Women of Rubies
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One Of The Most Difficult Things To Do Is Leading People- Kolajo Blessing

Breaking the glass ceiling” is one the best things that came out of Hillary Clinton contesting for Presidency. A tag line she often used during her campaign, to encourage women to take charge and squash their limiting beliefs. Kolajo Blessing is one of such women! She has not just broken through the glass ceiling, but also encouraging other women in her generation to do so.She is the first Female President of OOU Literary and Debating Society and also the first Female President of VeeCee Success Stories, a position she holds in a bid to share stories of young women and men alike, as an undergraduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University. Blessing is also an excellent writer and a great spoken word artist. She recently wowed people with her craft on Instagram when she did spontaneous spoken word session about Slay queens. The double President shares her inspiring journey with Esther Ijewere in this interview.

Childhood Preparation
My childhood days prepared me a lot for what I do today, and the things I will still do in the future. I remember growing up was not so fun for me because I took interest in what my age groups do not enjoy doing which was reading literary texts, so I spend more of my time with imaginary characters in novels. My daddy would trek down to the bookshop to buy storybooks for me every weekend, which I would finish reading before he comes back from work, and that was at the age of seven. I enjoyed watching the news, too, which has served as a platform for my exposure because I grew up in a rural environment.

Being the President of OOU Literary and Debating Society and first female president of Veecee Success Stories
If I’m asked I will say one of the most difficult things to do is to lead people. It was difficult waking up to the reality that there are a set of people looking up to me in many aspects, having to think that any bad decision I make affects many others. Having to do all this, along with achieving my academic vision and personal development, gave me a tough time. However, the experience I had has shaped and moulded me into a better person; leadership isn’t easy but it’s worth it.


Being a student and managing my role
Time management and setting priorities. I denied myself of a whole lot of things; I scrapped my fun time totally and fused it into my creativity. I do not attend impromptu programmes, neither do I go for unnecessary visits. My schedule was church, lectures, library, official meetings and any events where I have been called to perform. It wasn’t easy for me because I am a youth and I have needs, but some prices are worth paying to achieve the goal of self-development, which I did because I had the best results of my life during that period.
Using my position to squash stereotype of women holding powerful positions in the society

I set an example by leading the associations even better than my predecessors who were males, because people were wondering that this small girl cannot do it. Also, I remember that each time an assignment was meant to be given or an opportunity arises in any of the associations that I led, what I did was to conduct a capacity test to pick someone suitable for the job. In most cases, the female members perform better and I do not hesitate to pick them since they have proven themselves worthy regardless of the gender reservations that has been for that position, because I believe women are tools for greatness and not humans that should always occupy the backseat. Also, I write to influence the mind of the society positively about the issue of gender discrimination.

Being a Poet
What inspired my poetry is just the need to express myself in a way that is unique and beautiful. However, when I noticed that I am making positive impact, I started doing more and that is what has brought me to limelight and accord this kind of honour to me. Be on the lookout for many things, by June of this year I will be launching three poetry collections for junior secondary school one, two and three titled “Raindrops” and many other great things shall follow.

Three women who inspire you to be better and why
The number one woman that inspired me a lot when I was a child was Professor Dora Akunyili, she was an intelligent woman, I do watch her speak on NTA when I was young. Also, the words of Michelle Obama and Chimamanda Adichie are energy giving shots to my soul.

Challenges of being an undergraduate joggling so many things at once
Managing people especially when they are older than me was the first challenge, getting people of like minds to work with was my second challenge. Lastly, having to cope with challenges of being a teenager/youth, peer pressures and the likes was so difficult.

Being a Woman of Rubies
I am a Woman of Rubies because I am productive, and I have something valuable to offer my generation and beyond. I am beautiful and strong regardless of the circumstances around me.

To young women who are afraid to live their dreams
Dear young girls, the best motivation you can ever have in life is having a clear vision that will always serve as a drive to your success. Never be afraid to accept challenges, never be afraid to bring those dreams into reality, for only the brave can rule this world and do not neglect the place of God, for his grace will always be sufficient for you.

Values OOU has instilled in me as an undergraduate
The first value is perseverance, the harsh condition of the school and its administrative system has taught me to persevere. I can say OOU, through the people that I have met, gave me the best gift I have now which is poetry.

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Could Social Media be Creating more harm than Good to beauty standards ?

By Pamela Mbata

Ready or not lots of things are changing. In this age, there is an exposure to every kind of information, lifestyle, culture and almost any system of doing things. One can not, but wonder and ask how positive or not it has been.

