2inspire Inspirational Woman: Ganiyat Alli, Founder of Mr and Miss Nigeria UK

Ganiyat Alli is a woman on a mission to unite the Nigerian Diaspora in the UK. The 27 year old entrepreneur has the ambition and drive to make a difference in the Nigerian Diaspora community through the Mr & Miss Nigeria UK pageant. After years of experience within the African events scene she decided to launch the first joint male and female cultural pageant specifically for the Nigerian community as a way to unite the diaspora. In early 2013, after almost losing her mother to a sudden head injury, Ganiyat became disillusioned by the entertainment and events industry and fell into depression. Read her inspirational interview today!

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

In preparation for the event there are a lot of emails and cold claim that needs to be done, depending on what stage we are at as a team we are usually contacting companies and venues, try to secure sponsorship and dates for the show.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

Event planing started as a hobby while I was in university, I love the idea of putting something together that makes people feel good. With Mr & Miss Nigeria UK it was a distraction from the negative place I found myself in daily. It helped me to refocus on what I really loved to do. I also wanted to put together something that would help Nigerian’s in the diaspora celebrate their heritage.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

It would have to be making it to our 3^rd year, it has been difficult but possible. I've been able to learn so much and find new ways to grow the brand.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Finding consistent people, dealing with people who do not understand the vision or understand how much work goes into running such an event has really shown me that it is not personal. The best thing to do is to find solutions and not dwell.

What are your future plans for the business?

The brand will definitely be expanding into other areas, we want to create more opportunities for young people to gain practical skills that will allow them to go straight into work over having to stay in education, especially if education is something they are not strong in.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would have developed the idea a bit more and attempted to find better ways to fund the event. The planning stages are so key when trying to put together a successful event so I would have loved more time to get things done.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Everyone is born with a purpose in life and it is important to know that you don't need to have it all figured out by the time you are 18. By continuously working hard and trying new things what you love to do will soon be what pays your bills and it won't even feel like work. Everyone needs someone to look up to and be inspired by, so if I could be that for just one young girl that would be the best thing in the world.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Before going straight in it is best to do as much volunteering, attach yourself to someone who has been in the industry for years and don't be afraid to ask questions. I feel like I could have been a lot further in my career if I had someone to run ideas by and learn from.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I have never really been inspired by anyone before but since getting deeper in my faith, knowing God more has really kept me going and has really allowed me to have more faith in what I do.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

‘Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you’ Matthew 7:7

Twitter and Instagram: @OfficialMMNUK

Website: http://www.officialmmnuk.com/

2inspire Inspirational Woman: Michelle Brewster Founder of Supachick

Meet Michelle Brewster, The Founder of the online fitness plan website SupaChick.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

For me one working day is never the same as the next; being an online fitness trainer is not a 9-5 job. Because my online business is available 24/7 all over the world, I often have to work in the evenings and on weekends. However, it’s important to ensure I have downtime, so I do manage myself quite rigidly to ensure I have a healthy work-life balance.

Being a fitness entrepreneur didn’t come about by chance; I am passionate about my own health and wellbeing as well as my clients’, so every morning I get up early and head to the gym before my working day starts. I find it energises me for the day ahead, and and allows me thinking time. I train holistically, practicing yoga and meditation to help with my flexibility, mobility and mindset.

My first task once I’ve warmed up is spend an hour catching up with the health and fitness social media community, replying to follower comments and questions on the SupaChick website and updating my social media pages and website with my daily post or blog.

Each of my clients has a tailored 4, 8 or 12 week cycle which they follow, so a large part of my day is spent sending workout to them, through my partner application Bodireel, along with conducting Skype calls with my clients, attenting meetings with key business influencers, and ambassador work for companies I’ve partnered with.

I love the flexibility and variety my job gives me, but the best part is the rapport I have with my clients, the journey we take together and helping them to achieve their goals.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

After I gained my Masters in Business & Management I soon qualified as a Fitness Professional. In this role I worked privately with clients and it was here that I found my true passion for helping busy women to find a healthy balance between fitness, wellness and lifestyle.

I wanted to utilise my experience in both customer facing and product operation management, to reach more women worldwide, and help them achieve their goals through an approach that truly worked for them.

I am dedicated to supporting women embrace the true meaning of Supachick: it’s about recognising ageless beauty, inner radiance, and an undeniable belief in oneself through confidence, wellness - and being Supa.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

My greatest accomplishment was building the courage to become an entrepreneur. Being the founder of my own business and successfully bringing SupaChick to market- changing woman’s lifestyle for the better – is undoubtedly the thing I am most proud of.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

The health and fitness industry is becoming more and more saturated, particularly the UK, USA and Australia, where many of my clients are based. Finding a way to differentiate SupaChick from others, keeping it fresh, relevant and competitive, has been my biggest challenge so far.

The tailored programme and app, along with the educational blogs and female fitness hub on my site have achieved this, but it is an ongoing challenge and I am determined to continue to evolve to ensure SupaChick stays at the forefront of the virtual personal training world.

What are your future plans for the business?

As well as continuing to grow SupaChick to reach as many woman as possible worldwide, I also want to eventually work with the elderly, children and male clients, to help embed wellness into their lifestyles too.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

The only thing I would have changed was to have done it sooner; I spent too many years thinking about this life long ambition without putting any of these thoughts into action -until now!

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Life is too short to be stuck in a rut with no end goal. I want to inspire women to have the confidence to believe that they can do anything - because they can.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Aspire to be the best at what you do, and never stop learning. The health and fitness industry is so fast-paced - the minute you stop learning is the moment you fall behind the competition. Learn from your peers, read educational articles to stay aligned with your goals, enrol in courses in which you are passionate about and focus on your speciality – do whatever it takes to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Two entrepreneurs I really respect are Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler, of SoulCycle. They were determined to find an alternative to the fitness routines which felt too much like hard work. Combining inspirational coaching and high energy music, they  designed a workout to benefit both the mind and the body. Today, their workouts engage and empower riders in a way that leaves them mentally and physically stronger than when they arrived. The first studio was opened on the Upper West Side and in 2012 they made their way to California, opening the first west coast studio in West Hollywood. Now SoulCycle operates in 62 locations nationwide, and is continuing to grow.

Julie and Elizabeth were just regular girls with a shared passion and vision and they have achieved so much by simply staying true to their dream. To me, that is truly inspirational.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.”

– Oprah Winfrey

More details about Michelle and SupaChick can be found on her website: www.supachick.com

2inspire Inspirational Woman: Princess Onitilo, Founder of TressFree.com

Born in South East London to a Sierra Leonean mother and Nigerian father Princess Onitilo has always had a calling of excellence in her life. Having graduated with honours from Warwick University with a degree in Law and Sociology the future seemed set for Princess but her entrepreneurial spirit has led her down a different path with the launch of Tress Free, The UK's first multicultural hair & beauty booking website.  Read her inspirational interview here and be inspired! 

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

I don’t have a typical business day because I am currently running my business alongside full time employment. I spent most of my time working around my work obligations, but  for the business I spend most of my time liaising with my web developers, partner stylists and developing marketing strategies.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

The idea to start the business came after I was let down last minute by a hairdresser. I didn’t bother looking for an alternative hairdresser for the same day because I knew it would require a lot of energy – either phoning different hairdressers I know hoping they may be free, or phoning friends to get contact details of their hairdresser. It was at that point that I thought to myself that the process of finding a decent hair stylist in London should be a lot easier than it currently is. The idea of Tress Free is to provide convenience as well as giving the customer the opportunity to view images of the hairdressers work to judge for themselves whether booking an appointment will be worth it.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

I don’t think I have reached a point where I feel like I can cite accomplishments in regards to the business. I think the best thing so far has been the launch. The fact that I brought an idea into fruition is my first accomplishment and I look forward to experiencing the greatest accomplishment in the future.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

My biggest challenge has been trying to get more stylists signed up to Tress Free. The more stylists that are signed up, the more choice a customer using the website will have. I appreciate that this is a temporary challenge as it is a new business, but with time and more publicity this challenge will become a thing of the past.

What are your future plans for the business?

For now the plan is to build the Tress Free brand in the UK, making it the go to platform for Afro-Caribbean hair and beauty needs. There after I would like to roll it out into Europe and hopefully Africa as well.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would definitely spend more time researching the market and the feasibility of the business model. I would also spend more time planning. I often get carried away with ideas and rush to the finish line without taking a step back to plan and think.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

I think it is important because empowered women have the capacity to impact and go on to inspire generations. Women should not be made to feel that their achievements should be inhibited because they are female or because of the expectations society places on us.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

The hair and beauty industry (particularly the Afro-Caribbean market) is highly fragmented and seeking to penetrate a market that is so big and often difficult to understand is not easy.  There will be set backs but I believe your perseverance will set you apart.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Tech entrepreneurs such as Mark Zuckerberg and Evan Spiegel inspire me. Building a technology based business is difficult because you are selling concepts and ideas rather than tangible things hoping that people will buy into your idea. The starting journeys for such companies were not easy but they had a dream and passion for what they are doing and stuck at it. I am inspired by them and this the attitude I have when it comes to my business.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

My inspirational quotes are scriptures from the bible. One that is a constant inspiration for me is:

'I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me' Philippians 4:13 

Find Tress Free: http://www.tressfree.com/

Twitter/Instagram @tressfree

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tressfreee