Inspiration Archives

In Career Gems December 14, 2022 By Women of Rubies

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Amazon Prime’s New Head Of Nigerian Local Originals

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu has been named Amazon Prime Video’s first Head of Local Originals in Nigeria.

This comes only a few months after enabling cinemas in Nigeria to be among the few to screen its “Coming to America.” Amazon’s continuing push to acquire a presence in the African market will be bolstered by this new appointment.

Wangi announced her appointment through an Instagram post. According to the press release, she would “define and execute the content strategy for Prime Video in Sub-Saharan Africa, oversee content licensing/ commissioning, selection for US and local film and television as well as build the content acquisition pipeline for local and US/Hollywood content across languages”.

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu was the Director of M-Net in West Africa, having joined the company as its West African regional manager in 2012.

According to her Linkedin profile, “Wangi is passionate about the TV, Film and Entertainment industry and at M-Net Africa, she is committed to growing and transforming the media landscape in Africa by demonstrating thought leadership and driving the agenda for the creation of compelling global & indigenous content that resonates with Africa.”

She was a pioneer in the founding and promotion of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).

Congratulations Wangi!

#Interview |“Women And Girls Are Under-represented In STEM”- Amanda Obidike

Life they say is a series of building, and there is no good innovation without human impact. It takes a certain level of bravery to dare to be different and thrive in the STEM sector. Multi-award winning social innovator Amanda Obidike is one of the women breaking boundaries in STEM globally.

The technologist and scientist is the founding curator of the WEF Global Shapers, Ozubulu Hub and Executive Director of STEMi Makers Africa. Her role in this position is to provide leadership, strategy management and oversee the design and implementation of sustainable Community projects and STEM Education across 19 Sub-Saharan countries by preparing the next generation of Africans with STEM lucrative skills for Africa’s workforce.

In addition to STEM, she addresses thematic topics on Social Innovation, Data Science, Youth Development, Entrepreneurship and socio-economic policies. In 2020, Amanda received several awards including the Global Award for Achievement by TechWomen 100 and 30 Under 30 Inspiring Leaders of Africa.

Amanda got an opportunity to be trained by IBM in Business Intelligence/Analytics after 8 months. Upon completion, she took the initiative to serve as a knowledge panel in preparing Africans with 21st-century skills and future-focused options for an emerging workforce.

This was her inspiration, her driving force to starting STEMi Makers Africa.

She serves as a Mentor in the New York Academy of Science, Cherie Blair Foundation, the 1 million Women in Tech, Global thinkers for Women where she lends her voice, knowledge, and serve as a role model to girls in Africa.

She currently serves on the Leadership Team of the 500 Women Scientists, USA and Trustee Board of the MAI Foundation. The amazing amazon shares her inspiring story with Women of Rubies

Childhood Influence

I never had a background in Technology and Engineering. I have always dreamed of one day leading currency operations in the Central Bank of Nigeria. Growing up, I was a curious, adventurous, and daring girl. I went to different secondary schools cutting across 3 different geopolitical zones in Nigeria, gave myself to community volunteering, travelling, and learning how to do business.

Inspiration behind STEMi Makers Africa

STEMi Makers Africa emerged when I suffered underemployment and depression in 2O18. The meaningful and lucrative jobs available required technical skills that I didn’t originally have after graduation. Nigeria also began to transfer major resources and job opportunities to skilled professionals and expatriates due to a lack of competent and domestic STEM workforce.

STEMi Makers Africa was founded to address the leaky unemployment pipeline and break the wall of Inheriting fragmented and disconnected education institutions in Africa.

If current trends continue, by 2050 some one-third of Africa’s one billion young people will lack basic proficiency in math, reading, and STEM subjects. Millions will be unemployable and unproductive. To remain competitive in a growing global economy where 96% of jobs are now automated, we are raising African talents and achievement in STEM Subjects, and Skills of the Future by empowering Educators, marginalized communities and students to be self-reliant or effectively transition from education to employment.

Impact and testimonials since inception

STEMi Makers Africa is a non-profit organization that builds diverse African talents with lucrative STEM resources, skills and currently designed a national innovation base that supports key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, energy, healthcare, information and communication technologies, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.

We have maintained one of the greatest strategies in helping 78+ communities in 19 African countries and 30,000+ young people develop job skills, improve educational outcomes, provide opportunities to succeed and we are planning ahead not to leave the younger generation feeling displaced and inheriting a more fragmented world than we live in today. Through our innovative approach to education and capacity building, we emerged winners of the 2021 Stroeous award for Global positive Impact on Innovative Solution, became a Falling Walls Berlin Engage Finalist for Breakthrough of the Year in the Digital Education category, 2020.

Just recently, one of our Educators who was a recipient to our first STEM Integration training for Educators got accepted for a 4 year USA Teacher Exchange Fellowship, which is renewable. We recorded 51 Internship and job positions for our project Kuongoza mentees program alone for 2O21.

Journey so far

The journey has been rocky, yet tremendous. There are times we get concerned about resources, partnerships, effectively managing operations across other African countries, but we keep pushing and leaving an indelible mark that can one day inspire esteemed organizations to collaborate with us.

Managing it all

My dear! (laughs)

I believe it’s due to the value I bring and the confidence people have in me. Majority of what I represent sprung from people’s recommendations, and organization appointments. I count it an honor and do my best to serve in the best capacity I can.

Awards and recognition

I was given the Global Award for Achievement by TechWomen 100, in recognition of leading the way for future generations of tech talent, shaping the future of the technology industry and having a responsibility as a role model to share my experiences, laying the foundations for others to follow in the wake of technology. My driving force as an African woman who was under-employed and depressed is to Build an “Africa By Us, For Us” ecosystem that prepares diverse young talents with future-focused options in STEM lucrative pathways to become more experienced for Africa’s workforce. As a social innovator, I strengthen competencies, empower the next generation of Technologists, Engineers, and Innovators by training Educators with new, research-based instructional pedagogy, hands-on resource tools to ensure their students are allowed to solve ill-defined problems, make real-world connections while deepening their content knowledge and preparing them for STEM careers.

Kuongoza Mentoring Program

Our Project Kuongoza Mentoring Program has made significant strides and supported 195O+ women aged 15-35 access new markets, work flexibly and integrate these learned skills needed for the workplace – after being mentored.

Second, the STEM Integration for Educators as an ongoing partnership with the U.S Consulate General to cultivate a STEM Workforce, streamline STEM Education and refine Educator’s instructional pedagogy where students are allowed to solve ill-defined problems, make real-world connections while deepening content knowledge and preparing them for STEM careers. We have further inculcated these educator projects across Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Cameroon.

Representation of women and girls in STEM

Women make up half of the total of Nigeria’s college-educated workforce, but only 11% of the technology and engineering workforce are women. Research shows that girls start doubting their STEM intelligence by age 6 and continue to lose confidence as classes become less gender-balanced and more intimidating. Whatever the cause, it’s clear that parents, educators, allies and we as a community must work together to show girls that no subject is off-limits simply because of their gender. Women and girls remain underrepresented in STEM and this is why we combine proper preparation in middle, high schools and universities, offer hands-on resources and opportunities, and provide young girls in Africa with women role models and subject matter experts in STEM.

Challenges

Resources like human resources, resource tools, access to investment and partnerships.

Other projects and activities

Mentoring Support:- Since 2016, I mentor at the New York Academy of Science, Cherie Blair Foundation, Global Thinkers Forum where I offer mentees academic, business support and invaluable life skills to thrive.

Policies:- In addressing policy concerns that revolve around governance and public administration, I serve as Assistant Director in Public Relations to the Nigerian Global Affairs Council.

Children Development and building:- I offer psychosocial development support and community management in the Royalty Children’s Network.

Gender Issues:- I offer pro-bono technology services to women Entrepreneurs, to help them incubate, innovate and commercialize their ideas and also serve on the 500 Women Scientists Team.

3 women who inspire me and why

Tobiloba Ajayi is transforming the face of cerebral palsy in Africa through advocacy, counselling, capacity building, referral services, and educator training. I am inspired by the work she does in the Let the CP Kids Learn, a foundation she founded out of a desire to change the prevalent narrative about the intellectual capabilities of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is showing us that it is possible to dream, and excel. She became the first woman and African to be Director-general of the WTO in March 2021

Melania Trump continues to serve as an ardent advocate for children and devotes her time and efforts to helping young people navigate the many issues they face in an ever-changing society. In 2018, she announced BE BEST, an awareness campaign that strives to promote a world for children based on healthy living, kindness, and respect.

