HGCP 2022 Participants: Adedamola helps Africans feel good and confident in their bodies
Furthering your studies and running a successful business is not for the faint hearted. Our High Growth Coaching Program finalist, Adedamola Oni, is making it look like a walk in the park. Adedamola was raised by an entrepreneurial grandmother who fuelled her love of fashion and drive for life-long learning. Thanks to the women that came before her and taught her what she knows, she is who she is today; the creative director of Mama Eto Alasooke (also called MEALasooke). “I believe in the ability of the African people to create prosperity for themselves that’s why I am creating one of the fastest-growing fashion manufacturing businesses to achieve this end.” – Adedamola Oni She prides herself in having an upscale fashion brand that promotes African ingenuity and fashion. Adedamola is a leader that’s passionate about bringing significant contributions to humanity, helping Africans feel good and confident in their bodies. We had a chill and chatted with her to pokeHGCP 2022 Participants: Adedamola helps Africans feel good and confident in their bodies her brains. Through telling her story, she shares tips and insights to help aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the rocky terrain of business. Tell us a bit about your family and the relationship you have with them? I am the first child out of 3 children of my parents whom I lived with until the age of 2, before going to stay with my grandmother in Somolu Lagos. My relationship with my family has been a very educational one, my grandmother has always prioritized personal and self-directed learning which has become a habit of mine till this day. I am currently completing my Masters program with the determination to become better, all this because of lessons from my family. My parents are still alive, and together, their union has helped me build self-confidence about the future and what it holds. Have you always been entrepreneurial from a young age? I had always wanted to be a lawyer or an educator like my grandmother, until she introduced me to fabric manufacturing, since then I have always dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur creating a business that produces lots and loads of fabrics What would you like to be remembered for? What impact would you want to make in this world? I will be remembered as one of the most inspiring women entrepreneurs of my time, as someone who has as significantly contributed to the human race and has helped elevate the status of African fabrics as exotic on the world change. I will be remembered for bringing prosperity to local artisans in African space What is your ‘why’ i.e. bottom line, and how do you stay motivated? My biggest reason is Africa. I want to see it become a global giant, to see its people live in prosperity, and I believe a business that employs in the fashion space can help. I am motivated knowing that I can harness technology to create change for the world and ensure the sustainability of African culture What led to you starting your own business? I fell in love with the making of Asooke, when my grandmother introduced me to the space. In 1999, she had an idea to start making her own asooke with young people as her primary focus. I was introduced to her community of co-artisans, we went shopping, did accounting together and loved the smell of newly woven fabric. However, her business failed because she was unable to access a consistent market for her products, hence unable to mass produce. I observed that this was the case for other artisans within the space, whom in addition were growing old. When she passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, I caught a vision of what world I could create with the skills she had thought me and with a knowledge of modern business and marketing. I decided to revive and start an African fabric company that makes use of technology and digital tools to promote local fabrics Today, we have served more than 150 customers in more than four (4) continents of the world. What is your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur? I love making the money…but then I love the “Thank you’s” and feedback I receive from customers and also our artisans. We have worked with more than 80 artisans in the last 2 years. I also love the marketing process of my business, and the co-creation with customers. I also love to create strategy and content for business Introduce your company the way you would to a potential customer? A potential customer in this case will be an About-to-be-wedded couple. Hello I am Adedamola from MEALAsooke, and I will make you feel so confident and special for your big day. I am sure you would want to know why. We understand that your wedding day is the celebration of your love journey together and the beginning of a happy ever after, and on this day you would want to have all your loved ones come celebrate you in style. We will make you look so sweet and special by co-creating and recommending the best designs that will paint a story of your journey together. 