Johanne Affricot: I have no memory of working on a project I didn’t feel passionate about
[bctt tweet=”You will quit only when there is no more room for one last try – Johanne Affricot” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Johanne Affricot is a freelance consultant working in the field of communication and events. She was born in Italy to a Haitian mother and a Ghanaian-American father. Two years ago she founded GRIOT, an alternative hub celebrating an aesthetic, creative and cultural diversity through arts and style. With her team, Johanne also designs and develops projects for companies, brands and institutional organizations related to culture, art, music and fashion. Johanne is proud of her team and isn’t shy to shout out to them. Celine Angbeletchy, the editor in large of GRIOT mag supervises the English version and she is an Italian-Ivorian based in London. There’s also Janine, who writes content, edits French texts and develops relations. Gaylor Mangumbu, is the only man on the team and he is Italian-Congolese, writing GRIOT mag articles. May you introduce Johanne Affricot to SLA readers. Sure. I was born in Rome, the city where I live, to a Haitian mother and a Ghanaian-American father. Once someone told me that I am an activist. I prefer not to be associated to an activist. I would love to but I am not. I know some activists in Italy, they put all their energies on a cause. I do really admire them, so compared to what they do I can’t say I’m an activist. If I had to define myself, I would say that I’m a “culture activator” and a networker. That’s the only definition I feel comfortable with, that makes me feel like I’m not stuck in a box. I can be a filmmaker, a writer, an entrepreneur, everything that is devoted to spreading culture. I’ve been working in the field of communication and cultural-art events for almost ten years. I started with a short but important experience in the former Communication Department of the General Direction for Cooperation and Development of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (which I travelled to Mali for). Since then, I’ve always worked for communication and creative agencies. Four years ago, I decided to pursue a freelance path, working for artists such as William Kentridge (South African) and organizing exhibitions and music events. Beside this, I’m also running and trying to grow this project, GRIOT. The goal of GRIOT is to collect, recount and share stories that can inspire people and “activate” culture. When you moved to NY what exactly did you expect? And can you say your expectations were met? I haven’t moved to NY. I often travel to the Big Apple because I have many relatives there. Last summer I went to visit them and to shoot The Expats, a web documentary series (in Italian, English and French) that explores the lives of Italian creatives with African (and Caribbean) origins who chose to leave their motherland in the search of new opportunities, as their fellow white Italians do and as their parents did in the past, from Senegal, Haiti, Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, etc. The title of the series is meant to be provocative, seen that in the international community this term, expat, is often associated with white people who emigrate for work-related reasons and are privileged because of that, while Africans and other nationalities are called migrants or immigrants. But above all, I wanted to encourage a reflection not only about the existence of black Italians in Italy and abroad (when I travel many people still find incredible that there are “black” Italians), but also Italians who do not know this “different” or “diverse” Italy. In two weeks I’m launching two new episodes shot in London. Let’s talk about GRIOT! Take us through the first 6 months. The first six months were of discovery. I felt the need (I still do today) to see and spread a different image of everything related to Africa and its diaspora, without necessarily excluding other realities I’ve grown up with. I created GRIOT for myself, for the people who feel the same as me and for my children (even if at the time I wasn’t a mother yet). GRIOT is for all those people who wanted to discover different stories or share their stories. I grew up in a “white” country, and most of my family lives between Haiti and the US. While growing up, without giving the same importance I’m now paying to it, I always missed an aesthetic and cultural diversity, something that I’ve always enjoyed and experienced in my trips. But every time I got back to Italy, I missed it. And so I created GRIOT. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to work and I had never written for a magazine before. Furthermore, I was afraid of ending up writing boring stuff, or experiencing a “cultural clash” with a world that was mine but truly not mine. You know what I mean…but in the end everything has become so familiar… maybe because it has never been something alien…it was just asleep somewhere at the back of my mind. Four months after I launched GRIOT, I designed and developed the first Italian event for African-Caribbean-Italian creatives, and proposed it to the American Academy in Rome, which is the most important American art institution outside the States. The American Academy in Rome was organizing an exhibition called “Nero su Bianco – Black on White”. 27 artists (African, African Americans, and Italians) were invited to explore the radical shifts in perceptions of the Afro-Italian identity and subjectivity in contemporary Italy, from cultural, social and political points of view. So, on that occasion I organized “AfroItalians in the Arts Today”. How is it looking at the moment? It is growing. After the first episodes of The Expats came out I was contacted by a media agency to develop content for some other projects. Same thing happened three weeks ago. Let’s see. It’s not easy, because GRIOT is self-financed and everybody involved in GRIOT, I’m talking about the core members, is investing in
Lovette Appleton: An entrepreneur should have the courage to embrace failure
