Faced with one of the biggest shifts in our work lives, how can we mindfully maintain productivity in our new work environment?



For many, working from the comfort of your own home is a dream come true. You imagine the magnificence of extended sleeping hours and the freedom to incorporate self-care activities into any time of the day. Sounds amazing, right? It is, until it’s time to sit in front of your PC and actually work.



The downside of having a few extra hours to spare (especially the hours we normally use to get to office and back), is that we may succumb to the temptation of comfort – the comfort to binge-watch your favorite show or even upgrade your cooking skills; absolutely anything that has no connection to your ‘real job’.&nbsp; The challenge is to transition your mentality into work mode which may require more effort than anticipated. Perhaps it’s a lot harder to have discipline when nobody’s physically there to remind you of your perennial to-do list.



So, how do you ensure that you remain focused on the task at hand while working remotely? Here are some tips to help kick-start and maintain your productivity in your new work environment:



First things first, establish a morning routine: Set your alarm and get up and pretend as if you’re actually going to the office. Take a shower, it helps increase your blood flow and leaves you feeling energized. Don’t get back into your sleepwear. If you’re still feeling sluggish, try a quick workout or meditation routine to wake up your brain. Drink lots of water, it also helps.



Location is everything: Find a comfortable spot in your home that you can dedicate to your work. Your space should cater to your needs and allow for you to do your work without infringing on other areas of your home, especially if you live with other people. Try and pick an area that has a good source of light – whether natural or artificial. According to Lux Review, good lighting not only allows for pleasant working conditions but also plays a significant role in your health and wellbeing.



Clean space, clear mind: Once you have found your spot, it is important to remove all clutter that reminds you of home chores or entertainment not in line with your tasks. It’s a lot easier to work productively in a well-organized environment as the opportunity for distraction is decreased. A clean space also comes with psychological benefits such as less stress and anxiety which is good for your overall happiness. Who wants to be stressed more when there’s already so much going on in the world?



Get those sticky notes out: Plan for your day ahead of time. The environment may have changed but the expectations are still the same! Put each goal you have for the day on paper. This will allow you to keep track of your workload so you don’t get overwhelmed. Having a schedule allows you to maintain your professionalism. For creatives, this will help so you don’t get carried away with one task.



Phone a friend: Being an employee in the time of Covid-19 means the social benefits of working in an office have been temporarily stripped away. So, it is important to check in with your colleagues and friends, just so you stay sane and feel less isolated. It also assists in keeping you cheerful and motivated to do your work. Be careful to not overdo it as that might distract you.



Take a break: As you would take a lunch break at work, do so at home too. Take a walk around the house, get some fresh air or spend a bit of time with the people you live with. You can also apply the Pomodoro Technique; a cyclical system in which tasks are separated into 25-minute segments, divided by five-minute breaks (with a longer one around midday). This way, you will feel less guilty about wanting a second away from your computer screen.



Don’t forget to log off: Having a structured and productive work day also means knowing when to stop. You should definitely set boundaries for yourself so you don’t interfere with your work-life balance. Log off, refresh and restart tomorrow!

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How To Stay Productive Working From Home

As the virus continues to keep people indoors and upend the world of fashion, our Johannesburg-based stylist shares her top tips on dressing up for WFH and online meetings. But don’t wear pyjamas, she warns.



The late German fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld once said, “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.”



It would seem now that he wasn’t completely off-the-mark, was he?&nbsp;Who would have thought on the first of January of a year that had been initially hailed as ‘twenty plenty’, that one miniscule virus would bring the whole world to a standstill and confine people to their homes? Who would have thought that gloves and face-masks would suddenly be the new rage in the upended world of fashion?



Due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases globally, employees in lockdown have no other option but to be productive in their home offices. Whilst Zoom calls and online meetings are the new norm, here are a few fashion do’s and don’ts for this period and beyond for those working remotely.&nbsp;



Do&#8230; Plan what you wear, be it a clean pair of sweatpants or a clean top. In the same way you would curate your look for a day at the office, plan for a comfortable work day at home. This prepares and sets your mind up for productivity.



Don’t&#8230; Wear pyjamas. While it’s understood that you’re not in your normal working environment, it’s important to always put your best foot forward. Wearing pyjamas on a work video con-call&nbsp;may translate as a lack of respect and regard for your colleagues and most importantly, yourself. Do not fall into the temptation!



Do&#8230; Wear a neutral colored top! A plain black, white, tan or grey T-shirt or sweater, a washed face and neat hair will go a long way for those zoom conference calls. You can’t control your environment, be it the bawling baby in the next room or the neighbor mowing his lawn, but you can at the very least, attempt to look presentable and somewhat professional while&nbsp;in your comfort zone.&nbsp;



Don’t&#8230; Wear a printed item or distracting accessories for video conference calls. Avoid any minor distractions. Your colleagues want to get off the work call as much – and as soon as – you do. Don’t create a point of discussion that will drag on the conversation or deviate from the point of the call.&nbsp;



“Like poetry, fashion doesn’t state anything, it merely suggests,” said Lagerfeld famously.



What people see before them has the first say even before a person opens his or her mouth to speak. Make sure you’re in control of the narrative when it comes to how you want to be perceived professionally, be it in the office or in the middle of your living room. 



&#8211;Keabetswe Mafora

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How To Dress Up For The Home Office

With unemployment at a low 3.6%, American workers have been enjoying a candidate-friendly market, and many have used it to their advantage. According to a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/compensation-and-benefits/salary-negotiation-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survey</a>&nbsp;by recruiting firm Robert Half, 54% of job seekers negotiated for a higher payout before accepting their most recent position. Of those who didn’t ask for more, nearly one fifth said it was because they felt uncomfortable doing so.



“Anyone who has the experience is in demand,” says Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half. “Everybody should feel comfortable negotiating compensation today.”