10 years from now, you’d look at your wedding photos and beam with pride! What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? The skill of Leadership to lead the organisation to its goal The skill of Never-ending Personal Development The skill of Discipline to do what must be done to succeed What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our community? The best advice is the one I received from my mentor during the HGCP program, to never give up and consistently refine my products for the final customer How do you handle or manage stresses of being an entrepreneur? I always try to invest in relationship and when I am stressed I find it relieving when I talk to my
HGCP 2022 Participants: Kosi creates content that amplifies businesses’ marketing effort
“Looking back now, I am extremely grateful for my orientation & past experiences because it has groomed me to be resilient, to always bet on myself, to do my best & leave the rest to God. “- Kosi Hey, Motherland Moguls!!! It is time for another HGCP feature!!! Today we have Kosi Ofodile of K21 Media, a boutique creative agency that takes an iterative approach to our media production to ensure that our videos amplify our clients’ voices and appeal to their respective target audiences. We had a chat with Kosi and we promise you mogul, there is so much to learn! Tell us a bit about your background – how did you get to this point? I was born and raised in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The first out of 4 siblings, alongside my twin brother. Growing up, I had a beautiful childhood. Loved playing Sims, lots of dancing and spelling B competitions, was such a girly girl, but still lied in a timid girl next door. Thankfully, with the help of my mother who was/is constantly encouraging me to remember where I come from & with the help of my lesson teacher, Mr. Kehinde, the journey to confident Kosi began. Looking back now, I am extremely grateful for my orientation & past experiences because it has groomed me to be resilient, to always bet on myself, to do my best & leave the rest to God. This has been my mantra since I turned 16 & I have my mum to thank for this. Both my parents have entrepreneurial backgrounds and have been of great influence, so I’m not too surprised I took on this path. What was your dream job or career path when growing up? To be an accountant (even if my math was bad lol) Tell us a bit about your family and the relationship you have with them? (Mention the people you live with, family or kids) I am so generously blessed to have a close-knit relationship and family who truly support my passions and every move. I come from a family of 4, we are all so creative & individualistic in nature. My dad is fearless, no other words to describe him. He fears no one, absolutely no one! My mum is my first friend and there is absolutely nothing I cannot talk to her about. I believe I can weather any storm with her by my side literally. My twin brother is constantly thinking out of the box and is not easily impressed by a lot of things, which challenges me to always be innovative & forward-thinking. He is also introverted and has a very high level of self-awareness which is truly refreshing. My younger siblings (sister & brother) are like my babies, they make us laugh a lot and are equally as independent. They are a vibe! What you would to be remembered for? What impact would you want to make in this world? I want to be remembered for showing love to others and being a solution provider in creative and thrilling ways. I want to be remembered for empowering brands and people with story-telling and positioning them to shoot for the skies What is your ‘why’ i.e. bottom line, and how do you stay motivated? Knowing that I have an appointment to keep by God and that I must fulfill is all the motivation I need. Tell us more about your entrepreneurial journey. When I moved back to Nigeria in 2016, I started working at one of the top broadcasting agencies in Nigeria, which exposed me to production. In 2017, I got an opportunity to work with a client who wanted to start a YouTube channel to share her lifestyle experiences in video content. After this project, I soon realized that many SMEs and personal brands did not have the purchasing power to outsource video production to heavy hitter agencies and big media houses/production companies. I observed this pain point and birthed K21 in 2018 to fill this gap. The rest is history What is your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur? No two days are the same and seeing the satisfaction first-hand on my client’s face once a problem has been solved Introduce your company the way you would to a potential customer? We are a boutique creative agency that take an iterative approach to our media production to ensure that our videos amplify our clients’ voices and appeal to their respective target audiences. We are very modern in the way that we project the product offerings of our clients, which is why we focus on brand storytelling (i.e., we don’t do videos for weddings, bridal showers, or event videos unless it has to do with the product of the brand or the service that the brand is offering). So that is how we’ve been able to set ourselves apart from the rest. For us, video storytelling is our way of positioning brands to shoot for the skies, and our core goal at K21 is to share brand stories in innovative and thrilling ways. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Resilience, Grit & Discipline What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our community? You have to know what sparks the light in you, so that you in your own way can illuminate the world. How do you handle or manage stresses of being an entrepreneur? Prayer & mini breaks across intervals during the day. What do you feel are your biggest achievements? At a point when Covid hit and things felt like they were going downhill, our resilience and ability to pivot our offerings and make even larger income than we did pre-covid is a defining moment for me. Amidst the hurdles and challenges faced, we pulled through! What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in? Market research & Innovation- it
HGCP 2022 Participants: Pamela brings ethically farmed food produce to the market
We are so excited to introduce our motherland moguls to Pamela Orbih, a Petroleum Engineer, an entrepreneur, a mum, a wife, and a 2022 HGCP participant. It was so refreshing speaking to Pamela, her energy for life and her passion for her business Yummly by Nature were inspiring. Yummly Nature sells the best quality ethically-farmed food produce like Sweetcorn, Potatoes, and Bell Peppers, to be delivered directly to your doorstep within 24 hours of harvest. I am sure you are wondering just like we did before we had this interview with Pamela “Why would a Petroleum Engineer in Nigeria choose entrepreneurship over “oil money”? Please sit back and relax and get yourself a drink or a cup of coffee (depending on the time you are reading this) “I do what I do because of the burning passion I have to bridge the gap between the local farmers and the customers. The fulfillment is derived when I know my business is slowly building a healthy populace due to the ethically farmed food products we provide to our customers. I stay motivated by constantly reminding myself that I am making an impact in the life and general well-being of someone out there, by them just purchasing their food products from us.”- Pamela Orbih A bit about her background: Pamela was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria by very intentional parents. Her parents played a huge role in her life and Pamela describes them as intentional. “My love for Mathematics and problem solving influenced my decision to study Petroleum Engineering at the University. Upon graduation, I was opportune to work in a company where I slowly transitioned from Petroleum Engineering to HR Recruitment. Worked in HR for about 4 years” With your background, how did you end up founding a thriving business? “I have never been entrepreneurial. I had thought I’d be a 9 to 5er as I started corporate work quite early. The 2020 pandemic lockdown gave me an opportunity to become an entrepreneur. This ushered me into my new path in the Agribusiness industry where I founded my business, Yummly Nature. I’ll say my core values of honesty, transparency, and putting in the work, have helped me persevere in building my business from scratch to the level it has attained at this point.” Wow! The irony! 2020 was a dark time globally but it also birthed Yummly by Nature. So what would you want to be remembered for? “I want to be remembered for the woman who disrupted her industry and innovated various sustainable solutions in the Agribusiness industry. I want to be remembered as a woman who mentored and helped young ladies step out of their comfort zone and reach their full potential.” What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our community? Run your business like a proper business. Know your numbers like the back of your hands and create standard operating procedures for activities within your business. What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs invest their time in? Attending pitching events to boost their confidence in talking about their business, also, Networking with other entrepreneurs What has your experience been like as one of the finalists to the program? It’s been amazing. I love my buddy, Bolanle, and my Coach, Ifeoma. The facilitators have been super amazing. I’m loving it in our community By the end of the 12 weeks, what would you like to have learned from the trainers and coaches? I would love to have learned proper business structuring.