Lovette Appleton knows what it means to chase dreams and make use of opportunities. She did exactly that when she went from being an accounting executive in a manufacturing company to owning her own brand. Lovette used her experiences in travelling across continents to create patent bags that are versatile and savvy. She believes that an entrepreneur should be able to adapt to situations and have the courage to embrace failure as a blessing in disguise. Lovette wants to develop the passion for skills and empower Liberian women and the less fortunate by opening a factory and a training school that focuses on making accessories with an African twist, to empower women and young people who are less fortunate. What inspired you to start your line of patent bags that make the ideal travelling companion? I worked as a wholesale account executive at a company that designed and manufactured slippers shoes that had interchangeable straps and snaps. I thought it was a brilliant idea and I guess it just inspired me. Having lived on 3 continents and am always traveling to new countries so the need for functionality for the modern day jet setter came naturally to me. The modern woman is so versatile, why not give her fashion accessories that can match her lifestyle! What three words, can fully describe you and why? Beatnik, Determined and Industrious! Beatnik because I march to the beat of my own drum! I never follow or want to be like anyone else. I love being me and that’s ok! Determined because I will never give up on myself! My faith depends on no one else but God and myself so no matter the circumstance, I keep pushing. I am industrious because to come this far in life, you have to be! I remember when I graduated from university, I moved to New Jersey with less than $2000 in my account and we all know that’s not enough for one month in the New York metro area but I stayed with relatives, got a part time job and freelanced in addition to a full-time job, the hustle was real but I was able to pay the legal fees to get my patent this way. There is always a way. [bctt tweet=”The hustle is real but there’s always a way, one lesson learnt from the inspiring Lovette Appleton” via=”no”] What life-changing principles do you think every budding entrepreneur must cultivate? To want to open one’s own business takes guts and defiance! Those qualities are admirable however; the most important principles that an entrepreneur should have are adaptability and the courage to embrace failure as a blessing in disguise. I say this because one feels accomplished after setting up a business, doing the business plan, balancing the books etc. You feel like an adult, you are on your way and you hope that if you put in the work, the rewards will come. Unfortunately, I have been around the block for long enough time to know that we can’t control everything and whatever can go wrong, will! The question isn’t will anything go wrong, it is what will you do to ensure it has little impact on your business and how will you learn and grow from the experience. How do you intend to use your patent brand to inspire growth and development in Africa? As a Liberian and most importantly, an African woman, my thoughts never stray from home. I constantly think about how my life abroad will translate and contribute to others back home. Although my company is currently based in the US, I hope to use the opportunity it presents to open a factory as well as a training school in Liberia, to empower women and young people who are less fortunate. Does your business do the production in Africa, If so how do you manage your team abstractly? Since the business is still in start-up phase and the products so novel, It is necessary for me to keep production close to where I am. It’s like a baby, You have to carry it and keep it close until it starts to take its first steps then you step back and give it some free room. Once the brand gets more established, I plan to start working with artisans back home to bring that African touch to my collections. What advice would you give women who are about to launch their own start-ups? Believe in yourself and never let any challenge keep you down. The only person responsible for your success is yourself and you must be prepared to do whatever it takes to make your dreams a reality. If you were given the chance to re-launch your start-up, what would you do better and why? I would focus more on my marketing plan. Having a great product and believing it will work is great but one always needs an extraordinary marketing strategy because today’s business environment is so full of options for consumers that an average marketing plan doesn’t do justice to a great product or message. If I could go back in time I would have concentrated on my marketing plan as much as I concentrated on the product. I am not saying I would have had a bigger marketing budget but I think concentrating on free yet creative ways to let people know about the product and also giving them enough time to actually absorb the message of the brand before even driving the sales pitch. The collection will launch in about a month so I am slowly building up the social media following through my Instagram and Facebook, cross promoting through Linkedin articles as well as my lifestyle website. To reach more people I will launch online ads but in general, marketing doesn’t have to be expensive but it takes time and creativity! [bctt tweet=”If I could go back in time I would have concentrated on my marketing plan – Lovette Appleton” via=”no”] If you’d like to share
Padebi Ojomo: Business Savvy Chick
[bctt tweet=”Remember that whatever you learn makes you and your business better – Padebi Ojomo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] If you follow Padebi Ojomo, you can’t help but fall in love with her vibrant personality. This dynamic entrepreneur is so full of life that you can’t help but smile. Padebi runs the Business Savvy Chick Academy and is referred to as the client attraction genie. #MotherlandMoguls, you definitely need more clients no matter where you are on the business ladder. How did you get involved in business? I’ve been involved in business for about 16 years. It actually started with my mum who sent me to learn hair making because I was causing problems at home. She reasoned that since I had so much energy, I could channel it to better use. I didn’t like it initially because it felt like punishment. But I got fascinated with the fact that one could do stuff and money would get exchanged. I started buying and selling stuff: Adire, handkerchiefs to anybody most especially family. This experience opened my eyes to business and built my threshold for taking risks. I had never thought of getting a 9-5 job even though I studied Computer Engineering. After school, I continued buying and selling before branching out to other businesses. [bctt tweet=”I had never thought of getting a 9-5 job even though I studied Computer Engineering” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What businesses have you been involved in? My first registered business was Nirvana Design, an interior decorating business. I really love interior decoration most especially for homes. The second one was Blue Tangerine which was basically just a shop. I bought things from China and sold them. It was just something I did because money came in from it. I got married and started