My name is Akachi Nwoke and I am a makeup artist. Last year, I applied to the AWP Network photography contest and I am glad I did. Although I came in third place, the competition helped me realize that I was not yet ready to start my business.  You may read more about my story here.

I was a university graduate and had been jobless for several years. This circumstance left me helpless but somehow I found the strength to start my business, it was a total transformation. I went from being jobless and feeling helpless, to starting a business and becoming a source of inspiration and financial support to my family.

Yes, I started a business but with the mentoring, coaching, and support from the AWP Network, I realized that I needed more professional training and experience in my field.  The mentoring, coaching, and support provided by the AWP Network also helped me to realize that I needed to surround and align myself with those who are more successful in my field and there’s no other place to start than to work at the House of Tara.

I currently work as a sales assistant at the House of Tara and the company operates like a bank. There, I am learning about the various aspects of running a business. I have learned about bookkeeping, sales strategies, marketing, operations, HR (how to hire, who to hire), and I have also been able to hone in on my customer service skills. More importantly, I am learning about branding and the necessary skills required to become an entrepreneur. For example, I have learned that bookkeeping is an important aspect of running a business. Taking account of your finances and implementing an effective sales strategy is something that should never be joked with. I have learned a little bit about auditing and internal control, as well as the importance of the personnel who oversees operations. There was so much that I did not know about the process of running and operating a successful business.

How has the AWP Network helped me? The coaching, mentoring, and support helped me to understand that  (1) running a business requires certain skills, (2) that it is important to acquire these skills if I plan to operate a successful and sustainable business and lastly, (3) running a business is fun but it is also no easy task.

After the photo contest, I relocated to Enugu and I intend to push the House of Tara brand like it’s my own. As a sales assistant, I plan to make the kind of profit that I would like my future employees to make for my own company and after all is said and done, when it is time to leave, it will be fondly said of me, “Akachi Nwoke was here.”

As you can see, I am learning so much at my current place of employment and I believe that there is so much more to learn. As a makeup artist at the House of Tara International, Enugu branch, I intend to learn all the skills needed to relaunch my business.  I hope that the AWP Network will continue to support my efforts.

The cash prize I won has helped me immensely. I used the funds to purchase more makeup supplies and beauty products.  In addition to working as a makeup artist, I also sell House of Tara cosmetics and included the L.A. Colors cosmetics line to my supplies. After the contest, I felt that more was expected of me, so I continue to remain focused and will work hard towards my goals.

My advice to young Africans is to start a business, keep trying, and keep going.

I cannot thank you enough for following through and keeping in touch. Also, thank you for the wakeup call, mentoring, coaching and support.

Akachi Nwoke  

Sales Assistant, House of Tara International

Owner, Visages Parfait Beauty Place

Owner and Creative Director at Elizabeth Waldorf, Jane Ole founded her company to create timeless designs for African women who appreciate luxury, elegance, and style. The AWP Network met with Jane to learn more about how she got started and her plans for growing the company.

How did you come up with the name of your business?

My sister inspired the name of the company. Her name is Elizabeth and it means ‘God’s promise.’ Waldorf on the other hand, is a German name and it means ‘a village in the woods.’ To me however, it means ‘fruitfulness and prosperity.’ Together, Elizabeth Waldorf means “God’s promise for prosperity.”

What inspired you to start this business?

I have been designing since I was a teenager and I can say that it’s my passion. One day I thought to myself, why not create a business out of this? Creating and designing gives me the most sense of accomplishment, I cannot imagine doing anything else – I love designing beautiful clothes for women.

Who is your target market?

The Elizabeth Waldorf brand attracts women who appreciate luxury, elegance, and style. We create timeless designs and pay careful attention to detail.

How have you been able to penetrate the fashion Industry in Nigeria?

We have the kindest customers. Many of our clients come through referrals. We have customers who are very excited about our work and gladly share what we do with others.  I call them the Elizabeth Waldorf brand ambassadors.

How have you financed your business?

Long story short, bootstrapping. It’s not easy to access loans from financial institutions and seeking equity from potential investors is also never quite easy.

What is your competitive edge?

At Elizabeth Waldorf, we aim to please and want to exceed our client’s expectations. We provide excellent customer service and we truly believe that the “customer is king.” We don’t just say this, our customers can attest to what we do.

What is the five (5) year plan for your business?

My dream is to build a global brand. We want to build a strong brand and be well-known around the world.

What business challenges do you face?

Like many other small businesses in Nigeria, I’d say electricity. I think more businesses would thrive and save more of their profits if only we can fix the power issue.

What key things have you learned since starting your business idea?

(1)   Never expect everyone to say yes to you,

(2)   Always believe in yourself,

(3)   Understand that it is okay to fail as long as you learn from your mistakes. Also, when you fail, never quit. Keep going,

(4)  Build and develop a reliable team – a great team is a great asset,

(5)  I have also learned to trust my instincts.

What advice do you have for youths looking to start a business idea but say ‘there is no money’?

There will never be a time when there will be money so my advice is to start now and start small.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?

Young people can support one another by establishing common goals, sharing ideas, and by providing solutions to growing challenges.

How many jobs have you created so far?

We have created five (5) jobs in the last two years.

How can we support and improve innovation in Africa?

We can agree that the government has a lot of work to do; however, we cannot continue to solely rely on the government. Private organizations and philanthropists should invest more in young people and businesses. We know that small businesses are important to the growth of the economy.

Lastly, I would like to add that I strongly believe in the power of dreams. Growing the Elizabeth Waldorf brand has taught me that with passion, consistency, and determination, anything is achievable and possible.

Website: www.elizabethwaldorf.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elizabethwaldorfluxury

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ewluxury

Pinterest: Elizabeth Waldorf

Phone: 234-7747224

Founded on a mission to create jobs for local artisans in Kenya, fashion entrepreneur Mugo Muna started borawear.com after graduating from Cornell University. Bora Wear is a luxury fashion brand for African men. The company makes one-of-a-kind handmade belts and employs a community of local Kenyan artisans to handcraft each buckle through a sand casting method – after which, the mold is then destroyed – ensuring each piece is 100% unique.

Bora Wear offers socially responsible products to include, belt buckles and high-quality leather belts. In an effort to expand his reach and to finance his business, Mugo Muna recently launched a kickstarter campaign, he plans to raise about $17,000. You may support his work here. Click to donate. The AWP Network met with Mugo to learn more about his business. He shares with us his passion for fashion, inspiration for starting, and how he plans to grow the company.

How did you come up with the name of your business?

Bora in Swahili means “better” or “excellent.” I believe this word best represents my brand. I am inspired by the word ‘Bora’ because I want to make Kenya a better place by starting a business that will create jobs.

What inspired you to start your business?

If not us then who? We as Africans, need to work together to make the continent a better place. I want to make a difference and I believe that my company will create jobs in Kenya.

Who is your target market?

Young African men who appreciate one-of-a-kind buckles and belts.

How have you been able to penetrate the fashion industry?

I am just starting out and still in the early stages of the business. My focus is more on figuring out what people want and not so much on fitting into the “industry.” Once we know what people want then we can worry about penetrating the industry.

How have you financed your business?

With my savings.

What is your competitive edge?

Each belt is handmade by local artisans in Kenya, using the highest quality materials. Each mold is destroyed after the belt is made, making each belt buckle one-of-a-kind.  Aside from the materials and the manufacturing process, all of the artisans we work with are locally trained in Kibera, an informal housing settlement here in Nairobi. The manufacturer pays all artisans a living wage.

What is the five (5) year plan for your business?

Our goal is to supply to various retail outlets. We want to build a global brand and strengthen the company’s online presence. We also want to increase our capacity and ability to supply wholesale and deliver bulk orders. Once this happens, I strongly believe that we will make a significant and profound impact on lives here in Kenya.

What challenges do you face?

(1) Quality assurance and the ability to fill large orders,

(2) Finding people with the right skill set and who can pay great attention to detail. Currently, we do not have the capital to train people therefore, many things have happened through the trial and error method, which is fine but we need to find a reliable group of people who understand our need for quality production.

What three (3) things do start-up entrepreneurs need to know?

• Motivate yourself. You will not be motivated to work on your business all the time, so you need to find a way to work in that situation.
• Delegate. Figure out what you are good at and delegate the rest of the tasks (if you can). Things will take a lot longer than you anticipate.
• Find a partner. The sooner you can find a partner/ co-founder the happier and more secure you will feel about your business.