HGCP 2022 Participants: Esther is dedicated to nurturing young minds
“I will like to be remembered for the impact I made in the lives of children from underserved communities and how through the skills set they acquire from the Community Innovation Hub, they were able to rewrite their poverty story/history of their families” For Esther growing up in Akoko, Ondo State was no excuse to dream small instead it challenged her to push beyond her limitations and at the same time create opportunities for underprivileged children to excel. Read our inspiring interview with Esther Ajayi, co-founder of Community Innovation Hub, a Hub that equips children with 21st Century Skills. Who is Esther, where do you come from how did you get to this point? I was born in Akoko in the Northwest area of Ondo state, Nigeria. I grew up in Ondo State. I had no mentor(s) who believed in me or could point me in the right direction. When I moved to Lagos, I found out I was ignorant about so many things and had so much to learn. There was a lot of work to do personally and so I had to buckle down to build my capacity to catch up with some years I felt were wasted. This is the inspiration behind what I do. I set myself on a course to give children from underserved communities the privilege I never had by equipping them through the Community Innovation Hub. What advice or tips would you give your younger self? Thank you for this question, I am a mum of two now and sometimes I reflect on what advice I will give my children as they get older, so to my 15-year-old self, I will say this: “Hey little Esther, You can learn anything you set your mind to learn. Have a possibility and growth mindset. Find a mentor and find opportunities to volunteer because in volunteering you find who you truly are and those who you are called to help.” How do you stay motivated and inspired? I do not want other children to go through what I went through while growing up, that is my why, and I stay motivated by reading the success stories of those that have passed through my incubation So, tell us more about the Community Innovation Hub? The Community Innovation Hub solves the problem of educational gaps. With CIH, my team and I equip young people with 21st-century skills. Our unique selling point, aside from teaching the skills is that we provide children with mentorship and guidance on how to write scholarship applications and they also get registered for local and international competitions in the area of their skills. What’s been the most significant thing you’ve done to grow your business? The most significant thing I have done to grow my business is to tell my business story, rightly. What skills would you say are required in becoming a successful entrepreneur? Marketing- You must be able to sell your business anywhere and anytime. Emotional intelligence- to relate with people, your network is your net worth. Critical thinking skills- it is a jungle out there, especially for entrepreneurs in Nigeria and so you need critical thinking skills to solve unique problems that arise. What do you feel are your biggest achievements? My biggest achievement is seeing children from the Innovation Hub winning scholarships abroad and winning local competitions. What has your experience been like as one of the finalists to the program? The feeling is something I am still basking in. I am excited to be among the finalists and most importantly, the learnings in the program are going to help me take my business to another level. It really feels great to be part of the 2022 Cohort. What is your favourite quote or saying? “We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it” Barrack Obama
HGCP 2022 Participants: Abigail is promoting happy periods through technology
From a slum-like community in Bariga, Somolu in Lagos, to running her own business that provides healthcare solutions to women. Abigail Ogunyemi is the founder of Mellopads, and also part of the 2022 SLA’s High Growth Coaching Program. “Trust yourself more, because only you can change your life. No one else will do it for you.” – Abigail Ogunyemi She is committed and dedicated to the advancements of the lives of women. When Abigail had her first period at 13, she had no one to guide her through the new body changes. Little did she know then that she was going to be a changemaker in so many women’s lives. We were privileged to have a conversation with her, and this is what she had to say. What do you enjoy most about running your own business? It is having the opportunity to take an idea and inspire other people around me to contribute to making it better and put it into action. How would you describe your company Mellopads? The Mellopads is a life-changing company that is committed toward bettering women’s healthcare through our various range of easy-to-use products and services. How did the idea to start your business come about? I suffered excruciating menstrual pain to a point that schooling for a full month was a challenge sometimes. At that time, I knew something was wrong, so I decided to solve one of my most difficult health challenges of menstrual pain. I would have continued to pursue a law degree in a Nigerian university, but I got an opportunity to study at the African Leadership University in Kigali, Rwanda. And that was my AHA! moment – when I knew I could really be anything outside conventional and in learned that entrepreneurship was a state of mind. I kept pursuing opportunities in the field of women’s healthcare until I was able to garner enough knowledge to propose a solution to alleviating menstrual pain, the Mello heat pads. It is still in the pursuit of better women’s healthcare that I got through the High Growth Coaching Program of the SLA to secure my business growth. What do you feel are your biggest achievements in your entrepreneurial journey? Raising grants for the business and being in the HGCP program. Share how your experience has been as one of the HGCP 2022 finalists? It has been 200% rewarding. It has been more than I was expecting but durrr, it is very common to see SLA exceed your expectations. I have a wonderfully blunt and knowledgeable mentor (my kinda person) and my fellow cohort members are sweet! What would you like to have learned from the trainers and coaches by the end of the program? Team management, how to raise funds and SLAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY:))))) What are your top 3 traits of a successful entrepreneur? Open-mindedness, resilience and honesty What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our community? Your business failure does not mean you’re a failure, you need to have a life outside of your start-up. Enjoy the process. What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in? Eating healthy, prioritizing their health, reading business books, attending networking events and keeping a journal of their entrepreneurial journey. For more information about Abigail please visit: Abigail Ogunyemi LinkedIn profile Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.