Purple Signatures with my husband. This was more like training for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. However, in the course of doing my interior decoration business, I realised that most of the money went towards purchasing furniture. Design always needs good furniture and sometimes artisans could be a pain. I started Chic Carpenter and it was a hit back to back. Though it was stressful, it was a really successful business. I had my factory and a good client base. But it got really difficult to combine it with my pregnancy in 2015 and baby came too early. I had to stay indoors for 4 months because of my baby’s health. This lead to some of my businesses going down due mismanagement. My restless and extroverted nature wouldn’t allow me sit still for 4 months. I had to do something and that was how my online business started: Business Savvy Chick Academy. It has been an awesome experience. How would you advise an entrepreneur trying to find her feet? You need to start with passion otherwise, you would give up when frustration and stress sets in. It is also important to start early. Personally, I started early and it boosted my risk taking threshold. I have done businesses that failed woefully and I have done ones that succeeded. This helps because I have tested it and I see it works so my resolve is strengthened. When you start at an early age, the world isn’t expecting too much from you. So, even when you get your fingers burnt, it’s not really the end of the world as you just learn from it. For example, I’d lose money in my business as a student but my father would still be available to pay my school fees. But as you get older, you have more responsibility and do not have the luxury to keep wasting resources. Passion is really important but if it is not profitable you could branch out and still find ways to do your passion, maybe as a CSR. What do you wish you knew earlier in business? The importance of having a mentor and supportive parents. If I had more support from my parents, it would have been more helpful but I had to hide most times to do stuff. As a matter of fact, they wanted me to get a job with one of the oil companies since I’m from the Niger Delta region. But I knew I didn’t want that kind of job. The major challenge most businesses have is getting clients. As the client attraction genie, what would you suggest we input in our businesses? Based on experience, people buy from people they know, like and trust. For instance, we might use a particular salon or doctor because of the relationship we have with them. Therefore, to sell you need to be deliberate. Be helpful to your clients, give compliments and be there for them. Satisfied customers will always speak about you to others within their circle of influence. Remember, they are not just buying your product or service but the experience of you. [bctt tweet=”To sell you need to be deliberate, be helpful to your clients and be there for them” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What’s your tip for running a home and a business efficiently? It’s important to have a supportive spouse, be extremely organised and plan ahead. For example, I plan ahead for the food that will be eaten and for cleaning. In today’s world, it is important to work smart. Focus on the areas you are good at and do it with joy. The others you’re not good at, you could automate. I always stress, “Enjoy, Delegate, Automate or Delete” to my community. If you are good at something, do it with joy, enjoy the process. If it’s not your best task, delegate to someone who would do it with ease and joy. You could also automate the process to make it easier or delete it from your agenda. What are your final words for female entrepreneurs? Do not make your small business make you small minded. Take it seriously and grow it to outlive you. It should not be a second fiddle because you plan to get married or you
Melford Vincent: Kick the notion that two things don’t go together
[bctt tweet=”I have great aspirations for my brand & I hope to see it throughout Africa” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] There is nothing as gorgeous as having glowing melanin with the kink and curls that come with it. Yes, I’m talking about the beauty of African hair. Most of us however, feel compelled to straighten our hair so that we fit in easily. While doing up our hair and getting extensions is not a bad thing, all I’m saying is that it’s still important to maintain that natural and just be naturally unbothered! Melford Vincent a 21-year-old Sierra Leonean lady who is pursuing a degree in Law struggled with badly damaged hair for a long time. She had a hard time with it but through extensive research, she finally found the most effective herbal remedy for African hair. Melford formulated this herbal hair remedy into the I-GRO hair recipe that works wonders for African hair. It helps with hair moisture and the acceleration of hair growth. I-GRO ingredients are all acquired locally from the markets of Sierra Leone and currently it’s one of the main brands leading in the hair community of her country. This is evident in the young women, children and young men that are getting hair breakthroughs through its use. Unbelievably this young #Motherland Mogul started her business with less than $10, making just a few for friends and using the little profits to produce more. To date Melford has made over a thousand products, developed her brand through her smartphone and notepad and now she is looking into hiring staff. I had the opportunity to talk to this goal getter and this is what she had to say. Why do you think the natural hair community is small in Sierra Leone? The natural hair community in Sierra Leone is a small one but it keeps growing from time to time. Most Sierra Leonean Women don’t practice safe hair practices they prefer throwing on a wig or other hair extensions, so they see little or no need to care for their natural hair underneath. Most of us have been conditioned to believe that natural hair is bad and need to be tamed with relaxers. How long do you think it will take to convince the African woman to embrace the texture of their natural hair? I think with the growing trend of the natural hair movement, most African women are coming to terms with it and embracing their natural hair, although some may need extensive schooling and persuasion so as to even give going natural a thought. There are quite a number of hair products for African hair and most women have been disappointed by most of the results. How do you assure someone who has never used l-GRO that it’s different? Through experience, most of the products allegedly made to cater for African hair needs don’t necessarily work for African hair