Negotiating can be intimidating, but with a little preparation, job seekers can be better equipped to walk away with what they’re worth. Here are three keys to a successful salary negotiation, plus what to do if the hiring manager doesn’t budge.&nbsp;



1. Do Your Research



While hiring managers often discuss pay with candidates early on in the hiring process, with 35% of respondents reporting that the subject of salary came up in their first in-person interviews, McDonald advises against negotiating before an offer has been made. If salary range does come up, use that as the starting point to research industry averages for the role at hand, using online resources like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/know-your-worth.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glassdoor’s salary tools</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.payscale.com/salary-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Payscale’s salary calculator</a>&nbsp;as your guide. Another form of compensation that’s worth considering is benefits. A flexible work arrangement or student loan reimbursement, for example, may not pad your paycheck, but they are perks that could boost your bank account. Whatever you do, don’t overshoot—that could be a turnoff. Flexibility and knowing your market worth is key, he says.&nbsp;



2. Establish Your Must-Haves And Your Nice-To-Haves



Before you go into a salary negotiation, determine what you need and what you can do without. “If you’re interviewing for a new role, or if you’re going to your current employer for the annual salary review, know what your priorities are,” McDonald says. “Take the emotion out of it and be really in tune with what’s important to you.” Not being able to articulate what matters most can cost you a few extra thousand dollars, or even the position itself. 



3. Practice Makes Perfect



There’s no better way to calm prenegotiation nerves than to practice. McDonald recommends role-playing with trusted colleagues, mentors or recruiters so that you can get feedback from those who have been on different sides of the table. As you craft your pitch, remember to make liberal use of the words “we” and “us.” “It’s always good to try and join the parties when you’re negotiating,” McDonald says. Something as simple as “There are a few things that I’d like us to discuss” can demonstrate to the hiring manager that you’re a team player. For instance:  



“I’m so thrilled that you’ve extended an offer and I’m really enthusiastic about the role! I know I’d be the right fit for the [co. name] team and based on what we’ve discussed during the interview process, my background and experience align really well with the expectations of the job. I’m hoping we can discuss the offer you presented because based on my research, the salaries in our area for [job title] are typically around [number]. I’m confident you’ll be pleased with what I’ll bring to the role and organization and I’m looking forward to contributing.”&nbsp;



Next Steps



It is unlikely that your negotiation will end with you receiving an immediate “yes,” so leave by offering to continue the conversation. If the hiring manager doesn’t follow up regarding your request or just won’t budge, ask yourself if you can still afford to take the opportunity. If the answer is no, tell the company right away. “Don’t ghost the opportunity,” McDonald says. “Regardless of how it all turns out, always be professional, always be courteous, always be objective.”



&#8211;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthatodd/">Samantha Todd</a>, Forbes Staff, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/leadership-strategy">Leadership Strategy</a>

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How To Successfully Negotiate Your Salary

In a world of extremely rapid change, we have seen plenty of things vanish, from rotary phones to electric typewriters to 8-track music cartridges. 



But there is one old-time tradition that seems to be holding on: the thank-you note.



To some it may seem laughably archaic to hand-write a note, drop it in snail mail and hope the recipient gets it a few days later.&nbsp;One study by staffing firm Accountemps found that only 24 percent of job applicants bother to send thank-you notes these days.



But here is the rub: 80 percent of human resources managers surveyed felt those messages were useful in evaluating potential hires.



Devotees of the thank-you note are numerous and cultish &#8211; and swear that it helps careers and finances, as well as personal relationships. A&nbsp;hand-crafted personal touch is not just thoughtful, it actively sets you apart from others.



Manhattan’s Christina Cookman knows all about the subtle power of a thank-you note. The performance and executive coach sends a whopping 200 of them each year.



“The business case for them is that they only take five minutes of your time, and 50 cents,” Cookman said.&nbsp;“I can’t imagine that anyone who gets a handwritten thoughtful note is ever disappointed by that. So even if the payoff is not direct, you are at the very least strengthening a relationship.”



Music manager Clayton Durant got a joint partnership out of thank-you notes. Durant, the head of artist management and branding firm CAD Management, struck a joint deal to work with Ashley Rose, famed Roc Nation songwriter and head of indie music label The Code.



How exactly did that come about? Old-fashioned thank-you cards, sent after the label had worked on one of his artist’s records.



“When I asked Ashley why she felt comfortable having our startup be her first joint venture, she mentioned the thank-you cards we sent to each of her producers, writers and staff,” Durant said.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">EXPRESSING GRATITUDE</h4>



The biggest payoff, ironically, may be the effect thank-you cards have on the sender. In 2016, Indiana University professors Joel Wong and Joshua Brown published a study of college students who had sought counseling for common feelings like anxiety and depression.



Those who were counseled to write letters of gratitude reported better mental health both one month and three months later. Those differences continued to increase over time. As researchers concluded, “If you have never written a gratitude letter before, we encourage you to try it.”



So, how to strike the right “note,” expressing gratitude and powerboosting your career and network at the same time? Some tips:



&#8211; Write them at unexpected times.



Thank-you cards are rote and expected at certain life moments – like, say, in response to wedding gifts. That is well and good, but if you pen them at more unique occasions, you can multiply their impact. Cookman’s most recent one, for instance, was to a manager at a Manhattan Dos Caminos restaurant; her friends had their engagement party there, and he helped her secure some restaurant memorabilia before the location closed down.



&#8211; Make them as personalized as you can.



If you go to the trouble of writing a note, but then make the message something general that could have been written to anyone, you are defeating the purpose of the exercise. That is why Durant made sure each of his notes to the record label’s writers and producers&nbsp;was personalized. “That led to us connecting more frequently to talk about business and new artists,” Durant said.



&#8211; Spring for a stamp.



A “thank you” sent by email certainly counts, but if you are looking to create a true personal touch, real stationery is key. “When a handwritten thank-you note arrives, it is the ultimate act of personalization,” said Patrick Taylor, a self-professed “huge fan” of thank-you letters, who is founder of public relations firm 59Media and former communications VP for Meredith Corporation.



&#8211; Keep them succinct.