HGCP 2022 Participants: Chioma is bringing pride in owning African made products
Born in a family of three. Raised by a strong and entrepreneurial woman. Meet Chioma Ukpabi, the founder of Kahdsole Designs, a woman that knows what starting from the bottom means. She is a young woman who prides herself in changing the narrative about made in Nigeria products. Chioma is one of the High Growth Coaching Program’s finalists . We sat her down for a conversation and here is what she had to say. “Opening my inbox and seeing mails from young ladies across Africa who write to me about the inspiration they get from me keeps me inspired to always want to keep going.” – Chioma Ukpabi Tell us a bit about yourself and how did you get to this point? I was born in Owerri, Imo State and was raised by my late grandma who was a business woman. I had my basic education at Lighthouse Startright High School and did my tertiary education at Bowen University. Growing up with my grandmother made me love and appreciate entrepreneurship. That is why after school I decided to launch my own company with the little savings I had instead of waiting for a job. The journey hasn’t been all rosy but we keep thriving. I used to shy away from people when I was younger but now entrepreneurship has brought out the extrovert in me. Have you always been entrepreneurial, what led you to taking that first step and setting up your own business? Share your journey. I didn’t want to be an entrepreneur but after my university education, I couldn’t sit around waiting for a job. So I had to make use of the knowledge I got from my grandmother who was a successful business woman to kickstart my brand and there has been no regret ever since. What would you say has contributed to the success of your business? Always showing up even when I feel less motivated and utilising all platforms I have access to sell our brand. Share with us, what your business does? Kahdsole Designs is a leather product manufacturing company that makes quality shoes, belts, bags and other leather accessories. We never compromise on quality and always give the best value for money. What would you like to be remembered for? What legacy do you want to leave in this world? I want to be remembered as someone who massively contributed in changing the narrative about made in Nigeria products by keeping to these three values; quality, integrity and excellence. What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in? Effective delegation is one crucial activity I would encourage entrepreneurs to invest their time in. It will save them from burnout in their journey. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here. [mailerlite_form form_id=15]
HGCP 2022 Participants: Christianah shares her story of rising up through tenacity to build a business
This year’s edition of the High Growth Coaching Program promises to be very exciting for our founders. The SLA team sifted through over a 1000 applications and after a rigorous application process we selected our top 20 participants. We are so proud of how far they have come. On a weekly basis we will introduce you to our participants, their story and their business. On today’s feature we sat down with Christianah Imole-Ayo Owoeye, co-founder of Trash Monger to share her story on coming from a humble background and rising up through tenacity to build a business that would empower women. “Always be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn.” – Christianah Imole-Ayo Owoeye Tell us a bit about yourself? I was born in Agege Local Government Area in Lagos. I am the second child of six and the first female child in my family. My primary education was in Lagos while my Secondary Education and Tertiary Education were in Ogun State. I am a graduate of Business Administration. Growing up wasn’t fun until I found my Identity in Christ which gave my life a new meaning and purpose. Apart from running Trash Monger. I am a soulful gospel minister, artist, and scriptwriter. During my National Youth Service, I participated in several advocacies through the Community Development Service (CDS). I was an active member of the Federal Road Safety Corp CDS group and often engaged in sensitization projects among women and girls on personal hygiene through the reproductive health CDS group. My work with the Reproductive Health CDS group increased my passion for an impactful life which made me volunteer in a recycling organization where I built my knowledge about the Waste Management sector where I now fully operate and lead. I would say one of the best gifts received growing up was education. What was your favourite subject at school and why? Psychology; I like being able to understand human feelings through what they are saying or not saying. What was your dream job or career path when growing up? Growing up I wanted to be a cosmetologist, but I was not sure if I could study this as a course in a university. I remember that as a secondary student in Nigeria, you had to choose between two or three pathways that determine the subjects you will learn as a senior secondary school student, I decided to choose the “art” pathway because I thought that it would have some connection to cosmetics. I didn’t realize how wrong I was until I was in my second year of high school. I remember crying when I realized my mistake. However, it did not turn out all bad, I realized that I had a knack for writing, acting and playing