As International women's Day has come and gone, we have decided to extend the celebrations throughout Women's History month by highlighting some amazing women and all their ventures as well as their tips for those that want to follow their path.
James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey said When you educate a Woman, You educate a Nation. And this if anything is our mantra, we want to share our space, and those we reach through our blog and social media with these amazing women and give you some insight on what drives them.
In this first blog of two, we will highlight the women who's profiles we have already shared on our instagram. Read the profiles of Mwai, Fatima and Wezi below.
Mwai Diana Kalitera
Instagram:
@ajanibeautysalon
@mwaii_k
Your name and three interesting facts about you:
Mwai Diana Kalitera
- I can't stand eating nuts on their own but I LOVE chocolate with nuts in it.
- If I could only wear 1 colour for the rest of my life, it would definitely be black.
- Growing up, I always wanted to be a boy!
Your business name and a short description of what you sell or offer:
Ajani Beauty Salon. Ajani (Victor, He/She who wins the struggle; in the Nigerian language Yoruba) is a brand inspired by African women who have been brave enough to express themselves – their passion, their integrity, their strength. We offer various beauty services but specialize in Wig installations and Event Hair Styling.
What your career path is and why you chose it?
I'm an Entrepreneur and Performing Arts Teacher for now but I know the list will grow. I don't believe we have to be one thing. I believe one of the greatest joys comes from finding ways to monetize from the various gifts we have. And if we can empower and educate the next generation as we grow along our journey, all the better.
How do you find balance in your life between work, business and leisure?
The greatest way to build wealth is through owning your own business. As much as I give 100% effort at my job, my business is my baby. My baby needs to get fed every day. I feed it by marketing for it, constantly looking for ways to improve it, continuously investing in it.. This is my daily priority.
When you love what you do, running your business becomes a part of your leisure activities.
What advice would you give to anyone who would want to pursue a similar path as you?
Start now. Start investing in the equipment/resources you need and build a clear understanding of what your brand is.
What is most important to you in life i.e your priorities?
Peace of mind. My peace is the source of my productivity. My level of productivity is the source of my Success. I NEED to be at peace in order to be successful. I protect my energy at all costs and make God the driving force behind all my dreams and desires.
Fatima Osman
Instagram:
@thecheesecakecorner_
Your name and three interesting facts about you:
Fatima Osman
- One of my favourite things to do is bake (of course)I started baking at a very young age. If I remember correctly, the first cheesecake I ever made was when I was 15! That was just the beginning of my love for cheesecakes!
- I decided to turn my passion into a business in November of 2018 so just a little over 3 years now. 😊
- I studied Computer Science at Uni, however I can’t imagine myself doing anything else right now. I believe in doing what you enjoy, that way you’ll always excel in that field.
Your business name and a short description of what you sell or offer:
I run a small business called The Cheesecake Corner. We offer cakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, desserts & more for all occasions.
Facebook : The Cheesecake Corner
Contact: +265 993 38 85 55
How do you find balance in your life between work and leisure?
It can be difficult to balance work life and leisure but having a balance is so important! You’ve probably heard this phrase from your parents/teachers once in your lifetime, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
People may think it’s easier working from home but there are times I find myself working more hours than I would a 9-5 job. Sometimes late hours too. However, I do try my best to avoid this by: Waking up early, planning my day out in advance (having a planner helps more than writing it down on your phone), STOP PROCRASTINATING and getting enough sleep. If I feel a little worn out in between, I’ll go out for a walk, spend some time with my cats or grab a quick snack. Also, avoid using your phone while working, we all know it’s the biggest distraction. That’s how I get the most (time) out of my day, work productively and get adequate rest/leisure in the evenings.
In my line of work, I’m mostly busy during the weekend so I’ll take a day or two off during the week to do other things I enjoy. (Yes, they are advantages too)
What advice would you give to anyone who would want to pursue a similar path as you?
Honestly, just go for it. Stop saying tomorrow. Do it today. Work hard, give your best, every day. You’ve probably heard it countless of times but the best advice I can give you is practice makes perfect. It really does. Also, consistency and quality of your product is key. It’s what will keep customers coming back for more.
What is most important to you in life i.e your priorities?
Religion.
God should be your first priority.
Always take time out to pray and watch your life truly transform into better than you would’ve imagined it to be.
Wezi Kumwenda
Instagram:
@mayicosmetics
@wezi_xo
Your name and three interesting facts about you:
Wezi Kumwenda
- I like boxing and love to do boxing training as my regular work out routine.
- I'm a a computer nerd at heart and I get fascinated by technology and how it's changing our lives everyday.
- I collect crystals and precious stones, I have a collection ranging from little ruby's to amethyst stones.
Your business name and a short description of what you sell or offer:
The name of my business is called Mayi Cosmetics, and I sell a range of beauty tools and products such as make up brushes, blending sponges, false eyelashes, eyelash glue and chitenje print cosmetic bags that I send to customers world wide.
Website:
https://www.mayicosmetics.com/
What your career path is and why you chose it?
My career path is not something I deliberately chose, beauty was not something I was interested growing up until I realised how much of a creative outlet it could be for me. So I turned the hobby into a job, and I am working towards making it my full time job in future. I currently work in the banking industry with my focus on digital banking as it is something I enjoy doing as well and do not plan to stop anytime soon. My career path for both my business and my day job came as a result of trying new things until I found something I liked doing and made the most of it.
How do you find balance in your life between work, business and leisure?
Striking that balance between all three of those aspects is one of the hardest things ever! I feel like I get it right for a month or two then I fall off the wagon and have to start again. But planning and scheduling my days down to the hour have been very important, I have had to learn how to say no to certain commitments in order to make time for myself, but I also had to say no to myself when I am in "workaholic" mode to make time for the people in my life that are important as well as make time to rest and recharge or have fun.
What advice would you give to anyone who would want to pursue a similar path as you?
My advice would be to not be afraid to take that first step, and try. We all have the potential to achieve anything, but we somehow trick ourselves into beliveing we can't. But the moment you take the first baby step, you further in your career or plan than you were yesterday. 99% of success stories do not happen over night, and you are guranteed to meet a few bumps on the way but that shouldn't stop you. Take that first step and keep going.
What is most important to you in life i.e your priorities?
Family, God and my health come first for me. My family are my biggest support system and at the end of the day, my belief in the higher power has also helped me navigate through life. Health and wellness is also a priority. You can't pour from an empty cup, so I strongly believe it's important to take time out and make sure your own cup is full (physically and mentally) before you can pour yourself into what you feel is important to you.