cleanest, neatest and safest sort of ideas. However, on the flip side, the dirty, messy, riskier ventures have a tale of profit to tell. Consider some of the ones below. Farming Many young people are dropping suits and ties for muddy boots. Guess what, turns out farming is feeding the nation while raking in returns. You can consider mass farming of basic food like onions, tomatoes, fruits. You can also venture into unique vegetables especially with the current eating-healthy movement. If those options don’t rock your boat, consider growing fruit and flowers to export to Europe. A business that provides basic needs, that is food, shelter, clothing has a higher retention rate in the market. You can lease land next to a good source of water, hire a few hands to help and get a truck to take the produce to the market. Better still, you can make friends with a broker who would charge reasonable rates. Just as with all businesses, ensure the market is ready for you. Do your homework and talk to a few farmers to get a sense of the industry. Interesting enough, ventures such as pig farming, snail farming, and even maggot rearing have found their place. Definitely not an idea you probably had but for the record, it’s working. Here’s more proof that farming is the new cool. Running a school This is another brilliant idea that works due to the rising population. There’s already a gap, just bridge it. It could be in extra curriculum activities or mode of delivery. You could start off with a day care or kindergarten program and keep working on the next grades/classes as you go along. Most schools started off like this. Worth noting though, is that the running expenses of a school are high, especially once it grows full-blown. Whether with the little ones in nursery school, pre-teens or teens, some chaos is bound to happen. Also, be ready to deal with the parents. Still, the returns are good and with consistency, it’s worth a try. Recycling/waste management Most countries in Africa seem to have a garbage collection problem. Of course, except Rwanda (we’ve got a national cleaning day, so don’t crucify me yet!), Johannesburg and Mauritius. Generally, waste isn’t managed properly and the rising population in major cities can attest to this. This thought lends itself as a business opportunity for an entrepreneur thinking of a practical and profitable solution. When it comes to business, other than maximizing profit, solving a need creates further sustainability and passion for the business. If you are sick of all the littering and dirty neighbourhoods, then piece that plan together. Plus, you don’t need to roll out in the city only. Consider smaller towns with bustling activity. You may need to talk to local authorities such as city or town councils, negotiate landfill rates and invest in trucks, rolling carts, incinerators and casual labour. One word of caution though, a research on existing cartels involved in this job is advisable. This will give you an edge and help you avoid being maliciously ousted from the business. Manufacturing or importing human hair wigs and extensions Everyone I know who ventured into this business with a passion is smiling at the profits. You just need to identify the source of the hair, which could be India or China. For the record, Brazilian or Peruvian hair is just branded as such but most of it is from China. Read more about this here. There are several varieties but once you find a reliable source, especially a manufacturer with ready-made hair, all you’ll need is some branding. You can actually do this locally and place your product in the market. Engage in some rigorous advertising online, in beauty shops or salons and there goes another (hairy) business idea! Running a funeral home I’m not going to risk sounding morbid, so this point is going to be brief. This may not need much explanation. With life, comes the inevitable end. You’ll definitely need to be tough to do this as you’ll have to deal with emotional families and friends still coming to terms with the death of a loved one. Undoubtedly, you’ll need ample space to accommodate an embalming room disconnected from the main home. You’ll also need a storage room for client files, a meeting room and possibly a room displaying options of caskets. You’ll need qualified professionals, dressing tables and materials and recommended chemicals, powders, and creams to preserve the body. It is estimated that one can break even in two years in this kind of business.
4 genius business tricks to steal from Genevieve Nnaji
It’s obvious to every Nigerian it-girl and our African sisters that ignoring Genevieve Nnaji’s pristine and effortless beauty is a bad idea. This is regardless of whether or not you watch her movies! Luckily, there’s a lot to learn from her streamlined, hyper-organized disposition. Even if we never completely get it, as we’re mere mortals. Have fancy dinners with a view Yes, you heard right. Head to some trendy island, club or restaurant for dinner. It should have an amazing view and probably stocked with successful, inspiring, rich and maybe good-looking people too. The food might be a little pricey, but it’s the connections you’re paying for. It’s called networking, girl! Somehow, these celebrities seem immune to the business problems that the rest of us mortals are afflicted with. From me to you, there’s a shameless networking routine that they follow. Don’t head on starting that business without connecting with the people who are going to be instrumental to your success. Take it all off… the make-up I mean This is debatable, but it feels even better to take the make-up all off sometimes. This is especially useful when the Nigerian heat perpetually threatens to melt it all off anyway. Genevieve gives us the no-makeup look often enough to keep us envious and wanting for more. Being a celebrity or even the owner of that unique start-up may be a good reason to have flapping eyelashes, gold-toned smoky eyes, and perfectly done nails… you know for the optics. But how about you shake things up a bit and get us all confused by actually getting down to work? Like, if you’re not doing anything lucrative besides getting your face done, what are you even doing? Be authentic. It’s all that matters. I am really eager to know the stories behind movies with impossible titles —who decided that “Blackberry Babes” was a good name for a movie? Okay, my argument is —why spend much money scouring for classics when you can watch an affordable ‘sub-standard’ movie? Here’s the thing, as an aspiring or already established business woman, you’ve got to be authentic, otherwise, you’ll ruin your own magic in no time. You’ve got no business copying every new or trending business idea. Be real, girl! Be unique! Talk less, unless of course, you’re telling us about what you do Traumatic consequences aside, being a little secretive is a necessity . Especially, if you’re involved in ventures that don’t feature story-telling as a requirement for practical reasons (like being an OAP or writer). If your business is not one of those, the least you can do is choose to give us short, simple, or playful dozes of your life every other time, just to add a little charm to your image. Minimize that icky feeling that comes with people knowing too much, too often about your business. In summary, all you need is to devote yourself to learning/mastering your craft, tirelessly networking, being authentic and a little tight-lipped when necessary. It’s pretty simple and practical.