Many people are intimidated by thank-you cards because they imagine you have to write the Great American Novel. Not so. Cookman keeps hers to about four sentences – outlining how a person went above and beyond, and the impact it had on her. Her advice: “Make it simple as possible.” -Reuters



Chris Taylor

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A Career Secret Weapon: Thank-You Notes

Companies that keep employees happy aren’t just helping their workers—they’re helping themselves, since satisfied&nbsp;workers are more productive. In fact, a mutual fund that invests in companies with positive workplace ratings, Parnassus Endeavor, has beaten the market handily over the past 10 years.



What are the organizations with the happiest employees? Careers site&nbsp;<a href="http://www.careerbliss.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CareerBliss</a>&nbsp;launched its eighth-annual list of the happiest companies in America. It surveyed tens of thousands of workers and asked them to rate their employers on ten key factors, such as their relationship with management, workplace environment, compensation, satisfaction with job function and growth opportunities.



To see the top 10 happiest companies to work for, open the gallery below. For the full list of 50, see the end of this article.



Keller Williams Realty takes the top spot. The Austin, Texas company has 175,000 agents across&nbsp;more than 900 metro areas and claims to be the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count. A Keller Williams Realty employee wrote on CareerBliss.com, “One of the greatest benefits is how our company promotes from within. All employees are encouraged and supported to be in control of their growth and career paths.”



Sneaker king Nike ranks second. It remains one of the most valuable brands in the world, and it’s navigating a big transition as more consumers shop online. In June it announced its “NIKE Direct” initiative—the company is trying to sell more of its products directly to consumers through its website and own stores, rather than rely on traditional retailers like Foot Locker.



Adobe is the fourth happiest company, according to CareerBliss. The Silicon Valley tech giant invented PDFs and launched them 1993. It claims PDFs have led to a 91% reduction in environmental impact and 90% cost savings when compared with paper-based processes. And Adobe’s Photoshop software is used by 90% of creative professionals. “The atmosphere is highly collaborative and energizing. People have always been friendly and helpful; very professional,” wrote one employee on CareerBliss.com.



Pharmaceutical giant Amgen ranks fifth. Arthritis drug Enbrel is its top-selling product, bringing in nearly $6 billion in sales last year. “The work-life balance is great, fantastic daycare on campus, lots of smart co-workers,” wrote one CareerBliss reviewer. “Working for Amgen was very rewarding to see the positive impact we made in patients’ lives,” reported a West Coast employee.



Full List:&nbsp;The Happiest Companies to Work for in 2018



<ol><li>Keller Williams Realty</li><li>Nike</li><li>Total Quality Logistics</li><li>Adobe</li><li>Amgen</li><li>Chevron</li><li>Intuit</li><li>Bristol-Myers Squibb</li><li>PNC Financial Services Group</li><li>TruGreen</li><li>CIGNA</li><li>Starbucks</li><li>Apple</li><li>Quicken Loans</li><li>Leidos</li><li>Qualcomm</li><li>iGATE</li><li>The Vanguard Group</li><li>Citrix Systems</li><li>Kaiser Permanente</li><li>Chase</li><li>Pfizer</li><li>Fidelity Investments</li><li>American Income Life Insurance Company</li><li>Blue Cross Blue Shield Association</li><li>American Express</li><li>GE Capital</li><li>Merck</li><li>American Airlines</li><li>Microsoft</li><li>Cisco Systems</li><li>Nordstrom</li><li>Exxon Mobil</li><li>Alcatel-Lucent</li><li>CenturyLink</li><li>Bank of America</li><li>The Walt Disney Company</li><li>Wells Fargo</li><li>Oracle</li><li>Citigroup</li><li>Broadcom</li><li>Farmers Insurance Group of Companies</li><li>DirecTV</li><li>Dell</li><li>Symantec</li><li>Metropolitan Life Insurance Company</li><li>ABC News</li><li>CareFusion</li><li>Spectrum</li><li>Verizon Communications &#8211; Jeff Kauflin</li></ol>

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The Happiest Companies To Work For In 2018

So, you think you&#8217;re acing your job interview.



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Your interviewer seems to like you. You like your job interviewer. The camaraderie couldn&#8217;t be better.



Then comes the proverbial: &#8220;So, what questions do you have for me?&#8221;



Whether you&#8217;re&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2018/11/14/how-to-get-hired-at-google/#203b24261caf">interviewing for a job at Google</a>&nbsp;or joining your local small business, the questions that you ask your interviewer matter. It&#8217;s your opportunity to showcase your talents, knowledge, and judgment.



Here are 5 questions that you should never ask during a job interview (and three more that you should).



1. &#8220;So, how much will I get paid?&#8221;



This seems like a no-brainer, but for some reason, interviewees still think the question is fair play.



That said, it is a fair question. After all, you need to know how much you&#8217;ll be paid before you take the job. While that&#8217;s true, the interview is not the time to discuss salary.



If you receive a job offer, you can discuss salary at that time.



2. &#8220;How much vacation time will I get?&#8221;



Again, your vacation and personal time might be an important part of your calculus when deciding to take a job offer.



However, asking how much vacation time you&#8217;ll get demonstrates you&#8217;re focused more on time off than working.



Like salary, your vacation and other benefits should be reflected in the job offer. You can ask all the questions related to salary and benefits at that time. You can also schedule a follow-up session with the human resources department for a benefits deep-dive.



3. &#8220;How quickly can I get promoted?&#8221;



Climbing the ladder of your potentially new organization is admirable.



However, don&#8217;t assume during the interview that you have the job. It&#8217;s important to understand options for movement &#8211; both upward and lateral &#8211; within the organization. If you plan to work at this organization, it&#8217;s essential to understand your career trajectory.



You don&#8217;t want to come off as entitled. This question may convey to the interviewer that you think you already have the job (when you don&#8217;t).



4. &#8220;Why did the company fire so many people last month?&#8221;



It&#8217;s never a good sign to read about layoffs.



This is especially true when you may be joining an organization after a big headcount reduction.



It&#8217;s a fair question, and you should understand the details. However, the job interview is the wrong time.



When you receive your job offer, you can have a frank conversation with your manager about the layoffs, the rationale, whether additional layoffs are expected and other related information to fortify your understanding.