What advice do you have for youths looking to start an idea but say ‘there is no money’?

Any young person who says there is no money, lacks imagination. I would also say that they are not yet ready to start a business. I mean, there are your traditional routes to funding like, angel investors and venture capitalists, but even beyond that there are so many crowdfunding platforms out there, friends and family, or any other kind of means to funding your idea.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?

It is nice to have a platform and to have someone to speak with about your startup problems, I want more young people coming together to share ideas and to provide solutions to  challenges. I think that this is critical to the small business process and development. I also believe that having such conversations really helps to keep people motivated and accountable to a larger group.

How many jobs have you created so far?

Right now, we are providing work for about 60 artisans. We plan to expand and I believe that when we get more orders, we can create more jobs.

How can we support and improve innovation in Africa?

I think it comes down to encouraging people to take more risks and trying out their ideas – you know, moving from idea to execution. You have to give things a shot to find out whether an idea will work or not.

Website: Borawear

Facebook: facebook.com/borawear

Twitter: twitter.com/borawear

Let’s put these numbers into perspective, mobile devices account for 37 percent of our overall website traffic and 23 percent of sales. Of course, technology plays a huge role in enhancing our business process and operations. We were one of the first Pan-African inspired fashion houses to launch a mobile app for iOS devices (iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch). Technology remains a significant part of our business model and competitive edge.

Over time, technology has made African fashion more accessible to global customers through the use of e-commerce platforms and social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest – with the emergence of these e-commerce solutions, it will only become easier for African designers to share and sell their products on the web.

What inspired you to start this business?
Nana and I have always wanted to make a difference in the world. I would say that it was a burning desire to create a conscious movement through fashion. Although we did not go to school for fashion, we truly believe that we can make a difference in this industry.

Fashion should not just be about aesthetics; rather it should be the thread that interweaves cultures, identities, and displays a pattern of pride and self-expression. At 54 Kingdoms, we pride ourselves in creating pieces that have educational expressions and can create conversations.

The concept for 54 Kingdoms began in 2006 at Central Connecticut State University. While sitting in class his final year in college, Nana asked himself a series of questions, “can I create a clothing line that integrates designs and concepts from the African diaspora and use that to tell Pan-African stories?” “can I use the diaspora as a source of inspiration for making Pan-African fashion?” These questions helped to inspire the company name, 54 Kingdoms. The number 54 signifies the number of countries in Africa and the word “kingdoms,” means that each country is part of a larger kingdom, to include the diaspora.

After college, Nana Poku founded 54 Kingdoms with me – Kwaku Awuah. 54 Kingdoms is a fashion company inspired by Pan-African stories, creatives, history, and culture. Our company motto is, “It’s a kulture, not just a brand.”

Co-founders: Kwaku Awuah, Nana Poku – 54 Kingdoms

Who is your target market?
Men and women aged 18-35 interested in unique fashion trends and have expressive lifestyles.

How have you financed your business?
Bootstrapping – we use our savings. Securing investment in the fashion industry is not the easiest but with a proven track record; we anticipate this happening in the near future.

What is your competitive edge?

Our major strength lies in analyzing cultural and historical content and using current trends as a basis for selecting fabric, color, and style. Our end goal is to create and design a product of value in the marketplace and use that as a way to tell powerful and inspiring stories.

Due to the extensive historical and cultural meaning behind each crafted piece, every item purchased is accompanied with a descriptor detailing the inspiration for the particular product.

What is the long-term plan for your business?

(1) To create a recognizable brand with a culture-driven trademark carried by various retailers around the globe.
(2) To expand our mobile app to Andriod users;
(3) To build a hub for African fashion, a place where everything is produced in-house. Our end goal is to build a legacy that is sustainable and will continue to add value to the lives of those in the creative industry.

What challenges do you face?

• Financing – it is tough to raise investment capital or to find the funds needed to expand and support your business growth.
• Production is a challenge due to the lack of manufacturers with proper infrastructures and up-to-date technology.
• Accessibility – breaking into the international market is a challenge. We find that there’s a stigma attached to Pan-African designers – that we only design for a specific demographic and this hinders our international market exposure and potential.

What five (5) key things have you learned since starting your business idea?

(1) Develop excellent time management skills,
(2) Develop SMART goals,
(3) Keep up with new trends in technology,
(4) Be patient – understand that success does not happen overnight,
(5) Pay your taxes.

What five (5) things do start-up entrepreneurs need to know?

• Execution matters – having a great idea is never enough,
• Build a team – it’s not just about having a team, but building the right team – pick your partners wisely.
• It will not always be easy. Be mentally prepared for the dark days and tough challenges.
• Always think and plan ahead –regardless of the size of your company.
• Lastly, use your passion to make money; don’t lose your passion trying to make money.

What advice do you have for youths looking to start an idea but say ‘there is no money’?

Money will always be available. It really comes down to how valuable the idea is and the determination or passion exhibited by the owner (s) of the company. Our main advice to young people is to develop ideas that solve a problem or fill a void.

It is also important to remember that most investors want to see your track record before they fund your business. You’ll always hear, “if it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make sense.” Long story short, have a sustainable business model.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?

Young Africans should be open-minded. I believe that it is through this that we can obtain a larger vision for ourselves. Sometimes, we get into the notion of trying to make it on our own that we forget about the power and importance of collaboration.

How many jobs have you created so far?

None – we are yet to create jobs. However, we always provide intensive training and mentoring opportunities to youths and college students. One of our trainees was recently selected to participate in President Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI).

How can we support innovation in Africa? 

Technology in Africa is growing and that is a good thing. There are challenges but that is okay. I believe that knowledge sharing platforms are one way to support and improve innovation in Africa. Knowledge sharing platforms make it easy to collaborate on projects, share ideas, conduct effective discussions, and educate each other on new advancements, and even make new discoveries – this is how I believe innovation happens.

Website: 54 Kingdoms

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/54kingdoms

Twitter: https://twitter.com/54kingdoms

Instagram: http://instagram.com/54kingdoms

What happens when a University of Chicago – Booth School of Business graduate meets the daughter of one of Africa’s richest men? They start a company.  The AWP Network meet with founders of She Leads Africa to learn more about the organization, the services they provide, and what they are doing to support women entrepreneurs.

There is more to the African woman than what you see in the media – both Western and local. While the Western media is content with the limited portrayals of young African women as victims, in the local media young African women are absent unless they are in the entertainment, fashion, or music industry. While this coverage is partially accurate, as Chimamanda Adichie said “the problem with stereotypes is not that they are false, it is that they are incomplete.” What about all of the other young women who don’t fit into this mold but instead, want to become business moguls and technology pioneers? Where are they supposed to turn to for advice?

She Leads Africa will uncover extremely talented female entrepreneurs and give them the resources they need to succeed. It will be these women entrepreneurs who go on to create the inventions that transform the way we live, build the businesses that employ thousands, and lead our economies to greater prosperity. This is the vision that we are investing in and we believe young women will take us there.

What inspired you to start this idea?

We started this company because we noticed a critical gap in the market – a lack of investment focus on high growth African female entrepreneurs. Policymakers, governments, and other development oriented institutions readily acknowledge that entrepreneurship will be the broad-based driver of economic growth for Africa with the potential to create jobs for the more than 200 million young people between ages 15 and 24.

However, when it comes to the issue of supporting female entrepreneurs, the majority of focus is almost exclusively on low-income, bottom of the pyramid women who are supported in creating micro and small businesses. While this is certainly an area of need, we have identified a gap in products and services for female entrepreneurs looking to create scalable and high-growth enterprises. Limited attention is paid towards investing in these entrepreneurs and we believe that they will be an important source of economic growth, innovation, and public leadership for the next phase of Africa’s development.

She Leads Africa is a platform that provides the most talented female entrepreneurs across the continent with access to the knowledge, networks, and financing needed to develop, build, and scale strong businesses. Our goal is to jumpstart female entrepreneurs from SMEs to pan-African industry leaders.

Who is your target market?

