Interviews&profile Archives

In Interviews&profile December 24, 2018 By Esther Ijewere

‘BANKS THAT GIVE WOMEN UNATTAINABLE TARGETS SHOULD BE SANCTIONED’ – FLORENCE ALABI

Mrs. Florence Omolola Banji-Alabi who was born in Owo, Ondo State, was recently decorated as Fellow Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria (CIBN). She attended Lagos Anglican Girls’ Primary School, Surulere, Lagos and Imade College, Owo in Ondo State. She attended the then Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo now (RUGIPO) for her National Diploma in Accountancy and obtained Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State. She was an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria.

She did her youth service programme with the now defunct Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria in 1991, and also worked there for one year before joining Union Homes Plc, the mortgage arm of Union Bank Plc where she was until February 2008 when she moved to the then Oceanic Bank Plc for few years, before joining the family business as a director (Mortgage Services) in Banji Alabi and Co., a property development and financing firm. In this interview with GuardianWoman, she talked about the challenges in the banking sector and suggesting that core professionals should be allowed to run the sector.

What are your views on the banking sector?
Banking in Nigeria ordinarily is a good and thriving profession. However, looking at it critically, I am compelled to ask if we are truly practicing banking in Nigeria the way it is practised in other parts of the world, particularly in Europe, the U.S. and other genuinely developing countries. The real ethics and culture of banking is not here. The universal standard of how banking is run is clearly absent here.

If you go to some other countries, especially the United Kingdom, you would have walked past or driven past before you know that banks exist in a particular place. But here in Nigeria, it is the mansion or structure that is the bank and not the services. Here, you see a lot of fortune being invested in a building that is going to house a bank.Besides, the type of marketing practised abroad is different from what you have here in Nigeria. What is done there is e-marketing, not the kind where in Nigeria, ladies in mini-skirt and other provocative dresses are sent out to go and market. This strange marketing culture is made worse when these ladies are given unattainable targets. They also face harassment here and there. I think this is not how banking should be done.

Giving target is not the real problem. Target is good in the real sense of it, because target motivates to achieve results. The way targets are given and the kinds of targets that are given, the conditions attached to these targets and the way these girls go about pursuing these targets, leave much to be desired. I know of banks, but I don’t want to mention their names, where girls were told that if they don’t meet their targets, a sizeable percentage of their salaries would not be paid. So this makes most of these girls to throw away all forms of morality and decency to do anything to achieve their targets. This is what gave rise to the sudden indecent and provocative dressing that has now become the way of life of most of these marketing ladies.

What is the solution to this indecency?
I am of the view that the regulatory bodies must begin to intervene so that morality, etiquettes, social and national values are not sacrificed on the altar of crazy modern banking as some want to believe. But like I have said earlier, this is not how modern banking is done elsewhere, this is largely peculiar to Nigeria. These bodies must let bankers know that they have other binding responsibilities to their environment and the society at large. While I would not be calling for a particular dressing code, as it is the case today in some tertiary institutions in the country, at the same time, the well known decent and elegant dressing culture in the sector should be upheld. These bodies should also design a mechanism to detect, discourage and even sanction banks which give unattainable targets, of course, after failure to heed warnings.

Do you think the mortgage sector is fulfilling its role?
The problem with the mortgage sector is that while people want to obtain mortgage loans, the interest rate is too high. If you want a mortgage loan in Nigeria, I can categorically tell you that there is no bank that will offer you less than 26 per cent interest; that is high. A lot of people cannot afford to take a mortgage loan in Nigeria. If you go abroad, you will notice that the interest rate is very low. That is why they can afford it, and it is in different categories.

Abroad, there are mortgages of 20 to 30 years, but in Nigeria, it is not so. If you take mortgage loan in Nigeria, pray that you will be alive to pay up the loan. In other parts of the world, governments intervene in strategic and essential sectors like this. In such places, governments promote shelter, but in Nigeria, it is not so. In Nigeria, we are using short-term investment to finance long-term investment. Government should intervene and save the mortgage sector. That is the only way to guarantee shelter for most people in Nigeria.

What are your thoughts on the on-going reform in the banking sector?
Regulators and operators alike need to be sincere about the reforms they are putting in place. In the spirit of the reforms, we must ensure that the right person is put in the right place. For instance, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) came with a policy making it mandatory that some key positions in banks must be held only by professional bankers, but very sadly, this is not being enforced. So, if we want the reforms to impact very well on the system, then all these policies must be enforced. Professionals should be allowed to run the banking industry. Appointing people into key positions should not be on the basis of god-fatherism, or ability to mobilise certain funds for a bank. Before you know it, this group of people are pushed into the management, they now become management staff. If professional bankers were allowed to do the job, then banking would be what it is supposed to be.