Before accepting a job, make sure to understand if the headcount reduction is expected to be ongoing or if it was a one-time occurrence.



5. &#8220;So, who do you consider your competition?&#8221;



Instead of asking your interviewer about the competition, spend the time asking questions that demonstrate your interest in the company and also show that you&#8217;ve done research prior to your interview.



Before the interview, you should have conducted due diligence on the competitive landscape.



That includes understanding key competitors, relative strengths and weaknesses, the supply chain, key opportunities and threats, barriers to entry and other pertinent market dynamics.



You&#8217;re better off weaving this information into the interview, rather than asking during the question period.



3 Questions That You Can Ask During An Interview



Here are three potential questions that you could ask during your job interview:



1. &#8220;What are the best attributes of the company&#8217;s culture?&#8221;



<ul><li>Show your interest in company culture.</li><li>Understand the key values that set this company apart.</li><li>Learn more about the company&#8217;s mission and value proposition.</li></ul>



2. &#8220;How much is collaboration across departments encouraged?&#8221;



<ul><li>Determine whether collaboration is promoted internally.</li><li>Learn more about ways in which collaboration helps create value for employees and customers.</li><li>See if the interviewer can share concrete examples to further your understanding.</li></ul>



3. &#8220;What would you like the person that you hire to accomplish over the next 6-12 months?&#8221;



<ul><li>Learn about your interviewer&#8217;s goals for the position.</li><li>Understand expectations.</li><li>This will give you insights because the question is specific to the role and shows your ability to think longer-term.</li><li>-Zack Friedman</li></ul>

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5 Questions You Should Never Ask During A Job Interview

Nigeria’s advertising and media market is on the cusp of growth. Newly-affluent consumers, new products and communication channels abound but navigating them with a clear marketing and media strategy remains a major challenge. Two things that are not lacking though are enthusiasm and innovation within the Nigerian creative industry and it’s this nascent market that is the core of Dentsu Aegis’s long-term growth strategy.
Dentsu Aegis is a media agency that builds a communication channel between brands and the people who consume their products and services.
And the woman who is driving the company’s foray into the Nigerian market is Dawn Rowlands.
Rowlands took control of the group in 2010 as Chief Executive Officer and increased revenue and staff at the company by 200% within two years. Her key focus now is expanding the group’s reach into Africa with a focus on West Africa’s largest economy.
“The kind of opportunities offered to young creative people by markets like Nigeria is phenomenal,” says Rowlands.
“The South African market is not moving fast enough and consumers here are completely desensitized to the conversations that brands want to have with them. In Nigeria, the market is completely fresh. When banks cold call consumers in Nigeria, they actually want to hear what they have to say. The level of innovation that allows is great!
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-29892 alignleft" src="http://www.forbesafrica.com/app/uploads/2017/05/Dawn-Rowlands-standing-214x300.jpg" alt="" width="214" height="300" />
“There is still a lot of work to be done in getting the quality of communication and content and that is a result of a lack of global exposure and competition. We can get in there and make a big difference,” she adds.
Rowlands’ career was built on pioneering new markets and what she calls “a relentless pursuit” of what she believed is right.
Born in South Africa’s capital Pretoria, Rowlands considered pursuing journalism as a career but was dissuaded by the lack of press freedom in South Africa in the early to mid-1980s. She pursued advertising instead and attended the AAA school of advertising and entered the industry as a creative.
“The industry was a great deal more fun than it is now. People spent more time on building relationships and we had more fun,” she says.
Rowlands’ first job was as a media assistant at a small agency after which she spent two years at media agency Bates Wells before moving on to its larger competitor Ogilvy &amp; Mather in 1991. Her goal was to become a media director by age 26 – a position traditionally occupied by middle-aged men in the early 1990s. True to type, Rowlands became the youngest female media director at Ogilvy.
“I am one of those people that when someone tells you can’t do something, I stick to my guns,” she says, crediting Yvonne Johnston, former International Marketing Council of South Africa and Ogilvy &amp; Mather Group Media Director as her mentor at the company.
Rowlands went independent three years later by founding the first strategy-only agency in South Africa with partners Peter Vogel and Jim Taylor.
“When you pioneer something, it’s hard for people to see your vision. And that’s ok. Having the conviction to go on is the most important,” she says.
The business went on to flourish and was sold to the Tempus Group in 1999 with Rowlands staying on in the company until 2002. She went on to found an agency operating the outdoor advertising space, which at that stage was a largely disorganized market capturing just 3% of total media spend. The business was sold to Aegis, ultimately leading Rowlands to her current position. She says that the agency has allowed her to exercise her entrepreneurial ambitions.
“As an entrepreneur, you want to work with like-minded people and Aegis is very entrepreneurially wired.”
Rowlands was named Business Woman of the Year in 2012 by the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa; she received a global STEVIE award for Women in Business in 2012 and has served as a judge at Cannes Lions and the Cristal Media Festival Awards.
She lives in Cape Town and is a mother to two teenagers and has been married 16 years.
“My life is my work and my family. I have no hobbies and no time for myself.  My family and my work are everything to me,” she says.

Dawn-Rowlands-standing

‘I Stick To My Guns’