We recognize that many stakeholders benefit when female entrepreneurs are engaged in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, so we have identified three (3) target markets:

• Aspiring high-potential female entrepreneurs who have the capacity, determination, and ambition to build and scale strong businesses;
• Institutional investors who are looking for quality talent and want to invest in the next generation of high growth African start-ups;
• Sophisticated investors and high net worth individuals looking to invest their personal funds and take advantage of the unique opportunity for private ownership that exists in Africa. High interest rates across the continent (30% in most countries) results in many entrepreneurs seeking private investors to raise funds. This is a unique opportunity to buy into and thus share the dividends of fast growing companies.

How have you financed this idea? 

As a start-up ourselves, we recognize the importance of finding partners willing to invest in your idea so we have financed She Leads Africa through personal funds, private investors, and sponsorships from leading companies including GTBank, IHS Towers, Google, and FSDH Capital.

We have also received in-kind sponsorship from notable organisations including Etisalat Nigeria, africa practice, Tech Cabal, Tiab Design, Capital Square, Bella Naija, and Genevieve Magazine.

Click to view slideshow.
What is your competitive edge?

• Our profile: As ambitious entrepreneurs, we are uniquely placed to understand the challenges facing female entrepreneurs on the continent. When we speak with potential customers, we let them know that we are not doing it for charity. We see the value in this market, believe this is an innovative solution and see the financial potential.

• Our team: Our team of eight (8) highly competent, highly qualified young Africans bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the startups that we work with. Team members have worked in a variety of industries including investment banking, private equity, management consulting, hospitality, journalism, law, technology, accounting and education. In areas where we lack expertise we are able to leverage the broad networks that we have cultivated having attended some of the top institutions in the world.

What is the long-term plan for this idea? 

She Leads Africa plans to become the 500 Startups of Africa and aims to become a staple of the African investment community. We already have VC funds seeking access to our database of curated female entrepreneurs and plans are underway to hold networking events for African female entrepreneurs in major global cities, create an entrepreneurship education platform, and raise an investment fund.

What five key things have you learnt since starting this idea?

1. Done is better than perfect; be 80:20 – The startup scene moves quickly and relentlessly. Instead of waiting to design the perfect product, entrepreneurs should be 80:20 and strive to create a product that is 80% perfect. Get this product out quickly and iterate as you go. This strategy will force you to get feedback from the market quickly and features that customers need instead of those you think are nice to have.

2. Do your homework – Getting to market quickly is one thing, jumping in without any prior research is foolish. Entrepreneurs need to learn to how to listen for, rather than guess what the market wants. You may have a hypothesis about what the market wants and when you test the idea, it becomes a little more than your gut feeling. One of the first things that we did was to create a survey which we sent out to 250 female entrepreneurs. The responses from this survey gave us excellent insights into what female entrepreneurs wanted and needed. In many cases, our initial hypothesis were right and this gave us the confidence to forge ahead. In other cases, the responses surprised us and forced us to rethink some of our initial assumptions.

3. Think bold and dream big – When we initially started She Leads Africa we thought it would be a one-off pitch contest. In essence, we limited our own dreams. After a period of self-reflection and many long conversations with mentors, we were encouraged to think bold and dream big. Our ambition is to become a household name amongst African female entrepreneurs who see us as their one stop shop support system as well as shrewd investors who are looking for lucrative and exciting investment opportunities on the continent.

4. Build a solid team – We see Dangote as the force behind the Dangote group, Tony Elumelu as the force behind Heirs Holdings but thousands of individuals drive the success of those organizations. When building your company it is critical to build a team that will challenge each other, think creatively, and dig in to get the hard work done.

5. Learn what matters to investors. When engaging with investors all start-ups need to have a basic understanding of key operation and financial concepts such as lifetime customer value, cash flow, and ROI. This business literacy will make you more appealing to investors. Investors are looking for opportunities to invest their capital – that is their job but many of the companies floating around the continent are interesting ideas or cool products instead of businesses with an understanding of customer needs, plan to reach the market, and operational structure to achieve scale over time. Understanding how investors are evaluating your business will help entrepreneurs focus on the right metrics to judge performance and drive their business.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?

We need to give each other opportunities to shine and strive to collaborate with each other. At She Leads Africa, we feel that we need to take chances on newer companies rather than just go with the big names – the same way you would want someone to take a chance on you. For example our web designer, TIAB was started by two young Africans looking to make their mark on creative digital communications industry. Like everyone else we had the option to outsource these tasks to lower costs environments however, we made a decision to trust in and support them.

How has technology enhanced your business?

Technology is critical and is a key enabler for our success.

•  It helps keep our team connected. We are a virtual team and most members of our team travel regularly. In fact, in the last 6 months we have not had a single meeting in which all team members were physically present. Email and video conferencing are indispensable for us to keep our communication channels open.

• It helps us keep our costs down. Using tools such as Wix, Google apps, free conference call, Asana, and Mailchimp – we have been able to start this idea with minimal investment possible.

• It keeps us informed. There is so much knowledge being created all around on how to work smarter and be more effective and technology enables us to connect to entrepreneurial ecosystems all around the world. Just last month 500 Startups, the Silicon Valley seed fund and accelerator hosted a conference on accelerating growth within your startup. Despite being 5000 miles away, we were able to watch the livestream sessions and follow along with the presentations shared on Slide Share.

Website: www.SheLeadsAfrica.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SheLeadsAfrica
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SheLeadsAfrica
Instagram: www.instagram.com/SheLeadsAfrica

Creators of the traffic app, Road Marshal – want more girls to go into STEM fields. Oladayo Satope, Oreoluwa Okuboyejo, and Adedayo Oluokun – all students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria reflect on their success since developing their traffic app, Road Marshal, an online 2D game.

Satope, an Electronics and Electrical Engineering graduate and her partner, Okuboyejo who also just completed her BSc in Computer Engineering say they “love to code and do it for fun.” They are also on a mission to encourage more girls to learn how to code. They want to see more girls use technology to solve world problems. “We want to change the world and we strongly believe that technology can help us solve many of the problems we see in the world today.”

Satope continues, “technology consists of diverse kinds of specializations. Most young women are sometimes intimidated by the technical and geeky aspects of tech but there are also many fun and enjoyable aspects of technology.”

As young women, we ensure that we share our thoughts and perspective when invited to speak at various girls/women in STEM enlightenment programs.

The girls offer advice to those interested in coding but are afraid to start, “start developing the smallest or seemingly dumb idea you have, the developmental process will make you a better person at whatever you are doing, the skill and abilities you develop during the process can never be taken from you. And who knows, the idea you looked down on, might be the next google of our time. Just start somewhere, that’s the lesson here.”

Road Marshal is 8 months old. The game teaches people to obey traffic rules. You may download the game here. The goal is to develop a mobile version and make it available on Google playstore.

Written by Olufemi Omotayo, Publisher, EntrepreNEWS

Chaired by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nigerian initiative – Wecyclers recently won the 2014 Sustainia Award. The solution enables low-income communities to make money from waste piling up in their streets. By deploying a fleet of cargo bicycles to collect and recycle un-managed waste, Wecyclers lets families exchange garbage for consumer goods via an SMS-based point system.

Wecyclers is a response to local waste issues in Lagos, where only 40 percent of the city’s garbage is collected. The World Bank also estimates that only 10 percent of waste in Africa is collected. More than 5,000 households have signed up so far and there are plans to extend the initiative to other cities throughout Nigeria. Recycling companies purchase Wecyclers’ sorted waste for reprocessing for products such as mattresses, pillows, and trash bags.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California and chair of Sustainia Award said, “I am very inspired by this year’s Sustainia Award winner, Wecyclers. They show us that communities can create local solutions to waste and recycling issues, which are not only more sustainable but also improve public health and create new jobs. By coming together and acting in new ways, we can create positive and sustainable change in our communities and inspire cities around the world to do the same.” 

You may read the interview with the co-founder of WeCyclers here.

The AWP Network met with the Founder of CapitalSquare Workspace Solutions Limited, Modupe Macaulay. Based in Lagos, Nigeria – CapitalSquare offers an affordable co-working space for professionals, startups, and small businesses. With competitive pricing options, its welcoming community suits many customers. Founder and CEO, Modupe Macaulay earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Covenant University and a Master of Science degree in Management from Warwick Business School. In this interview, Macaulay talks about how she got started and shares her plans to grow the business.

