Vivian “Jokotade” Adeniyi: You are the only limitation to your potential
[bctt tweet=”Jokotade: Believe it or not, The Jokotade Network didn’t happen by a plan” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Vivian Jokotade Adeniyi, fondly known as “Jokotade”, is a Nigerian-American author, speaker, and thought leader on topics relating to women, business and leadership. She is the founder of The Jokotade Network which hosts a variety of talk shows with audiences in over 100 countries. In addition to running her own network, Jokotade is a wife, mother and an entrepreneur. Her life as a serial entrepreneur began at the age of six ,when she started assisting her mother with her retail goods business in Lagos, Nigeria. Jokotade has since launched a growing list of businesses. These include a leading full-service design and print firm located in Houston, Texas —a business she started with less than $100 over 12 years ago. SLA contributing writer, Uloma Ogba, caught up with this Motherland Mogul to get the inside scoop on how exactly Jokotade does it all, while looking fabulous. What does Jokotade mean and what exactly do you do? My name Jokotade (pronounced JOE-KOH-TAH-DAY), is a Nigerian Yoruba name given to a child whose parents suffered the loss of a child prior to the birth of the named. Its literal meaning is “sit with the crown” or “sit with royalty”. This signifies that this child will not die, but will stay and live with her parents and family. This powerful name was concurrently given by both of my grandmothers at my traditional Nigerian naming ceremony. I use the name “Jokotade” for my speaking and writing platform because it is a very powerful and purposeful name. The name tells a story of my origin, gives you insight into my identity and speaks powerfully to my destiny. I write all of the inspiring details surrounding my birth in my breakout, bestselling book – Fresh Start. Once you discover my full story, I have a sense you’ll simply call me “Jokotade”. [bctt tweet=”Vivian Jokotade Adeniyi: The name Jokotade tells a story of my origin & gives you insight into my identity” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Could you give the readers some insight into your background? I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the United States of America with my parents in 1997. Shortly after I arrived in the US, I got to work beginning my American life as a hair braider. This was my only choice at the time, as I had to wait a full year to begin my university education. I finally gained admission to the University of Houston where I majored in Computer Information Systems (CIS) with special interests in marketing and communications. What drove you to start your first business and continues to drive you to reach for new opportunities? I’ll be honest —my motivation was hunger. I was hungry for the opportunity to live out my potential. I was hungry for the opportunity to start over in the United States; after experiencing a very rough and downward financial season with my parents back home in Nigeria. For several years my dad (who is now a retired surgeon) had successfully operated a private medical practice. But right at the time I was finishing up my secondary school education, his practice suffered grievous losses due to lack of payments. The idea of possibilities, of what can be, of who I can become, has driven me and continues to drive me everyday. It’s a beautiful thing to know that everyday you wake up, you truly can become more than you imagine. I see each waking day as a canvas to paint on. I hope to make each day a beautiful work of art to remember. [bctt tweet=”Jokotade of @jokotadeshow is motivated to reach for new opportunities by hunger ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] While in university, you started a business selling clothes and accessories to other students. How did you come up with that idea? What was the process like for you, setting up a business alongside your classes? How were you able to find balance there? Do you know of any university student who couldn’t use some extra cash? If there is one lesson I learned early as a hungry student, it is this —pay attention to the problems you can solve for people. In university, I became the go-to person when it came to shopping or finding affordable resources. The idea of selling accessories to other students was born from a place of paying attention to these kinds of problems and the questions I was often asked. I simply turned these inquiries into a business. I often say that the best business ideas are the ones that solve as many problems as possible for as many people as possible. Juggling my side business wasn’t easy but it was worth it —it helped me pay for a car. This reward motivated me to find a way to “juggle my hustle”. I made time to deliver goods over the weekend and focused on my classes during the week. [bctt tweet=”Jokotade: The idea of possibilities has driven me and continues to drive me everyday.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] After university you were involved in a couple of different activities which eventually culminated in what we now see today as The Jokotade Network. Can you take the readers through the journey of how you got to this point? What were some of the major milestones and challenges you faced along the way? Believe it or not, The Jokotade Network didn’t happen by a plan. It happened by growth. Let me explain. I began the Jokotade platform as a fashion and style blog…can you imagine? You see in 2013, I noticed there were several fashion and style bloggers but rarely did any of the bloggers feature the style of clothes I love to wear –classic, sophisticated, refined and polished. Back then, there were hardly any who even featured stylish African clothes in these preferences. So you know what I did? I saw a gap in the market and I rose to fill it. I started blogging, featuring a choice of clothes
Ola Morin-Muhammed: I make it my duty to understand my client’s needs