Arun Chadha has done well for himself far from home. He overcame racism, built a company from the ground up and now runs a steel exporter that employs 300 people and turns over billions of rands, in a cutthroat business, in Johannesburg.
It all began in India, 7,559 kilometers from Johannesburg. It was humble fireside teachings from his father, who worked for the government, that led him to a career that took him to Africa 28 years ago.
“The one thing my father gave us was good education. I did my chartered accountancy, took up a job in the Middle East and then moved to Zambia in 1988,” says Chadha.
He was poached by another company and transferred to South Africa as an expatriate. It was here where trouble began.
“I came and took over as the Chief Executive of a British company. I faced a lot of problems because people refused to come and meet me because I am Indian. I used to get phone calls from people threatening me because of the color of my skin or cars following me,” he recalls.
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It was hard but Chadha was harder. It took him just three months to show people skin didn’t matter to him.
“Surprisingly these same white guys became some of my closest friends as soon as they realized that our blood is all red, it’s not the skin that makes the difference, what makes the difference is the approach to things and the important thing is work.”
In 1994 he was transferred to New York. He decided South Africa was a beautiful country and he came back, became a permanent resident and Allied Chemicals and Steel, a general export business, was born.
“I had no problems setting up the company, getting a VAT registration or opening a bank account, none at all. I got all my approvals within three weeks,” he says.
Running his own business wasn’t easy. The first year’s turnover was R9-million ($656,000) but profit was a mere R20,000 ($1,500). This wasn’t enough to sustain the comfortable life he was used to as an expatriate.
“Life as an expatriate is very cushy because your house, car, furniture, children’s education and everything is paid for by the company. All of a sudden when you resign and start your own company, you have to pay for everything yourself,” says Chadha.
Expenses rose. He had to cut back. With his wife, they moved to a small rented flat for R3,500 ($250) where they stayed until the year 2000 when they bought their first home.
“Everything that was earned went back to the company to grow the company. What you see today is from those beginnings. The one [thing] that was there, which was on my side, was education… You might not use your education but it’s a stepping stone towards your next level,” he says.
In 1996 the company focused on its core product, steel. The business grew at a rapid rate. From the year 2000 to 2008, they touched a turnover of over a billion rand ($73 million).
“The problem thought though was always that I am a trader and not manufacturer. Sooner or later, someone will override me or overstep me and I will not be able to compete with them.”
In 2010, Chadha bought a piece of land, near Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg, to build a steel factory.
“That’s when I met Warne Rippon, he used to have a company called Steelrode and we decided to merge the two companies because we were not conflicting with each other. One was exporting into Africa and the other was focused on South Africa,” he says.
It was a long process. It took six months for the merger to be approved.
“From the days of 1994 where it took me 24 hours, it took us six months to get a VAT registration. That’s some of the frustrations new business people are facing now. I do not understand why it takes so long…,” he says.
The merger was finalized on March 1, 2013, giving birth to Allied Steelrode, which employs 300 people. The company has tripled its turnover in the last three years; but not without problems.
As an export company into Africa, it deals with emerging markets, some suffering from a cash crisis and others with unstable politics which weakens the economy.
“In Zimbabwe we are facing problems because the people we export to have the money in the banks but the banks can’t remit the money to us. We now have to accept money in pounds, euros, US dollars, and whatever is available… The devaluation in Zambia has been great. But after the elections are over and [President Edgar] Lungu has come in, it has been fairly stable.”
For Chadha, the biggest problem in Africa is the falling commodity prices.
“We hope the commodity prices start looking up in 2017. We see that oil has gone up, gold prices have gone up and that’s why steel prices are shooting up at the moment. I have a feeling 2017 is going to be a better year than 2016.”
It is optimism, steadfastness and kindness that led him to the top at the end of a 7,559-kilometer journey.

‘People Refused To Come And Meet Me Because  I Am Indian’

After a degree at the University of Cape Town, she lived in London for five years, starting her career in digital advertising, but didn’t find it too glamorous, so returned to South Africa, and with a little help from “a family member” (who she has to repay in five years), bought the Bloss &amp; Co business in 2014, turning entrepreneur at 30 and building it up.
Her “affordable luxury handbags” are available in tony boutiques in Parkhurst and Dainfern. They are also at her Parktown North showroom, and their USP, she says, is personalized service, the cappuccino and warm environment.
A company of three employees, including two other partners, they source the leather and metalware from markets in China. Going forward, there are plans afoot to manufacture in South Africa and collaborate with local talent, as they did most recently with South African botanical artist Kelly Higgs, who designed beach bags for them, showcasing South African fauna and flora.
Blackie’s structured posh totes in bright colors are the most sought-after.
“Our vision is bright colors and versatility – a backpack that can be used as a clutch and sling bag; a clutch that also turns into a cross-body bag. What we have found is that the SA market does not follow what happens in the catwalks of London and Paris. It comes down to practicality… They are bags that look luxurious but don’t cost R50,000 ($3,120).” A genuine leather Bloss &amp; Co bag would only set you back R2,499 ($156), so it’s worth a look.
Blackie married a commodities trader in December last year, but she has a busy year planned: to roll out a luxury range in Lagos, and a “sophisticated” Afro-chic line in London.