How did you come up with the name of this business?
The more I thought about a business name, I realized that I wanted something both serious and laid back. I wanted a name that made people think of commerce, activity, and people. I selected several names but could not decide on one because they were not the right fit, then I began to think about various cities and hubs of business activity. I immediately thought of the name “Square,” but then felt that I needed to add another name to “Square,” and “Capital” seemed like the right choice. Hence the final decision to give my company the name, CapitalSquare – yes, it’s one word, not two.

What inspired you to start this company?
I had just graduated from university when I started CapitalSquare. I was looking for work and trying to start a business at the time same time. A friend and I began to look for an affordable and cheerful place to work from. We hoped to find a place but we could not find anything that worked. We lived at opposite ends of town, so working from home was a no-go; cafes and fast food places were too noisy and just not right for work; renting a conventional office was too expensive, and there were too many other things to think about (power, utilities, furnishing, etc); serviced offices were too pricey and not made for small businesses. We did find 1 or 2 startup incubators, but they were mainly focused on technology startups. There was obviously a gap in the market for a professional but laid back, and affordable working environment for professionals, startups, and small businesses. I decided to do something about it and launched CapitalSquare.

Who is your target market?
Small business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs of any age, in any industry.

How have you financed the idea?
All of my financing has been from my family.

What is your competitive edge? 
The community – that’s the first thing I think about. I like to say that CapitalSquare isn’t just a workspace or an office; it is about a community of people who want to strive for excellence. In this part of the world, it is difficult to find people who genuinely want to be the best at what they do and provide value. We are different; we provide value. We always want our members to be happy, we want things to work, and if anything goes wrong we fix it as soon as we can.

What is the long-term plan for your business?
We plan to provide private serviced offices for people who need them – we are working on that now. Our goal is to have 5 or 6 private offices ready before the end of the year. Eventually, I would like to have more co-working spaces in other parts of Lagos and Nigeria – maybe even internationally. The vision is that CapitalSquare will become the top solution provider for small businesses in Nigeria.

What challenges do you face?
Getting the space ready – renovation, remodeling, getting good service providers, etc. Also, marketing and getting the word out about the business.

What key things have you learned since starting your business idea?
1. Starting a business is hard work,
2. In Nigeria, things will always go wrong, so always have a plan B,
3. Business is about people; so work hard to train and develop them.

What advice do you have for youths looking to start an idea but say ‘there is no money’?
Look inwards. You will find something you can do that won’t cost much and might help you get the money for something bigger.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?
Get rid of the mentality that you need to push others down to go up. Life doesn’t work that way.

How many jobs have you created so far?
So far, I have hired 3 permanent staff, I have also hired 2 people on a contract basis.

How has technology enhanced your business idea?
Technology has made running my business very easy. I found this really cool subscription system that helps us manage the space – users bookings, invoicing, communications, everything. We also use a lot of technology based services for different aspects of the business, from CRM to accounting and HR.

How can we support and improve innovation in Africa?
Remember that nothing is impossible and that there are no worthless ideas. Pursue your dreams with boldness.

Contact CapitalSquare:

Website: www.capitalsqua.re
Email: hello@capitalsqua.re
Phone: 01 404 1032, 01 324 7547, 0817 202 6772-3
Twitter: @capsqr
Facebook: facebook.com/capitalsquareng
Instagram: @capsqr

WIE, which stands for Women, Inspiration, and Enterprise was founded by Dee Poku-Spalding in 2010. An innovative global conference connecting established trailblazers with emerging leaders, WIE’s dynamic symposiums and salons provide a toolkit for success for tomorrow’s CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and potential collaborators.

The network aims to empower a new generation of women leaders. Over the years, the WIE symposium has attracted an incredible lineup of speakers including Donna Karan, Arianna Huffington, Queen Rania, Ted Turner, Melinda Gates, Diane von Furstenberg, Nancy Pelosi, Jill Biden, Aerin Lauder, Jennifer Buffett, Lauren Bush, Christy Turlington, Iman, Rosario Dawson, and Nora Ephron.

Founder of the AWP Network, Mary Olushoga met with Dee Poku-Spalding, Founder of  WIE, who offers advice to young women in business.

(1) Do things at your own pace.

(2) Take the time to figure out what you want for yourself.

(3) Always have a plan, have a sense of where you want to go.

(4) Be open to change: respond, evolve, and adapt.

(5) Learn how to negotiate – not knowing how to negotiate could have a long-term impact on your career. This is important especially with regards to negotiating your first salary or contract.

(6) If having children is important to you, focus on that.

(7) Choose to be visible, chose to be known – find mentors, find sponsors, and make sure the decision makers at all levels know who you are.

Have additional tips? please share your comments, thoughts, and ideas with us twitter – @Africwomenpower

November 18, 2014 – The Planet Earth Institute hosted the first-ever ‘Africa Data Challenge,’ as part of its #ScienceAfrica UnConference. The challenge is a groundbreaking competition that invites well-qualified parties to pitch their ideas for projects that harness data for real human impact in Africa.

While the ‘data revolution’ is a major theme in conversations on technology and business, there is little discussion on how it can enhance Africa’s scientific development in a practical way. The ‘Africa Data Challenge’ invited innovators from around the world to pitch their ideas for projects that can help translate and transmit the power of data to those on the continent.

Projects were unlimited in scope and focus but must be designed to have a practical human application in the next 12 months. Contestants presented their project live in front of a panel to include: Beejaye Kokil, Head of the Economic & Social Statistics Division – African Development Bank, David Tempest, Head of Director of Access Relations – Elsevier, Richard Pilling, Director of Professional Services & Analytics (EMEA and APAC) – Intel, and Mariéme Jamme, entrepreneur and CEO of SpotOne Global. The successful innovators will be awarded a cash prize of £7,000 and will receive PEI’s support to roll out their project.

The ‘Africa Data Challenge’ forms part of PEI’s second #ScienceAfrica UnConference, hosted by Rt Hon Lord Boateng and organized in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the World Bank, and the European Commission.

The UnConference brings together over 120 people passionate about and working in science, development, and Africa for an interactive day of workshops and discussion. Participants come from diverse sectors, including international policy makers, academics, students as well as the general public. The UnConference will also be live streamed on the PEI website and people are encouraged to use the #ScienceAfrica hashtag on twitter to engage in a robust discussion about science, technology, and innovation in Africa.

Dr Álvaro Sobrinho, Chairman of the Planet Earth Institute said, “data holds a huge amount of promise for scientific development in Africa and for many different business sectors too, but we have not yet fully explored how it can be used at a local level to improve lives. We are always looking for practical ways to support science and technology, and this Africa Data Challenge will help do just that – developing and incubating new ideas with real impact.”

Damola Ogundipe, founder of newly created company Civic Eagle has developed a mobile application to help increase civic participation in the United States. A graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, Ogundipe oversees all 4 of Civic Eagle’s products and services to include mobile, data analytics, algorithm cloud distribution, and education.

Civic Eagle is best described as a tech startup with the mission to reduce political apathy and increase public participation in politics. The company was recently was selected as a sponsored civic startup at the 2014 Code for America Summit. The mobile application allows users to do the following: (1) look up information about legislation in Congress, (2) read news stories, (3) interact with elected officials and (4) engage with other users.

Ogundipe states, “the current state of political engagement in the United States is embarrassingly low. Barely 50 percent of the country’s population vote in federal elections, less than 40 percent at the state level, and about 20 percent vote at the local level. Our mobile application is a solution to this problem. We want to help increase civic participation in the U.S. using technology and an engaging social community.” 

How did you come up with the name of this mobile app?
It’s simple, the Eagle represents freedom and serves as the national emblem of the United States. It was only natural we named our app “Civic Eagle.”

What inspired you to develop this?
The current state of political engagement in the United States is a concern. Barely 50 percent of the country’s population vote in federal elections, less than 40 percent vote at the state level, and about 20 percent participate at the local level. These numbers reveal that there is a problem and this app aims to solve this issue.

Who is your target market?
Anyone who wants to see a change in the political process and is interested in having better access to resources that will enable them to interact and be engaged. Our ideal consumer uses a smartphone and enjoys connecting to ideas and people through social media. We also have products and services available for political candidates, elected officials, and community organizations to assist them in understanding their constituents.