[bctt tweet=” Ola Morin-Muhammed: The ultimate goal is to tell a story and expression of love through design ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Luxury is a lifestyle and Nigerians know how to appreciate luxury. Ola Morin-Muhammed brings luxury to her unique event invitations. Think about it, at any event, the invitation goes out first. They are really the most important mode of communication for a grand day. People are slowly understanding the importance of the first mode of communication for their grand day. The invitation goes out first, and Ola’s invitations are some of the most gorgeous you’ll ever see. Ola Morin-Muhammed started IJORERE in 2008 and has designed invites for A-list celebrities of the sports and entertainment industry. Her background in architecture greatly influences her designs and has given her an unconventional approach. From next year, IJORERE will be designing weddings and events too. What do you think of the invitation design industry in Nigeria? Why the need for luxury in this industry? The invitation design industry in Nigeria is on the rise. People are slowly understanding the importance of the first mode of communication for their grand day. The invitation goes out first, it sets the tone for what to expect. It builds anticipation. The need for stationery in Nigeria, particularly the Nigerian wedding industry has been secondary for some time. And when you have a guest list of at least 1000 to accommodate, a 2-day wedding affair, and the need to make sure there’s surplus of everything, it’s no wonder why the first impression (invitation), doesn’t come first. I do however, see a shift, and Nigerians residing in Nigeria are beginning to understand the necessity of an invitation. Nigerians are known to be overachievers, and when we achieve abundance of wealth, we like to show it off proudly. I think that’s why Nigerians do appreciate luxury. Not because we are conceited or arrogant, but because we like to show off the hard works of our labour. Weddings in Nigeria are flamboyant and all about showing the world; that we have educated overachieving children, and will proudly spend flamboyantly, invite everyone we know and don’t know. This is just so our children know how important they are to us and their wedding is talk of the town. It’s a grand milestone the Nigerian society celebrates. What’s the process that goes on behind your designs? I make it my duty to understand my client’s needs, their personality, and take that knowledge to the drawing board. Sometimes, my client(s) knows exactly what design direction they’d like me to take. Other times, my team and I have to interpret what the client(s) desires are. The ultimate goal is to tell their story and expression of love through design. [bctt tweet=”Ola Morin-Muhammed: Nigerians are known to be overachievers, we like to show wealth off proudly” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How does your experience as an architect influence your work with Ijorere? Architecture greatly influence’s my design approach. I’m always designing not just for aesthetics, but functionality and sustainability. I want my designs to be keepsakes and to be used for other purposes outside of just being an invitation. Being able to apply principles of architecture to my design process also influences the way my clients experience their invitation. Now, they realize because of the principle of function, their special day can now and forever be a part of the lives of their loved ones. Some of the invitations became picture frames, boxes to keep special memories or treasures. How do you choose materials/fabrics for your designs? I always choose materials based on the client’s style and most importantly their budget. I also consider their story in the selection process. Identifying what fabrics will share their story and expression of love is a partnership with my clients. At the end, we want their guests to feel like they are really about to experience a uniquely grand day. Has it been difficult (or easy) to find clients to patronise IJORERE? IJORERE has been around since 2008, Over the years, I’ve garnered accolades in the media, including from the likes of Entrepreneur Magazine, INSIDE Weddings, BellaNaija, Munaluchi Bridal, and more. I’ve also been blessed to have designed for A-list celebrities of the sports and entertainment industry. A few I am able to mention are Louis Carr of BET, David Tutera of My Fair Weddings, and the weddings of NFL players; Nicholas Perry, and Michael Daniels. At this point IJORERE is branded, so it’s no longer difficult to receive cool and interesting projects. We let our work do the marketing. [bctt tweet=”Ola Morin-Muhammed: I want my designs to be keepsakes and to be used for other purposes ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Do you usually attend the events you create invitations for? No, not usually, most of my clientèle are out of state or out of the country. Unless, my clients happen to be close friends or family, I don’t typically attend, although a few of my clients have invited me to their wedding or event. I enjoy being a part of it all with the designs we create. We get to be part of the big day and days beyond that with our keepsakes. What’s the last thing on your mind before you go to bed at night? Just 3 things; Prayer, IJORERE, Sleep. Where do you see IJORERE in 2017? Do you have any big plans in store? IJORERE is always evolving and staying abreast of trends. My focus will strictly be on invitation and event design in 2017. Weddings and event design is something new and came by demands, based on continuous requests from my clients. Now, I’m designing not only invitations, but also weddings and events. It’s fun and I find that I’m doing a 360 degree right back to my first love, architecture. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Uloma Ogba: Whenever I get serious about something, I get what I aim for
[bctt tweet=”@OgbaUloma has always kept herself busy observing & figuring out how to make sense of things” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s time for you to meet one of the people that make the SLA website run smoothly. We’re talking about our contributors who selflessly share their writing through us. Uloma Ogba has given us advice on landing a job at the United Nations and shared her experience with depression. Before moving to Zambia to work with the UN, Uloma has lived in several cities across three continents. Wherever she’s found herself, Uloma has started something. Whether it’s a community of like-minded black women or the Lusaka Book & Brunch club. Uloma Ogba is an ordinary girl trying to save the world, get to know her below. What do you think started your interest in hearing people’s stories? I think I’ve always been this way…more interested in listening than in speaking. Even as a child, I was dubbed the “quiet one”. I was always busy observing and figuring