Milenials_Jay-Caboz-6

The Millennials

<ol>
<li>
<h3>How long did it take to get to the top?</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Nearly two decades. I began my career at sea as a cadet in 1996. I then worked on cargo ships, shipping bananas between Ecuador and California, before starting my career in the cruise industry in 2001 as third mate. I worked my way up the ranks, from second officer, first officer navigation, first officer deck, first officer safety, chief officer safety to staff captain (deputy captain, second-in-command). I then joined Celebrity Cruises in July 2015 with my promotion to captain.
&nbsp;
<ol start="2">
<li>
<h3>You have made history as a female captain…</h3>
</li>
</ol>
I honestly did not expect the overwhelming response of support and sheer enthusiasm for my promotion, but I meet people on a daily basis who tell me how much it means to them to see me in this position. It is a very humbling experience, and I really enjoy sharing the story about where and how it all started – with my dad, who told me I could be anything I wanted in life. I meet fathers who let me know that they tell their daughters the same thing. I meet grandmothers who have so much faith in their granddaughters and want to share my story with them. I enjoy speaking to young women and watching their faces and reactions as they come to the realization that becoming a captain of a cruise ship is a possibility for them.
<ol start="3">
<li>
<h3>What is your greatest high on the high seas?</h3>
</li>
</ol>
The ability to actually maneuver the vessel – the arrivals and departures from ports are an adrenaline rush!
&nbsp;
<ol start="4">
<li>
<h3>What is the roughest weather you have encountered at sea?</h3>
</li>
</ol>
I have found that the term ‘rough’ is relative as everyone has a different definition, but one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is not only applicable to going to sea, but also on land: Mother Nature is to be respected. There are several things that we can control but Mother Nature is not one of them. However, we have great, expert means of being able to make predictions and plan accordingly. The safety of our guests and crew always comes first, and we do not take chances.
<ol start="5">
<li>
<h3>How is it like to be away from family for months?</h3>
</li>
</ol>
My contract is three months onboard and three months at home. I have the opportunity to invite my family to come sail with me when possible. Onboard, I have a family of 950 crew members. You can say we are a support system of our own. More than 65 different nationalities and backgrounds working together and supporting each other – they are truly special relationships.
When I am home, I can do anything I want, including travel, visit friends and family or learn a new hobby – there are plenty of those on my list! Also, communication has evolved so much since I began sailing; it is easier than ever to stay in touch with loved ones, they are only just a click or phone call away. Life onboard, doing what I love, is nice. Many things are taken care of, such as laundry, meals, cleaning, scheduling. When I go home, it takes a bit of time to adjust to making my own bed, sitting in traffic or going to the grocery store to buy ingredients to cook a meal.
&nbsp;
<ol start="6">
<li>
<h3>What’s your typical day aboard the ship?</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Days at sea are great for me to meet as many guests as possible. I like to walk throughout the ship, go where great events are taking place, talk to everyone and find out where they are from and how their cruise experience is going.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<ol start="7">
<li>
<h3>Would you recommend this career for other women?</h3>
</li>
</ol>
Women are in the ranks. They have been since I began sailing. The opportunities are increasing for everyone, with more ships being built and positions opening up, and I believe you will see more female captains in the cruise industry soon. It is an incredible career, and I recommend it for anyone who has wanderlust in their veins, enjoys meeting new and interesting people, and experiencing the world by an awe-inspiring mode of transportation – cruising. Think about how you feel when you witness a perfect sunrise or sunset, now that is what it feels like to be at sea every day.

Kate-etch

7 Questions With…

One of Africa’s biggest artists walks into the room wearing a shiny black suit, white shirt, bright red socks and, of course, dark-shades. His entourage scurries around to make sure he is comfortable. He steps forward, extends his hand and uses the opening line to all his songs, “I am D’banj”.
It’s an introduction that makes women, from Nigeria to Britain, swoon. But life hasn’t always been easy for the 33-year-old musician. He has come a long way from his days in Zaria, in northern Nigeria, where he found his passion for music in unfortunate circumstances.
“When I was 13, my brother died in a plane crash. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what was happening. Before we left for school, I went into his room and found the harmonica among his belongings and took it with me.”
D’banj spent most of his time playing along to Bob Marley and Céline Dion. The harmonica kept the memory of his brother alive.
At university, he began writing his own songs and it wasn’t long before he produced his first hit single The Koko. The song, a collaboration with producer Don Jazzy, gave them both a taste of success.
“We were like Batman and Robin, it was a great synergy. He knew my style, he knew how powerful my voice was, he knew how much energy I had and how I liked to perform. He studied me well.”
The two have since produced many hits which won D’banj an array of awards including: Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2009 and Best International Act: Africa at the BET Awards in 2011.
The pair also created the record label, Mo’Hits Records, which launched the careers of Wande Coal, Dr SID, D’Prince and K-Switch. In 2012, Don Jazzy and D’banj split, sending shock waves through the music industry.
“We just grew apart. Change is the only constant thing and hopefully we changed for the better… Doing music with one producer for eight years, then coming out again, makes you feel brand new. You find skills you didn’t know you had and you find flaws about yourself that you thought you knew…”
It didn’t take long before D’banj moved onto a more lucrative deal under Kanye West’s record label, Good Music. Their partnership began as a case of mistaken identity.
“On my way out of Dubai I stopped at the first class lounge with my entourage. A few airhostesses ran up to me screaming ‘Mr Kanye West’. So I looked at myself, then I looked at them and said ‘I am D’banj. But if I look like Kanye West it means he must be around’”.
They tracked down the American star in the building. West liked D’banj’s fresh Afro-pop sound and they later met in Los Angeles, where D’banj was introduced to some of the industries big names such as Big Sean, Pusha T, Hit-Boy and LA Reid.
Contracts were signed, deals made and in the days that followed D’banj recorded Oliver Twist, the song brought him even greater international success.
“The fans overseas are different. They absorb the music differently and they really want to get to know you as a person, they want to know what you are about. Here, our people are more excited about the music.”
D’banj says getting to the top is the easy part; it’s staying there that’s difficult. Among his biggest competition is fellow Nigerian musicians P-Square.
“If we were in a dance battle they would beat me, I would have to get some help from Chris Brown. But I think overall you would definitely be entertained…”
The African hit maker looks forward to a successful year and the release of his documentary celebrating his 10 years in the music industry. D’banj seemed very confident that he would top the FORBES list of Africa’s 50 Richest, until he realized Aliko Dangote was number one.
“Dangote? Ahhh no, no, no that’s the father… this interview is over. She asks me if my turnover is higher than Dangote… very soon. Maybe in a couple of years,” he jokes while looking at his entourage seated at the back of the room.
I guess we’ll just wait and see.