How have you financed the idea?
Bootstrapping, we bootstrapped this project for almost 2 years and have worked diligently to make our vision a market viable product. We intend to move forward by raising capital from investors.

What is your competitive edge?
We offer a holistic and inclusive solution to increasing civic engagement.

What is the long-term plan for this business?
Currently our app is accessible on mobile devices. The goal is to connect users to current issues and ongoing conversations on policies and in politics. We want to get our users connected to lawmakers and we hope to expand the use of the app globally, especially in countries where public participation and political accountability are particularly low.

By next year, we plan to launch the ‘Eagle Eye’ Initiative, which will offer data analytics and information technology services to elected officials, aspiring candidates, and community organizations allowing them access to their constituents.

Another initiative is the ‘Eagle’s Nest’ – an academic curriculum and program focused on teaching grade school and university students about civic engagement; and finally the ‘My Eagle’ initiative – a feature that will personalize civic information for engaged users.

What challenges do you face?
Tackling a problem like civic engagement is especially difficult given that many people are generally apathetic and disinterested in political matters. We find that people are often dissatisfied and therefore discouraged to participate in politics – trying to change this sentiment is a challenge. However, we are confident that if political issues are presented to people in a different way, users will be more inclined to participate, remain engaged, and this we believe, will lead to changes in various communities.

What key things have you learned since starting your business idea?
1. Find a strong team: Surround yourself with a team of people who believe in you/your vision. You want people on your team who are critical thinkers, who are not afraid to be honest with you, and who challenge each other to think big.

2. Networking: It is important to follow-up with the people you meet. You never know how one connection may benefit you now or in the long run.

3. Keep moving: Do not get discouraged. On some days, you will get discouraged. You will feel defeated. Wake up the next day, brush it off, and keep moving.

4. Have a plan: while it is important to have a plan, being flexible is as equally important.

5. Be Humble.

What advice do you have for youths looking to start an idea but say ‘there is no money’?
Learn to use what you have. If that means you start with a simple business plan then do that. With a strong business plan, people will gravitate towards you and some will practically throw money at you because they believe in your idea. You can also utilize social media and blogging to your advantage by marketing your idea/product/service and building buzz all over the world – at little to no cost.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?
More young Africans should learn to support other small businesses/startups. Buy locally; use word of mouth and social media marketing; host and attend networking events; and build meaningful connections.

How many jobs have you created so far?
We currently have an executive team of 6 and we also have an intern.

How has technology enhanced your business idea?
Technology drives our mission of connecting people to politics, policies, and government. Our company is a startup using technology-based and data-driven solutions to innovate the civic process.

How can we support and improve innovation in Africa?
You cannot make real and effective changes unless you specifically address the needs of the people and market that you are serving. It is incredibly important to pay attention to your particular market and not just simply apply something that may work in America or the UK, but create solutions particular to communities in Africa.

The EAGLE mobile app is available for download on smartphones.

Use the hashtag #beheard and #EAGLEapp!
For more information on Civic Eagle, please reach:
Lesley Adeyemi Adewunmi
Director of Product Development
Email: Lesley {at} civiceagle.com
Website: www.civiceagle.com
Twitter: @Civic_Eagle
Instagram: Civic_Eagle

Sometimes as an entrepreneur, you do not always have to start your business from scratch. Your path to entrepreneurship could be an expansion strategy for an existing company. If this is a path that you would like to consider, take the time to identify the industry that you would like to make a difference in, and move forward from there. This is exactly what Roxsanne Dyssell did. While completing her graduate studies at NYU, Dyssell attended several networking events which led to meeting Nalla Brazil representatives.

She said, “compared to the very negative perceptions of the U.S. job market for recent graduates, the potential for success and the supportive environment of African networking events that I attended while completing my education at New York University convinced me to follow through on this business opportunity.”

Dyssell is also organizer of the African Women who Brunch roundtable. She started this initiative to challenge the trend of why many panels on investments and business in Africa were usually all-male. The brunch became a way to introduce and connect professional African women living in New York City with one another. The AWP Network met with Dyssell to learn about her new venture and why she chose to collaborate with and find a business partner in Brazil.

What is Nalla Brazil?

Nalla is an established brand in Brazil; I am working to expand its reach globally. My team and I develop the marketing materials for reaching international markets. Nalla Brazil provides network managed services to include spare parts management, field maintenance, technical warehousing, logistics management, integration and optimization with customized cloud-based reporting tools. The company is fully aligned to the telecommunications market – combining flexibility, competitive prices, and technical skills.

Nalla Brazil prioritizes the market according to trends and demands. The company also offers services directly and indirectly to major carriers and brokers around the world.

What inspired you to pursue this partnership?

Compared to the very negative perceptions of the U.S. job market for recent graduates, the potential for success and the supportive environment of African networking events in NYC convinced me to follow through on this opportunity.

Who is your target market?

 We focus on servicing 2nd and 3rd tier telecoms operators in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. These types of operators are typically smaller, we are also looking for innovative companies that challenge incumbents in the market and work hard to win and maintain their market shares.

How have you financed the idea?

Our partners are committed to providing the funds needed to expand. The key benefit here is that we do not need to explain or justify the risks and rewards of working in emerging markets, coming from the second world; our investors are already familiar with the territory.

What is your competitive edge?

The level of service and attention to detail we offer our customers at any given time.

What is the long-term plan for your business?

We have a 3-year plan in place; we are focused on being sustainable. We want to retain a small contingent of repeat customers whose profiles we can define and to which we can adapt. Beyond that we would like to expand our product offerings to include technical services and in-country support.

What challenges do you face?

• Communication – this is our biggest challenge to date. Some of the companies we work with can be slow and opaque, hence making it difficult to analyze and define decision makers, timelines, and the seriousness of opportunities.

• Preparation- you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Currently, we have suffered a significant drop in business from our West African customers due to the Ebola epidemic. Although we continue to support their efforts, we have turned to our diversified customer base across the continent to ensure consistent revenues.

What key things have you learned since starting this business?

• Be Respectful: The value of respecting and connecting cultures has proven to be my biggest asset. You do not need to have a degree in UN diplomacy to know this, but getting to know your customers and suppliers on a personal level as well as understanding their cultures has helped to retain and build stronger long-term relationships. Our marketing materials go out to over 100 clients in various countries around the world therefore; we need to have a clear and consistent message that speaks to our customers on many levels.

• Be Confident: under-promise and over-deliver. This has helped us to build confidence in our investment partners and in our customers.

What 5 things do start-up entrepreneurs need to know?

 (1) Have a plan and develop a thorough business proposal,

(2) First impressions matter – do not forget the importance of first impressions. Spend the time and money on a well-designed image for your proposal. Our proposal needs to stand out against presentations from Samsung and Ericsson. No matter how small you are, design and create as though you are competing against multinationals.

(3) Find an investor and partner (s) who inspire you.

(4) Select a workspace that promotes productivity, networking, and a strong business community – we chose WeWork, which specializes in linking start-ups with established companies.

(5) Plan for the worst and make sure that your business structure allows for things to go wrong.

(6) Last but not least and more importantly, get a dog for the office.

What advice do you have for youths looking to start an idea but say “there is no money”?

Start looking at second world economies – newly developed countries, such as BRICS members – they have a very fresh memory of the risks and challenges emerging economies face. They themselves have reaped the rewards of fast growth in previous decades.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?

Young Africans can start by celebrating one another. Also, remember that networking is not just about your own project, but about supporting and connecting others so that they too can attain their goals. I find great happiness in watching others succeed, and always do the most I can to support them.

How many jobs have you created so far?

Our business model is best described as “light.” We work with contractors in Somalia, China, Ivory Coast, and Brazil to help us develop the resources needed to reach the next level. Here in the USA we have created (2) jobs so far.

How has technology enhanced your business idea?

Technology is our business. In terms of administrative resources, we are able to build a world-class structure at very affordable and manageable overheads. Paid software tools such as Asana, Dropbox, and Zoho have proven to be invaluable to our global workspace.

How can we support and improve innovation in Africa?

We can support and improve innovation in Africa by focusing our abilities and resources on helping African companies reduce costs and improve efficiencies. With more resources and higher profitability, innovation will find its incubators. The African diaspora should not be overlooked. In fact, the diaspora has played an important role in the recent successes of many other economies to include India, Korea, and China.