Helen Dausen: If used well, fear can be your propeller
There was a time when it wasn’t easy for Tanzanian women to find a skincare product that was 100% natural and meant for the African skin. That was before Tanzanian-made African beauty brand, Nuya’s Essence came along. Nuya’s Essence is a natural bath and body care brand that handcrafts natural products from botanical oils, butter, and herbs. The product is made from the purest botanical and non-toxic ingredients there is. Largely, the ingredients are sourced locally and from South Africa, Ghana, India, and Morocco. Njeri Meja, our SLA contributor spoke to former beauty queen and formulator of Nuya’s Essence, Helen Dausen. She found out more about how Helen’s beauty queen past helped her business and the steps Helen takes to improve her hustle. What motivated you to start Nuya’s Essence? I have always been so careful about how I nourish my skin. I think I got it from my mother. As a young girl, she would apply olive oil and pure coconut oil on my sisters and I. I had also been unemployed and needed to do something about my life. While in college, I wondered if I could get a quality soap to complement my beauty care routine. So I went looking and found some DIY ideas for soap. I started mixing stuff at home and sharing recipes with friends. I would also tell them what to apply or what food to eat and the like. The idea of Nuya’s Essence first gained root in my heart in April 2013. However, we didn’t start marketing it publicly until in June 2014. How did you start? I started small with support from my parents. I began with making handmade skincare products from the backyard at home. I sold to my mom’s salon, farmers market, pop-up shops, and friends. Did being a beauty queen help your business in any way? Yes, it did. As the crowned Miss Universe Tanzania 2010, people often asked about my skin and hair-care routines. That also fueled my decision to build a skincare brand. Who is your target audience? Actually, everyone can use my products. The marketplace is saturated with products made with harmful chemicals patronized by unsuspecting African women. I wanted to create something great enough to be an option to the mainstream skincare products. Nuya’s Essence is for women looking to go all natural and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Tell us more about your range of products Our natural skincare range is formulated to work with all skin types. The ingredients are carefully selected and suited for everyone. We do not add fillers, toxic chemicals or test them on animals. Our products are recyclable, bio-degradable, eco-friendly and safe enough to be used by kids. It can be used on sensitive skin, very sensitive and mature skin. We produce them in small batches with our customers’ satisfaction in mind and they do serve the purpose. Did I tell you that they also smell amazing? Oh yes, they do! Currently, our product range includes natural handmade soaps, body oil, body butter, body scrub, 100% pure coconut oil, and raw shea butter. However, we keep working at developing new products. How have you improved yourself as an entrepreneur? I just completed a Mandela Washington Fellowship program for Young African Leaders. The intense 6-week-long program ended on the 4th of August 2016. I worked hard at it and formed great partnerships and friendships. It was a great experience and boost for my personal and business growth. I look forward to better opportunities. I have also done some training in natural/organic skincare formulation in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. There, I learnt the basics of formulating a perfect product. I still study online, read lots of books on the subject and strive to improve my beauty range or create new ones. Any challenges? How do you mitigate them? My biggest challenge so far is getting customers to believe in our products, especially women. I started using my products long before I sold them. This made me more comfortable and confident to tell other women about them. Personally, I have experienced the healing powers of plants and I have been able to achieve youthful, flawless, glowing and evenly-toned skin. However, getting clients to believe in you is hard. To tackle this, I give free samples for trials and this has worked. They usually return with their friends and this time, they actually buy. Word goes round and we’ve done well so far. How would you advice a woman looking starting something like Nuya’s Essence? Fear will always be a constant factor but if used well, can be your propeller. You may never enjoy absolute support. Money may never be enough. But girl, you can rise above it all. The trick is to start with what you have at the moment and then grow in small paces. Last words? One of my favorite successful businessmen said, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” I believe there are so many opportunities out there. You just have to be ready to take them. Be willing to take risks and accept failure as a learning curve. The only real failure is not trying at all. After all, what’s the worse that can happen? Always believe in something. Personally, my hope and faith are in God. I am at peace with myself, my work and the people around me and that helps. I set out to glorify Him in everything I do as a person or business woman. Always have something or someone to fall back on for support. You can never go wrong with this. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Fatima Zahra Nassik: Treat your business like a rollercoaster