In the world of beauty and cosmetics, a tremendous change has swept through the land. Fashion keeps recycling while bringing innovative ways of doing things. Although some of what we see today has been done in the past, but new systems are emerging. For example:

  • Botox and plastic surgery, which has gained popularity amongst folks allover the world.
  • Advanced makeovers, women making up didn’t start today, but it is clearly advanced if you agree because more knowledge has been figured out, with the introduction of chemical based product on the counter and synthetic usage of materials.
  • Taking ‘Selfies’ was not a thing before  the early 2000’s but now it is so common and has been adopted as a norm for personal photography.

For women in particular, the pressure to keep up with what we see online has become a morbid cycle.

False representations and unrealistic standards

Tons of celebrities, influencers, models and brands, also use social media to sell and promote themselves by creating an image of perfection. They document their workout routines, eating habits, and other aspects of their lifestyle that contribute to the way they look. It can be all fake sometimes.

Whilst we may believe as we mindlessly scroll though such content, our subconscious is soaking it all up and before we know it, those perfectly formed bodies have become the standard by which we measure everything else.

Famous people and models on social media document their workout routines, eating habits, and other aspects of their lifestyle that contribute to the way they look. There is only one problem with this industry; it’s all fake.

Some have developed  mental heath issues, identity issues and even body dysmorphia trying to emulate the beauty standards that are simply unattainable.

An Instagram model can post a picture of herself in a bikini, showing off her taut stomach, holding up a weight loss tea supplement. Her caption reveals that said supplement is the secret to her honed physique.

This alone, sends a very dangerous message to millions of her followers, the majority of whom are impressionable young women.

It is spreading the idea that supplements, diet pills and detox teas are the best way to achieve her body type, when in reality, it could not be further from the truth.

More often than not, their looks are a combination of gym, plastic surgery and a generous amount of retouching.

Her job is to look perfect and promote merchandise. This creates an unrealistic beauty standard for all of her followers who believe that this product is their ticket to a perfect body.

In reality, a perfect body does not exist. An immense amount of planning, makeup and photo editing went into the final Instagram picture she posted. It’s designed to sell a product, not support a healthy lifestyle.

This leads to low self-esteem and negative thinking towards food , body acceptance and comparisons. It is incredibly important to teach young women and men that social media is not real life.

So, social media tells us that we need to be a beautiful person in order to be worthy which could not be further from the truth.

It is incredibly important to teach young women and men that social media is not real life. Trying to emulate this types of bodies can cause physical and psychological damage.

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Staying healthy means fitness of the body and mind— Ottillia Giralico

Fitness trainer Ottillia Giralico, based in Canada, has advised on what it takes to be healthy. According to her for any individual to stay healthy and fit, he or she must focus on staying fit, exercising a lot and, most importantly, engage in whatever makes them happy.

While enlightening the pubic, the Jamaican and Italian-bred stated the importance of health and fitness.

“I think the public should know that fitness is not only physical. There is fitness for your physical body, but also for your mind, heart, and soul.

“Its’ so easy to focus on the physical aspect of fitness and while you may be physically in great shape, your mind may not necessarily be on the same level.

“Exercise should apply to all realms. In order to be healthy as a whole being, focus on every form of fitness and exercise and do things that you truly enjoy.

“I don’t think that one can exist without the other. I think that in order to be healthy (physically, mentally and emotionally), fitness would have to be something that is consistent in ones’ life.

“And vice versa, one cannot be fit and perform fitness activities without having a healthy solid foundation to work with. For example, if someone is not healthy enough to get out of bed, then they obviously won’t be able to include fitness into their everyday lifestyle.

“Personally, fitness positively impacted my mental health. At difficult times I would turn to physical fitness to cope and relieve stress, and it helped me with feeling both physically and mentally stronger. Overcoming challenges in the gym while working out and lifting, felt like a metaphor for me overcoming challenges in life.”

On how she has coped with the pandemic, she added “Due to COVID-19, I haven’t been able to train clients face-to-face or be present in the gym at all. I train clients online.

“Overall, I feel hopeful, positive, and productive. However, there are moments where I feel down because the gym was an environment where I was able to truly identify as myself.

“However, COVID-19 has been a blessing for me because I’ve been able to work on so many other projects, including my business.”

Giralico speaking on her life philosophy said: “Be your best self and live your best life. To me this really means putting self-care first, and loving yourself.

“Once that is in place it becomes a lot easier to show love and compassion towards others. Love is always the answer. Also, putting your personal well being first will then allow you to be able to live life to the fullest, and enjoy every moment.”

The 29-year-old Ottillia Giralico, lost her parent at young age. Her only regret has been wasting her time in an unpleasant relationship.

The certified trainer and entrepreneur said: “My only regret would be the years that I lived while being unhappy. I was unhappy in my relationship, and career. This was something I settled with for years. It was only after I removed myself from certain situations, and put myself first that I was able to have a whole new and different perspective on things.

“I regret not knowing what I know now at an earlier age, and I regret not pursuing my passion and believing in myself at an earlier age.”

The graduate of Psychology and Sociology was able to pull through the challenges of life as an orphan, with the help of her grandparent.

“My mother was a very independent and strong woman. She taught and raised me to be the same. My grandmother and grandfather also played an integral role in my life, and were very strong resilient people who created an amazing life for the generations that followed after them.

“A strong upbringing and supportive family definitely helped me get through most of the challenges I encountered.”

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“Women have it a lot harder raising capital due to stereotypes, expectations”- Chioma Ikokwu

Chioma Ikokwu is a co-partner at The Good Hair Limited, an international premium hair extension brand with a clientele base that cuts across the globe, including the US, Russia, Sweden, Jamaica and the Middle East. She is also head honcho at Brass & Copper Lifestyle and Next by Good Hair. Popularly known as ‘Chioma Good Hair’, the tenacious serial entrepreneur has a first degree in Law from the University of Birmingham and a Masters in International and Environmental Law & International Commercial Arbitration from the University of London, UK, where she bagged a Distinction in both, and a 2.1 from the Nigerian Law School. Ikokwu’s passion for assisting female-owned start-ups with capital has led her to collaborating with The Women International (TWI) on the platform of her monthly ‘Fund My Start-up’ initiative. She speaks with The Guardian Woman on her vision to ensure that more female owned businesses get the assistance they need to thrive. Excepts!

What led you to fund start up businesses?
I started my company at the tender age of 18 and was lucky enough to have received startup capital from family (although not a lot) – this initial investment led to the empire that is being built today. On the other hand, I also mentor a lot of young women with bright ideas and have found their most pressing issue to be the lack of startup capital. In my bid to assist, I did some compound research and concluded that Nigeria is a really tough environment for budding entrepreneurs and doesn’t do enough to encourage its citizens. There is a huge lack in financial lending institutions, the bank interest rates are rather punitive and the infrastructural climate isn’t encouraging nor conducive. I have seen too many bright ideas waste away and so decided to do something about it in the little way I can. One morning, I spoke to a few friends and my business partners ( GoodHairLtd, Brass & Copper, TWI ) about it, they all bought into and encouraged the idea and that’s how the Fund my Startup Program was birthed.

Any specific reasons for females as your choice?
First of all I’m a woman so naturally I’m more biased towards women – That was a joke. But really, I’m very much about female empowerment. I’ve always supported and encouraged female enterprise and most of my mentees are female so I’m much more familiar with their struggles. I also believe that women have it a lot harder when it comes to raising capital due to the usual stereotypes and expectations of women. Some men also try to exploit their situation and thus we felt the urge to take on women first at least. In addition, one of my partners on this project (The Women International) is an organisation that assists in the personal development of women so funding female businesses was in line with their objectives.

What do you look out for when you choose winners monthly?
I usually narrow it down to value adding businesses. The ones that have thought and acted outside the box. Innovative yet realistic or necessary solutions to society’s problems. Although ultimately the sponsors make the final selections because I believe they should have the right to decide what businesses they want to impact financially.

How has running your personal business influenced your decision to fund other startups?
It has been the backbone of my decision because I can tell you categorically that if we had access to reasonable funding earlier on, we would’ve been a lot further than we are now. It is therefore imperative that we give the up and coming entrepreneurs the opportunity to flourish because who knows, we could be giving life to future multi million dollar / game changing businesses.

Do you consider funding key to the life of any business?
I think that funding is a necessary evil depending on the sort of business one decides to embark on. Some service based businesses might not require startup capital as it may depend solely on the person’s skill set. However most product based businesses will require some sort of capital to start no matter how little and if one doesn’t have the money or access to it, what happens to that idea?