Contact Roxsanne Dyssell at Nalla

Twitter: Nalla

Google: Nalla

Be the change. Be Inspired. Be you.

Recognizing (40) African women with powerful, inspiring, and influential voices.

Introducing Africa’s leading women!

At the AWP Network, we aim to encourage more African women with powerful voices who will continue to create programs and policies that support the development and growth of African women and girls.

Arunma Oteh

1. Arunma Oteh (Nigeria): is Director General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission. This year, Oteh was named West African Business Woman of the Year by CNBC at the Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards.

2. Phumzile Mlambo- Ngcuka (South Africa): is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN women.

3. Joy Ogwu (New York/Nigeria): is the permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York and president of the executive board of the UN women entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

4. Angélique Kidjo (New York/Benin): is a Grammy award–winning singer and songwriter, UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and author of “Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music.”

5. Musimbi Kanyoro (Kenya): is CEO and president of the Global Fund for Women – an international grant-making foundation supporting groups working to advance the human rights of women and girls.

6. Theo Sowa (Ghana): is CEO and president of the African Women’s Development Fund – the first pan-African women’s grantmaking institution dedicated to women’s rights and philanthropy. Sowa serves on the board of the Museum of AIDS in Africa, is a Trustee of Comic Relief, and Chair of its International Grant Making Committee.

7. Shola Olatoye (New York/Nigeria): is CEO and chair of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Olatoye was appointed to this position by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. She has also served as an alumni-elected trustee at Wesleyan University.

8. Tabitha Karanja (Kenya): is CEO at Keroche Breweries Limited. Keroche Breweries produces Kenya’s finest malt beer, Summit Malt. Karanja is known to be the first Kenyan to own a beer factory and was also named Businesswoman of the Year at the 2014 CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards.

9. Joanne Mwangi (Kenya): is CEO of the PMS Group. Mwangi was also recognized by CNBC at the All African Business Leaders Awards. She serves as chair of the Federation of Women Entrepreneur Associations (FEWA) and the Eastern Africa Women Entrepreneur Exchange Network.

10. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (South Africa): is the Honorable Chairperson of the African Union Commission. She is the first woman to lead the organization.

11. Iman Bibars (Egypt): is the regional director and vice president for Ashoka Arab World (AAW). Bibars is also co-founder and chair of the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW), a civil society organization providing credit and legal aid for impoverished women.

12. Lindiwe Zulu (South Africa): is South Africa’s minister of small business development. This year, Zulu launched the Startup Nations South Africa initiative, aimed at contributing towards building a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem and vibrant sustainable entrepreneurship culture.

13. Mosunmola Abudu (Nigeria): is founder of Ebony Life Television and Inspire Africa Foundation. Abudu is a talk show host, TV producer, media personality, human resources management consultant, and entrepreneur.

14. Biola Alabi (Nigeria): is a 2014 Yale World fellow and managing partner at Biola Alabi Media Consulting, a company designed to provide organizations with access to highly qualified professionals in the broadcast, telecommunications, and digital industries. Prior to this role, Alabi served as managing director of Electronic Media Network (MNET), Africa’s first private and leading subscription television service.

15. Akudo Anyanwu-Ikemba (Nigeria): is CEO and founder of Friends Africa, an organization committed to continuing the fight against HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Friends Africa is also winner of the 2014 ONE Africa prize.

16. Solar Sister (Africa): was founded by Katherine Lucey and Neha Misra. Solar Sister invests in women and aims to eradicate energy poverty by empowering women with economic opportunity. With a strategic woman-centered direct sales network, the organization plans to bring light, hope, and opportunity to even the most remote communities in rural Africa.

17. Dee Poku-Spalding (New York/Ghana): is founder of the Women, Inspiration, and Enterprise (WIE) Network, which aims to empower a new generation of women leaders. WIE organizes a global conference to connect established trailblazers with emerging leaders.

18. Memuna Janneh (United Kingdom/Sierra Leone): is owner of Clockwork Business Club and founder of LunchBox Gift. Lunchbox was instrumental in providing hot meals to those affected by the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. Lunchbox has fed approximately 2,600 people in seven different communities.

19. Hadiza Bala-Usman (Nigeria): is co-founder, coordinator, and initiator of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign. Bala-Usman is a human rights activist who has fought for the release of the abducted Chibok school girls in Borno State.

20. Sarah Peace (United Kingdom/Nigeria): is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and human rights activist whose art piece, “Chibok 100” featured black-veiled ‘figures’ representing the abducted Chibok school girls.

21. Funke Bucknor-Obruthe (Nigeria): is CEO and founder of Zapphire Events, West Africa’s leading event planning company, which helps customers “transform the mundane to magical.”

22. Mildred Okwo (Nigeria): is co-founder of the Audrey Silva company. Okwo is a well-recognized film director and producer whose film “The Meeting,” has won several awards to include the Nigerian Entertainment Award, Africa Movie Academy Award, and the Nollywood Movies Award.

23. Nse Ikpe-Etim (Nigeria): is an award-winning actress and winner of the 2014 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards for playing “Nse” in Journey to Self.

24. Deborah Ahenkorah (Ghana): is co-founder and executive director of the Golden Baobab, a social enterprise aimed at promoting African children’s literature. She is an Echoing Green Fellow and a New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

25. Unoma Okorafor (Texas/Nigeria): is owner of Herbal Papaya and Founder of WAAW – an organization whose  mission is to promote STEM education for African girls. Okorafor is also winner of the Anita Borg Institute Award

26. Tori Abiola (Nigeria): is managing director of Montgomery West Africa, a platform that organizes the Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Conference (WOWe).

27. Mobolaji Akiode (New York/Nigeria): is a professional basketball player and founder of Hope 4 Girls Africa – an organization dedicated to using sports, particularly basketball camps, to inspire and empower impoverished young women. From Nigeria, to Ghana, and Benin Republic, Hope 4 Girls Africa has helped girls secure student athletic scholarships.

28. Tola Onigbanjo (United Kingdom/Nigeria): is co-founder of Women4Africa, a UK-based organization celebrating, recognizing, and honoring African women who have made great impact in their communities.

29. Misan Rewane (Nigeria): is founder of West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE), an organization tackling youth unemployment by identifying, training, and placing talented West African youths in wage-earning jobs in the hospitality sector.

30. Achenyo Idachaba (Nigeria): is founder of MitiMeth, a company producing hand-woven crafts from invasive aquatic weeds prevalent in Nigeria’s waterways. MitiMeth engages local artisans to create eco-friendly hand- woven home décor and personal accessories from invasive aquatic weeds and non-timber forest resources.

31. Regina Agyare (Ghana): is founder of Soronko Solutions and coordinator of Tech Needs Girls Ghana, which teaches young Ghanaian girls how to code. Agyare is a fellow at the Aspen Institute, an Ashoka fellow, and a Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders.

32. Yasmin Belo-Osagie (Nigeria): is co-founder of She Leads Africa – a platform providing the most talented female entrepreneurs across the continent with access to the knowledge, networks, and financing needed to build and scale strong businesses.

33. Afua Osei (Ghana): is co-founder of She Leads Africa – a platform providing the most talented female entrepreneurs across the continent with access to the knowledge, networks, and financing needed to build and scale strong businesses.

34. Uche Pedro (Nigeria): is managing director of BellaNaija, an online platform that develops and manages exciting online media content for a Pan-African audience.

35. Jane Ole (Nigeria): is owner and creative director of luxury brand, Elizabeth Waldorf, which creates timeless designs for African women who appreciate luxury, elegance, and style.

36. Doreen Mashika (Tanzania): is an award-winning luxury designer and founder of doreenmashika.com. Mashika fuses traditional African prints and techniques with contemporary Western style to create unique cosmopolitan pieces.

37. Uduak Isong (Nigeria): is a Nollywood writer, executive producer, and co-founder of the Royal Arts Academy, a company that offers courses and in-depth training on various aspects of the film industry.

38. Iheoma Obibi (Nigeria): is a women’s rights advocate and owner of Intimate Pleasures, a novelty store for women and their partners.

39. Ijeoma Mbamalu (New York/Nigeria): is co-founder of MUI-The PR Company (MUIPR), a company representing multiple business segments and leaders across three strategic brand public relations (PR) areas: social/digital media, events, and traditional PR.