effectively. Reason being that in most cases the African climate was not in mind when these products were formulated. The African climate is a harsh one, with excessive heat, humidity and dry winds in the harmattan, I-GRO bridges that gap. It was formulated, to perform perfectly in an African climate, balancing the hair moisture and not leaving a greasy feeling. The product likewise works for other climates and colder weathers because of its potency. There are over a hundred people talking about your product on Facebook. What are your strategies to multiply this number? I-GRO is fast becoming the most sought after hair solution in Sierra Leone and it has also been spreading to neighboring countries like Liberia , Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria etc. I am working daily to develop my social media following, which is growing substantially daily. How do you manage your time since you are a student and at the same time you run your business? I am still trying to find a balance, as it is actually not easy. For now I make sure I manage my time well. I don’t procrastinate. And I make sure to produce a lot of products at a time so I don’t have to be doing it every now and then. I am thinking of hiring as the business is fast becoming too big for me to handle alone. [bctt tweet=”Melford Vincent says, There’s nothing wrong in starting small.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What advice would you give a young you? I would tell them, to kick the notion that two things don’t go together. They sure do, and you can start building your dream, no matter how old you are. There’s nothing wrong in starting small, you don’t need to break the bank to start a business. I started mine with less than $10. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
KudaRachel: The accidental entrepreneur proving age is no excuse to not venture into business
[bctt tweet=”I used to be so focused on my competitors until I realised that everyone is different” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] For Kuda, the 18-year-old founder of KudaRachel, failing to find a reasonably priced corsage for her high school prom proved to be a blessing in disguise; it birthed the idea of creating her own. The then 17-year-old learned through trial and error before finally perfecting the hand-made corsages and boutonnieres. After seeing her daughter’s creative invention, Kuda’s mother suggested that she sell them, which Kuda did. “I posted photos on facebook and 12 people bought from me! The fact that people wore the work of my hands on such a huge night of their life filled me with immense pride and happiness.” Realising that corsages were only a seasonal thing, Kuda embarked on another great idea, extending to African print accessories. “African prints were the perfect choice because they can be worn in any season. The idea to venture into African accessories came at a perfect time my mother was preparing to go to Zimbabwe for the first time in 6 years. I happened to have $50AUD in my bank account which I gave to her to buy me African print fabrics. ’’ Product differentiation is an essential element in business and KR fashion’s specialty factor is that each product is customer oriented not just mass produced. As Kuda says, time and effort are spent on each KR piece and they pay attention to detail. “I used to be so focused on my competitors until I realised that everyone is different and that no idea under the sun is new. Everything is just a different version of the original! We may make the same things but we each have our own visions therefore, we’ll each have our own target markets. I really do believe in the saying, ‘There is space for everyone at the top.’” Kuda also shares that she connects with other people in the same line of business as her to share ideas. She even sometimes provides fabrics from her suppliers to them. Obtaining fabrics is a major challenge in the business as she claims that the fabrics in Australia a super expensive hence outsourcing them is the better alternative even though large shipping costs are incurred in the process. Giving back where it counts KudaRachel is not just concerned with making profits but fuses social entrepreneurship as well. The social enterprise is visionary and has three main aims which it is committed to. “KR aims to make a difference in people’s lives through fashion. I want fashion to be able to pay for someone’s education or put food on the table for someone in need! KR supports a charity each year.” Since its Since its inception, KR has been supporting Act for Peace by donating 50% of profits from its KR merchandise collection. Kuda further adds on, “In 2016, I represented KudaRachel and did a ration challenge where I got sponsored to eat the same rations of food that a Syrian refugee would eat for a whole week. So far we have raised AUD$439 worth of donations and sales from the KR Merchandise.” Concerned with youth development among its social aims, KR provides opportunities to upcoming talent. Having realised one the main difficulties young people face when looking for jobs is concerned with experience, KR gives them a chance to build their portfolio since most big corporations turn them out. Currently, the business team is made up of 2 main photographers; Feranmi Taiwo and Kelsey Grant, 2 seamstresses, and the models and make-up artists who rotate according to the type of shoot they are holding. The KR website is also a wall of positivity filled with quotes and the blog journey of the KRfam. This is just one of the many platforms KR uses to interact with its clients. The evolution of marketing hasn’t been the same with the arrival of social media marketing. Kuda certainly lets in that it has had tremendous benefits on growing the business. “Social media plays a big role in bringing clients, we use Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram a lot (just type Kudarachel in all of them). Through them, we have managed to attract customers from countries such as USA and UK. Hustling while being a full-time student As a full-time nursing student, it is a wonder how Kuda manages to keep her business afloat, especially when the two industries; fashion business and nursing are so unrelated. She credits the success of the business to a lot of time invested in financial education. She has taken it upon herself to learn as much as she can about the business aspect. “I read a lot of books and blog posts by people I look up to; Daymond John – “The Power of Broke”, Janine Allis – “The Juicy Bit”, Sophia Amoruso – “Girl Boss” and of course SheleadsAfrica blog..DUH ahahA. Everything I have learnt so far is through the internet, books, other people and trial and error. I’m excited to keep on learning. It also helps that I have a mentor Alyce Schlothauer who is helping me with my overall branding strategy while Shingai Manjengwa advises me on how to run my business.” Kuda certainly credits the success of the venture to the entire KRFAM’s support which is made up of her customers, her mother, friends, and family. She had to sacrifice a lot of her time in order for KR to succeed, cut back on going out and invest instead on special events such as friends’ birthdays. [bctt tweet=”Everything I have learnt so far is through the internet, books, other people and trial and error” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Embark on business for the right reasons Her last tips for budding entrepreneurs, “It’s really hard work to be honest. Being your own boss means that when you are starting out, normally your funds are limited hence if you don’t do it yourself, no one else will. You will have to wear the hats of a cleaner,