out how to make sense of things, and of course how to take over the world. I also come from a family where we were encouraged to reason and talk through everything. We were encouraged to read a lot, learn history, listen to stories and talk about our feelings, our dreams and our needs. So I’ve grown up listening to stories. It must have clicked in me a long time ago that to truly understand people, where they are coming from, what they need and how you can be of service to them, you have to be willing to listen. Before I ended up in the line of work that I’m in today, I toyed with the idea of going into psychology. I imagined becoming a therapist to feed my desire to know what people are really thinking so that I can know how to relate to them meaningfully. Even though I don’t get to do that for a living, it’s a skill I try to apply in everything I do. People can tell when you’re really making an effort to listen to them and everyone appreciates being heard. And its not that hard to do, so I do it. Can you tell us something about the various countries you’ve lived in? Have you had any difficulty living abroad as a Nigerian? I was born in Canada while my parents were attending school there. So I’ve always had a Canadian passport which I won’t deny has definitely made it easier to live and travel in different places. My family moved to Nigeria when I was 3 years old. We lived in Kwara, Imo, Lagos and Abia states. When I was 16, I moved to the US to join my brother and sister and there I completed my first bachelor and master’s degrees (in Physics and Medical Physics). I moved to Canada when I was 24 years old because I wanted to “try something different” as I felt after 8 years I still hadn’t adjusted to life in America. I went back to university for a second bachelor’s degree in a non-science field (European Studies) at the University of Toronto. My school had an exchange program with the University of Amsterdam and I went on a semester abroad when I was 26 again to “try something new”. However, that one semester turned into almost 6 years. I transferred to and graduated from the University of Amsterdam and subsequently enrolled in my second master’s program (Medical Informatics). Of all the places I’ve lived, Amsterdam is definitely my favourite. It is the one place I would move back to if the opportunity presented itself again. Three months ago when I joined the UN, I moved to Lusaka, Zambia and that’s where I live now. You wrote about getting into the UN based on your experience yet your educational background is in the sciences. How did you find your way to the NGO sector? My second master’s degree was in Medical Informatics. At the time, my plan was to get a job as a consultant with a focus on healthcare. However, I was not successful with any of the consulting firms I applied to. This was partly because I did not have the traditional business background or go the MBA route like most consultants do. Also, I was not yet fluent in Dutch which was a requirement for a lot of the companies. As I applied for consultancy positions as a back up, I also applied for analyst jobs. That was how I ended up working as a junior analyst for PharmAccess after I finished my Masters. My initial intention was to go in and gain some experience as an analyst to help with my consulting applications in the future. In the end, I found that I really enjoyed the work I was doing. The fact that it was in the healthcare development sector and focused on Africa was an added bonus. Having spent almost half of my life outside Nigeria and Africa, I was excited at this opportunity, albeit an unplanned one, to learn about my continent. I was part of the work being done to secure Africa’s development, in this case through improving access to quality healthcare. PharmAccess has offices in 9 countries and I was fortunate to get to work in the Kenyan and Nigerian offices for a while. That experience made me realize that as much as I’d grown accustomed to life in the West, there was a part of me that really just wanted to be where the “action was”. I wanted to live and work on the continent for a while and so when the opportunity to apply to the job at the UN came up I jumped at it because I wanted to be based in one African country full-time. Even though I have a background in Physics and Medical Informatics, I’ve managed to pick up other skills along the way. At the time I was applying to the UN, I
Webinar with Pryse: Breaking into the music industry (Dec. 13)
The Nigerian music industry is booming! While there are a few female artists in the game, there are hardly any female rappers. Pryse is changing all of that around. She has smashed her way into the music industry and is playing no games. Within her relatively short career, she has already done collaborations with people like Burna Boy and has created her own record label, ICON. Join us for a 30-minute webinar with Pryse on December 13th, 2016. We’ll be discussing what it takes to get into the music industry and the Nigerian music industry in particular. If you are an artist, or anyone interested in any aspect of the music industry, you don’t want to miss this. Register below to get the exclusive link to the webinar. Some of the topics we’ll cover: What the music industry is like for solo female artists What it’s like to be a female rapper in Nigeria Staying true to yourself What is takes to create and run a record label What’s next for Pryse and her record label, ICON. Webinar Details: Date: Tuesday December 13, 2016 Time: 8:00am NYC // 2:00pm Lagos // 4:00pm Nairobi Watch this Webinar: About Pryse Princess Esindu, popularly known as Pryse is regarded as one of the best female rappers in Nigeria. Born in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Pryse is a graduate of media and communications from Nottingham Trent University, UK. She started her career in the Nigerian Music Industry with the release of her debut single, “Eleto” featuring “Kolewerk” singer, Koker in 2013. She later released “Niger Delta Money” and “Kolo” featuring Burna Boy. After the expiration of her recording contract with former label Chocolate City, Pryse launched her own record label ICON in October 2016 and released “Queen Kong” featuring Eva Alordiah as part of her Pryseless Freestyles Series. “Queen Kong” is currently receiving reviews and airplay on major radio stations across Nigeria. Her first official single under ICON, “Her Excellency” will be released later this month.
