Twitter Chat with Shade Ladipo: How consistent career development helped me become a better leader (Aug. 9)
In case you missed this Twitter chat, see the oh- so-good moments below! Have you ever thought of starting a management company and growing it into a profitable business? Or becoming that Motherland Mogul in management with a six digit salary? If you think it, act on it! As young African women, you need to equip yourselves, plan for your future, and prepare to scale up that ladder of success, even when you’re starting from the bottom. Join us on Wednesday, Aug. 9th for a Twitter chat with travel/media entrepreneur & the country director for WEConnect International – Shade Ladipo, as she enlightens young African women interested in management, on how consistent career development has helped her grow and become a better leader. Shade who founded a destination management company from nothing at age 25, believes that education and career development is the most important driving force for every aspiring Motherland Mogul. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Why women in management need education and career development Gender bias, feminism and gender roles in today’s society 5 reasons why consistent career development is critical to leadership Twitter chat details Date: Wednesday 9th August Time: 12 pm NYC // 5 pm Lagos // 6 pm Joburg Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Here are some moments from the chat: About Shade Shade Ladipo is the Executive Director of WEConnect International , a travel and media entrepreneur and a social activist. At the age of 25, Shade founded Avienti Limited – a Destination Management company with three offices in Nigeria. She has also worked with the United Nations Volunteers Nigeria and several advertising agencies where she specialized in event management, account management, and client services and strategy. Shade has been recognized by several platforms for her work as a change agent and businesswoman. She has been nominated for the Future Awards Africa Awards, chosen as 101 Young Achievers at the African Business Forum in Accra Ghana in 2008, and selected as a Goldman Sachs fellow. Shade regularly appears on radio programs and at live events to talk about everything she is passionate about, including leading a successful business in Nigeria.
Twitter Chat with Osayi Emokpae Lasisi: Finding Your Entrepreneurial passion as a new mom (Mar. 31)
Becoming a mother may be the most amazing experience ever. But that being said, what’s next for you? It’s about time you got your groove back and attain those future goals you’ve been dreaming of, by finding your entrepreneurial passion, and most importantly, making money from it. Join us on Friday, Mar. 31st for a Twitter chat with money making mom and virtual summit queen, Osayi Emokpae Lasisi as we discuss ways young moms can find their entrepreneurial passion and be at the top of their game. Osayi helps moms gain the knowledge and experience they need to start and build a successful business through her blog Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Finding your entrepreneurial passion Monetizing your passion Overcoming challenges Figuring out work/life transitions Twitter chat details Date: Friday 31st March Time: 12pm Lagos// 1pm Joburg// 3pm Nairobi Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Join @SheLeadsAfrica & @OsayiLasisi for #SLAChats on Friday Mar. 31st at 12pm GMT+1″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] About Osayi Osayi is the Queen of Virtual Summits (online conferences). She is the convener of the MoneyMaking series of Virtual Summits, MoneyMaking Transition, MoneyMaking Book, and the MoneyMaking Blog Virtual Summit. Her book is one of the best resources for those interested in creating their first virtual summit- “Your First Virtual Summit: Everything you need to know.” You can find out more about her and get her free resources. Osayi is also the mommy of the most amazing Toddler, Princess.