Kairoshoppers: Empowering and changing the lives of designers
Kairoshoppers Network (also known as KSN), is a marketplace platform created for new, up and coming, heretofore undiscovered designers who are seeking opportunities to get into the marketplace, display and sell their products in the marketplace. KSN is not limited to up and coming designers though, more established designers are also welcome. Kairoshoppers is aimed at increasing brand visibility and product awareness for designers; KSN is a marketplace where unique designs are found that are not commonly seen in the fashion industry. These designs are new and avant-garde, differentiating Kairoshoppers from other platforms. Through its networks, Kairoshoppers increases brand visibility for many designers who come from African countries, such as Nigeria, Ghana, and even South Africa, who sell their products on the platform, taking them to a global market. What is the purpose of Kairoshoppers? The purpose is to increase brand visibility for new and struggling designers. These are people who may be students, unemployed graduates, or self-employed individuals, who believe in themselves and want to make something happen! They strive to make a living from the talents with which they are gifted and maximize their creativity. KSN is geared toward empowering these individuals to attain a success-driven future. What are your predictions for the African fashion industry ? I believe this is going to be huge, I see a situation where not only Africans will be wearing African outfits but this will extend to other countries. Africa is known for its vibrant colours and attractive cultures, which is evidenced in our fashion style, best expressed by embracing our culture. African prints will increase in demand and more people will embrace African culture, a trend we already see now. What advice do you have for women who want to be fashion enterpreneurs? First, I would say to build your faith because everyone’s faith is going to be tested even as my faith has and will be tested. Second, one must be able to persevere and remain on top of your tasks and responsibilities at all times. Also, one must be dedicated. A lot of people have beautiful and awesome dreams that can materialize by being dedicated. It is paramount that one use the right instrument for the right purpose; this is to say using the right and appropriate photographs, models, hiring the right staff, working your crafts, and more. Consistency is also a key factor because the best you have given must be replicated as a standard in all you do, for instance the perfect finishing on a size 12 must also be the same on sizes 14 and 16 and this is how you maintain and retain your customers. What does the future hold for Kairoshoppers? We are looking forward to continue to expand and bring more designers on board. It is our joy and fulfillment that these designers are being empowered, lives are being changed for the better and their families maintained. We also look forward to gaining a greater share of the market, positioned competitively in the marketplace and territory. What are the top four ways to create brand visibility? Kairosshoppers has a TV show here in Houston, Texas that talks about our designers and celebrates them. We also network with other parties like bloggers and stylists in the fashion industry who help in creating brand visibility for up and coming designers. Customer service is also a key…responding promptly and resolving customers issues has a long lasting effect on the customer’s sense of brand loyalty. We also share information about our designers on all social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc. Would you say Kairoshoppers is a success? Yes, most definitely. Apart from increasing brand visibility, we have been able to break new ground, transcending barriers; KSN has been able to sell into both the American and African markets. This points to the fact that new and struggling designers can sell their products globally. Sponsored post
Emma Macharia: Invest in data and analytics from the beginning
[bctt tweet=”EM Consulting exists to help such businesses scale through effective communication” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Emma Macharia is a communications consultant at EM Consulting, a communications firm based in Nairobi, Kenya. EM Consulting is dedicated to helping start-ups and SME’s grow and scale by effecting impact based marketing and communication strategies and tactics. Passionate about life, people, and business, Emma loves insightful conversations and turning ideas into successful business stories. Emma shared with SLA her thoughts on the Kenyan start-up ecosystem and her tips on effective marketing for start-ups. What are your thoughts on the Kenyan start-up ecosystem? How does your company fit into it? Kenya’s startup ecosystem, in my opinion, is at maturity level. By this, I mean that we are slowing moving from the hype of entrepreneurship and now starting to look at the sustainability of businesses. We are evolving from collaborations into partnerships and similarly from churning just new products and services to products and services that are customer focused and scalable. EM Consulting fits into this system simply because it exists for one agenda only which is to help such businesses scale through effective communication with all their stakeholders; suppliers, customers, shareholders and so on. We help your business speak one language to get everyone growing and moving in the same direction. How easy (or difficult) was it for you to step up EM Consulting in Kenya? How did you overcome any challenges? Setting up EM Consulting in Kenya was not too difficult because of continuously improved business facilities and regulations that make the process of setting up a business