Achenyo Asimegbe: I wanted to be my own #boss before 30
[bctt tweet=”Achenyo Asimegbe of @Stylemarkmall shares her story from quitting her job to serial entrepreneur” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How many of your friends are dissatisfied with their jobs and are always going on about quitting (even if they never do)? Achenyo Asimegbe is one of the few who have braved the resignation path. As with most things in life, it wasn’t easy. Achenyo had to quit her job when a transfer request was rejected. First, she had to face family and friends who thought she was making a mistake and ruining her life. Then, came those months where the reality of no salary coming in hit home and Achenyo considered going back to the office life. Yet since making the decision to become a #MotherlandMogul, Achenyo has grown to be a serial entrepreneur. She retails children’s clothing and accessories at Stylemark Mall and trains entrepreneurs and start-ups through Stylemark Pro Enterprise. Achenyo Asimegbe is also a mentor with the Cherie Blaire and Tony Elumelu foundations, supporting other women in businesses. Why did you decide to leave banking? I have worked with two commercial banks, Spring Bank PLC & Enterprise Bank Limited, for a total period of 5 years. I had so much passion for the job. However, one day I decided to request for a transfer. I was in Minna, Niger state and wanted to move to Abuja, where my husband just recently found a new job. I had written formally and pleaded with my superior officers to simply transfer me on marital grounds. Yet, the transfer request was not granted. I was told there was no space at all, in any of the numerous branches the bank had in Abuja. Prior to this time, I was gradually getting dissatisfied with the job. I realized that in all the 5 years I had put in, I had not really achieved anything great in life. I had already decided that I wanted to be my boss and set a goal to do so before I turned 30. When my transfer request was not granted, I was 29 years old. After been told all the no’s and that the transfer will not be possible, I made up my mind to quit. And so, I resigned to fully pursue my passion and accomplish that dream of being my own boss before I turn 30. Did you get any support from your friends or family when you made the decision to quit your job? How did you overcome that? When I made up my mind and resigned, not too many people agreed with my decision. Getting friends and family to be on the same page with me was very tough. Everyone felt I was making a mistake that I may regret later. But I kept telling them that I know my strengths, capabilities, and I have great skills. I knew I would be back on my feet very soon. Every day I would get calls from friends/family, telling me about job offers they saw on the net, newspaper and so on. I knew that chapter of my life was over, but they were still tied to the career person I had been in the past. As days and months went by, they began to see the reality that I had moved on. [bctt tweet=”Achenyo Asimegbe: I resigned to accomplish that dream of being my own boss before I turn 30″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What happened immediately after you resigned? After resigning from my job, and staying 1-2 months without a salary coming in, I grew worried. Then I began considering going back to a paid job. At this time, I had not really figured what exactly I wanted to do next. So, I began applying for jobs all over. I attended interviews but most of the organizations wrote back informing me that I wasn’t selected. This happened more than five times. Then I had enough and said I wasn’t going to apply for jobs again. I decided to start a small business and become self-employed. So, I took a bold step and started business. I established Stylemark Mall, an enterprise that deals in children’s clothing and accessories. Our target audience ranges from new-born kids to 15-year-old teenagers. I have recently become a serial entrepreneur adding a new line of business, Stylemark ProEnterprise, a capacity development centre. One of our products is the SME Springboard, a platform designed to assist Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) realize their growth potentials. What other projects are you currently involved in? I have so much I’m working on. I am working on launching my clothing line for children, which is really exciting for me. Still, I’m taking it one step at a time. I have over the last 3 months, been organizing trainings/skills and acquisition programmes for women, in Abuja. This is just as a way to give back to society and encourage women to start a small business. I am also a mentor on Cherie Blaire Foundation for Women in Business, and Tony Elumelu Foundation for Entrepreneurs. [bctt tweet=”Achenyo Asimegbe: I wouldn’t have spent all those years in banking & started my businesses” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] If you could go back in time and change one thing in your journey, what will it be? I most certainly wouldn’t have spent all those years in banking. I would have established my businesses earlier than now. But in all, I am grateful to God for all the experiences and lessons as along the way. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Tania Omotayo: Watching my father work so hard, I couldn’t imagine doing less