musical instruments. Tell us a bit about your family and the relationship you have with them? I am married to my friend of over 7 years and it’s being over a year of beautiful communion and friendship. Tell us about the legacy you want to leave in this world? What you would to be remembered for? That I gave hope, that I lived a life that would inspire you to take life as a gift. Have you always been entrepreneurial, what led you to taking that first step and setting up your own business? Right from when I was a teenager, I had always loved proffering solutions and rendering services. When I was younger I helped manage my dad’s pepper soup business. I loved seeing the joy on our customer’s faces after serving them. I also sold jewellery and clothes in school to support myself. Ah! I also had a failed business, it was a recharge card business. As a new entry in the waste management sector the ability to impact the local communities mostly women and youths while contributing to achieving a sustainable environment makes being a social entrepreneur interesting and inspiring. What is your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur? The ability to impact the lives of local women and youths while contributing to achieving a sustainable environment makes entrepreneurship a journey worth being a part of. Introduce your company the way you would to a potential customer? Trash Monger Limited is a waste collection and recycling social enterprise that is into the collection and recycling of waste into sustainable raw material for manufacturing processes. Since we started the business we have been able to create over 300 green job opportunities for internally displaced women and youths from underserved communities. Also, through our initiative we have carried out sensitizations within local communities on the importance of recycling and how to achieve a sustainable environment. What’s been the most significant thing you’ve done to grow your business? Continually learning through courses, mentorships and growing my network. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Management [money, time, leadership] skills, Strategic thinking skills and A good communication skills What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our community? Always be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here. [mailerlite_form form_id=31]
HGCP 2021 Participants: Victoria Ajayi founded Chow Noodle Bar from her drive to find her purpose.
I sat down with Victoria Ajayi, the visionary founder of Chow Noodle Bar to get to know her and find out more about the inspiration behind Nigerian’s Chinese food noodle bar. Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Victoria Ajayi. I was born and raised in Lagos. I later moved to the UK for my tertiary education, where I studied pharmacy and worked in the pharmaceutical industry for several years in the UK. I am married with 2 kids, which keeps me busy and really put things into perspective. I am a strong leader who is passionate about my own development as well as that of others around me. I am quirky with a weird sense of humor. I laugh easily, I love easy and I throw myself and all I have into everything I do. What is your ‘why’ i.e. bottom line? I have a purpose and agenda. I am motivated by the drive to find my purpose and live it out in all areas of my life. I want to die empty knowing I did my best and gave my best and lived my best life. What do you do for fun/relaxation? I enjoy going to the movies, hanging out with friends and reading. I read some fiction and a lot of books about self discovery, purpose and self-development. Fun fact about me is that I enjoy watching movies without sound (with subtitles of course). What do you feel are your biggest achievements? Having taken my business from inception to where it is today. I am also very proud of my volunteer work where we run community empowerment initiatives. We recently had a Children’s Drive for Valentine’s Day where we spent the day with children on the streets and gave them parcels with colouring books, food, devotionals and colouring pencils. We also held a Widows outreach for International Widows Day where the ladies came together to share their experiences with people who understand what they’re going through. We also gave the ladies makeovers. It was an emotional healing session. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur? My favorite part of being an entrepreneur would have to be learning the different aspects of running a business. Figuring out what needs to be done and getting it done. What was the inspiration behind your business and how did you come up with the name for your company? Chow Noodle Bar was birthed in uni. There was a restaurant/diner we frequented that had affordable generous portions and that is what I decided to go for and bring home. I am very passionate about this business and when I started I was very selective about my team so they can share my passion. I am constantly working on identifying areas of self-improvement for them and myself which will in turn grow my business. Well, there’s three parts to the name. Chow is a Nigerian & Chinese term that everyone associates with food, Noodle because we knew we were making Noodles (duh) and Bar because we were going for a casual bar setting as opposed to a formal restaurant setting. Introduce your company the way you would to a potential customer. At Chow Noodle Bar