more flexible. Similarly, the relevant government institutions have begun opening up to entrepreneurs and taking a more active role in the entrepreneurship space in Kenya. However, building a communications firm in Kenya was quite a challenge due to the cut-throat nature of the industry. For this, I ensured I built my business on values that would withstand the industry such as innovation. Also, I ensured to surround myself with people of different skills sets and expertise to help me create a solid and well-planned business. Some of these experts include financial experts, tax consultants, brand strategists and technology experts. [bctt tweet=”I ensured to surround myself with people with the expertise to help me create a solid business” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What do startups get wrong when it comes to marketing? When it comes to marketing within a startup, it is very easy to initially place the customer in the back seat of the business. Between figuring out your financials, to perfecting the product and pleasing investors; customers tend to take a back seat in the scheme of things. This is where I feel startups get it wrong. If startups and founders mastered two key things then their solutions would be irrefutable. These are; the problem around the solution they are working on and the value proposition of their solution to their customer. If there is one thing I would advise all startups to have on the back of their hand it is their customer; to do this, collect insights, and invest in data and analytics from the beginning. How can start-ups leverage their brand to achieve business goals? Your brand is your credibility, so to this, I say build a brand that attracts your customer to your business. Communicate correctly and efficiently; figure out the one message you want your customers and stakeholders to pick from you and communicate it efficiently. Also, invest in a marketing plan to reap well from your brand. How do you hope to inspire current and future entrepreneurs? How can they get it right? Through the training service of EM Consulting, I speak to and train businesses and entrepreneurs on the value and leverage of the customer in building a business. Through these training sessions, I am able to share insights and trends about different kinds of consumers and audiences in different industries hoping to spark new ideas and innovations amongst entrepreneurs. How to get it right? Learn from and listen to your customer. There are a lot of benefits to focusing your business on the ‘consumer;’ it helps with forecasting the numbers, it helps you anticipate future trends and therefore innovate accordingly, it helps you build a business beyond yourself. [bctt tweet=”Figure out the message you want your customers/stakeholders to pick from you & communicate it” via=”no”] What’s your major challenge as a startup that caters to other startups? My major challenge as a startup working with startups and growing businesses would have to be money and buy in. I have learnt that the reason a lot of businesses are failing at communications and marketing is because they do not budget for it like any other business function. Secondly, a lot of entrepreneurs and business owners overlook the role of effective communication on their bottom line. This is why I decide to include training and business consulting in my range of services to listen to my clients immediate and long-term business needs, and show them how effective communications will help them get there. What communication trends have you noticed as more impactful for African businesses? I personally think Africans are by nature early adopters of technology among other solutions and that is why platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Uber, and even LinkedIn thrive in our markets. However, in the last few months is when I’ve seen African businesses applying these technologies to their context and markets. A great example is how service industries use WhatsApp or Telegram to build niche communities with their customers and share more personalized content or using Facebook communities to educate customers and build customer lists. Other communication trends include getting in touch with Generation Z consumers who are more focused on purpose and changing the world forcing businesses to relook their social impact as well as sharing more authentic communication to reach them. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Amarachi Attamah: It hasn’t been easy, but we have succeeded
Sometimes it takes another eye to see and encourage you for you to know that what you are doing really makes sense! Amarachi Attamah is just a young simple Igbo girl. She is someone who scribbles some lines and calls them poetry. Amarachi, by career is a broadcaster and she has worked with different radio and television stations. As a young woman who loves who she is, Amarachi’s career draws from her identity, her roots and her cultural heritage. “My father would always say, ‘When you go out, remember that you have roots, so don’t go out and get lost’”, she says. Today, Amarachi is a performing poet specifically in Igbo language, and a writer. She has four published titles which include, “My Broad Daydream”, “Tomorrow’s Twist”, “Making a Difference” and her first Igbo collection, ‘’Akuko Ifo Nnem ochie koro m” (Folktales my Grandmother Told Me). SLA contributor Onyekachukwu Asadu met Amarachi in Enugu to find out more about what she does and how it is contributing to the growth of her community. Do you think you are making a difference? If yes, how are you making a difference in your community? Of course, I think I am making a difference. If I am not, I wouldn’t have continued what I am doing. However, the encouragement comes from seeing that what you do, actually makes a difference, even if it seems so stupid sometimes or unrealistic. I was born in Northern Nigeria and I grew up amongst a people that know who they are and are proud of it. As a child in that environment, I would tell you that I never saw a northern child that couldn’t speak their indigenous language; be it Hausa, Gwari, Nupe or whatever. They speak their language. They were always proud of their local food, or dressing. However, coming back to the east, I noticed that it was different; we were not even proud of our names. This got me worried and I made a resolve that the negative trend of denying our culture had to stop. I am proud of my identity and culture, and I have to make others see the same. So I thought to myself, ‘perhaps I should bring in this consciousness’. Honestly, I can’t tell when it started. When I was doing my NYSC, I wasn’t quite fluent in Igbo language but in my local dialect (Nsukka). I had published my