Nuggets on how to be successful in STEM as a woman

Be fearless. Be free to Dream. Be free to collaborate. Be free to ask questions. Be free to excel and Be free to succeed.
There may be hurdles in the journey but please maintain focus. STEM is a wonderful decision anyone can make. Feel free to reach out to the peers you admire or professionals in STEM who could share their stories, tips and advice that can help you in the field.
Get yourself a mentor and advisor.
Volunteer with community led organizations who are driving STEM Education.
We need more women in STEM fields. ILO stated that Women are 30% more likely than men to lose their job as a consequence of automation and low STEM skills.
There is a lot we can do in this field for our better livelihood, economy and improving retention of young women in STEM Careers.

Being a Woman of Rubies

Proverbs 31:10 says “Who can find a virtuous and capable woman? She is more precious than rubies.” A Woman of Rubies is full of wisdom and strength. She is an enabler, a teacher, a friend, a community mobilizer, tenacious and kind. Yes, I am a Woman of Rubies.

You can reach out to Amanda via the links below

Twitter @amandachirpy

Instagram @amandachirpy

Linkedin Amanda Obidike

Facebook Amanda Obidike

In Inspiration August 23, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Adaeze Akpagbula Is Committed To Eliminating Poverty Amongst Farmers Through Farmspeak

Adaeze Akpagbula is the co-founder of Farmspeak Technology, an agritech startup committed to eliminating extreme poverty amongst African farmers by increasing productivity, promoting efficient resources use and enhancing farm profitability.

Farmspeak leverages technologies such as intelligent electronic sensors, internet of things (IoT), data analytics, and artificial intelligence to drive data-driven agriculture that reduces wastage and improves overall farm productivity.

Currently, Farmspeak is helping poultry farmers improve their yield with its technology. Its PenKeep device works with an intelligent electronics sensor which when installed in a Pen house collects micro climate data like temperature, humidity, air quality etc and wirelessly transmits the data to a cloud server where advanced computational models help to make sense of what is happening in the pen house. The device gives the farmer total control over the micro climate in the pen house as he/she can monitor and control those environmental parameters.

Farmspeak does not just help farmers get optimum yield, it also links them to the right buyers after harvest, helping them save storage or feeding cost for crop farmers or livestock farmers respectively.

Adaeze holds a bachelors degree in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering from the University of Ibadan. She’s also one of the 200 digital startups selected for Forbes’ first Digital Startup Accelerator program in Nigeria where she made it to Top 15.

We celebrate Adaeze for helping farmers increase their yield and income.

Thank you, Queen.

In Inspiration August 23, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Dr. Jackie Chimhanzi Appointed As Board Member Of ONE

Dr Jackie Chimhanzi has been appointed as a Board Member of ONE, a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030.

Dr Jackie is the CEO of the African Leadership Institute, which runs the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship, in partnership with Oxford University, with the aim of nurturing a new generation of African leaders. She is driven by a desire to see a better Africa, in her lifetime.

In 2012, she was recognised by Forbes Africa magazine as one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa – women under 45 shaping the narrative of Africa’s rising. In 2020, she was featured on the “100 Most Reputable Africans” list and in 2019, on the “100 Most Influential African Women” list.

She was, previously, the Senior Strategist of the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) and before that, as a Strategy Lead at Deloitte Consulting, she led project teams on diverse client engagements, interrogating and informing the strategies of major entities in the power, oil and gas, steel and brewery industries. Whilst at Deloitte, she was instrumental in setting up the Deloitte Africa Desk and advised clients on accessing opportunities on the African continent.

She is a member of the ONE Africa Policy Advisory Board and also serves as a non-executive board member and Audit and Risk Committee member of the AdvTech Group, a Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed entity in private education and Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. She is also the Chair of that Board’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee.

She holds a BSc (Hons), MBA (with Distinction) and a PhD (Strategic Marketing) – all from Cardiff Business School, UK. As an academic, she lectured and authored and co-authored papers in peer-reviewed leading academic journals and presented her work at various international fora. Her research focused on strategy implementation effectiveness. She is a 2010 Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow.

Congratulations on your appointment and wish you every success in your new role.

This article was culled from ONE

In Inspiration August 22, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Phumzile Mthembu, South African Entrepreneur and Founder of A Natural Baby Skin Care Brand

From newborns to infants to pre-schoolers, skin irritations are a norm. This fragile and immature skin has the most incredible cell potential that must be protected. As the skin is still in the development phase, it is very sensitive and tends to react quickly to environmental factors (such as temperature changes, wind, sweat etc.), chemical stresses (dyes, detergents, hot water etc.), and friction(from diapers or clothes). These eventually cause skin irritations such as ringworm, cracking, flaking, nappy-rash, dermatitis, sores, eczema, etc.

Inspired by her son who was diagnosed with eczema as a baby, South African entrepreneur Phumzile Mthembu created a natural baby skincare brand, PureB Baby Care, providing a solution to her own family and many others too. Today, her company Ingcweti (Pty) Ltd, trading as PureB Baby Care, is a wholly black-owned manufacturing company that specializes in producing coconut oil based baby ointments that are 100% natural and without harmful chemicals.

PureB Baby Care is a specially formulated hypoallergenic product that helps repair and protect the skin at cellular level is needed to solve these issues. Fragrance-free, naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal formula, PureB is such a product. It is gentle enough for newborns and provides immediate relief to skin irritations. It softens, hydrates and soothes skin. PureB is not only about repairing damaged skin. They educate their clients – new parents, nurses and owners of childcare facilities – on skin conditions and how to better take care of a child’s skin.

Phumzile describes her entrepreneurial journey as an interesting from which she has learnt to network and practically learnt collaboration as one of the most powerful keys to success. She also learnt the importance of collaboration as entrepreneurs to keep the business going.

Phumzile describes her satisfaction as an entrepreneur with these words “receiving feedback from a client with pictures of their child being helped by the product. It gives me satisfaction as a business owner, but also as a mum myself as well, that I have managed to help other women.”

Phumzile is currently studying entrepreneurship at the University of Johannesburg. She has been recognized as one of the most innovative entrepreneurs of 2019 and has since bring able to supply at least three South African pharmacies with her ointments.

In Inspiration August 17, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Didintle Leatile Moreki, An Entrepreneur Producing Natural Skincare Products With Indigenous Botswanan Plants

If there is one thing we collectively hate, it is that ugly face-ruining spot on our face that calls itself acne. The glaring reality is that people battle acne in their youth and throughout their lives, and it can be challenging to find a solution that is both effective and natural. This was a challenge that entrepreneur Didintle Leatile Moreki, founder of Organic Natural Skincare in Botswana successfully took up in starting her business.

Organic Natural Skincare manufactures skincare products with the use of indigenous plants found in Botswana and Africa as a whole.

Organic Natural Skincare was born after she had a persistent skin acne that would not heal. After years of trying what the market offered, at the age of 18 she finally decided to try an organic alternative.

Unfortunately at that time, the market could not offer this, as a result she decided to opt for what she consumed as food.

This revelation simply came out of her need to say: “Beauty should not be harmful or toxic and so long as l can eat it l can use it on my skin!”

Years later, as the vision became clearer, and she came to understand that the cause of her low self-confidence is skin acne.

As a result Didintle knew that whatever she was formulating had to boost the confidence of the African Woman or empower her to be confident in her skin.

Didintle’s entrepreneurial journey started when at age 10. She sold watermelons and maize from her parents’ farm. This grew with her when her mother started her poultry farm and even at her tender age, her mother would send her to negotiate with suppliers and clients.

This is a clear indication that she was not a newbie when she chose to birth Organic Natural Skincare.

By profession, Didintle is an accountant, currently pursing her certification as a Financial Analyst. For her Under-graduate degree, she had an honour of studying an Entrepreneurial Module in her last year of University.

In 2019, Didintle was one of the 50 entrepreneurs chosen from the 500 applicants for the DeBeers Stanford Go to Market Programme.

Her word to aspiring women entrepreneur is simple, “Girl, you too can do hard things!”

In Inspiration August 16, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Metsana Kojane, A Bee Farmer From South Africa Is Contributing To Women Empowerment Through Beekeeping

Regardless of the kind of agriculture you practice, it is undeniable that the agribusiness is a lucrative business. Either as a fish farmer, a poultry farmer or you supply processed agricultural products, you are guaranteed a source of livelihood as an agripreneur.

Metsana Kojane, founder of Eden Roots PTY Ltd, is putting bees at the heart of her business. Her production of pure, natural honey has not only created local agri-processing jobs for women in her community, but also the creation of a natural skincare brand using the wax, propolis and royal jelly from her raw honey hives.

Metsana is a mother, a community leader, environmental activist and role model to many young women and girls in her village. She is also a Brand Builder and a graduate of VEGA.
She believes her business is a special one because it embraces their cultural heritage passed on by their foremothers who had unique ways of keeping bees and they used indigenous herbs for healing and staying healthy.

Eden roots pride themselves as being the custodians of the most important creature on planet earth that is also an endangered species. Without bees there will be no food and without bees there will be no life on earth.

Metsana describes her entrepreneurial life as a secondary pursuit and gives credit to passion as her force and motivation to do what she does. In her words, “I love and enjoy my work so much that I could work around the clock without even realising it. I tried a few business ideas previously but this one is more than just a business… It is my calling!’

With her business, Metsana plans to show Africa that our indigenous African beehive can yield good harvest of honey and other by-products. She also aspires to use the healing secrets of the hive to provide the world with unique natural products. She would also like to groom as many beekeepers as possible because the African eco system needs bees.

Metsana encourages women everywhere in the world to open their eyes to see the opportunities around them. She says “There are so many problems to solve out there in the world and for each problem a woman must rise to find solutions. Behind every solution, lies an opportunity to make money. You have all it takes because you are a woman!”

Eden Roots is an agribusiness with a presence in horticulture, beekeeping and agro processing.

The company was registered in 2015 but the business existed informally prior to that for 5 years. Beside producing natural honey, they also economically empower groups of women and girls with beekeeping skills.

In fashion&style August 12, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Angella Manda, A Malawian Entrepreneur Who Making A Clothing Business Out Of Crocheting

For many, crocheting is a hobby. Something they do to pass time and clear their mind. But with time, crocheting has proven to be an art and craft that has grown to be lucrative to the point that it becomes a business, a stream of income for a lot of people.

Malawians are taught the art of crocheting at an early age and Angella Manda has decided to stand out from the rest by turning her craft into a clothing business. She is the founder of Angelos Crochet and today, her growing customer base are in constant demand for her beautifully crafted crochet garments and accessories.

Angella was born in the Central part of Malawi, in Lilongwe. She graduated from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College. In the fourth year of her studies in college, she started crocheting as a small business and upon graduating, she took it on as a serious business. Angella has been crocheting for about 15 years in total. Long enough for anyone to become a professional!

Angella started crocheting because of her deep love for creating that she has developed as a child. This love for creating something was what drove her to start her business. Another inspiration to start her business was the lack of existing suppliers of crochet products because at the time she started her business, there were not a lot of people doing it. So the fact that people wanted crocheted products but had limited options from where to buy, was also a source of inspiration to start the crocheting business.

Angella believes her business is special because it is a representation of a childhood source of joy. Since she had the best time crocheting as a child, she ensures her pieces have that same childlike authenticity and innocence to it.

Concerning her journey as an entrepreneur, Angella did not come from an entrepreneurial background. Being an entrepreneur was never something she envisioned. Her course of study was even far from business.
She transitioned into a business woman as soon as people started showing a lot of respect and love for her products.
According to her, “there would be times I’d think, this will probably not last that long in the early days of my business. But turns out, the support was always growing and now I have come to accept and believe that this is what I was meant to be doing. And my effort into it has also just automatically grown.”

Satisfying her customers and getting positive feedback is her greatest source of fulfilment as an entrepreneur. Satisfying their orders is a source of joy on her end.
“It is also satisfying knowing that you’re doing something you truly love. Every day when I’m doing it, even times when it’s not easy, I am satisfied already.” Says Angella.

Angella’s biggest advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is for them to believe in their work and talents. “You have to have so much trust and belief in your own talent that even on those hard or bad days you know you are great, and you’ll be able to get through this. That way no matter what hurdles you face along the way that try to stop your business goals; they are nothing compared to the belief you have in yourself. It is also important to celebrate others along the way and be open to collaboration.”

Angelos Crochet, designs and crochets all sorts of products – fashion items and accessories, ranging from dresses, skirts, suits, trousers, tops, hats and bags, all produced using quality yarns.

In Inspiration August 8, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Edna Reis And Sandra Pimentel, Angolan Wellness Entrepreneurs Passionate About Workplace Wellness

The strength of every organization and company lie in the wellbeing of its staff and employees. Companies who know this ensure they pay attention to the wholeness and wellbeing of their staff as it is directly proportional to their success as a company. Helping employees avoid burnout and providing maximum support to help them manage their physical, mental and emotional balance is key. This is why Edna Reis, the founder of Active Wellness in Angola created her business to help meet the demand for better health and total wellbeing in the workplace.