[bctt tweet=”Discover @TaniaOmotayo’s #MotherlandMogul and boss side in this interview” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Tania Omotayo is officially our WCW and general #MotherlandMogul goals. The half-Nigerian and half-Austrian beauty is a well-known personality in the Nigerian entertainment scene. Like many enterprising young women, Tania Omotayo does not put her hustle in one basket. On one hand, she is a Senior Creative Analyst at the Temple Management Company (TMC), a leading talent management and events company. On the other, Tania is a model and an entrepreneur. She never stops moving forward and we can thank her dad for that. If you’ve heard of Tania Omotayo and always wanted to know more, or if you’re curious to know the insights of working in the Nigerian entertainment industry, what are you waiting for? Read on! What would you like the world to know about Tania? I would like the world to know that I am a hard-working and focused young woman. I am a Senior Creative Analyst at the Temple Management Company (TMC) which is a leading talent management and events company. Also, I am a model and an entrepreneur. I don’t think I ever stop. If it doesn’t have something to do with my regular 9-5 job then it’s my personal business. I am always up to something. I learnt from my father, watching him work so hard my whole life, I couldn’t imagine doing less. And it is something I am extremely proud of. [bctt tweet=”Tania Omotayo: If it’s not my 9-5 job then it’s my personal business. I am always up to something” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What legacy do you see yourself leaving in this world? It’s weird because it’s not something I spend a great deal of time thinking about. But I do hope to leave my mark on this planet in some way. I hope to be remembered as one of the pioneers at the Temple Management Company, that brought change to the Nigerian entertainment industry. I hope to be remembered for doing amazing things for charity, impacting people’s lives and for genuinely making a difference. Tell us more about the Temple Management Company. How did it come about? The Temple Management Company was founded by Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe at the start of 2016. TMC is a child of necessity, the company was started to bring structure and change to our entertainment industry. We are a 360 full-service talent agency and talent management company. We specialize in the representation of personalities with African heritage from all over the globe in the entertainment, sports, media, public and arts sectors. Also, we specialize in the management of events in the entertainment, sports, media, public and arts sectors. I am proud to say that I am part of the nucleus group that helped build the company from the very beginning. [bctt tweet=”@TaniaOmotayo hopes to be a pioneer that brought change to the Nigerian entertainment industry” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How do you plan to scale up the Temple Management company in the next few years? We have so many big plans and projects we are working on. I think the main thing is we are focused on changing the game, and we do things differently and properly. We have a lot of extension plans which we have already started with South Africa, Kenya, United Kingdom and the United States. So, in a few years I am sure we will be leaving our footprint worldwide. What’s one thing about the industry you work in that you would like to change? If I had to change one thing, it would be to create a platform so that we have the same structure in place as the rest of the world. Nigeria is one of the few countries in which talents do not really get royalties or adequate compensation from our hard work. I think it is unfair and dispiriting. If I only had one thing to change, it would definitely be to improve the welfare of our talents when compared with the rest of the world. [bctt tweet=”If I only had one thing to change, it would definitely be to improve the welfare of our talents @TaniaOmotayo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What’s a typical day like for you? I actually do not have a typical day. My weekdays are completely different from my weekends. I have crazy weekdays, and more chilled days. On my crazy days, it can be waking up at 5 am and finishing work at 10pm, on days like that I really can’t do anything else. But on my more chilled days, I start work at 9 am and finish between 5 and 7pm. On days like that, I have time to watch a favourite TV show or a movie. On the weekends I like to sleep as much as I can so I am fresh for the week. So I usually spend most of it in bed. What motto(s) do you live by? I have so many, but these are some of my favourites and I’ll explain why: “Someone else is happy with less than what you have” – This helps me to remember to appreciate what I have. “Success is the best revenge”- This is pretty self explanatory when people don’t believe in you or try and water down your dreams, the best way to get them back is to succeed at it. “Happiness is yours to choose or reject. So embrace it.” – This took me a while to fully understand but now I am a pro at choosing to be happy. You should never let other people ruin your happiness. What can we expect from you in 2017? For 2017 you can expect a lot from me. Outside of working for Temple, I am working on a really exciting fashion project that I cannot wait to reveal. It is something that I have been working on for over a year now and I am super excited. I am also working to solidify my brand as a model and I have some projects coming up that I
Habiba Wushishi: Food should not just be eaten but be enjoyed
[bctt tweet=”It has always been my dream to be innovative with my cooking – Habiba Wushishi” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You know a real foodie when she talks about food evoking emotions and cooking being a married of ingredients. We’re talking about Habiba Wushihi here, founder and spice-mixologist (yeah, we just made this up) behind Sydney’s Cuisine. Habiba just loves food and she wants everyone to enjoy the tastiness and variety of Nigerian cuisine. That’s such a dope goal. Through Sydney’s Cuisine, she’s creating a new culture around how we appreciate Nigerian food which she hopes to expand globally through franchising. Read on to discover how Habiba will achieve her goals. She’s got lots of great advice for baby start-ups too. Why are you passionate about delivering good food in Nigeria? As a foodie, I understand that there are people who eat just to fill up, and people that actually love food. I believe that food should not just be eaten but be enjoyed. Nigeria is a country that boasts of so many traditional dishes from a myriad of cultures within it. Each culture has its own blend of flavours and ingredients which makes all of the food unique. Sydney’s Cuisine’s concept is based on an infusion of Nigerian and Intercontinental flavours. To that point, I too have started ‘The Sydney’s Culture’ which aims to continuously entertain my customers with bursts of flavours as they eat. The beauty of the Nigerian food culture is that we all eat and appreciate each other’s food from all parts of the country. One thing that is for certain is that Nigerians love to eat. This is befitting for me as it has always been my dream to be innovative with my cooking and create new and updated dishes that I know will attract a lot of people. When you are running any food business, the main priority is to be able to satisfy a variety of palettes and to enhance customers’ dining experience. Food has the ability to evoke positive emotions. Maybe you are having a stressful day at work, and my food has put a smile on your face. This is immensely rewarding for me knowing that I have provided a good service. Sydney’s Cuisine is dedicated to delivering good food in Nigeria not only to quench hunger and satisfy cravings, but also to create awareness about the next phase of Nigerian cooking. What makes Sydney’s Cuisine different from the other food and catering businesses that exist on the market? Before I started this business, I did research on as many food businesses as I could. More often than not, you come up with some idea(s) that someone or several others already have executed. I realised, after conducting my research, that my food concept and brand culture would take-off based on that special component, that makeover, that je ne sais quoi, that is much needed in the Nigerian food and catering market. Not long after, I had an epiphany —cooked food is a marriage of ingredients! In this case, my food concept would be to infuse Intercontinental flavours into the Nigerian cuisine. What sets Sydney’s Cuisine apart from the rest is that there are at least 15 different Nigerian and Intercontinental spices in all of our meals. This achieves a level of flavour that is so desirable, it has proved to be a tad overwhelming (in a good way) for a few of our customers. [bctt tweet=”Sydney’s Cuisine blends at least 15 different Nigerian and foreign spices in all meals” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] One of my goals is for Sydney’s Cuisine to appeal to people around the world, and the best way to achieve that is to provide a sense of familiarity by cooking with ingredients known to people from a specific country. I want the rest of the world to have a taste of the Nigerian cuisine and in turn, I’d like Nigerians to experience other flavours in food. Just like people all over world eat and enjoy the Asian cuisine. Global corporations like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have their own individual business culture. This culture has played a huge role in the success of these companies. You don’t really hear about food/catering businesses and their cultures. Culture is a substantial part of any business and should be incorporated into every business. I am gradually developing the Sydney’s Cuisine culture that will make it stand out. Since this is your first start-up, what are the hardest parts of getting your venture off the ground and how are you looking to fill in the gaps? With any start-up, you will be faced with tough challenges. Teething problems are to be expected at the start of any food business. At first, when any issue arose, I found myself panicking and even doubting myself and my capabilities. I started this business on my own and without any partners. As a result, I had to juggle several roles and responsibilities to ensure quality control and efficiency. I was a manager, accountant, marketer (via social media platforms), food orders supervisor, packager, just to name a few. Sometimes, I would focus on one or two roles and because of this I would have missed a few orders or endanger the quality of the meals. Each role is just as significant as the other which is why I became very anxious in the beginning. [bctt tweet=”I found myself panicking and even doubting myself and my capabilities – Habiba Wushishi” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When you are starting a new business, you may not want to hire a manager from the onset because you want to save on costs. So I decided to try out a couple of routines and figure out the best one for me to follow. Since then, I have come up with a system that works perfectly and has enabled me to settle into all those roles comfortably. And as the business grows, I will create a team to fill the roles. Day to day operations will always be a challenge and
4 things to learn from the lady mechanic, Oduwa Agboneni