I Am D’banj  And I Am Going To Be Rich

My entire life changed when I got pregnant, and my husband’s hardly changed at all,” says 30-year-old Lilly Jensen (name changed to protect identity).
In a few months, Jensen went from being a successful managing editor at a local magazine on a promising career track to a stay-at-home mom.
Her pregnancy, and the subsequent maternity leave, completely derailed her career. With her baby at home, little support structure, unreliable help and a husband not legally allowed to take paternity leave, she had little choice. After two months back in the office, she quit.
“I wouldn’t have felt so helpless if Jack had been allowed to take leave,” she says. “I might have made a different decision if I’d had the support. I felt I had no other option.”
Maternity leave is often treated as a punishment in the workplace, says Manisha Maganbhai-Mooloo, a partner at Adams &amp; Adams Attorneys, a South African law firm.
With no legal equivalent of maternity leave for new dads in South Africa – fathers may take three days of paid family responsibility leave around the birth of the baby, if it’s not used up on other events the leave was designed for – the bulk of the responsibility and burden of parenthood falls on the mother.
“Pregnancy is treated as a penalty and almost acts as a halt to promotional prospects,” says Maganbhai-Mooloo.
“Projects are halted and a women’s career is sent on a completely different trajectory.”
Anita Bosch, lead researcher at the Women in the Workplace Research Programme at the University of Johannesburg agrees, saying that pregnancy is treated as an anomaly. Keeping in mind that the workplace was developed with men as the model workers, maternity leave negatively impacts a woman’s career, says Bosch.
“You hear comments around the workplace about a ‘staffing problem’ when employees fall pregnant.”
The legal minimum for South African maternity leave is four months unpaid, and it only applies to women. There’s no paternity leave, no leave for adoption, or surrogacy.
“It’s left to companies to offer more generous policies to their employees,” says Maganbhai-Mooloo. And if companies don’t offer paid maternity leave, employees have to turn to the Unemployment Insurance Fund, a government-run organization, to pay them a monthly stipend. A year later, and Jensen is still waiting for her payout.
“I don’t know how single moms do it,” she says.
Maganbhai-Mooloo is frustrated by the inherently unfair maternity law in South Africa. Despite good labor laws, even by international standards, South Africa lags behind with legislature on maternity.
“The law needs to be amended to allow for paid paternity leave and paid maternity leave,” she says. “Not to mention surrogacy and adoption leave.”
However, in her opinion, the ideal should be shared parental leave that can be evenly divided between the two parents, to split the onus of parenthood and equally distribute the effect a baby has on both career paths. After a challenging birth, and a severe bout of post-partum depression, Maganbhai-Mooloo herself would have preferred her husband taking paternity leave soon after birth, with her maternity leave kicking in only after she’d dealt with the baby blues.
South Africa still has a long way to go. With mothers penalised for pregnancy, and fathers unable to step-up, paternity leave would help to equalize the playing ground. Unpaid maternity leave also places new mothers at a huge disadvantage. As a 2013 report by the Human Rights Watch discovered, unpaid maternity leave can lead to serious consequences for health, finances and career paths.
“I felt like a deadweight when I was pregnant,” says Jensen. “And I shouldn’t have to feel like that.”

shutterstock_124486135

Is Becoming A New Mom Career-Limiting?

Tina Lobondi’s life and career spans half the globe – well, almost.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she had to leave her troubled African country to be raised in France; she has lived and worked in London, and her fashion career was inspired by India. Her talent has seen her hobnob with A-listers in New York, where she has dressed the likes of Hollywood star Thandie Newton and Grammy winning African Angelique Kidjo.
And now she’s determined to place Africa – her homeland – on the global fashion map.
Lobondi was only eight when the first civil war started in the DRC and her family was forced to leave, in 1997, to Lorraine in France. A home away from home, the country and the French life soon stoked the fashionista in her.
“Inspiration is from everything – movies, places I’ve traveled, shapes from architecture,” says Lobondi.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-30832" src="http://www.forbesafrica.com/app/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6307-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6307-300x187.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6307-600x373.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6307-768x477.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6307-1024x637.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6307.jpg 1023w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
For the African designer taking Europe by storm, her biggest inspiration though was – surprisingly – the drama, glamor and women of Bollywood, of which she is a huge fan.
“I’m a big fan of India; I watch all the Bollywood movies –  not the cheesy ones. Bollywood calms me. My final collection when I was studying was based on Rani Mukherjee [famous mainstream Indian actress] – how I picture her, a strong woman who knows what she wants and goes for it. She was my inspiration for my first project in London.”
Lobondi hasn’t been back to the DRC. The ‘Heart of Darkness’ as the region became known during colonialism after Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novel has long held stereotypes of a war-torn region on the brink of destruction. But Lobondi’s memories are a far cry from the words penned by Conrad.
For her, the DRC is a hub of excitement and infinite possibilities.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-30835" src="http://www.forbesafrica.com/app/uploads/2017/05/14_MBFWA_zSDR_0908_TinaLobondi-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/14_MBFWA_zSDR_0908_TinaLobondi-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/14_MBFWA_zSDR_0908_TinaLobondi-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/14_MBFWA_zSDR_0908_TinaLobondi-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/14_MBFWA_zSDR_0908_TinaLobondi-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/14_MBFWA_zSDR_0908_TinaLobondi.jpg 1023w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
“I grew up in the Congo until I was eight and had the best childhood. The Congo that I knew was not a poor Congo – we had roads, we had private schools…It can go back to that, we have the resources, we have the mines, we have the forest, we have everything. We just need to structure ourselves to not feel helpless and that we’re in a bubble that relies on the outside. The Congo doesn’t need anything, we have everything, we just need to learn how to use it,” she says.
Her ambition does not stop at dressing the stars – she’s serious about the business of fashion and influencing other artistes in Africa to use it as a lucrative platform. Lobondi is searching for the Coco Chanels and Giorgio Armanis of Africa and growing African fashion weeks on a Parisian scale.
“It’s about showing the rest of the world that African designers have something sustainable here, we have something strong, we have something that will help Africa have a better economy. Fashion and art is not just a joke, it can bring a lot of money to the African continent.”
But Lobondi says that making the DRC the fashion capital of the world needs to begin with teaching designers to transform their ideas into business. The business of fashion might just be the DRC’s most untapped resource.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-30836" src="http://www.forbesafrica.com/app/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6255-300x159.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="159" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6255-300x159.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6255-600x318.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6255-768x408.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6255-1024x543.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6255.jpg 1023w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-30831" src="http://www.forbesafrica.com/app/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6299-300x160.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="160" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6299-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6299-600x319.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6299-768x408.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6299-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6299.jpg 1023w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-30837" src="http://www.forbesafrica.com/app/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6266-300x162.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="162" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6266-300x162.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6266-600x323.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6266-768x414.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6266-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/HX1F6266.jpg 1023w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
“Designers in the Congo know how to be tellers but they don’t understand the job of a designer is a process of having a collection, marketing it to shops, not just to individuals, and then doing it all over again six months later,” says Lobondi.
“We need a different structure in Africa based on our own seasons. From Cape Town to Kinshasa to Lagos, the seasons are different and the temperatures are different. You can have a lot of talented people but if they don’t have the knowledge about what’s needed, it’s just lost thoughts.”
Lobondi is a long way from turning tailors into tycoons in the DRC’s aspiring style streets, but the one thing she is determined to prove is that she is her country’s finest fashion export.