What business nugget would you give to a startup?
I would advice any startup business to start small and grow organically. Most people these days want to fly before they can crawl and unfortunately, exposure to Social Media has led to a whopped sense of reality where people see a finished product or a 10-year journey and measure themselves against that business’ success and that isn’t a fair judgement on their own progress. It’s important to know that most successful businesses started from ground up and if you’re not ready to put in the time and work then greatness will remain distant. There’s something called the 10,000 hour rule which simply states that if you aren’t ready to put in at least 10,000 hours of your time into a particular vocation – you won’t be considered a master of it. I believe this is a metaphor for the need for patience and consistency in relation to success.
So yes – baby steps – reinvest some of your profit back into the business, grow your capital and watch that business bloom.

How can young business owners sit at the same table as you?
By staying focused, diligent and consistent. Don’t jump from business to business without giving any the appropriate time, energy and effort it deserves to reach its potential. Also keep your eyes on the prize and don’t get distracted by “competition” or nay sayers. There’s plenty of room for us all to win and if you’re focused, assiduous and resilient in your endeavors you too will sit and maybe one day head the table.

What lessons has running a business in Nigeria and as a female taught you?
Resilience. I’ve always been a strong woman but running a business in Nigeria has toughened me up to the point that I’m officially made of Stone. But then, I’m so much stronger than my experiences. Every single day presents a different and more difficult challenge which you must rise above and as a woman it’s even tougher because you have so much more to prove – from people doubting your capabilities to your integrity and so on. It’s been tough but I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. I always say that if you can succeed in Nigeria, you can succeed anywhere else in the world.

As a lawyer and entrepreneur how do you marry both caps and still be at your best?
It’s certainly hard but thankfully I’ve been able to make it work. I think balance is key. Dedicating a reasonable amount of time to the things that are paramount to you. I mean I’m able to draw up Legal Contracts, train my employees, run GoodHair, Brass & Copper, the Good Hair Space and still glam up all in the same day so I like to think I’ve mastered the art of Balance or should I say multi tasking. I’ve also been blessed with amazing business partners and that has definitely made the ride worthwhile.

What advice do you have for young women struggling to find their voice and chase their passion?
I would advice every young woman to continue pushing harder – the end is closer than you think. We have and will continue to pave the way for you all so your ride hopefully will be easier. Do not attempt to give up, the sky is your starting point and we need you so keep going.

When you are not working, what will Chioma be doing?
Chioma will be eating, sleeping and bonding with family. I love to travel too and I’m getting into the habit of reading and cooking – my new found talent.

What is your philosophy of life?
Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. This is the motto that I live by daily.

Source:Guardian

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#MondayMotivation: 4 Ways To Deal With Negative Vibes At Your Workplace

It’s important to point out that not all ‘bad’ feelings are bad. Sometimes, being angry, sad, unhappy, or stressed is a healthy and natural reaction; you should not go out of your way to suppress, ignore or bottle up your feelings. But if you experience these emotions on a frequent basis they can become chronic and even addictive. That is when healthy negativity turns into toxic negativity.

Here are four ways to deal with negativity at your workplace;

1. Stop Blaming and Start Learning

Next time something goes wrong, don’t point the finger of blame. You’ve probably heard the saying that whenever you point a finger at somebody, there are three fingers pointing back at you. Instead of blaming, first take a look at what you could have done differently to react to – or entirely avoid – the problem you’ve experienced. In most cases you will find there is always something you can do differently or better next time. Learn from your mistakes, adapt, and grow!

2. Stop Complaining and Take Ownership

Instead of complaining about a problem, do something about it. Does the guy in the next office constantly interrupt you? Are you not getting the recognition you deserve at work? Don’t complain to your friends or co-workers. If it bothers you enough to complain about it on a daily basis, then take action and make changes. Ask the guy to stop interrupting you or send you an email instead. Talk to your boss about a raise or a change of duties. Just do something. And if nothing works and you are still unhappy… maybe you have a much bigger decision to make.

Sometimes there is a fine line between complaining and simply communicating about a problem. A good general rule to go by is if you tell somebody about a problem more than once, you are complaining. Doing it daily will make it a chronic activity that is very poisonous to you and others around you.

3. Practice Random Acts of Kindness

One of the most effective negativity antidotes is to do kind things for others and feel the positive energy that comes with that. Next time you see a mom struggling with her baby trying to open a door, run over and open it for her. Help somebody carry something up the stairs. Pay for somebody’s parking meter or their lunch in the drive-thru. Leave a $20 bill in the bible in the hotel room. All of these simple little things can add up to you feeling really good about what you did. That positive energy can cut through the foulest of moods.

4. Build Positivity into your Organizational Culture

Make a positive, helpful and healthy attitude part of the mission, vision and values of your company. Hire people who light up the room when they walk in and bend over backwards to help others around them. Work with clients who love to do business and who are passionate about what they do. Work with vendors who care about their work as much as you care about yours. Make ethics a key ingredient of your cultural formula and enforce a strict moral code. Help others when in need and celebrate your victories loudly!

Negativity is weaker than you think

When you’re in a bad mood, it may seem that the dark cloud will never go away. But you’d be surprised how easily you can change your mind and mood if you put your heart into it. Try following a few of these tips (and share them with others!) over the next few weeks and see if the overall spirit and attitude of your workplace improves.

 

credit: www.nine10.ca

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Enitan Facos: 5 Money Beliefs Keeping You Poor

Chances are you have faulty beliefs about money, which keep you from coming into it. Here are 5 faulty beliefs you might have and what to do about it.

The first thing to get straight is this: Money serves you. You are it’s master and it is your faithful servant. Never get this the other way around. Money serves two purposes: It allows us to live comfortably. It is also a vehicle that lets us do good in this world. Let money serve you.

  1. Money Isn’t Everything

Some people believe that money can’t buy happiness. They pretty much choose poverty over prosperity, thinking that happiness comes with scarcity. Yet, part of having an abundance mindset means the best of both worlds. After all, money is just an indicator of success. Poor and unsuccessful people have made it a habit to avoid doing things that improve their skills and this guarantees failure.

On the other hand, successful people have a habit of doing things that help them progressively realize their goals and dreams. While you may want to remain static, the truth is you either create or disintegrate.

2. You Lack Gratitude for the Money You Do Have

Just as we don’t know how to receive, when we do receive, we don’t know how to express gratitude. Start off simple and express gratitude, when you find a dime on your garage floor or a dollar bill in your laundry.

Gratitude is a re-framing of our minds, which opens us to receiving and expands our awareness to possibilities. Possibilities increase our chances of success.

3. You Don’t Know How to Receive

How many of us know how to ask for money or negotiate salaries? How many of us know our true worth in the value we can provide? I sure didn’t. I had helped my friend remove malware from her computer. It took me less than an hour, and she wanted to pay me for my time. Yet, because I didn’t know how to ask for money or the worth of the knowledge I possess, I stupidly refused the money. Luckily for me, my friend insisted. More importantly, she helped me realize that my knowledge and experience are not just for my employer. I can also help other people, and I should be bold enough to ask for money. After all, while it may have taken less than an hour to remove that malware, it’s taken me twenty years of constant study in front of the computer to build up that knowledge base and expertise.

READ ALSO : MY FIBROID STORY OF BLOOD, PAIN AND BROKENESS

4. You Have a Poor Self-Image

You can only grow as far as your self-image will allow. If you ever want to make six-figures at your next job, then you have to first believe you can. Your bad self image makes you believe that you are undeserving and a fraud. Mainly, it’s been poisoned by other people’s beliefs.

Once you believe you bring a unique value to this world that you alone can provide, you become aware that you deserve an abundance of happiness, health, and wealth. This accomplishment is something greater yet as it is an expansion of your awareness and true self-growth. Only when you are able to see yourself worthy and deserving of a six-figure salary, will your future employer see it too.

5. It Starts With You

One of the common threads running through the 7 false beliefs has to do with blame and your willingness to take responsibility for your current results. Unsuccessful people blame their circumstances or other people. On the contrary, successful people accept their circumstances and take the initiative to improve what they can. Even if the problems seem insurmountable, they start acting from where they can.

To bring more money and success into your life, first make a decision to throw out these faulty beliefs. Be willing to accept new beliefs that are conducive to your goals. When we start educating ourselves, we also start expanding our awareness to what’s possible.

In the end, the decision to come into an abundance of wealth and success has more to do with setting goals and growing, than it is about the money. As you embark on this journey, kindly remind yourself from time to time that goals aren’t about getting. They are about growing.