we are all about providing an authentic tasteful and vibrant Asian street food experience. We have positioned ourselves to cater for those with a fast lifestyle who eat out at least once a day because of long hours. What has been a make or break moment in your entrepreneurial journey? When I was pregnant with my first son, the business was still new and I was still doing everything myself. It was a very challenging time and I wasn’t in a position to hire anyone so I had to either carry on by myself or quit. I carried on and managed through the ups and downs of pregnancy and got done what needed to get done. How have you carved a niche for yourself in your industry? We’ve established and positioned our brand as a household name through packaging. Where do you see your business in the next 5 years? My goal is for Chow Noodle Bar to become a Franchise model with multiple stores around Africa. We also want to host a training academy for youth that focuses on skill acquisition such as offering internships in different industries using our franchises. What’s been the most significant thing you’ve done to grow your business? I’d say constantly asking and listening to what the customer wants and then changing and evolving with our customers. What would you say are the top three characteristics needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Having a spirit f persistence and determination, leadership and having a clear sense of purpose and self awareness, having values and staying true to them. What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule? Putting some system in place and automating and delegating as much as possible. What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our community? Do not allow the state of things (in business, industry, economy etc.) to dictate your emotions. What is your favorite book? How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie What advice will you give young entrepreneurs who are just starting out?’ Have a clear plan and persist to make your plan come to pass. You must also be flexible. Victoria is currently on the High Growth Coaching Program hard at work preparing Chow Noodle Bar to grow and become a franchise model all across Africa.
“At the age of 12, I was already selling.” Meet Feligold Food and Spice owner, Felicia Ogumah
Felicia Ogumah is the brains and strength behind Feligold Food and Spices, a food company based in Warri, Delta State that began in October 2019. They package and sell food items like dry fish, crayfish, prawns, melons and local spices. Felicia’s business skill is something that has been cultivated since childhood. She says, “I grew up selling. At the age of 12, I was already selling. I think it is something that is a part of me. My friends tell me ” Feli there is nothing you can not sell. Even if they package stick and give you, you will sell.” This article covers Felicia’s experiences running Feligold food and spice and valuable lessons you can take away from it. Warning: Checking Felicia’s Facebook and Instagram page, will make you buy something. What is the inspiration behind Feligold Food and Spice? It, first of all, came as an insight, an inspiration from God. When I first started, it was something I really just wanted to do with everything that I have and am. God was stirring it in my heart to do it and so far it has been very profitable. God has been involved in the sourcing to get my products. I had no level of experience, I had no one putting me through, I did not go for any offline or even online training on Food and Spice. Divine connection came in. God was strategically connecting me to people. In fact, I am amazed! [bctt tweet=”If it is just crayfish you want to sell, put all your effort into selling that crayfish. Don’t jump into doing everything at once. Pick one thing and try to get the best out of it before moving to something else.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How do you manage Feligold Food and Spice? For now, we ship to Benin, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Anambra. We have even shipped to a customer in Europe. That particular customer contacted me through Instagram. In fact, I get most of my customers online. The lockdown affected us because most of my clients are outside Delta State. When the roads were eventually opened, the cost of the way-bill was high. Doing business right now is not the way it was before the virus. I pray everything goes back to normal” [bctt tweet=”If you choose to do something, let it be something people identify you with because you are passionate about what you are doing.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] From her business experience with Feligold Food and Spice, Felicia has three major business tips. Have a good reason for starting your business. Don’t go into the food business only because you think it is something that must sell. Everybody is into food business now. You have to have a passion for it and know why you started. It is important to know your why! Be focused. If it is just crayfish you want to sell, put all your effort into selling that crayfish. Don’t jump into doing everything at once. Pick one thing and try to get the best out of it before moving to something else. Be known for something. Let people know you for something. If you choose to do something, let it be something people identify you with because you are passionate about what you are doing.