AFI AFrica Fashion Awards 2014

Big Dreams Through The Eye Of A Needle

It’s the last place you would expect to find a woman making a career: lying in the dirt on the edge of a cliff. Hunkered under the rock five meters from me is Justine Wintjes, archaeologist and Fine Art lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Under her keen eye is a rare rock art panel of stooped over black figures frozen for hundreds of years on the stone. Every now and again, her short cropped hair, black with a stripe of dyed pink fluorescent, bobs up and down as she sketches in the damp.
“In Africa, you can’t walk two meters without finding an artefact,” says Wintjes.
Below is a sheer drop to the village of Quthing, 183 kilometers South of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. The squawks of chickens and barks of dogs drift up as people go about their daily lives. In many ways it was a mundane day in a strange place to be on the verge of an ancient art discovery.
“I just always loved old things. I was fascinated by ruins and abandoned buildings and old stuff. At some point I realized that through rock art I could combine my background in fine arts and archaeology.”
Wintjes and her team may have a host of digital gadgets to help guide them, but they still had to do good old-fashioned leg work in Quthing. They needed the help of the people to find the locations.
“Nowadays, because of online digital data, you can do a lot of preparatory fieldwork. Fieldwork on the internet, looking through books, through archival material you have collected digitally. You get a really good sense of where things are. But you are never entirely certain. You get errors in the archival system, or things that are slightly misleading. For example the two sites that we visited on this trip had the same name in the catalogue, but were in two very different sites. They were not even particularly close. Those are the sorts of things you can only find in the field,” says Wintjes.
“It’s a very exciting field particularly in Africa, given the antiquity we have on the continent. But there aren’t enough archaeologists, or art historians. There aren’t enough people interested in these fields. They really are important.”
So ends the discovery between a rock and a hard place to find.
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IMG_0930-2

The Goat Path To Glory

Africa’s biggest economy boasts billion-dollar businesses, and thankfully, entrepreneurs who are doing everything in their power to ensure the money also goes to social impact, despite the gargantuan odds stacked against them.
Therefore, it is heartening and laudable to see entrepreneurs such as Ndidi Nwuneli. She is not just a restless trailblazer in Nigeria’s business world, but also a passionate advocate of sustainable development. A woman of diverse interests, she has a stellar track-record.
To promote entrepreneurship and leadership development, Nwuneli served as the Executive Director of the FATE Foundation, following a career as management consultant with McKinsey &amp; Company, working in their Chicago, New York and Johannesburg offices. She established LEAP Africa, a pioneering and leading non-profit leadership -focused organization in 2002, and NIA, a non-profit organization for female university students in 2003.
Nwuneli is the co-founder at Sahel Capital, a private equity and advisory firm focusing on the West African agribusiness sector. Nwuneli is also Co-Founder of AACE Food Processing &amp; Distribution, an indigenous, agro-processing company, and serves on numerous international and local boards. Through her work on the respective platforms, Nwuneli has driven cross-sectoral development in Nigeria.
“The vision for LEAP Africa was  based on the conviction that Africa desperately needed a new generation of visionary, ethical, creative and disciplined servant leaders and that a small group of people who shared the same vision could work together to change their communities, countries and indeed the continent,” says Nwuneli.
LEAP Africa has worked across 26 states in Nigeria, leadership training and entrepreneurship coaching at the core of its mission.
“The vision for LEAP Africa was based on the conviction that Africa desperately needed a new generation of visionary, ethical, creative and disciplined servant leaders and that a small group of people who shared the same vision could work together to change their communities, countries and indeed the Africa. Our youth beneficiaries have launched over 1,000 change projects to improve the lives of others in their communities”, says Nwuneli.
With a vision just as vivid for Nigeria’s agribusiness landscape, she co-founded AACE Foods, an agro-processing company and SME focused on sourcing from farmers, processing and producing for the local market.
Nwuneli holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSc with Honours from The Wharton School, The University of Pennsylvania, in the United States.
Driven by a strong desire to impact societies, Nwuneli is writing a book on ‘scaling social innovation in Africa’ to be published by the end of the year. She is working on this project as a non-resident fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.
“I was propelled by the little initiatives that are just a drop in the ocean. The needs are much greater. How can we scale impact and reach millions, who else has scaled and how do we change our ecosystem to enable this?” she asks.
Nwuneli’s AACE Foods addresses high levels of malnutrition in Nigeria and the dearth of locally manufactured food products by processing and packaging nutritious food sourced from smallholder farmers within the country. The company also provides support to farmers, empowering them with training, access to microfinance and storage technology.
“My core passion is sustainable development and impact and this cuts across sectors. Agriculture currently, because not only does it create the vast majority of jobs on the African continent, it is also linked to nutrition. I am optimistic and impatient about progress. Technology allows us to leapfrog and we can do that in health, education, agriculture and energy. Those are the four sectors I’m focusing on because I think they are the most important. I believe agriculture is neglected, however. The average African still feels that imported food is better quality and we face that a lot with fast-moving consumer goods.”
Challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural sector include fragmented supply chains and a lack of capacity due to the poor education of farmers and lack of an extension system. In spite of the hurdles, Nwuneli finds her entrepreneurial journey rewarding.
“I feel extremely blessed to have been given the unique opportunity to birth companies that will outlive me and my greatest achievement has been training and grooming exceptional young people  through LEAP, Sahel or AACE. Watching them grow and blossom in their careers has been extremely rewarding.”
Nwuneli would like to see a West Africa where agribusiness is a viable and profitable industry, where farmers are respected and where all countries are net exporters of food and more importantly, where nutritious food is affordable and accessible for all, all year round.

Tag: Career

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA