Please tell us, what is a typical business day for you?
My typical business day boils down to planning. I always have a “to do list” to go through which gets ticked off once it’s taken care off. Typically, it starts off with responding to emails, reading up on industry trends, returning missed business calls, attending client meetings, conducting interviews or training and planning client’s events.
What made you start the business and how did you get started?
After having worked in the HR for 12 years, I felt the need to return home and set up a HR consultancy firm to help show case African Talent can be sourced in a more modern effective way and by so doing helping companies achieve their goals with the right people using the competency based recruitment approach as opposed to the more traditional way of recruiting which was being used in Ghana for that matter as far as selecting candidates are concerned. Also wanted to help and act as a mediator between The Diaspora and potential clients.
I started off by doing some research work on the HR services and most importantly the way in which is delivered to clients. Attended workshops on how to start a business including things to consider at the initial stages & post launch of the business, drew up my business plan and set timelines to start operating. It was through networking and speaking at events that I secured my first client.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
Being voted in the category of “International Business Woman of the year” by the Women4africa (http://women4africa.com/nominees-2015) in February 2015 with the help of my PR company
ARIATU PR. The awards ceremony takes place in May of this year.
Also being able secure my first business office a year after business operations. For most businesses, it takes anything between three to four years and in some five to get their first office.
What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
The biggest challenge has been the speed in which suppliers/ vendors respond to enquiries or provide service in order to ensure you deliver your services on time to clients.
What are your future plans for the business?
For short to medium term plan is to grow within the regions of Ghana and long term, RecTrain Limited to become a well known brand within the West African sub regions the best provision of services to its clients in terms of its relationships with clients.
Personally be seen as a mentor for the up and coming youth in terms of helping prepare them for the working environment.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would say nothing per say because my passion lies in being of service to others where you meet people from all walks of life and make an impact in their lives. With recruitment services for example by finding them the ideal job as one would say their dream job puts a smile on my face.
Nothing beats “Genevieve thank you so much for finding me work” by a candidate or in the case of an employer for “finding the perfect candidate”
Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
Being an independent woman as well as an African entrepreneur comes with challenges. Our African society expects that as a woman, your place is taking care of the home. Times have however changed because everyone has a dream irrespective of the gender through the passion of what you have in mind to do.
I am a typical example of someone who has achieved what I set out to do in setting up my business against all odds i.e. relocating to Ghana after 12 years of living in the UK and leaving the UK to follow my dreams.
Young women in particular are the future generation where young ones will look up to as a source of inspiration and by so doing can achieve what is set out irrespective of the challenges along the way.
My typical business day boils down to planning. I always have a “to do list” to go through which gets ticked off once it’s taken care off. Typically, it starts off with responding to emails, reading up on industry trends, returning missed business calls, attending client meetings, conducting interviews or training and planning client’s events.
What made you start the business and how did you get started?
After having worked in the HR for 12 years, I felt the need to return home and set up a HR consultancy firm to help show case African Talent can be sourced in a more modern effective way and by so doing helping companies achieve their goals with the right people using the competency based recruitment approach as opposed to the more traditional way of recruiting which was being used in Ghana for that matter as far as selecting candidates are concerned. Also wanted to help and act as a mediator between The Diaspora and potential clients.
I started off by doing some research work on the HR services and most importantly the way in which is delivered to clients. Attended workshops on how to start a business including things to consider at the initial stages & post launch of the business, drew up my business plan and set timelines to start operating. It was through networking and speaking at events that I secured my first client.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
Being voted in the category of “International Business Woman of the year” by the Women4africa (http://women4africa.com/nominees-2015) in February 2015 with the help of my PR company
Also being able secure my first business office a year after business operations. For most businesses, it takes anything between three to four years and in some five to get their first office.
What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
The biggest challenge has been the speed in which suppliers/ vendors respond to enquiries or provide service in order to ensure you deliver your services on time to clients.
What are your future plans for the business?
For short to medium term plan is to grow within the regions of Ghana and long term, RecTrain Limited to become a well known brand within the West African sub regions the best provision of services to its clients in terms of its relationships with clients.
Personally be seen as a mentor for the up and coming youth in terms of helping prepare them for the working environment.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would say nothing per say because my passion lies in being of service to others where you meet people from all walks of life and make an impact in their lives. With recruitment services for example by finding them the ideal job as one would say their dream job puts a smile on my face.
Nothing beats “Genevieve thank you so much for finding me work” by a candidate or in the case of an employer for “finding the perfect candidate”
Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
Being an independent woman as well as an African entrepreneur comes with challenges. Our African society expects that as a woman, your place is taking care of the home. Times have however changed because everyone has a dream irrespective of the gender through the passion of what you have in mind to do.
I am a typical example of someone who has achieved what I set out to do in setting up my business against all odds i.e. relocating to Ghana after 12 years of living in the UK and leaving the UK to follow my dreams.
Young women in particular are the future generation where young ones will look up to as a source of inspiration and by so doing can achieve what is set out irrespective of the challenges along the way.
What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
My advice to anyone irrespective of which part of the world you come from, where you are now or whatever stage in your career you are at, my advice is to make sure you are certain about your passion in setting up a business in the chosen field, speak to people in the industry with regards to how they started, read about the trends in the industry, ensure you have the basics to start business, get the website sorted out, know the terrain wishing to operate in, most importantly network extensively and finally chase your dream because the sky is the limit. It is scary but once you take the plunge you will be fine.
What or who inspires you in business and why? I would say my sister. She is a true example of a wonder woman who is married with three young kids and works full time as a PR entrepreneur for international sports clients. She is a go getter who refuses to accept rejections, will fight tooth and nail to achieve what she sets out to do. She is the driving force behind my passion of achieving all irrespective of the challenges that get thrown in along the way.
What is your favourite inspirational quote?
I do have a few but will share three with you as follows;
“Miracles start to happen when you give as much energy to your dreams as you do to your fears” by www.attitude.com
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it” by Maya Angelou
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us”
Contact Genevieve:
@rectrainltd
Awesome Interview Gene.... am sure a lot of Ghanaian women would be inspired by you..... Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteBill Sarpong
Thanks for reading!
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