first Igbo collection in 2007 and it was during that time that I met the literary icon, Professor Anezi Okoro. Despite my challenges at speaking and writing the Igbo language (I had failed Igbo language in my Senior School certificate examinations!) he encouraged me to do something in Igbo. I remained resilient and kept learning. I decided to dress in Igbo attires, making Igbo hairstyles. During that time, I started thinking of how to present my poetry and when I started displaying my craft on stage, I got a good response! So I continued, I never planned it but I saw the opportunity and so I started creating awareness about Igbo language and culture. I went to secondary schools, talking to students and teachers and parents; persuading them to speak the Igbo language. From there, we got the inspiration to organize festivals where schools make presentations and cultural displays in the Igbo language, then we published a collection of poems rendered by students. Gradually, people started coming around and getting involved with what we do. We have not gotten there yet but we have engaged the community, we have increased their consciousness and we are restoring the dignity of the Igbo race. Tell us about OJA Cultural Development Initiative. What plans are you making to reach and impact a global audience? OJA is ‘Odinala na omenala jikoro anyi’, which implies the culture and traditions that bind us together. It is an NGO created out of my passion to unite people. As a broadcaster working in the civil service, I discovered that even with most employees coming from Enugu State, there was still discrimination and segregation along village and local government lines. This did not sit well with me. I also realized that at the village level, certain positive elements/practices of our culture that united us was no longer there. For example, the women associations that changed the communities, the kinsmen and age grade meetings were no longer as strong and edifying as they used to be. This is because we accepted/adopted the foreign individualistic style of living that is not our cultural heritage. In as much as culture can be modified, we should not destroy our culture or lose the major ingredients that bind us together. This is why OJA is working with the younger generation because they are the ones that are mostly affected by this. To achieve this, we introduce regular festivals to bring these kids together and remind them of who they are. We go around reviving positive cultural practices that are going down. We don’t promote clandestine practices, after all, beyond Nigeria; there are cultures that are repugnant to natural existence. In addition to OJA, we also have a cultural outfit, Nwadioranma (The child that puts smiles on people’s faces) outfit. It is into cultural performances and all creative enterprise promoting our culture. People call us to perform at their events for entertainment. We also train young and consenting adults to work with us there to raise funds and further support our work. [bctt tweet=”Amarachi Attamah’s passion to unite young people and preserve Igbo culture with the OJA Cultural Development Initiative” via=”no”] You once worked with a Broadcasting house. As a Mass communication graduate, tell us how you perceived it was time to leave paid employment to becoming the one calling the shots? As you know, world changers are not regular employees. The world needs people with passion to drive a cause. To drive a cause, you must be creative. People will say you are crazy, they will assume you are not well.
Candice Nkosi: Consistency builds a brand
[bctt tweet=”I saw a chance to create jobs for women that I identified in my community @CandiceNkosi” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Born and raised in Mpumalanga, Candice Nkosi is a small-town girl with hopes and aspirations of reawakening the spirit of women empowerment. She works towards building from strength to strength with women from all spheres of life and in various fields. Candice is the founder of Pink Package Bag – a sanitary towel and toiletry drive for high school girls. She’s also the proud owner of Joyful Hearts Cleaning Services. Candice tells all in an interview with SLA contributor Jeanette Nkwana. Why ‘Joyful Hearts’? The name ‘Joyful Hearts’ was inspired by the idea of fulfilling and satisfying a client’s needs. It captures that we work hard to the best of our abilities and leave them happy and content to call again. How did you first get introduced to the industry? I saw a gap in the market, a chance to create jobs for women that I identified in my community and went through with it. Cleaning is an everyday part of our lives and more often than not, some households require extra hands to get the job done due to long hours of work and not finding the balance to manage household duties and work. What duties does managing Joyful Hearts include and what skills do those duties require? Joyful Hearts was established in 2016. We are still finding a knack of it, learning about all the ropes in the industry. A day in life includes approaching companies and individuals for work, pitching and thriving on a daily. I am still finding the balance between managing the company and being a student. [bctt tweet=”‘Businesses must strive to master their craft’” username=”CandiceNkosi”] In business, you need to work hard and master your craft. Find all the aspects you excel in and spend every day trying to get better and better. Be consistent in your work because that will influence your company brand and business all in all. Be a people’s person, go out there and network. Most importantly, surround yourself with individuals or brand that align with what you are offering, to continue to vibrate higher. What was the biggest challenge you faced when you first started and how did you deal with it? The biggest challenge was getting cash injection and having to assure clients that I can do the job. It is always hard for a start-up because you don’t have experience and it is never easy for companies to trust new businesses making their way up. But through hard work and selling your idea, you can achieve it all. My parents assisted me with capital, working hard and selling what I offer gets me clients. I try by all means to earn their trust. What, in your opinion, do people not know about the industry you operate in that is critical to the survival of a (similar) startup? [bctt tweet=”Every business requires consistency.” username=”CandiceNkosi”] The quality of your work needs to speak for itself just like any other business. You need to be professional and reliable at all times. Workers need to be on time, areas where you work have to be spotless and the consistency has to be forever. Consistency builds a brand. Has being a blogger been helpful to Joyful Hearts? If so how? Being a blogger has been really useful because through it, the brand Candice Nkosi gets exposure. That doesn’t only lead to people being interested in my blog posts but what I also work on besides that. It leads to a bigger clientele for my businesses. What can we expect from Candice Nkosi and Joyful Hearts this year? You can expect a lot that will unravel this year from Candice Nkosi. I am currently working on a sisterhood club called “Woman To Woman Brunch” where we celebrate each other and get inspired by individual journeys. I am also branching out into events. Hopefully, through the grace and hard work Joyful Hearts will expand and reach greater heights. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Nozuko Mayeza: The strength of will to succeed needs to be constant in any businesswoman’s mindset