 

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Esther Ijewere: 6 Effortless Ways To Show Love To Yourself

Living life is a constant work in progress for each person, but that doesn’t mean that you should get so caught up that you neglect showing yourself love. Break down the walls preventing you from self-love, and enrich your life. Here are 6 ways I have learnt to show myself love, you should try it too.
1. Tell Yourself What You Love About Yourself
Many times, we get caught up in everything around us that we forget to remind ourselves just how awesome we are. Our own disappointment, acceptance, patience, and love that we have for ourselves will always reflect what we show others.
2. Accept Imperfection
One of the most worthwhile things that we can do for ourselves is to give up on being perfect, and start the journey to become our true selves. The best part of that journey is to return to feeling peace within ourselves. This peace comes from training your mind to process life as it actually is, rather than what you think it should be.
3. Know That the Approval of Others Doesn’t Matter
Oftentimes people greatly value having the approval of others, even when it isn’t clear exactly what would gain their approval.You should instead focus on doing what is right for your own self, disregarding what others will think. You do not need anyone’s permission to be happy.
4. Bring Distance Between Yourself and Those Who Bring You Down
Worry less about the people in your life that are not worrying about you. You should surround yourself with those who inspire you, respect you, love you, and support you.
5. Make the Changes You Know Are Necessary
When you know that you want to see changes in your life, you will need to do things that you’ve never done before. Aim to stay away from the things that tear you down, and gravitate toward the things, activities and thoughts that fulfill you in the way that you want.
6. Let Go of Your Past Self
A part of life is that good people like you will sometimes make bad choices. Sure, past mistakes make up who you are today, but they do not define you. It is never too late to move on from them – dwelling will only lead to hurt.

“Esther is an activist, Writer, Columnist, Author and editor-in-chief & founder -Women of Rubies. She is passionate about issues that affect women and children. 

Facebook: Esther Ijewere

Twitter & IG : @Estherijewere

LinkedIn: Esther Ijewere

Email: admin@womenofrubies.com

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20year old Mariee Revere made $1m in eight minutes

In the midst of all that is going on, Mariee Revere, is getting a lot of gains from her handmade vegan skincare line. The 20-year-old beauty entrepreneur and founder, made $1 million in just eight minutes from her MoonXCosmetics Company.

So many Entrepreneurs have been forced to move their businesses to digital platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there would be struggle, at this time, to attract customers but Marie seems to be doing so well.

“1 million in 8 minutes! thank you God and thank you to everyone who supported me! I had to cut the site 26 minutes due to my reaching 20k+ orders! thank you so much!” Revere tweeted about her feat.

Her brand shared an in-real-time video of which already has one million views.

According to Mariee, her brand has been a bundle of love for three years.  “MoonXCosmetics, LLC, isn’t a solo project, it only succeeds given how well it performs and because of how much we love our supporters,” she said.

“This is a community that we’re building, one for the history books and I couldn’t have asked for better customer bases, better support and a better appreciation for all of the hard work my team and I put in.”

She has also restocked her inventory so shoppers can get their hands on her handmade beauty items.

Many took to social media to celebrate the young CEO, who has obviously attracted thousands of new fans and following. She now has over 20,000 followers on Twitter and over 250,000 on Instagram.

Her YouTube channel has also increased in viewership reaching close to 23,000 views.

Keep going up sister.

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“Being A Woman In The Real Estate Sector Gives Me Joy”- Esther Raphael

One of the biggest investment opportunities globally is the Real estate sector, and It is always a delight to see women thriving in this sector. Esther Raphael is one of those women.

Esther  is the founder & CEO of Green Bliss Smart Projects and Resources Limited, she helps build and invest in innovative tech products and businesses. One of her major contributions to Green Bliss Projects, is Green Bliss Apartments which provides luxury short-let apartments and finclif.com, an online innovative marketplace for individuals, businesses to register, sell and advertise their products and services to thousands of potential customers daily.

With over 10 years of work experience, Esther has served in different capacities in the corporate world. She has a sales career background of over 3 billion Naira sales deal portfolio mostly closed online.

She shares her inspiring story exclusively in this interview with Esther Ijewere, as a woman in the property management and investment sector, and how she was able to rise to the top.

Growing Up

I grew up with a different family in the Amukoko area of Lagos. Very unhealthy environment to raise kids as I still occasionally have episodes of the stench of the environment, but my then family taught me a lot of things, they introduced me to early reading and interest in books and also ensured I was very much involved in church activities. One of the best gifts they gifted me and also sending me to a very good private school. By the time I was leaving them as a teenager back to my biological family, I was what a lot of people called ‘ different’. I had a mind of my own, I could make and take decisions on my own and fend for myself. Coming from a nuclear but big family and losing dad to death at 11, it was every man to yourself. You are either taking care of yourself or nothing.

With the help of my grandpa, I started farming and got farming gigs(bush clearing, thinning, weeding, planting, bamboo farming, snail and poultry farming and so on), that was how I raised money to continue and finish secondary school.