40. Yvonne Unubun (New York/Nigeria): is the official publicist for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards and the Nigerian Centenary U.S. Awards. Unubun also owns Mayven PR – a boutique PR consulting firm aimed at providing top-notch public relations, brand and image consulting, writing services, amongst other publicity and marketing services to its clients in various industries.

In addition to recognizing Africa’s leading women, the AWP Network develops innovative small business content for African entrepreneurs.

Critically acclaimed director Femi Agbayewa just launched a sit down interview show for African entrepreneurs, giving an opportunity to entrepreneurs to talk about their experiences, failures, successes, and visions providing an unfettered look at what it means to make it as an entrepreneur.

Agbayewa said, “the structure of the show resembles that of another critically acclaimed show called “The Writer’s Room,” which focused on Hollywood actors. By shifting the focus to entrepreneurs, we are able to engage voices from a variety of industries and take part in their journey by highlighting their similarities, differences and, most importantly, it allows the unique personality of each entrepreneur to shine through.”

Audu Maikori, C.E.O of Chocolate City Group, appeared on the The Africa Music Law Show with Uduak Oduok to discuss what it takes to start a record label in Nigeria. In the interview, he talks about the state of the Nigerian music industry and working with American artists. Listen to Interview here

On How Artists Conduct Themselves on Social Media

One of our artists went on social media to put pictures of some illegal substance. We said please take this off, it is not good for the brand and it is not good for your brand. At that time, we were actually talking about an endorsement deal with a major brand. When the brand saw it, they took a step back. I recall we lost close to $100,000 and some live performance shows. When he didn’t, we said we would suspend all work with him until he complied because part of the implied terms of his contract was that he would not do anything to frustrate the label or management. And if he did, the contract could be suspended pending the correction of the issue.

On Nigerian Artists and Labels Working Together and Bridging the Gap

There are lots of stereotypes about what Americans perceive Africans to be. They think Africans are either very poor or very rich… what we are trying to do is basically let them know that there are huge opportunities here (in Africa), you do have fans here, and there is also an opportunity for us to build our fan base in the USA.

Lawsuit with Brymo 

I must say very clearly that this is not a personal matter. It is business. Many people want to invest…I have had meetings with banks, with CEOs of many companies … and they always say,“look, we are afraid of your industry because it is so erratic. A guy can wake up tomorrow and say, I am tired. He will just send a tweet and then what happens to my money?”

Imagine you took out a $50,000 loan to finance someone’s career and then he wakes up one day and says, “you shouted at me, I am not happy so I am leaving my contract and there is nothing else you can do.” Now how much interest did you pay on that loan? It is important that you do keep your side of the agreement and if you want to leave, that is not a problem whatsoever, just meet the terms of your contract and go. So, we are trying to take everybody to school so that they can learn and the industry can get bigger and better.

On Jesse Jagz’s Abrupt Exit from Chocolate City

His contract was up and he decided he wanted to go in another direction, no issues. When it comes to talent, expect that artists will be erratic, and that it is normal for these things to happen. The most important thing is after that was done, we sat down with him, he told us what he wanted to do and we gave him our blessings. He still features on Ice Prince’s album.

On Artists Erratic Behavior in Nigeria’s Music Market

I do not think that it is about the music industry per se. It is a cultural problem across Nigeria…the whole lawlessness. Lawlessness is wide spread and people think that they can always get away with things. It is a cultural issue beyond music… there is lawlessness, there is lack of professionalism, there is lack of ethics, people think it is just about now. How much can I get right now, not looking at the future. We have a lot of work to do.

Working to Advance STEM Education for African Girls

This year, the AWP Network will work with the WAAW foundation to support African girls in STEM. The launch of this need-based scholarship program will support African girls studying a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) related degree course.

To qualify for the program, girls must be: (a) of African origin, living and studying in Africa, (b) currently enrolled in an undergraduate B.S. degree program, (c) studying STEM related courses at a university or college, (d) demonstrate financial need, and (e) have an excellent academic record.

Mary Olushoga, Founder of the AWP Network said, “we are excited about forging this partnership with the WAAW Foundation. We look forward to mentoring and supporting African girls in STEM, this is why we are here.”

Learn more about the initiative here: WAAW-AWP 

The Planet Earth Institute (PEI), an international NGO working for the scientific independence of Africa has made a commitment to fund the AWP Network Agropreneur project. 

Dr Álvaro Sobrinho, chairman of the Planet Earth Institute said, “data holds a huge amount of promise for scientific development in Africa and for many different business sectors too, but we have not yet fully explored how it can be used at a local level to improve lives. We are always looking for practical ways to support science and technology, and this will help do just that – developing and incubating new ideas with real impact.”

The AWP Network Agropreneur project is a workshop-based training project set to use quantitative and qualitative data to inform and help women farmers improve farming techniques, practices, as well as increase yield and production at a reduced cost. This includes a three-day practical training session on irrigation rice farming, post-training extension services, and building a network of women farmers across Nigeria.

Have questions? Email: mary@awpnetwork.com

Gbenga Sesan

I am on a mission to make Nigerians youths employable.

Let’s put these numbers in perspective, the Nigerian government records youth unemployment rates at 24.9 percent. A government official reveals that only 10 percent of graduates get decent jobs two (2) years after graduation – I am on a mission to reverse this trend.

High unemployment rates have enormous social consequences as it increases crime rates. Secondary school graduates are a principal fraction of the unemployed, accounting for nearly 35 to 50 percent. The rate of unemployment among those 20 to 24 years is at 40 percent and those between 15 to 19 years at 31 percent.

These statistics are alarming and if care is not taken, can get out of hand. It is clear that the present Nigerian economy is unable to absorb the high number of graduates churned out of tertiary institutions every year. The average Nigerian graduate also has the tendency to become an ‘unemployable’ graduate. That is, incompetent to carry out basic tasks expected of them even as junior employees. One of the reasons can be traced to the lack of certain skills expected amongst this set of people.

As a response to the unemployment rate, my organization Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has made it a mandate to train and provide a digital jobs platform to unemployed young Nigerians. That is, making skill training opportunities available to the average unemployable youth ready to dissociate from the increasing number of unemployment statistics.

The most important set of people in Nigeria today are youths. There are categories of them: the unemployed, the disadvantaged, the underserved, among others. Many of these young people have incredibly high potential with little to no existing opportunities or the capacity to encourage themselves to be all that their ‘fortunate’ peers are.

How have you financed this idea?

The Paradigm Initiative Nigeria Digital Jobs project is currently funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. Our agenda is to create awareness, provide information and training to disadvantaged youths and help them gain access to jobs.

The Rockefeller Foundation’s Digital Jobs Africa initiative, seeks to impact the lives of 1 million people in six (6) African countries by catalyzing sustainable ICT-enabled employment opportunities to those who otherwise would not have had the opportunity for sustainable employment.

Who is your target market?

We focus on young people. Our target market are the most important set of people in the country. Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) began its operation in Ajegunle – one of Nigeria’s underserved communities. The impact of the program revealed that human capacity and skills do not have to go to waste.

What is your competitive edge?

Our ability to connect disadvantaged Nigerian youths to ICT-enabled opportunities. My organization’s value system aims to imbibe the mind-set of entrepreneurship to the average Nigerian youth and to encourage entrepreneurial skills among various categories of this targeted group through the use of ICT. We have a consistent track record of projects that have been successfully implemented and have made genuine impact in the lives of young people.

What is your 5-year plan?

The long-term plan is to reduce unemployment in Nigeria.

What challenges do you face ?

Basic ICT training has become very essential. A good number of our program applicants find it challenging to understand the self-explanatory materials. In addition, how do we ensure that these young people translate their online work into a sustainable means of income? These are some of the challenges that we face and we are committed to overcoming them.

What five (5) key things have you learned since starting this idea?

• A problem-solving idea becomes very attractive to its target population and even attracts more support from non-sponsors to help its successful realization.

• Reaching a milestone creates further motivation to do something better knowing the impact and value in the lives of the target audience.

• Solving one problem opens up many more problems that needs to be solved.

• You must be able to know and understand what appeals to your target audience. This is the most effective means of communication.

• There is no such thing as ‘no jobs.’ So many opportunities exist, but the knowledge of where to find them and how to maximize its use serves as a major challenge.

What five (5)  things do start-up entrepreneurs need to know?