How did you meet your husband?
My husband, Barrister Banji-Alabi and I grew up together at Owo. He is a very close friend of my elder brother, Mr. Dare Aruwajoye, and therefore a very regular face at our house in Owo. But at that time he never noticed me, maybe because I was very young then. After my ND programme, I was to do the compulsory industrial attachment, so my senior sister, Mrs. Bisi Anifowose, suggested that I should go and see Barrister Alabi who was then working at Guinness Nigeria Limited. When I got there, he was amazed that the little girl he used to know that time, that himself and my brother were sending around to buy drinks for their friends, is now a very big girl. He proposed to me and I was shocked as I always looked up to him with respect as a senior brother.

But one thing is that he was one of the best-dressed guys at that time in Owo and, therefore, was able to attract to himself a lot of admirers. He was simply the best-dressed person around and at every occasion that I met him, he stood out as the most sophisticated and most celebrated. He lives a life of celebration. He is an incurable optimist. He swept me off my feet and I fell for him despite initial protests from my senior brothers.

What’s your advice to young girls?
Please don’t give up on your dreams. I know too well the feelings of frustration one passes through in waiting times for a manifestation of a desired state or what is often referred to as a break in life. Many people continue to pass through this at various stages in life. What will you do? Will you abandon the desire and settle for a lesser portion, or would you decide to go for the real deal? I keep meeting people who “sell” their destiny and happiness for sometimes a temporary fulfillment. My advice is, don’t let go of your destiny once you’ve discovered it. Run away from married men; look for young guys with great potentials. Please do not sell your destiny and happiness for temporary fulfillment or monetary needs.

What is your take on women in development?
I think so far in Nigeria, it has been a deliberate policy that women must be carried along in everything, including politics. Although the level of women’s participation in politics is still low, in my own profession, banking, they have been very visible there, and nobody can take them for a ride any longer. We are, however, looking forward to ladies becoming governors and becoming president in Nigeria.

Interview by: Ijeoma Thomas-Odia

For : Guardian

In Interviews&profile December 24, 2018 By Esther Ijewere

“I HAD TO GET MY PERSONAL JOY BACK, AND THEN THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE” SUSAN KELECHI WATSON, “THIS IS US” ACTRESS.

Susan Kelechi Watson 37, is a Jamaican American actress best known for her character “Beth Pearson” in the NBC drama series “This is Us”. The series follows the lives and families of two parents, and their three children, in several different time frame. What is particularly fascinating about the series is Susan’s sterling interpretation of her character which is arguably the ‘star’ of the series. Speaking on life before getting the role in the series, Susan says:

“A month before I booked This Is Us, I was like, ‘Maybe I should move to Montreal and work in a coffee shop. I had friends who were praying for me. I was leaning on a support system to believe for me when I was finding it difficult to still believe the dream for myself. All of the sudden I just believed again, like, I didn’t come this far for it not to happen. I’m going to enjoy this again. It’s the best thing I have to give. So I had to get my personal joy back, and then things started to change.”

Speaking on the reception, audacity of hope and belief her character has given to the black community, she says:

With my representation of a black woman in the world today, there’s such a powerful response from my community about what it means to have black representation on television. That response is so overwhelming and so strong that I just have to express my own gratitude for it, because I understand the necessity for it. I grew up with that need. I still have that need. I’m thankful that I get to fulfil that need for so many.

Then there’s the aspect of me as a woman and the camaraderie. They just feel like I’m their best friend; this character’s their best friend, and so many women say, “I’m just like you.” Or the goal is to sort of be similar to Beth; it gives them a way to kind of strategize, and helps them to move through their life.

Also, we talked about adoption on the show, and now to be able to talk about fostering, it’s really just such a great opportunity to open that door to that conversation as well. So many people have been through fostering, they understand the complications that come along with that, and so appreciate this story line, and I’m so thankful I get to be a person who represents that.

So I feel really good about what she’s offering people, whether it be a representation of being an African-American woman in this world, her representation as a woman, of being a woman that other women can identify with, and also of being an advocate for fostering, and for kids who think that maybe they won’t have a chance later in life.

Susan is a Bachelor’s degree graduate of Fine Arts degree from Howard University and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting Program.

Culled from Deadline Hollywood

In Interviews&profile December 22, 2018 By Esther Ijewere

WHEN I LAUNCHED #GROWYOURGRAM I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE BIG- EMILY WALE-KOYA

Emily an infectious motivational, cum transformational speaker, and business consultant who’s on a rampage to arm individuals and organizations with the tools needed for them to build lives and businesses they are completely obsessed about. She ventured into entrepreneurship from her university days and has garnered over 16 years experience in business.

Her first digital product (an audio recording) made her Six figures within 2 weeks. She wrote her first book in a week and with a 4 month old baby in hand.Today, she’s the proud founder of The School Of Personal Branding, her online school where she sells e-courses around business, digital marketing and personal branding.

Emily has been interviewed by notable outfits across the country and presently one of the biggest sensation on Instagram, helping young women and men alike build your page and make money while at it. She’s happily married to Adewale Koya; her biggest support. Together they have Olamide, Oladimeji and Olajumoke Wale-Koya.

The #Growyourgram initiator shared her inspiring story with me in this exclusive interview

Growing up

I was all shades of shy as a little girl. I had very low self esteem as a child even up into adulthood. So, NO NO NO, my childhood and what I’m doing right are just two opposites.