“Your Skin Is A Priority” Meet Adi + Bolga Co-Founder Oluwaferanmi Ogundipe
If you meet Feranmi, you may wonder, “why does she love skincare so much? What is it about skincare that makes her tick?” Feranmi’s love for skincare stemmed from her personal battle with acne some years ago. During our conversation, she said, “I wasn’t one to have acne and at one point I had terrible acne and everyone was like “Feranmi, what is going on with your skin?” Struggling with acne or other skin conditions? Download the Adi + Bolga app to get skin care advice and solutions today! I remember walking into pharmacies to ask for a solution and they couldn’t quite give me guidance. I remember going back and asking a new friend that I just met because I saw that she had some insight into skincare and she said, “I think you have combination skin and you should get a gel cleanser.” I got the gel cleanser and just that small tip from her made my life so much easier. My co-founder and have had this type of experience so we said why don’t we just create something for skincare that will help people out?” “Your skin is a priority” Feranmi believes that skincare is a necessity for every person. That is one of the guiding ideas for the platform she and her co-founder are working tirelessly to create. However, she acknowledges that different reasons- a major one being money, keeps us from making our skincare a priority. Adi + Bolga plans to help out with this by creating a budget-friendly system for buying skincare products. As Feranmi said, “we are trying to see if we can help people pay in installments for some of the products because not everyone can afford to buy all of the products they need at once. This will really be for those who have serious problems with acne or other skin care conditions.” Adi + Bolga has just launched its platform, BARE to help you navigate the confusing chatter around skincare, particularly for black men and women anywhere in the world, through virtual consultations and accurate product matching to skin type and skin conditions. On their platform, you can get a skin analysis, product recommendations, and a clear plan on how to use them. Adi + Bolga is also the parent company of Bare the Community, an interactive online community for skincare lovers. On there, they share stunning skincare content and offer great advice and product recommendations for different skin types and conditions. What you can learn from Feranmi’s business experience Know your why: Your goal should be at the forefront of your mind. Be clear on your why. Know what you are in that space to do. This will guide the skills you decide to learn to run your business well. This will also guide the kind of strategies you put in place for your business. Listen to your customers: Sometimes, people reach out to us for product recommendations and the product we may want to recommend is not within their budget or easily accessible in their location. This lets us know how best we can serve our audience. It may now lead to questions like, do we look for cheaper or more accessible products to recommend? Do we contact the brand to find out if they can make their product accessible to our audience? Make your services clear: It is important to make your services clear and understandable to the people you are trying to serve. One of our main challenges is getting people to understand that our service is new. It is not common. We are introducing a new idea to the public and it is always a challenge getting them to understand what we do and why it is beneficial. Let’s say I develop a cream, that will be easy to sell because everybody understands what cream is and what cream should do. I can easily push that but a beauty tech platform is different. It is a very new idea so I need to make sure our services are clear. You can join the Adi+Bolga community by following Bare the Community on Twitter and Instagram. For more juicy skincare tips sign up for their newsletters.