[bctt tweet=”There is nothing like male-dominated field – Oduwa Agboneni, the lady mechanic” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Oduwa Agboneni is an entrepreneur in a seemingly male-dominated field. By the way, she doesn’t believe that crap of “male dominated” anything. Oh yes, we love that kick-ass spirit. She had her first degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Benin before proceeding to the University of Lagos for a Masters degree in Geoinformatics. She worked previously in the mechanical industry but since she’s always had a flair for business, she knew it was a matter of time before launching hers. Oduwa is the founder of Neni’s Auto Care. Her services range from car wash and detailing (odour removal, polishing, washing, fumigating) to auto-repair (auto diagnosis, body work, panel beating, electrical) and home based repairs. Presently, her employees are 80% male. Although her male staff are fine with her leadership, most times they tell her that she is the first woman they have worked with. They love Oduwa’s leadership skills so much that they no longer see her as a woman. To Oduwa, this shows that success has no gender neither does leadership in the “male-dominated” field. Her goal is to be the richest black woman in Africa. Oduwa would also love to see her business represented in all states in Nigeria and all countries in Africa. She plans to set up an NGO to empower young ladies in STEM, all while being the best wife and mother. Here are four things SLA contributor Ugochi learned after a chat with Oduwa: 1. The most difficult part of being an entrepreneur isn’t funding but coming up with a sustainable idea Motherland Moguls, you need to get in here. Contrary to perception that funding is the major challenge for business owners, Oduwa believes this is not the case. A good idea will always bring in the money eventually. So dream big, start small and grow steadily. She started from a car wash to developing a garage and now Neni’s Auto Care has evolved to perform other services. Good ideas would eventually attract funds as Oduwa is a 2015 recipient of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) grant. [bctt tweet=”A good idea will always bring in the money eventually – Oduwa Agboneni” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. There is nothing like “male-dominated” field Oduwa believes that this is a thing of the mind in this part of the world. So, know what you want and go for it. Motherland Moguls, what are you waiting for? 3. It’s a fallacy that you can’t be feminine in a “male dominated” field Now, there’s that phrase again “male-dominated” but this line of thought is absolutely bullocks. According to Oduwa, it’s all about time management. You can still look good, make your hair and be girly irrespective of the industry you operate in. 4. You can ace marriage and career Even though she has always been a career person, Oduwa knew she had to blend it with her marriage. She has learned to create a balance between her work and her home. Ugochi and Oduwa are currently undergoing a training programme together and Oduwa brought her baby along. But you’d never know there is a baby there because Oduwa is so coordinated and still contributes meaningfully in class. Talk about doing well in all areas. [bctt tweet=”#MotherlandMoguls need to dream big and be open to partnerships” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Final words to the Motherland Mogul You need to dream big and be open to partnerships. Pay attention to your customers and your employees because you need them to grow your business. Be focused, hard-working, determined and prepared at all times. Live your dreams. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Arit Okpo: I call myself a socially adept introvert
[bctt tweet=”@menoword presenter/producer of @TheCrunch_EL is a socially adept introvert” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You may have seen Arit Okpo on TV and marveled at her grace and poise. Arit currently produces and presents The Crunch, the flagship news show for Ebonylife TV. On The Crunch, she discusses and analyses current affairs issues and stories. When she’s not producing content or presenting shows, Arit writes prose, opinion pieces and discussions on current affairs. And she doesn’t stop there, Arit has also functioned as facilitator and event MC for a number of public functions. With all this, it’s kinda hard to believe that Arit is an introvert. For someone who is constantly in front of the camera (whether at work or on her very active Snapchat), Arit has found a way to make her shyness work for her as she forges her path in Nigeria’s media industry. How did you come to be a presenter and producer? I had been thinking about going into media for a while, but thought it was going to be purely behind the scenes as a Producer and Director. One day in 2013 however, I got a call from my now CEO Mo Abudu, informing me that she was launching a new show and that she thought I would be great for it. I had participated in her reality show The Debaters in 2010 and she had remembered me. Even though it was totally unexpected, I knew immediately that this was the opportunity I needed and I said yes to the job! As someone who is shy and an introvert, how do you appear so comfortable in front of the camera? I call myself a socially adept introvert, meaning I have learned how to engage actively in social settings. I bring this to my work in front of the camera, I try to chat and engage as if the people I am talking to are friends sitting right there in the studio with me. When I’m in front of the camera, I talk and act in the very same way I act in my everyday life. In a nutshell, instead of stepping out of my comfort zone, I take my comfort zone to work with me. [bctt tweet=”Instead of stepping out of my comfort zone, I take my comfort zone to work with me – @menoword” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What is the typical day in the life of a producer like? I produce a daily news show and so my day usually consists of; previewing the episode going to air that day, then checking that all the other inserts of the show are ready or being prepared (we produce these ahead of time). I check invitations to events and say yes to the ones that