Meet Me

I’m Emily Wale-Koya, an infectious speaker, revivalist, life and business coach, and author. I’m a proud wife to one proud husband (lol) and a joyful mother to three children, ages 8, 5 and 2, who steal my breath away on a daily basis..I run an online training, coaching and consulting business that gives me the rare opportunity to do work that I really love and one that is financially rewarding.

I’m the founder of Nigeria’s first personal branding school; the school of personal branding, where we sell online courses around personal branding, business and personal development.

I’m a die-hard when it comes to going after success that I believe in. This pursuit keeps me constantly hungry and open for ideas that can and will take me and other women global so that we can seen, heard, paid and celebrated for the brilliance we bring into the world.

My work

I train, educate, coach and help women in Nigeria and across the globe embrace, package and promote their special gifts, expertise, and experiences, so they birth ideas that can cause a change in the world and at the same time, bring them financial independence. We do this by powerfully leveraging the internet and social media, especially Instagram™.

16 year’s Experience entrepreneurial journey

“Entrepreneurs are job creators and they are the ones who will change the world”.

The above sentence became clear to me one day while I was at youth service in Cross River State. Someone was invited to facilitate a session on entrepreneurship and after he spoke, another facilitator came up to do another session. This second facilitator came from a bank and was a banker. And after he spoke, his team and him started taking down names of people who wanted to write the banks test in order for them to get a job in the bank.The crowd was huge, the queue for this was long and I got so pissed and walked away… While at the camp, I started thinking about ways to get a job.. and being a self motivated person, I started psyching myself that “I AM A JOB TO MYSELF, I CAN CREATE A JOB FOR MYSELF”.

To cut a long story short, while serving in Calabar, I decided to offer free trainings to guest houses and hotel staff. I even issued certificates after the training to people who attended.

I finished serving and then started buying and selling under-wears from bank to bank, house to house, at churches, etc. I stopped that business and went on to start a magazine publishing business, which I also stopped in 2013 after having my second child in the US and taking a long break from business.

Today, I’m running and growing an edtech company which is at the core of my existence on earth. We sell courses, ebooks, virtual coaching programs, physical workshops, etc.

Business ChallengesI would say being a one man business. It takes a lot to start and stand! I’m everything to everyone; accountant, managing director, marketer, trainer, coach, receptionist, etc… Although I have a digital team who works on my online school, not having physical staff yet is a challenge. But I’m on the verge of hiring some

Unstable internet connection is also an issue. My business is online 24 hours, so when the internet fumbles, it affects us seriously, as we almost can’t do anything and have to wait till it’s restored.

#Growyourgram

Truth be told, when I launched #growyourgram, I knew it was going to be BIG from DAY 1. I sketched the plan on paper and even though I didn’t put every aspect of it down, I knew it would explode in no time. The singular reason being that there was mad hunger by people on Instagram to learn and use Instagram for business.

I was bent on making a mark on the Instagram platform. I was exhausted watching others play big. Most importantly, I was keen on helping women in business build powerful brands and businesses on the platform.

We are currently working on the second version kicking off in January and I bet you, it will be massive.

Inspiring Feedbacks

Reading feedbacks from people who tell me how I helped them grow, win, and push. In fact one person sent me a DM on Instagram telling me how I helped her stop a suicide she was considering since she lost all she had; business, husband, money in the bank and reason to live.Things like this are priceless to me and I will make them happen again and again.

My brand in 5 years

As an edtech company, we will be operating globally and earning in foreign currency. We will be financially empowering at least 1000 women who are unable to speak good English language, or understand the internet, earn solid income by helping them create and sell their own digital products.

My personal brand on the other hand will be one of the most influential brands on Instagram™ and I will use it in return to rewrite the narrative for African women and open even more doors for us all.

Advice to young Entrepreneurs

They should come up with ideas that have capacity to go global. We truly as a nation need to come off importing more than we create. So if it is a physical product or a digital product, they should please ensure their ideas can become international products. Also, they should check if there is even a market for their idea before they launch. They should embrace the internet and use it as a platform to test their ideas and eventually promote the product or service they want to offer their market.

My Motivation

The pursuit to be all that I’ve been created, designed and assigned to be by my God.

Also, the pursuit to ensure my children have access to the best lives, education and access kings and queens should have.

Being a Woman of Rubies

The confidence, courage and determination I have to be all that I can be and the passion to help other women achieve same.

Advice for women all over the world

The time and season to RISE is now! The internet is availing us as women so much to do with it. If you are a woman reading, I beg you to delay no longer. STOP letting fear, laziness, lack of adaptation to change, self-limiting beliefs, and approval from others stop you. Truth is that if you might miss this particular bus, you might be hurting yourself. And yes, another bus will surely come, but what if that bus isn’t headed in your direction? I advise you get on this bus (internet/social media) now and take over the drivers seat.

Using technology to your advantage!

If you have a passion, gift, skill or story that can impact even if it’s only 10 people, please go all out and start using social media to promote it and yourself.

Women are raking in millions of naira working from home. Some are influencers who companies pay between N500,000 – N3,000,000 simply because they have what we call “social influence; aka, social capital).

Again, this is the time and season for the woman to rise and shine.

{May the women of rubies stand up and be counted}!

In Interviews&profile December 20, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET CAPTAIN ABIMBOLA JAIYEOLA, THE FIRST FEMALE HELICOPTER CAPTAIN IN NIGERIA

Captain Abimbola Jaiyeola, a helicopter pilot.

Abimbola, in December 2014, became the first female helicopter captain in Nigeria, flying the Sikorsky S76 for Bristow Helicopters Nigeria.

A little over a year later, in 2016, Abimbola was in the news again, this time, for saving 13 lives by “ditching” the helicopter she was flying.

Ditching is knowingly making a controlled emergency landing on water.

Although some of the passengers suffered some injuries, no life was lost.

Abimbola, an Ogun state indigene, graduated from the Bristow Academy in 2008 and then moved to Florida to continue her training.

In 2017, she was named in Leading Ladies Africa (LLA)’s 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria list.

In Interviews&profile December 18, 2018 By Women of Rubies

TONI TONES TALKS CHALLENGES FACED IN HER CAREER, GAINING ACCEPTANCE AS AN ACTOR & MORE IN FLAIR MAGAZINE

marketplace? Some would say it takes more than just talent to be noticed.

Multi-talented Toni Tones is not just being noticed. She is being
remembered.

Born Gbemi Anthonia Adefuye, Toni Tones is a triple-threat force to be
reckoned with: She is an actress, singer, and award-winning photographer whose influence in the Nigerian entertainment industry has become undeniable.

Her role in the box office hit ‘King Of boys’ directed by Kemi Adetiba brought Toni Tones critical acclaim. Her electrifying performances in top
productions have positioned her as one of the most sought after A-list
actors in Nollywood today.

On the road to success, Toni Tones has faced and overcome challenges. In an in-depth interview with The Nation’s Flair Magazine, she speaks about this, and more.

See excerpts from the interview below:

What was it like at the beginning?

I started my career as a photographer and because of that, it was quite a challenge getting people to take me seriously as an artist and as an actor, at first. At some point, I began to wish I had never started with photography at all, because then I wouldn’t have to fight the tough battle of gaining acceptance, I would just have been able to go straight to building a fan base. Some OAPs simply wouldn’t play my music because they didn’t take me seriously. It took a lot of hard work, persistence and determination before I was finally accepted in the industry. There were
times that I wanted to give up but I am exceedingly happy I didn’t.

What are some of the challenges you have encountered?

It was tough being accepted as an actor because people knew me as a
photographer and after then, a musician. Hearing that I was an actor as well, I think it was hard for them to take me seriously initially. A lot of people probably assumed I was just playing around as opposed to chasing my dreams. It seemed like having more than one career was looked upon as a bit of a crime; people tend to put you in a box. They know you for one thing and that is what they choose to be comfortable with and when you try
to break out of that box, there’s a lot of opposition. But I am not here to make anybody comfortable, I am here to achieve every single goal that my heart desires and achieve I will.

How do you cope with them?

I was determined not to be put in a box. I was determined to excel at
every single passion I had chosen to pursue. Sometimes, I would ask God why He didn’t just give me one passion so it would have been easier, but I remember praying one day and hearing a voice within me say, “if God has given you many skills, it is meant as a blessing, not a curse.” That put things in perspective for me. I made a vow never to relent, to give everything I had, to show God I appreciated every skill he had gifted me and I would honour Him by using them. Successful or not, at least I would
know I tried. Being able to actually do the things I love is already
success to me, because for so long I was afraid to even try. I am glad I never gave up, otherwise I would not be living such a fulfilled life now.

Read full interview here:
http://thenationonlineng.net/toni-tones-living-life-dreams/

Credit: Euphorique PR, thenationonlineng.net

In Interviews&profile December 15, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MY PARENTS MADE ME UNLEARN IMPOSITION OF WILLS, UPRIGHTNESS AND RIGIDITY – QAOZARA ADEPEJU

Adepeju is a girl development advocate, inspirational writer and a penultimate law student at the University of Lagos. I am passionate about the development of girls and believes that if girls are properly equipped with decision making skills, they will make informed decisions regarding their sexual life, education, career and life generally.

She started her organization; Vibrant Girls Development Initiative at the age of 16, a youth led organisation committed to the development of girls. The organisation engages in mentorship sessions, sexual education, girl-child advocacy, sexual abuse awareness, educational and career development. Through VGDI, she has developed communication, public speaking, writing, team building, analytical, leadership, problem solving skills among others.

“In 2014 when I started Vibrant Girls Development Initiative, I lost my dad earlier in the year. I could have remained in that state and play the victim’s game. But no, I told myself that I needed to make a change and help girls become vibrant women. I had no father to connect me, says Adepeju as she shares her story with me in this interview

Growing up

I had an interesting and challenging childhood. Being the first child of four children, my dad always ensured that I make decisions which affected myself and my siblings. I think now that I am managing a non for profit, empathy which he taught me comes to play. I now care a lot about girls, my team and people around me generally.Aside having empathy, I had since childhood learnt some Do’s and Don’ts of Leadership. As a leader, I now listen and care a lot about everyone. My parents made me unlearn imposition of wills, uprightness, and rigidity. My childhood prepared me for the path I’m towing now. I learnt not only to look out for myself but to always consider others too. I didn’t grow up like other children. I grew up thinking about myself and others.

Meet Me!.

Qaozara Adepeju is a girl development advocate, a writer, speaker and a budding lawyer. At 16, I pioneered Vibrant Girls Development Initiative, a youth-led non for profit organisation that is committed to the development of young girls especially those below age 20. I am currently the Executive Director of the Initiative.I had my primary and secondary education in Ibadan and Lagos and I am currently a penultimate law student at the University of Lagos, Akoka. As a law student, my interest span across corporate and commercial law, intellectual property law, finance and tech. I look forward to businesses thriving by using my knowledge of the law to improve the status quo of business persons and companies.I enjoy mentoring girls and inspiring them with my stories and inspiring stories of other girls and women. In my spare time, I enjoy planning events or volunteering for noble causes.

Starting Vibrant Girls Development Initiative at age 16

Having spent 12 years living in Isale Eko, Lagos Island, I discovered that it was a thing of pride and joy for teenage girls to be pregnant. Many see it as an achievement or an event that earns them respect among their peers. I used to be very angry anytime I see a young girl with big belly. I can remember a day I complained to my brother, “These mothers don’t have the financial resources to cater for their babies and they make us suffer more in the country by adding more pressure to the economy.” Then, I had a close friend who got pregnant while in secondary school. Also, the training and guidance I received from my parents helped me in making decisions. Knowing that a lot of girls do not have such parents, I dreamt of having an initiative which will provide such guidance to the girls. At 12, I emerged the Lagos State Champion of the BRF Quiz Competition where I met with a lot of state dignitaries.At 13, I was sponsored alongside some others by the Lagos State Government on a trip to the United Kingdom for two weeks. All these I believed groomed me to be better, and not all girls had this kind of experience. Thus, I felt a need to start an initiative to give girls adequate sexual education and also guide them to become vibrant women in the society.

Impact of attending training and leadership skills workshop while in secondary school

In my first year in senior secondary school, I had my first leadership training with LEAP Africa. The training aside from teaching me qualities a leader should possess, gave me practical steps on how to drive change. The training manual helped me in goal setting, carving a niche for myself, planning, budgeting, crafting vision and mission statement among others. A year after attending the training, I read the manual again. It was this time, I started forming an intention to drive a change. I was unsure of what to do. At a time, I thought about advocating for recycling. Later, I thought of raising awareness around bleaching of the skin. However, I was testing my skills. During these times, I started setting personal goals and crafted personal mission and vision statements. So, when I founded Vibrant Girls Development Initiative, it was easy to set goals, create vision and mission for the organisation. The LEARN Summer School Programme also helped build my creativity and communication skills

Reception and Sponsorship are my biggest challenges

The first challenge which I think is common is financial challenge. We face difficulties getting funds and sponsorships from organisations. For example, our annual Project, the Empower Her Project is the only Project yet which requires a lot of funds. Corporate bodies don’t really support much in the end, we fall on individual sponsorship as well as people within our network. Another challenge is the reception from some schools and organisations. Due to the fact that we are young, some schools and organisations don’t attend to us well. Sometimes, I insist that we be treated same way older people are treated. This is very disheartening.

Reward

My greatest reward is in hearing stories from the participants of any of our programmes recounting how it has changed their lives. Recently, one of the teachers from one of our beneficiary schools told me how she looked forward to this year’s conference. Another thing I get joy from is when any of my girls uses the words I always say to them to soothe me anytime I am facing challenges. This has happened to me countless times. All these and more are my rewards.

My organisation in 5 years

In the next 5 years, I want us to have reached out to more girls not just in Lagos but in Nigeria. I see a VGDI where our impact will be felt nationwide our name will be a household name among girls. Also, I want us to be internationally recognised as an organisation working towards reshaping and grooming young girls into vibrant women. Similarly, I see you directly investing in the lives of girls through scholarships, training or fellowships.

Felt like giving up in the beginning

The first time I felt like giving up was when we started in 2014 and all of the girls that used to attend the mentoring sessions stopped coming. My motivation waned and I had to give it time to re-strategise and rethink. Also, in our first two years, I felt like giving up when because of my age, I was belittled by some people. We had issues getting venue for our programme, we had issues with funds and among others. But my team members have been ever supportive. They have taught me that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

Who and what inspires me to be better

The first person that inspires me is my mum. She lost her husband in 2014 and didn’t allow this to affect her. She is an epitome of courage, strength, diligence and excellence. Her life is just full of inspiration to me. Many times when I need someone to lean on, she is always there for me. Sometimes, all I need from her is a hug. Also, Mrs Bisi Akindele inspires me to be the best. She has been very supportive from the inception of Vibrant Girls Development Initiative. I am inspired by the story of a widow who struggles and educates all her children. Or by the story of a challenged student who excels. Or by stories of professionals and how they climbed the ladder.What inspires me is the fact that there is no room for average. If you want to succeed, do so gallantly and vibrantly. Don’t be average.