There’s nothing as inspiring to us as seeing students getting their hustle on. Talk about getting into things early. Fatima Zahra Nassik is a bomb-ass social entrepreneur from Morocco. While pursuing her studies, Fatima co-founded Enactus ENA, a platform for student and business leaders, with her friend. Fatima didn’t stop at Enactus ENA though, she also started Laymouna with Fatima-Azzahra Benfares. Laymouna is an initiative that brings fruits and healthy snacks to busy students and working people. She’s also involved in starting other ventures and still interns at the same time! Read on to find out how Fatima brings her academic savvy into her entrepreneurial life. Tell us about your organization, Enactus ENA. Why enter into social ventures? Through Enactus ENA, the idea was to show that architecture students can also have an entrepreneurial mindset. In our first year, this was basically our goal. We started organizing conferences and events like, ‘Find the leader in you’. At this event, we had interesting leaders and speakers give inspiring speeches. We also had the first edition of the Enactus Regional Summit. It gathered 8 teams from the region to share experience, knowledge and especially communicate on their projects. Through workshops where business tools and team building activities were taught, we had several on-field types of research where we spotted different needs. After many interactions on ideas that responded to those needs, Laymouna, TownOut and C-Home were founded. Tell us about your social ventures. How do you ensure that they achieve success? Laymouna is an enterprise that aims to make fruits and healthy snacks readily available to students and working people. The idea of Laymouna really came from a need that we, as students, faced in university. We decided to do something about it. We do this through innovative vending machines and stands that provide fresh and accessible choices for people who want to eat healthily. On a more ambitious level, we want to improve the food culture in Morocco. Then through TownOut, we organize trips to remote areas in Morocco. We promote them as new tourist destinations and therefore empower them economically. Finally, C-Home is an alternative construction method where we use lightweight cardboard for homeless people. The idea is to build at a lower cost and quickly too. To ensure our ventures achieve success, we give presentations of our project’s progression to an advisory board formed by many professionals and business leaders. We organize this approximately every two to three months. We also ensure our projects participate in as many competitions as possible to maximize feedbacks and improvement. Most importantly, we have Enactus Morocco as a constant counsel. What difficulty have you faced in founding and co-founding? What advice will you give other women looking to start a project together? Concerning founding and co-founding the venture, we discuss and respect each other’s opinion at every single step. Of course, final decisions are made by the CEO if a mutual agreement takes too long. I would advise women planning on starting a project together to view their ventures as rollercoasters. Ups and downs would be a recurrent feature. Aspiring entrepreneurs must see them as necessary challenges to reaching goals. Instead of being discouraged, see them as opportunities to show that things can be different and especially like you imagined. At the end of the day, you are here to create impact and value to the world. How has your organization grown since you started on it? What steps have you taken to get it to where you want it to be? The organization is growing pretty fast. Actually, we come top to mind when it comes to entrepreneurship in our university. We are looking forward to gaining more impact in the next year and to give birth to other projects. Professors and trainers have shown interest in coaching us. We’ve been contacted by many foreign partners interested in not only our events, but also our projects. For this year, we aspire also to have more projects in the field of architecture or urbanism, a domain that we master. Tell me about your experience at the Henry Ford Academy. What steps did you take to ensure that your project won the best pitch prize? My experience in the Henry Ford Academy (in partnership with IIHEM) was rewarding. Several entrepreneurs and business leaders came and we heard their inspiring stories. We had many courses from shaping the idea of a project to how to pitch it. And finally, how to finance a business venture. For three different prizes, a presentation of our project was to be made in just one minute. Since the training was in French and English, my colleague and I decided to pitch Laymouna in both languages in exactly one minute. I think the originality of the pitch is what made us win this prize as we caught the attention of the audience. Furthermore, Laymouna was the startup selected for the HFEA ICP program for a two-week consulting with IIHEM alongside VCU students who came from the US. As a freelancer and businesswoman, how do you manage all these projects? What do you do to unwind and relax? I think the answer to this question is actually passion. I am a super active person. I really believe that my actions can give a positive impact in this world. Freelancing is most of all, a way to help me gain experience in the professional field beside my studies. My passion has helped me find a way to manage these projects. It’s my strength especially in my lowest moments (rollercoaster, remember…). Personally, I believe travelling for a few days or spending time with family is the best way to unwind and relax. It helps me achieve a broader vision of where I’m going and how. Lately, I’ve started working on starting some dancing classes. I want a physical activity that includes fun. Are you still a student? Yes! I’m in my fifth year. Of course, this means I’m basically focused on internships.