1. Know and understand your target audience,
2. Learn how to sell your ideas,
3. Differentiate between purpose and profit,
4. Environmental factors/government policies will discourage you at some point,
5. Create a plan and follow it

What advice do you have for youths looking to start an idea but say ‘there is no money’?

Money should not serve as a motivating factor. If your ideas are sustainable and realistic, they will attract funding. Believe in your dreams and do not be overly ambitious in setting goals. Take it one step at a time and watch your dreams grow into actualization. I will use this example again, Rockefeller approached PIN with the ‘digital jobs’ project because they saw us as focused and passionate drivers in the promotion of ICT to Nigerian youths. They also saw a track record of success in the projects that we have handled in the past and were confident in our abilities.

How do you think African youths can continue to support each other?

There are several platforms that connect and promote collaboration between African youths. We acknowledge that local problems are best solved locally and that some of the solutions to our problems are resident on the continent. It is good to seek international advice and best practices but better to look within. For example, the ‘digital jobs’ project will gather participants in the digital jobs campaign from all the participating African countries to learn from one other on how they have been able to surmount challenges, reach out to more youths, and achieve success within a short timeline. In addition, the social media platform serves as an effective tool that more African youths can use to continue to support each other rather than using it as a tool for unprofitable discussion.

How has technology enhanced your business idea? 

Technology is the core of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria as a social enterprise. PIN’s activities cannot be separated from the use of technology. PIN uses technology platforms to spread the knowledge of ICT by equipping youths with information and skills. The use of social media (Facebook, Google plus, Instagram, Twitter, Mail chimp, E-mail accounts, Youtube, Blogs, videos, radio and television interviews, etc) in reaching our target audience cannot be underemphasized. In short, PIN uses technology to circulate the importance of taking advantage of ICT opportunities.

How can we support and improve innovation in Africa? 

First, by standing firm for what should be or what ought to be regardless of the policies that seem contrary to the way the future is meant to play out. Correctional measures to old ways of doing things are an important ingredient, and to this end can help improve the existing status quo.

At the moment, one of PIN’s 2015 projects is focused on funding ICT oriented student ideas – this is the TENT Angel Investment Scheme, which has been set up to encourage students’ innovative abilities while in school. This keeps them focused on their projects and academics. The funding will nurture their ideas from beginning to maturity stage. PIN is working towards having a Nigeria where students will not just graduate with CVs but with business ideas that create will create livelihood means for them; thus making them employers of labour. Our aim is to tackle ICT challenges from the root, hence our involvement with secondary and tertiary institutions.

For more details on PIN visit:

Facebook: PIN

Twitter: PIN

Instagram: PIN

Dee Poku-Spalding

Personal experiences in the workplace inspired me to start this company. It was not until I left the routine 9am to 5pm job that I realized the importance of mentoring to my personal and professional development. Looking back now, I wish that I had mentors to advice, guide, challenge, and support me. I encountered lots of issues, everything from learning the basics of how to play workplace politics to knowing which projects would give me the most visibility. This is what led me to start WIE. 

WIE stands for Women, Inspiration, and Enterprise; I founded the company in 2010. WIE is an innovative global platform connecting well-established trailblazers to emerging leaders. WIE’s dynamic symposiums and salons provide a toolkit for success for tomorrow’s CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and potential collaborators. The network aims to empower a new generation of women leaders. Over the years, WIE symposiums has attracted an incredible lineup of speakers to include Donna Karan, Arianna Huffington, Queen Rania, Ted Turner, Melinda Gates, Diane von Furstenberg, Nancy Pelosi, Jill Biden, Aerin Lauder, Jennifer Buffett, Lauren Bush, Christy Turlington, Iman, Rosario Dawson, and Nora Ephron.

I felt the need to provide a platform for women to gain access to resources that will allow them to support one another. We recently launched a kickstarter campaign because we want to rebuild and reinvent ourselves in the marketplace. The site will feature powerful short inspirational videos from exceptional achievers. Women interviewed in these videos will share useful career insights about what they do, and how they do it – life, career, and the key to success. It is my intention that the WIE Network will continue to empower women and girls all over the world to reach their full potential. Support WIE

How did you come up with the name WIE? 

I wanted a name that was inclusive and WIE came to mind. Women, Inspiration, Enterprise best describes what we do.

Who is your target audience?

Women looking to establish themselves in the workplace. These women are somewhere in the middle and they feel stuck. They need the push and inspiration to move forward. Our target audience are women who want to grow and move on to the level. They want a breakthrough in their careers and need the support.

How have you financed the idea thus far? 

We have received sponsorships from various companies and folks pay to attend our events.

What business challenges do you face? 

Fundraising, access to capital, and manpower. We recently launched our kickstarter campaign; we plan to take the business to the next level.

What have you learned since founding WIE? 

1. Don’t take No for an answer. Many people will tell you No, but keep going because the No can later turn into a Yes.
2. Turn the No you get into a positive experience by honing in on your pitch, properly communicating your vision, and expanding your network.
3. Develop your networking skills. This is important for your personal, business, and professional growth.
4. Be Visible. Regardless of where you are or what you are doing, ensure that you are visible. Many people work hard but no one knows what they are doing. Work hard, be visible, and make sure that the right people notice your efforts.

How can women support other women? 

(1) Be less secretive,

(2) Know what you want and go for it,

(3) Set goals and work hard to accomplish them,

(4) Establish a supportive network (learn to share your ideas with others and more importantly, ask for feedback.)

(5) Serve as a mentor. Pay it forward by serving as a mentor to other women and girls,

(6) Hire women. When hiring, try as much as possible to hire a woman. Let us learn to give each other opportunities.

How do you balance work and family life? 

Women have to learn to forgive themselves because we cannot be perfect. Many times, we expect perfection when it comes to balancing work and family life. I would like to be a great family person and a results-driven executive and entrepreneur all at the same time. However, I do not think that we can do it all. Be smart with your time and develop excellent time management skills. There were times in my career when I got so busy that I did not get to see my children as often as I liked, I always felt guilty.

In addition, it is important to have a supportive spouse or partner who understands and who wants to see you achieve your goals. This person will serve as your support structure. Also, extended family members are a useful network; don’t be afraid, always ask for help when you need it. My husband and I are entrepreneurs, it is not always easy but we plan our time and schedules accordingly.

What is your vision for African women? 

My vision is to see more African women supporting each other. There are not enough supportive networks and spaces on the continent, we need to work on building this. We are usually competing with each other and not collaborating; this needs to change.

The last time we had the WIE conference on the continent, I observed that when it comes to family life, African women practice a more pragmatic form of feminism. Of course I won’t say that African women are not feminists, they are but they practice a more pragmatic form. Many African women are guided by culture, hence why they think differently. The focus on marriage and family comes from our mothers. Mothers understand that there has to be more to life than money and career – so they start grooming women for marriage. I find this interesting.

African women have somehow learned to put their needs on hold. They usually don’t put themselves first. During the conference, these women spoke extensively about the importance of living for, taking care of, and looking after their husbands and family. There is an extreme focus on family life and husbands. There is nothing wrong with this but I find that for African women, the focus is to do everything they can to keep their marriages, homes, family life and make their husbands happy so he won’t leave.

More African women need to ask, what are my priorities? It is good to put family life first but it is also important to accomplish your purpose and to have a supportive partner who helps you through.

How can we support and improve innovation in Africa? 

We need to highlight the kind of innovation that is happening on the continent, quality is still an issue. We need to do more to change the perception of Africa and made in Africa products. We can use the media to change this.

How many jobs have you created? 

We work with many consultants and vendors. We do not have full-time staff members per se, but I will say that WIE conferences have helped many women get to the next level. Some women quit their jobs after attending a WIE conference, I think that’s a good thing because it shows that they are determined to take charge.

What advice do you have for women entrepreneurs? 

Bring the right set of investors to the table. We need to connect more African women entrepreneurs to the global stage – more visibility on the global stage helps our voice.

At WIE, we are focused on providing women with a place to learn from experts. We aim to offer a fresh, modern, and unique perspective on issues women may face in their careers. The innovative global platform that we are building will be solutions-driven to allow women share stories, collaborate, connect, and learn from each other. Support WIE.

Learn more about WIE:

Website: WIE

Twitter: WIE

Facebook: WIE