Reception

Well, at first it wasn’t a smooth entry. But with time, I have learnt to collaborate, leverage and reach out for help.In the first year, I was still trying to understand the environment. I didn’t know how social media could be used effectively. I didn’t know much about grants. I didn’t know many people with like minds. But, from the second year, I started to reach out to people, network with others in the same sector, look out for grants, attend events and seminars and lots more. Now, I can say that I have quite a number of young people in my network who have passion for development and are doing well. Also, I have learnt the art of storytelling and use it effectively to tell my story and what I do.

Being a woman of rubies

Ruby has represented nobility, purity, and passion through the ages. It is a stone of sentinel. I am a woman of rubies because I have stories of struggles, stories of failures, as well as stories of my successes. In 2014 when I started Vibrant Girls Development Initiative, I lost my dad earlier in the year. I could have remained in that state and play the victim’s game. But no, I told myself that I needed to make a change and help girls become vibrant women. I had no father to connect me. I had no money. I had no clue of the challenges ahead but I had passion and a good team and 4 years down the line, I am still here making impact. I am a woman of rubies because I do not allow my age to be a barrier to me At first, the age was a barrier because people do doubt what I was doing but now, I leverage on the age to get what I want . I am a woman of rubies because I am not perfect. I do not have it all.

Advice to young girls like me

Make yourself valuable by acquiring skills. Do not play the pity game. The path will not be smooth. The road may seem long. The darkness may seem to last forever. Nevertheless, you have to keep at it against all odds. The world is changing; new skills are needed to meet up with the changing world. Get prepared and brace up.

In Interviews&profile December 3, 2018 By Women of Rubies

PROFILE| MEET SALOME ZURABISHVILI, THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA

66-year-old Salome Zurabishvili has emerged as the first female President of Georgia.

Ms Zurabishvili was born in Paris in the year 1952 after her parents fled Georgia in 1921 to escape the Bolshevik regime.

She attended some of the most prestigious French schools, such as Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), and began a master’s program at Columbia University in New York in the academic year of 1972–1973.

Career

Zurabishvili abandoned her studies and joined the French foreign service in 1974, becoming a career diplomat with jobs in Rome, the United Nations, Brussels, Washington, etc. The first time Zurabishvili visited Georgia was in 1986 during a break from her job at the French Embassy in Washington.

In 2003, she was posted to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, as ambassador. The following year, President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia nominated her as Minister of Foreign Affairs making her the first female to be appointed to this post in Georgia.

Political career

In November 2005 Zurabishvili set up the organization Salome Zurabishvili’s Movement. In January 2006 she announced the establishment of a new political party Georgia’s Way, criticizing the country’s “de facto one-party system.”

On 12 November 2010, Zurabishvili announced her withdrawal from the leadership of Georgia’s Way. She was succeeded by Kakha Seturidze.

After a two-year leave from politics, she publicly endorsed Georgian Dream ahead of the 2013 presidential elections. Shortly after, Georgia’s Central Election Commission refused to register her as a presidential candidate due to her dual Georgian-French citizenship.

In August 2018, Zurabishvili announced that she would participate in Georgian presidential elections. Zurabishvili won the 2nd round of the 2018 Georgian presidential election, becoming President elect. She will be inaugurated as the first female President of Georgia on 16 December 2018.

Personal life

Salome Zurabishvili was married to the Georgian journalist Janri Kashia (1940–2012). She has two children, Ketevan and Teimuraz, from her first marriage.

Credit: Fab Woman

In Interviews&profile November 26, 2018 By Women of Rubies

PROFILE: DR JANE COOKE WRIGHT, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CANCER SOCIETY

Dr Jane Cooke Wright is a Physician, cancer researcher and first Black woman elected president of the New York Cancer Society. She was born in Manhattan in 1919 to a distinguished African-American family. She obtained an art degree from Smith College in 1942 and three years later obtained a medical degree, graduating with honors, from the New York Medical College.

In 1964, working as part of a team at the N.Y.U. School of Medicine, Dr. Wright developed a nonsurgical method, using a catheter system, to deliver heavy doses of anticancer drugs to previously hard-to-reach tumor areas in the kidneys, spleen and elsewhere. She was the only woman, and only Black person, among the seven researchers who founded the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and later became head of the chemotherapy department and associate dean at New York Medical College. It was the first time a black woman had held such a senior position in a medical school.