Edna Reis launched Active Wellness in 2017 and her partner, Sandra Pimentel joined in 2019. They are both psychologists with great management skills, motivation and experience in this field.

Active Wellness is a Start-up focusing on Mental Health and Organizational Well-Being Consultancy, with a diversity of services that meet the growing national and international health demand in the corporate environment.

Active Wellness works towards the perfect mental health and well-being of organizations by proposing solutions that help reduce the incidence and prevalence of mental disorders through specific psychotherapeutic interventions inside and outside the work environment.

Their services include: Mental health consultancy; Quality of life research at work; Individual and group psychotherapeutic interventions to better manage traumatic events with a high probability of triggering anxiety, stress, burnout; Employee wellbeing programs; Mindfulness classes; Mind and Body Balance interventions; Workshops and lectures.

Both Edna and Sandra had no entrepreneurial background prior to Active Wellness but Edna’s strong believe that each of us has a vision about how we would like to position ourselves in the professional world drove her into entrepreneurship as her own means of making meaningful contribution with her work.

She is happy being an entrepreneur and she describes her fulfilment as an entrepreneur using these words, “The possibility of helping to de-stigmatize mental health, contribute to the country’s growth, development and people’s health is undoubtedly a great satisfaction.”

Be willing to learn every day, nothing is given, have the courage to create the future you want, without neglecting the challenges that are typical of the trajectory. Edna says to women who want to start or create anything new.

In Inspiration August 6, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Mary Nyaga, A Florist Making A Difference in the Floral Business in Kenya

Flowers are beautiful. Everybody loves flowers because of the freshness and aesthetics they add to homes, offices and exterior spaces. Mary Nyaga, a Kenyan florist and founder of LorMar Florium is on a mission to adding joy and beauty to people’s lives through flowers.

Mary is harnessing the power of technology to do this through a subscription-based flower business using an App called Flowerhood that creates virtual floral arrangements and messages for customers to send to their family and friends.

Mary Nyaga is a co-founder of LorMar Florium, a business launched in 2019. She started the flower subscription company using the highest quality Silk artificial flowers.
Not willing to shut down business as a result of covid, she decided to take the business to another level by giving people an opportunity to create their own flower designs and personalize them with messages through their App called Flowerhood.
Mary describes herself as having an entrepreneurial spirit and a creative, having tried a few businesses. Taking women through a Leadership program where they have to draw their goals really motivated her to capture her dreams in her own form and drawing.

LorMar Florium, is a flower subscription company with different arms and product/service offerings. They have a flower studio with amazing flower delectables, creating a setting for brides or other people to come choose the array of colourful silk flowers. They also do flower design training and photography at our studio. And their App, Flowerhood, now on Google Play store allows customers to create virtual arrangements that they can send to their dear ones near and far, giving the gift of thoughtfulness to dear ones. Mary sees the flower industry as a great opportunity to bring connectivity to others.

Mary has been a jack of all trades, living in other countries and just picking up on what could come in as an extra income, and the good thing about this kind of lifestyle is that it has a way of leading you straight to where you want to be.
She had a school that she founded In Uganda which she had to let go after moving back to Kenya. On the side, she had a jewellery and shoe shop selling high end and unique products, and at one time she also ran a clinic. This also enabled her to network unconsciously back then. Moving back to Kenya accelerated her leadership journey and yet it was her entrepreneurial spirit which led to starting up her flower business, LorMar. Mary’s background of entrepreneurship sure contributed to her path as her grandfather was an entrepreneur and some of her family members too. Her mother has a streak of entrepreneurship in her as well.

Mary is pleased with being an entrepreneur because of the motivation and other benefits that come with it. For her, she loves the work-life balance that comes with entrepreneur. She enjoys the freedom to think, explore ideas and grow her business whenever she likes. She enjoys the freedom to also engage in other activities that gives her a boost mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. For her, her greatest pleasure of being an entrepreneur is the flexibility of time to engage in other things.

Her advice to going women who are seeking to start up is this, “Ladies, women, young and mature, I would just say start. Write down the areas you are interested in, see how best you can do in your different business ideas, single out them out. Do your research, network, get a mentor, be confident in yourself, and do not be afraid to speak up. For me, not speaking out cost me. Now I know better and I can say look at me now. Be proud of yourself and note down every little success. Those little successes put together are key milestones.”

Inspiration