Less than three years of starting this  new life in my hometown, my grandpa died(one of my worst nights) because I lived alone with him and the rest of my family had moved to Lagos after the death of my dad. I lived alone after grandpa’s death and continued the farming business till I was certain it was time to move back to Lagos.

So, my experience in the farming business contributed in my hunger to own businesses. Seeing my age-mates work for me in my farm and I paid them, the joy in their faces was everything and I wanted to see more of that. All of those experiences prepared me greatly towards what I am doing today and will do tomorrow.

Inspiration  behind Green Bliss Projects

Green Bliss Projects as an online innovative company was inspired majorly by my desire to create and add value to more people than within a cubicle and nine years in the corporate world convinced me the more that I was made for more. I remember one of my former bosses asking me who I’m I or who my father is after I closed the largest deal in the company.

After smiling at her, in my head, small girl big God … Lol

Journey since we started

We started out as a telecommunication equipment supply company majoring in bulk sales and customization of smart gadgets and accessories, then we diversified into e-commerce and now real estate/facility management,short-let apartments. All of these products and services we still offer but with more focus on the real estate; Short-let apartments, property management, facility management, investment offers and e-commerce. The journey has been painful, bitter, sweet, adventurous, fearful and daring but in all, I am focusing on the vision because that is often my motivation. There were days I trekked to my meeting venues and would quickly go into the visitor’s toilet to clean up, so the prospects does not see what they are not supposed to see …. hahahahahaha. I don’t know what you are thinking about . I trekked in the rain or more distances to save some money to continue hustling the following day. It was big time work. There were days I would skip meals or stay awake all night tweaking the website and the blog and making posts and changes on our social media pages till day break. I don’t think I bought any new cloth or accessories for almost 3 years because I was saving up.

I remember contracting the website to an IT firm that refused to build the site to the specification given. Chai, I spent money on website designers o.

One of the most painful things that happened to me then was losing our first website to hackers and paying salaries for almost 8 months without generating even 2% income. These salaries were largely paid from the savings I made while being a full time employee.

So, the journey before I started looked so easy. You know when you have that thought of ‘ being your own boss’ and that you will do better than your former bosses and then, you resign on the advise of all the motivational books and speakers you’ve been reading or listening to?

Wait…… They didn’t tell you about THE PROCESS. yes, most of them skip this part. There is ‘ THE PROCESS’ and when you are in this stage, you will make the decision of whether to continue or to stop. This stage will test you thoroughly to the point you begin to doubt yourself and lose friends.

Being a  woman in the  property management sector and balancing it all

For me, working in this industry and my personal life activities seem to be so much in sync that I barely notice the difference except of course when I have tons of mails to respond to and other technicalities that comes with the job especially on matters concerning safety, health and authenticity of documents. Most times, I’m just having fun and learning while working and visiting our locations.

Property Sector being favourable to women

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, you know I won’t exactly say so. The property sector is capital intensive. Many women will definitely not want to venture into it at all. And because it is capital intensive, we have more men in the sector. But like a friend pointed out in a recent content she shared with me to work with her on, there are other ways women can come into the sector and that includes collaborating with companies like ours in property, facility and portfolio management deals, offering cleaning services and supplies.

Our Online Market Place

Finclif.com is an online marketplace created to empower local and international businesses with friendly technology and access to the online global marketplace and our mission is to become a global hub sensation and a choice marketplace for businesses and individuals to buy and sell almost anything, fostering economic growth and business opportunities with a click of button. At the moment we have over a 1400+ signups and over 40 vendors. We are still growing.

To every young woman out there who wants to go into property management

Property Management is not a business to just get into because you see others doing it or you have the resources. It must be something you  are either passionate about or emotionally prepared to get into. And because it involves dealing with different individuals from different races, artisans, industrial machines and government bodies, emotional intelligence, constant cash in-flow, emotional stability and keen attention to details in people and the properties is important. So, ideally will be to stay under mentorship or do more collaborations, so you get to learn on the job or to spend the first one or two years spending some part of your capital learning.

Challenges as an Entrepreneur

Staffing . Hiring the right staff who does not dedicate more time on eye-service or hard-work than actual job delivery.  Another challenge I experience is access to funds. You see, in the type of real estate niche we are in,  it is almost impossible for us to lose money because of the vast options of A, B,C and D and the market demand is high, now the goal is  to respond to at least 80% of the demands. Right now, we are meeting less than 20% of the requests we receive on a regular.

Also, knowing how tough it is to access loans in our financial institutions today, we came up with the Partnership Opportunity that allows individuals and companies to financially partner with us and make 5% monthly of what they invested.