Twitter Chat with Bloggers: How to become a pro-blogger
Is becoming a blogger one of your goals for 2017? Have you started a blog but can’t quite get it off the ground? Interested in blogging but not quite sue what it entails, if it’s right for you or how to start? Are you already a blogger but want to connect with other bloggers and ask some of your pressing questions? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you need to join our twitter chat. You’ll get a chance to hear the stories of 4 awesome bloggers around the African continent and ask any questions you have. Join us Thursday Dec. 22nd for a twitter chat with 4 bloggers who have been in the game for a while. Nantobeko Tshabalala is a Swazi blogger who writes about pressing topics in politics and culture. Tuke Morgan is a Nigerian blogger who writes about fashion, travel and food. Thembi Terry Zulu is a Zimbabwean blogger who blogs about her personal life and the adventures she faces daily. Cassie Daves is a Nigerian blogger who writes about fashion, blogging and her lifestyle. All of them have unique and interesting stories and insights to share. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Is blogging right for you? How to get started in blogging Best tips for growing your audience How to balance your blog with other life goals How to use your blog to make connections Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Dec.22nd, 2016 Time: 1pm Lagos // 2pm Lobamba // 3pm Harare Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Dec. 22nd @NonoTsh @TukeMorgan @cassie_daves and @ThembiTerry will give #blogging tips on #SLAChats ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] About the bloggers: Nontobeko Tshabalala, a blogger and social media extrovert, believes good writing enhances the experience of life. She is passionate about the youth and its involvement in making worthwhile contributions to the discourse around issues such as gender disparity, Afrocentricity and firmly believes they hold the answers to how we can achieve sustainable development as a continent. Nono is a member of the AUC/IPPF young Journalist’s Network and has worked in her country, Swaziland, to sensitise other youth on using their voices to speak out more on global issues. Adetuke Morgan is a Vivacious Nigerian Lady with a keen interest in the Arts. With a BSc in Economics from the Prestigious University of Nottingham, UK, she is paving a name for herself in the Creative World by expressing her talents through various outlets. She is an award winning , Food Photographer, Lifestyle Blogger, Saxophonist, Content Creator and Performing Artist who blogs about Style, Food, Beauty, Hair, Events & Experiences at www.tukesquest.com. Thembi Terry Zulu studied Journalism and Media Studies at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). She is a personal blogger by passion and a publicist by profession. Her interests lie in women’s development, the youths in arts and the environment. Thembi contributes to several publications such as Induna Magazine, Divas Inc magazine, Kalabash Media and Kwantuthu Arts magazine amongst others. Her blog is an opinionated yet humorous take on a young woman’s journey through life, love and everything else. She has been blogging for over 3 years and aspires to go into vlogging next. Cassie Daves is a Medical Doctor. Creative Entrepreneur, and a fashion and lifestyle blogger.
Twitter Chat with Tania Omotayo: You, Your 9-5, Your Side Hustle & Your Brand (Dec. 8)
Balancing your day job and your side side hustle is never easy. It’s even harder when your 9-5 is with a budding company in the entertainment industry and your side hustle is a modeling career, among other things. Top that all off with aspirations to start your own company and build your personal brand and you’ve got one busy schedule. How do you keep track of it all and how do you get the skills to do so many separate things? Join us Thursday Dec. 8th for a twitter chat with the one and only Tania Omotayo. She is making a name for herself across the entertainment, marketing and modeling world and she is about to reveal some news about a fashion business she has been working on for a year. Don’t just wait and watch! Learn from this Motherland Mogul that is moving and shaking across the Nigerian sector and beyond. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Breaking into the entertainment or fashion industry What does it mean to be a Creative Analyst How to start your own business in entertainment, marketing, or fashion Staying on top of everything Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Dec. 8, 2016 Time: 7am NYC // 1pm Lagos // 3pm Nairobi Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Join @SheLeadsAfrica & @TaniaOmotayo for #SLAChats on Thurs Dec. 8th at 12pm GMT. ” via=”no”] About Tania Omotayo Tania Omotayo is a versatile young lady born in Lagos to Austrian and Nigerian parents. From age 14, she studied in the UK and America, and graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta with honours in advertising, before returning to Nigeria to start a career in Brand Management. She has over 4 years’ experience working in branding and media companies that have managed and worked with some of Nigeria’s biggest profile entertainers and corporate clients including MTN, Pepsi, and Nigerian Breweries. She also runs her own company, a branding and digital marketing consultancy for small and medium size enterprises. She is passionate about midwifing the growth of brands. Tania’s formal career as a model started in 2014 when she was the face of a leading Nigerian fashion house Jewel By Lisa’s ‘Print Party’ campaign for online retailer Fashpa. In 2015, Tania became the face of fashion designer Maju’s ‘Rinnovo’ collection. In 2016 she became the face of Last Shot recovery drink as well as the face of Nigeria’s prestigious designer eyewear storehouse ‘House of Lunnettes’. In the same year, she made her debut on the runway, closing for bespoke designer Mai Atafo at the Lagos Fashion and Design Week.