align most closely with our direction as a show and send these off for scheduling. Then, I review the work we have to shoot and try to craft a direction for it. I check the news for the next day and send it off for recording and finally, I scour the web for possible stories and guests that we can feature. This is aside from the meetings, budget preparations, planning and general craziness that is all in a day’s work. What do you think other young women can learn from you career path? There is no one way to achieve your goals. My career path is very varied but each time a new opportunity came up, no matter how out of the way it seemed, I always looked for (and found) a thread tying it to the past and leading to my future. Don’t be afraid to say yes to unexpected opportunities and don’t be afraid to try things you’ve never tried before. [bctt tweet=”Don’t be afraid to say yes to unexpected opportunities @menoword’s advice on career paths” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Do you have a career development plan? If so, can you share it with us? I am very excited about curating and sharing the everyday stories of the continent. Whether it’s our food, our habits, our people or our politics, Africa is a very interesting continent. I look forward to creating content that celebrates the very fabric of who we are –our similarities, differences, hopes, failures and successes. You’re very active on Snapchat. Do you use this medium to actively build your brand or is it something you do for fun? It’s pure fun for me. It’s a chance to share my everyday life, my thoughts and my activities. I enjoy the chance to share with people a little bit more about who I am away from the camera. Your hairstyles and clothing choices on The Crunch are always on fleek, what’s your favourite clothing item? I have a fantastic styling team that does such an awesome job of making me look good and they’ve given me some incredible looks. For my every day look, I’m crazy about my ankara pants of which I have quite a number; they’re comfortable, versatile and made in Nigeria! Do you always have a good night’s sleep? Nope! I only get a full night about 2 nights a week. I am very nocturnal and so my brain starts to wake up around 10pm at night and goes strong till 2–3am. Sadly, this lifestyle is not very compatible with a 9 to 5 job, meaning that on average, I get about 5 hours during the work week. [bctt tweet=”I look forward to creating content that celebrates who we are – @menoword” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How do you find time to write while working full-time on The Crunch? I have to say that it is not always easy. Sometimes I am tired, other times I am simply not in the mood, especially because my job makes me associate writing with work. Deadlines help though, once I have a submission deadline I make it happen. I’m going to work on writing more next year though (I say this every year). If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more
SLA Accelerator Demo Day
Join us on November 20 in Lagos, Nigeria for the Demo Day of our 2016 SLA Accelerator. Demo Day is a public viewing for investors, corporates senior executives and the press to view our most recent accelerator startups. The SLA Accelerator is a 3-month program designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s brightest female entrepreneurs. The selected businesses are: Art Splash Studio – A virtual art studio offering a social art experience through our Paint Nite painting classes hosted at different venues in Abuja. BathKandy Co. – Creates sumptuous dessert-inspired beauty treats for women who crave the finer things. Bubble Tii – Bringing the Bubble Tea phenomena to Africa. DeliveryBros – Helps you save time and stress through pickup and drops from the market to your house or office. Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services – An eco-friendly social enterprise that produces premium organic produce through hydroponics and community action. Keek’s – Designs tailored weight loss packages for busy women who want a plan that is both effective and simple to implement. Koko’s Kitchen – An indigenous brand of confectionary dry mixes specially tailored to suit the taste buds and pocketbook of the quintessential person on the go. Independent Personal Assistant (iPA) – Provides strategic virtual assistance to high-level executives across Africa. We take care of the mundane while you focus on what matters. Medsaf.com – Solves the medical industry’s procurement problem, by providing a technology enabled distribution solution resulting in transparency and simplicity. Shuttlers – Enables professionals to access comfortable and efficient transportation to and from work using seat matching technology. SLA Accelerator is in partnership with the Work in Progress! Alliance and Guaranty Trust Bank The Work in Progress! Alliance is focused on unlocking the economic potential of young women and men in Egypt, Nigeria and Somalia. The project aims to enable them to generate sustainable and living incomes – by finding regular employment or starting enterprises. Alliance partners include Oxfam, VC4Africa and Butterfly Works Guaranty Trust Bank is recognized as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Africa for providing quality service, ethics, professionalism, integrity, innovation and internationally accepted corporate governance standards. SLA Accelerator is also one of 16 global incubators and accelerators selected as a Village Capital Community VilCap Communities enables anyone, anywhere to use peer-selected investment to support entrepreneurs within their communities. In 2016, each VilCap Community will be running its own entrepreneur training program and investing in two ventures using Village Capital’s peer selection methodology.