Note; partners money is insured. Regardless of economic meltdown, partners still get paid and they can invest for a long as 3 months, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months and request for a payout anytime they want to.

Also, we have the Property Partners. These are property owners who for the interest of profitability and proper maintenance of their property/facility reach out to us, we renovate and structure these properties to become more profitable for the landlady or landlord.

3 Women who Inspire me and Why

Folorunsho Alakija – I often stay and wonder how she has managed to thrive so well in the industry dominated by men and her success in the real estate business too.

Ellen D’generes – you can see her have so much fun doing what generates so much income for her. she’s very comfortable in her skin and at 60+ still very fit and playful with loads of amazing close friends like Oprah winfrey and Michelle Obama, I definitely want to enjoy such amazing and supportive close circle. Ellen is so fun, humorous and very loving. With all the love she gives to people, family, employees? my goodness! it is so beautiful for me.

Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife TV – This woman’s business prowess I admire so much. Every time I pass her nearly launched office in Victoria Island, Lagos, I can’t reveal the thoughts that roars in my head. I have some of her pictures on my vision board. There is a calmness in her that I find very powerful even as I say it. It is not common.

Being a woman of Rubies

Is that the Proverbs 31 woman? Hahahahahaha, sebi the bible said that my price/value is far above rubies? Every time the chips are down or up, I reach out to the divinity in me. And for me, it is still the MAKING of the woman whose price is far above rubies.

Carving a niche in the property sector

No particular reason, maybe because I like the sound and exchange of big big money or the joy I feel when I and my team are able to deliver what the client wants and they are happy or the joy of knowing that we would rather not engage than to give bad quality or probably, this vision of greatness that has remained inside of me, seeking manifestation.

I invested in a real estate company from Czesch when they shut down, it affected me badly because I had hoped that the earnings from the investment would keep me going for a long time before business starts booming. They shut down before they even started. I spent quality time studying their business model that they didn’t get to utilize. That spiked more of my interest in the Real Estate Industry

Our Covid-19 Relief Funds

I think it was largely inspired by some posts I saw on some of my team member’s Facebook walls. Some of them started panicking on the uncertainty of salary and their feeding during the lockdown as it was not yet salary payment dates, also, I saw lots and lots of people online panicking and worried about how they would survive the lockdown, so, with the support of some of my team members, we decided to do the cash giveaway.  Before the giveaways, we paid ALL team members full salaries and went on to offer our own support to the general public . The numbers of people that showed interest in the giveaway was very alarming but then, it felt good reaching out to those we could.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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At 15, Nigerian Kimberly Anyadike became the youngest black female pilot to fly solo across U.S.

Age is just a number. And even through racism and issues that the Black community is facing, Kimberly Anyadike is a proof of such a testimony.

In 2009, Kimberly Anyadike, an African American teenager of Nigerian descent made history and became the first African American female and the youngest African American to fly an aeroplane across the United States.

Kimberly achieved this great height and set the record after just two years of pilot training through a special after-school program she enrolled in which is run by the Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton where she lives with her family.

While on the 13-day flight, Kimberly successfully flew from Compton to Virginia and back. In an interview with CNN, she described the experience as a dream come true and an amazing experience with only a light storm and bad weather as her challenge.

Kimberly fell in love with planes and flying at the age of 12 while learning about the African American pilots who flew in the World War. The lessons in history school inspired the then 12-year-old who had dreams of becoming a cardiovascular surgeon to achieve more and also become a certified pilot breaking records in America and for the black community at large.

Kimberly has spoken with several young people and meet many of the Tuskegee Airmen who signed her plane.

She was also recognized for her achievements as a young polite and received the Tuskegee Airmen’s inaugural Young Aviators Award in Tuskegee Alabama in 2015.

Born in Compton, California in 1994, she is the youngest of three children to Nigerian Igbo parents who relocated to the U.S.

After her successful 13-day flight ended on July 11, 2009, Kimberly was immediately awarded by the County of Los Angeles and was invited to visit the California State Capitol by the then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

To add to all her greatness, Kimberly graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Physiological Science and in 2017 was interviewed by Disney Channel during a special Black History Month show, True Heroes Are Timeless.

Earlier in 2018, Pilot Kimberly Anyadike was invited to speak at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at West Covina Civic Center where she spoke as a 23-year-old full of hope and determination encouraging the youth to be inspired by their history and not let race limit them to achieve their dreams.

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