Twitter Chat with Tsholofelo Dikobe: Building a multifaceted fashion career (Dec. 1)
There are various ways to get involved in the fashion industry besides fashion design. We recently met a Motherland Mogul who is making waves in the fashion industry via multiple channels. Unable to be branded under just one category of fashion, Motswana Tsholofelo Dikobe, is known as a fashion artist. As a fashion journalist, blogger, curator, stylist and creative consultant, Tsholofelo is fully immersed and respected in the world of fashion. She is currently in the running for Southern Africa’s Most Stylish Female Celebrity. Join us Thursday Dec. 1st for a Twitter chat with Tsholofelo Dikobe. She’ll be sharing with us how she has been able to build her own niche within the fashion world and created a career for herself on her own terms. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Networking and making connections in the fashion world What it means to be a fashion artist How to become a stylist for A-listers and celebrities Staying unique and wading through the noise Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Dec. 1, 2016 Time: 7am NYC // 1pm Lagos // 3pm Gaborone Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Join @TheKhoi_Fro & @sheleadsafrica for a twitter chat about building a fashion career, Dec. 1 @ 12pm GMT” via=”no”] About Tsholofelo Dikobe Named a fashion trail-blazer you should follow by CNN, Tsholofelo Dikobe is a fashion artist from Botswana. Tsholofelo Dikobe is the co-founder and fashion artistic director of GaTsh Fros, a creative duo that focuses on advocating for creativity and confidence building through fashion. She is widely regarded as a pioneer in fashion, image consultancy and fashion creative direction within Botswana. Tsholofelo works with Botswana fashion enthusiasts on brand positioning to help brand a new Botswana where now the focus is in favour of raiment designs by local Botswana artists. Tsholofelo has worked as fashion stylist alongside one of UK’s top stylists, Arieta Muray, for Gaborone Fashion Week featuring people like Quincy Brown, LaQuan Smith, YaYa Dacosta and Sessille Lopez. She had also appeared in campaigns and her style had been profiled by CNN African Voices, ELLE Magazine, S.A. New African Woman magazine, Marie Claire, AfroElle, Glamour and many others.
Twitter Chat with Alina Vinogradova: The importance of programming for African start-ups (Nov. 24th)
African start-ups are coming up across the continent, but the investments and programming needed to ensure their growth aren’t always there. What needs to happen for the number of investments and programming for African start-ups to increase? What should investors and venture capitalists be doing to increase the strength of the African start-up space and what can entrepreneurs themselves be doing to attract the right kinds of investments? Given She Leads Africa’s accelerator program and our recent Demo Day, SLA is working hard to address these questions. Along with our partners from VC4Africa, Work in Progress, and others, SLA is working to ensure African entrepreneurs have the tools & resources they need to reach their goals. Join SLA & Alina Vinogradova of VC4Africa on Nov. 24th, for a discussion on the importance of programming for African start-ups, whether it’s accelerator programs, incubators, pitch competitions or anything else that exposes African start-ups to investors and mentors. In particular, we will focus on why we need more programming focused on African women entrepreneurs and encouraging their growth across the sector. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: The toughest barriers to African entrepreneurs accessing finance, investors & venture capitalists The importance of platforms where female African entrepreneurs have direct access to investors Closing the gender difference in access to finance for African entrepreneurs What African women should keep in mind when seeking out financing for their start-ups Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Nov. 24, 2016 Time: 12pm London // 1pm Lagos // 3pm Nairobi Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Join @SheLeadsAfrica & @VC4A for #SLAChats on Nov. 24 on the importance of programming for African start-ups” via=”no”] About Alina Vinogradova Alina develops and manages startup support programs implemented by VC4A as part of larger donor-funded initiatives, such as Work in Progress! Project or World Bank’s Pan-African Accelerator. She builds out VC4A’s network of strategic partnerships with various African startup ecosystem players and is constantly looking for fit between organizations, their objectives, and the goals of the VC4A community. Alina holds MSc in Business Economics from Baltic State Technical University in St. Petersburg and an MBA from Amsterdam Business School (UvA). Prior to VC4A she spent over 10 years working in various commercial roles in the private sector in both emerging and developed markets, with B2B marketing, sales & business development being her core expertise areas.
Twitter Chat with Taffi Ayodele: Pitching your business to investors
You’ve got the idea for your business down and you’ve even started making sales. You are ready to grow your business, but the funds simply aren’t there. Lack of financing and where to look for it is one of the biggest setbacks for entrepreneurs and access to it can make or break a fledgling business. One solution to the “where to look for investors” problem is pitch competitions and other established programs that – once you get into them – bring the investors to you. Now all you have to do is woo said investors. But how do you go about finding these programs? How do you apply to one? How do you make the most of the opportunity? And how do you ensure your pitch stands out once the investors come around? Join us Thursday Nov. 17th for a Twitter chat with Taffi Ayodele, the co-founder of Thando’s, a fashionable African footwear brand. Thando’s participated in SLA’s 2014 Pitch Competition and were the 3rd place winners. Utilizing skilled African artisans, Thando’s creates comfortable, foldable and beautiful flats for the busy woman. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: How to find out where the investors will be Finding, applying & making the most of pitch competitions & accelerator programs Preparing to pitch to investors Thando’s journey & how they have grown since 2014 Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Nov. 17, 2016 Time: 12pm NYC // 6pm Lagos // 8pm Nairobi Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Join @ThandosShoes for #SLAChats about pitching to investors Nov. 16 at 6pm Lagos time” via=”yes”] About Taffi Ayodele Taffi Ayodele holds an MBA specializing in Global Business and Entrepreneurship and a BA in Economics from NYU. Taffi was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of New York University and serves on the Global Initiatives and Student Life committees. Prior to Stern, she served as Director of the Office of Executive Initiatives at the New York State Dormitory Authority where she developed Authority-wide diversity programs and initiatives to broaden procurement opportunities and increase utilization of women and minority-owned businesses. Together with her partner, J.G. Ayodele, Taffi founded Thando’s. Their mutual love for Africa, art and each other, inspired them to create an innovative footwear line that facilitates a modern woman’s busy lifestyle while supporting African artists.
Twitter Chat with Iman Mkwanazi: Building your brand while in school (Nov 10)
Your university years are an important time to lay the groundwork of your career and build your brand. Many people even choose to begin a side hustle while in school. This side hustle can become a full blown business or just work towards establishing your authority in a certain field. While the idea of building a brand is great in theory, the practicalities of doing so can be daunting. We assure you it’s not too complicated. Building a brand consists of not acting a fool, and planning your moves. Whether you are looking to be a blogger, a model, an entrepreneur or simply be an authority in your field even before you receive your diploma, building your brand while in school is essential to all your future endeavors. Join us Thursday Nov. 10th for a twitter chat with South African entrepreneur, blogger & model, Iman Mwkwanazi. While studying for her BSc Honours, Iman was also hustling to co-found a construction company, build her modeling and blogging careers and establish herself as a creative director. Needless to say, it took lots of branding and planning ahead. She will be sharing her advice and processes for establishing her thriving brand while completing her studies. Whether you are in school or not, this webinar is one you will not want to miss. Some of the topics we’ll cover: What it means to have a brand Balancing school & your side hustle Finding and networking with people in the right industry Establishing your voice & authority early one What to do when your studies and the industry you are going into don’t align Webinar Details: Date: Thursday November 10, 2016 Time: 7:00am New York City // 12:00pm Lagos // 1:00pm Johannesburg Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Tune into #SLAChats on twitter Nov. 10 @ 11am GMT to learn from @ImanMkwanazi about building your #brand in school:” via=”no”] About Iman Mkwanazi Iman Mkwanazi is a busy girl. As a Bsc Graduate, entrepreneur, blogger, model, creative director, influencer and speaker, she works with companies and brands to optimise their brand awareness through digital, content and social media marketing. She is also the co-founder of Mkweni Groundwork. Mkweni Groundwork was founded two years ago and they are contractors for City Parks and Studio Six interior design. In the short time that the company has been around, it has been featured in Forbes Woman Africa and Iman and her partner Nene Mboweni are Levi Pioneers Nation speakers. Iman is also the Creative Director and contributor for online magazine; MadMash, which focuses on lifestyle, health, wealth and fashion. She most recently covered Africa Fashion Week for MadMash. Iman has collaborated with various brands on an array of projects, including Puma, Spitz, and Styling for Mr. Price. Iman has also modeled for companies such as Edgars, Legit, Cell C, Adidas, Nike, Samsung and Foschini.
Twitter Chat with Carol Nyazika: Moving back home as an entrepreneur (Nov. 3)
Thinking of moving back home? Thinking of starting a business? Thinking of moving back home AND starting a business? You’re not alone. There is a growing trend of Africans abroad moving back home and there are resources and organizations like Resource Nigeria and Movemeback that are helping people do just that. Within the group of people moving back home, are also those that are doing so to start a business. Some do it because certain ideas they saw abroad have not yet reached their part of Africa or because the economy of certain African countries are ripe for entrepreneurship, others still do it because they want to give back to their home and they are passionate about the industry they are venturing into. A UK resident who moved back home to Zimbabwe, Carol Nyazika fits into many of these categories. She is the founder of the African Women Awards and the founder Ndanaka, a natural skin care line. Join us Thursday Nov. 3rd for a Twitter chat with Carol Nyazika to discuss the perks and set backs of moving back home and starting a business, or businesses. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SheHiveJoburg to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Deciding whether it is time to move home Knowing if your business idea will live on when you move back home The importance of celebrating African girl magic Balancing two busineses & a 9-5 Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Nov. 3, 2016 Time: 8am NYC // 12pm London // 2pm Harare Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SheHiveJoburg Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”I’m excited to learn about moving back home to start a business from @CarolNyazika & @SheLeadAfrica. :” via=”no”] Self- motivated, dynamic, hard-working and goal oriented are some of the many characteristics that Carol Nyazika has developed through her few years as a successful social entrepreneur. With a focused mind-set, she has managed to centre her business ventures on the development of women in all aspects of their lives. This has primarily been based on the promotion of the beauty within through business initiatives and independence. Carol has packaged herself as a complete influential brand that reaches people through all mediums of life, whether through the radio, television or print media. Her effort to reach clients through the expansion of her brand is what has made her a rising personality in the Zimbabwean community, at home and the diaspora. Through her popularity in the beauty industry, Carol founded Ndanaka by Carol Nyazika, a lifestyle brand platform that showcases beauty and hair. She then expanded this platform and launched her beauty brand with the same name which covers hair care, skin care and body care products. Her YouTube videos show the simplicity of beauty without breaking the bank with views of over three hundred thousand. She is also Founder of African Women Association, a female empowerment association. AWA is not be a platform that excels in rhetoric but fails in practice; it is invested in making sure that people’s lives are truly changed. This project is highly rated by the experts in the industry. The African Women Awards are under the association and have been hailed as the ‘Oscars of Africa’ by most media outlets. The Awards have been well received by many across the continent and truly appreciated for the impact is has had on many African women. The other platforms under the association include AWA Foundation, AWA Media, AWA Network. Carol continues to break barriers, positively impacting women around her, pushing the boundary and challenging the norm.
Twitter Chat with Thokozile Mangwiro: Starting a natural hair business in Africa (Oct. 27th)
All you natural hair ladies out there know that the struggle can be too real. Between trying to find products that work for your hair, to looking for products with organic ingredients. These struggles can be further exasperated when you live on the continent and you want to buy local or you have aunties telling you to go fix your hair. Now put this all in the context of trying to start a natural hair brand and you’ve got quite a complicated recipe on your hands. It’s in these complicated situations where champions are born and Thokozile Mangwiro is one such champion. After being unable to find locally made natural hair products in her native South Africa, she decided to start her own line. Join us Thursday Oct. 27th for a Twitter Chat with Thokozile as she shares how she built her natural hair business, Nilotiqa, in South Africa and her advice for other naturals and budding entrepreneurs. Whether you’re an African natural, a natural hair product junkie or an aspiring entrepreneur in the beauty industry, you don’t want to miss this chat. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SheHiveJoburg to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: What it’s like being natural in South Africa The importance of buying localy products How to start a natural hair line, from resources to customers and more Advice for natural hair ladies and apiring entreprenuers Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Oct. 27, 2016 Time: 1pm NYC // 6pm Lagos // 7pm Joburg Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SheHiveJoburg About Thokozile Mangwiro It is in growing her own natural hair for the past 15 years that Thokozile Mangwiro found her inspiration to create a natural hair care product line. After going to several salons and an endless search of locally produced products that truly work for afro natural hair, it was clear that there was a HUGE gap in the market for professionally formulated products for natural hair. Thokozile, like many other women, struggled with extremely dry hair. This and the lack of knowledge led to intense research and experimentation of natural ingredients such as Shea butter and avocado oil for skin and hair. After several years of research, formulations and product testing, Thokozile launched Nilotiqa, a line of products that are proudly made with organics, natural and naturally formed ingredients to deeply moisturize and nourish ethnic Hair. Thokozile Mangwiro is an Information Technology Masters graduate from the University of South Africa, with over 8 years’ experience in the database administration, analysis and intelligence industry. She is a wife and mother of two energetic boys, Anesu and Omari. She is born and bred in South Africa, Johannesburg. A budding entrepreneur, she is driven and passionate by empowering and inspiring other women to feel naturally beautiful through products that are made in South Africa, are of the highest quality, are beautiful and luxurious, to showcase to the world.