Dr Wright worked alongside her father, Dr Louis T. Wright, who was one of the first Black students to earn an M.D. from Harvard Medical school and the first African-American doctor appointed to a public hospital in New York City. Together at the Cancer Research Foundation at Harlem hospital, “The Wrights were one of the first groups to report the use of nitrogen-mustard agents as a treatment for cancer, which led to remissions in patients with sarcoma, Hodgkin’s disease, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and lymphoma. The Wrights were also some of the first researchers to test folic acid antagonists as cancer treatments. ”

After her father died in 1952, Dr Wright took over as Director. The American Association for Cancer Research writes:

“She was among the first researchers to test chemotherapeutic drugs in humans, which produced effective dosing levels and helped saved lives. Dr. Wright began her pioneering work in 1949, and during her 40-year career she published over 100 research papers on cancer chemotherapy and led delegations of cancer researchers to Africa, China, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. By 1967, she was the highest ranking African-American woman in a United States medical institution. In 1971, she became the first woman elected president of the New York Cancer Society.”

Dr Sandra Swain, 2013 president of ASCO, said of Dr Wright:

“Not only was her work scientific, but it was visionary for the whole science of oncology. She was part of the group that first realised we needed a separate organisation to deal with the providers who care for cancer patients. But beyond that, it’s amazing to me that a Black woman, in her day and age, was able to do what she did.”

Credit: stemwomen.net

In Interviews&profile November 15, 2018 By Women of Rubies

TOP 10 RICHEST WOMEN IN THE WORLD

Some unbelievable stories of women who have shared the list of the wealthiest women in the world have proved all the stereotypes wrong with their unfathomable power. Often, when we speculate to think about richest people in the world, we even cannot imagine of a woman sharing the list. But that is a story of the past, and now women are coming in every walk of life proving their worth. Same as the wealthiest men in the world there are and have been women in the world who have acquired the list of the richest women in the world. Some of which have acquired the wealth from their ancestral properties while some have made it to the list with their own diligence and incredible dedication. There are a few of the women who did it by taking powerful initiative and climbed the ladder of success and they began their long journey of struggle with just some handful of resources.

Let’s take a look at a precise list of top 10 richest women in the world:

1. Alice Louise Walton (Net Worth – $46 Billion)
Alice Louise Walton Alice Louise Walton was born in 1949 October is an heiress from America of the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. She is born to Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart stores, and Helen Walton and sister of late John T. Walton, S. Robson Walton and Jim Walton. The latest data shows that she has a net worth of $46 billion and is the second wealthiest women in the world. She is not as involved in the running of the mega store, Wal-Mart which was founded in 1962 by her father, as are her brothers. Nevertheless she has an equal share in the wealth that Wal-Mart has reaped in.

2. Francoise Bettencourt Meyer (Net Worth – $42.2 billion)
Francoise Bettencourt Meyer Francoise Bettencourt Meyers has ownership of 33% of the World’s largest makers of cosmetics, L’Oreal. The company was before attributed to her late mother Liliane till 2017 September. The company L’Oreal is a big brand and it has revenue of $42.2 billion and it owns the Garnier and Lancome brands. Francoise became heiress of the empire after death of her mother Liliane Bettencourt. She is now the richest woman in Europe and she has also written three books including oene based on Greek God.

3. Susanne Klatten (Net Worth – $25 billion)
Susanne Klatten Susanne Klatten was born in April, 1962 is the daughter of Johanna Quandt and Herbert and she is a native of Australia. As per the current data, her estimated wealth had led her to being the third richest woman in the world. Upon her mother, Johanna Quandt death who was in 2015, the ninth richest woman in the world, it came to light that she had received additional share of BMW. She along with her brother owns approximately half of the share of BMW. She is trained in economics and also has stake in wind power outfits and controls, Altana, a chemical manufacturer.

4. Jacqueline Mars (net Worth – $23.6 billion)
Jacqueline Mars Jacqueline Mars was born in October 1939 is an investor and heiress by profession. The American candy company Mars was founded by her grandfather Frank C. Mars and daughter of Forrest Mars and Sr.Audrey Ruth (Meyer). Recently in 2018 she was described to possess a net worth of $23.6 billion and is the third richest woman in the world. In 1999, after the death of her father, she and her brothers inherited the largest candy maker company in the world. This company achieved and unbelievable task which was not possible for a sweet making company. Besides sweets, the company also makes pet food and Uncle Ben’s rice.

5. Yang Huiyan (Net Worth – $21.9 billion)
Yang Huiyan Bloomberg reportedly stated that vice-chairman of Chinese property developer Country Garden Holdings, Yang Huiyan, had her wealth rose to such heights in the first few days of 2018. Her company is the biggest property developer according to sales. In 2017, this 36 year old was reportedly listed fourth in the Hurun list. According to Bloomberg her net worth is US $21.9 billion but as per the original data as per Forbes is US $21.9 billion. It was in 2007 that she became the richest person in China and that too merely at the age of 25. She holds the company’s 57 % share and that makes her the largest shareholder of the company.

6. Laurene Powell Jobs (Net Worth – $18.8 Billion)
Laurene Powell Jobs Laurene Powell Jobs who is the wife of the late Apple giant’s owner, Steve Jobs, has taken up the legacy further. She began as a philanthropist and has gradually acquired the skills to take care of the mammoth company after the death of her husband. She holds as of now a share of 38.5 million in Apple and nearly 8% of share in Disney Company. Powell on her own has founded the a company named College Track which is dedicated to preparing students by helping them acquiring educational degrees from high school to University degrees. Besides that she is also the founder of Emerson collective, a resources bank which aims at helping those who are interested in enhancing the condition of some social and educational issues.

7. Gina Rinehart (Net Worth – $17.4 Billion)
Gina Rinehart Hancock Prospecting was founded by Lang Hancock, father of Gina Rinehart who is the current chairman of the company. Her father Hancock, who was a bush pilot and pastoral farmer in 1952, flew back and when he was dodging storm, he found red spots on the bank of Pilbara river gorge. He found the rocks to be oxidize iron that was flowing for miles. He then found that the ores that he found were better than that of those found in the U.S. steel mills. Gina Rinehart is the richest person of Australia and here wealth has ben built on iron ore. She is the one who courageously took up the bankrupted iron-ore exploring company of her father and re-built it into a big one.

8. Iris Fontbona (Net worth – $16.3 Billion)
Iris Fontbona Iris Fontbona who was born in 1942 is by profession a businesswoman and is native of Santiago, Chile. She is the widow of Andrónico Luksic Abaroa and is the owner of Antofagasta PLC which is one of the largest mining operations all over the world. Other involvements of Fontbona include operation within Chile’s largest brewer, a handful of serious investments within both Chile’s energy infrastructure, central bank of Chile and also within some Croatian resorts. Her deceased husband Andrónico Luksic earned name and fame within beverage and mining before he died of cancer in 2005. In 2015 she donated to the children with physical disabilities a record $4.3 Million.

9. Abigail Johnson (Net Worth – $15.9 Billion)
Abigail Johnson She was born in December, 1961 is a famous businesswoman of America. Abigail Johnson is an alumnus of Abigail, Harvard business School and she started her career as a portfolio manager at Fidelity investment, a company founded by her grandfather. She became one of the powerful women in the world after reaching to the position of the CEO and President of the company and owing 49% share of the company in 2014. Later in 2016, she became chairman of the company taking up the additional charge. Forbes in 2016 ranked her as the sixteenth most powerful woman around the globe while in 2015 she was on 16th positions and 34th in 2014.

10. Charlene De Carvalho-Heineken (Net Worth – $15.8 Billion)
Charlene De Carvalho-Heineken Charlene De Carvalho-Heineken was born in June 1954 and is a businesswoman. She holds 25% stake in Heineken International, the third largest brewer and is one of the richest women in the UK. She is also then executive director of the Heineken International. She has acquired a degree in law from the University of Leiden. She is the wealthiest Dutch person and holds 10th position in the UK within the list of richest person within the UK. In 2002, after the death of her father she inherited about £3 billion of the property which made her the richest person of Dutch.

Source: Women’s day Celebration

In Interviews&profile November 14, 2018 By Women of Rubies

TOP FIVE WOMEN TENNIS PLAYERS OF ALL TIME

Women epitomize power, dedication and strength. No wonder they have breakaway all limitations and societal norms and excelled radically in sports. Tennis is one field of sports where women have had a strong foothold since time immemorial. Listed here are the 5 most powerful women tennis players of all time.

1. Serena Williams
Serena Williams Serene Williams, an American tennis player, is ranked No.1 in Women’s Singles Tennis. She has been ranked as No.1 in singles on six different occasions. As of September 14, 2015, she is placed at 4th position on the List of WTA Number 1 Ranked Players. She is the champion of the French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, WTA Tour Championships and Olympic Women’s Singles and Doubles. According to some sports writers, commentators and tennis players, Serene Williams is the greatest women tennis players of all time.

2. Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova The popular Russian tennis player is ranked world’s No. 3 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and is one of the greatest players of all times. She has also been ranked No.1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions for 21 weeks. She is one of the ten women and the only Russian tennis player to hold the Grand Slam. She is also a medalist in Olympics. Sharapova has won at least 1 singles title every year from 2003 to 2015, a record only bested by players like Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Chris Evert. Several experts consider her to be one of the best that tennis has ever seen.

3. Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf Steffi Graf is a former World No.1 tennis player and one of the greatest of all times. During her span of career, she has won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, which is second to Margaret Court (24 Grand Slam singles titles). She has been ranked No.1 by the WTA for a record of 377 weeks, the longest period for both male and female tennis players. She is the first and only tennis player to achieve Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. She was noted for her versatility across all playing surfaces and is best known for her powerful forehand drive and footwork.

4. Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova A veteran tennis player, Martina Navratilova was selected as the greatest women tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005. She is one of the most powerful players the sport has ever seen, and was World No.1 for a total of 332 weeks in singles and record of 237 weeks in doubles. She had won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 10 major mixed doubles titles and 31 major women’s doubles titles. She has also won the Wimbledon women’s singles title for a record 9 times.

5. Chris Evert
Chris Evert The former World No.1 tennis player from the United States is undoubtedly one of the best so far. She has won 18 Grand Slam titles and had reached the finals of 34 Grand Slam finals, more than any tennis player, male or female.

Source:Women’s day