[bctt tweet=”After spending 7 years in banking, Nozuko Mayeza figured it wasn’t for her” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Women are generally underestimated simply for being a woman, hence the belief that we cannot perform like men in their work environment. However, given the equal opportunity as men, we see that many women perform wonderfully in their careers and becoming successful as entrepreneurs. Nozuko Mayeza is one of the few South African women breaking glass ceilings and navigating her way through male-dominated industries successfully. As a woman of great business sense with a passion to see her business and other small businesses succeed, Nozuko also trains young women on how they too can break through in any industry. Nozuko is the founder of Tulsawiz Logistics (Pty) Ltd which has operated in the supply chain sector for several years. Nozuko also has her eyes set on expanding her horizon with her successful strategies that have gotten her far. SLA contributor Neo Cheda met Nozuko through a mutual friend who introduced us a few years back and was attracted to her as most strong women are attracted to other strong women! Nozuko gladly took up the opportunity to meet with Neo and to share her story of how she has risen and continues to soar and overcome societal norms and tribulations that try to hinder successful people from exercising their personal power. So, why logistics? Well, after spending seven years in the financial services industry, banking to be precise, I figured this was not for me. From a young age, I had always wondered why there was heavy traffic and so many trucks on the road and what they were on about. I then realized that logistics permeates every field, be it fashion, technology, construction, science and more. There were opportunities waiting for someone with my kind of passion and skills set in logistics. My current role spans client relations, managing diverse stakeholders, finance, and connecting with industry experts. This is what I enjoy. How did you begin your journey? There is a lot to learn from men in terms of how they do business –everything from their work ethic, confidence and their strategies to solving problems. A male friend of mine after attending a networking event, introduced me, to logistics. He mentored me and taught me all about the business dynamics until I acquired my first contract. I even worked as a subcontractor for him until I eventually landed on my feet. [bctt tweet=”Nozuko Mayeza: There is a lot to learn from men in terms of how they do business” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You’ve been making the headlines and I recently saw a TV interview of you. Tell me, what has driven you to succeed? It’s mostly about following my passion and proving to myself that I can be more. I attribute the greatest lessons in my life to the hardships I endured along my journey and credit my mother for my tenacity. Born and raised in a village called Ndakeni/Ntlenzi in Eastern Cape, my twin sister and I had to juggle a home run shop and take turns with the younger siblings. Since then I have been business savvy and pushed to find ways to make things happen. My success in this field was born from life’s hard lessons. I chose to learn “how to be better” from each one and never quit on myself! It takes a lot of courage and with no money and finance, I had to hit the ground running. Getting big contracts is extremely difficult, but the trick is to never give-up. I was not received well as a woman in the industry but my strategies helped a lot. How is it being a single mom with a high-powered career? Though this can all be very challenging, it’s important to find ways to integrate work and life. I don’t approach it as though someone else was meant to help me parent my child. I’ve taught my son total independence, he knows I won’t make it to all his rugby matches etc, and he is cool with that. Whenever there is an issue (teenage problems) I find a solution quickly to avoid escalation. What advice do you have for women considering a career in logistics? Logistics is an exciting and challenging career choice that brings with it a lot of rewarding relationships and lifelong customers. I have witnessed first-hand over the last six years the growth of women in the industry and seen their roles continue to strengthen. Hopefully, in the next decade the term “a man’s field” will no longer exist in supply chain management. I am very passionate about mentoring and helping other women discover and exercise their potential and at the moment I have a few ladies I mentor as they start their own businesses! Society needs more entrepreneurs to eradicate poverty and make the world a better one. The main challenge however, is the lack of skills in demand, funding, and basic knowledge. This is where I step in and freely provide any knowledge to powerful women as I walk them through their path and start-up phase. [bctt tweet=”My success in this field was born from life’s hard lessons – Nozuko Mayeza” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Any other highlights to date? I recently traveled abroad for a business trip which enabled me to form partnerships with international companies. This was an experience which has made realize how far I have come. I also write and have co-authored a book entitled “Share Your Story, Vol. 5”. Also be on the lookout for my new book titled “Plan Your Walk and Walk Your Plan” which should be published by December 2017. Tips for emerging female entrepreneurs: Dedication- Know what you want and go for it. Network often Keep pushing- Quitting is not an option Get a mentor- I credit mine for contributing to my business success Failure is never an option and the strength of will to succeed needs to be a constant factor in any businesswoman’s mind-set. Nozuko Mayeza If you’d like to share