Sisters inspired to soar

Women aspiring to excel have learnt the truth in the saying ‘if you want to soar with eagles, don’t hang out with turkeys’. This is what motivated them to turn up for this month’s Eve Sisters where they were fired up to pursue their dreams.

If you are like me and desire to be wealthy and live out your dreams, then you made your way to Hilton Hotel last Saturday for the second edition of the Eve Sisters event this year. Held every first Saturday of the month at the Hilton Hotel, the Eve Sisters forum is a networking platform that brings women together to bond and share experiences with the ultimate goal of bettering self.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and The Standard Group, in partnership with Mothers & Daughters, had lined up five of successful women in this country who were generous enough to share their experiences on the roadmap to success. These women were elegant in their dressing and demeanour, and articulate. 

Flora Mutahi, the CEO of Melvins Marsh International (makers of the famous Melvins Tea); Sally Mahihu, a prominent lawyer and the founder of Seasoned Woman; Fridah Owinga, the CEO of Passion Profit; Andia Chakava, the CEO of Alpha Africa Asset Managers and Yvonne Wamalwa, a deputy director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a security expert; exuded a entrancing aura of confidence and beauty that was envied by all.

First up was Fridah Owinga, the CEO of Passion Profit, an organisation that trains people on how to identify their passion and then make it work for them by bringing in good income. Her message was very clear. “You cannot hope to succeed unless you re-programme your thinking,” she said. “Many of us fear to dream or to even express our desires, so we set humble goals instead of very high ones. What are we afraid of? Change your way of thinking, give rein to your wildest dream then set a plan to achieve it,” she advised.

Giving her example, Fridah shared how her computer screen bears the image of an exclusive private jet because “that is what I will own one day,” she declared. “While some of you are dreaming of getting onto a plane, I’m way ahead of that. I’m dreaming of owning my own jet because I know that God is on my side,” Fridah added, reiterating on the importance of walking with God in one’s life journey as without Him, all things would not be possible. 

Ten second pitch

Charged with the fire to inspire and motivate, Fridah warned women not to fall into the trap of fearing what others will say about their dreams. “If you want to be wealthy, you must make up your mind that what other people think of you is none of your business. You cannot afford to let the fear of what others say or think about you hold you back,” she said.

Fridah then urged the women to be both go-getters and go-givers. “Don’t be the kind of person that just demands and receives all the time, learn to give back too. Be a go-giver,” she advised.

To be successful and wealthy, women must begin to align themselves with people of substance. “Go to where successful people go to and mingle with them. Put together a ten second pitch that introduces who you are and what you do. You must make those ten-seconds market you. Your pitch must make a long lasting impression,” said Fridah.

A successful woman is one who plans her life and maps out her route to success. Consequently Fridah urged the women to develop five-year strategic plans that would guide them towards wealth.

Next up was Sally Mahihu, a prominent lawyer with Bowyer Mahihu Advocates and the founder of Seasoned Woman. Dressed in bright colours, Sally’s presentation was just as brilliant, pricking her finger into the one phobia that affects many people – hatred for rich people.

“I don’t know what many people have against rich people,” she wondered. “We must put aside whatever past financial pains we bear and push forward to wealth.” 

Sally warned the women not to be their own worst enemies in relation to attaining wealth. “We must get over ourselves then honestly judge our individual weaknesses and strengths. Once that is done, stop focusing on your weaknesses and build on the strengths instead. This is what will pave your way to success,” she advised. “We must as women stop feeling sorry for ourselves and telling other people sob stories that seek sympathy and mercy. Instead, we should negotiate as equals and with merit.”

Forging partnerships

Her other gems of wisdom included urging women to spend money in order to make money; to pay for professional services and not seek out the cheapest alternative as often these alternatives ultimately turned out to be expensive; and to always write every agreement down where partnerships are formed and have them signed by all interested parties.

“Partnerships and alliances are very important in wealth creation, so you must choose them wisely. Nonetheless, many women have lost tonnes of money because of not having the principles of a partnership written down because of being too trusting. Where possible, avoid forging partnerships with friends,” Sally advised.

Most importantly, Sally exhorted the values of reconciliation. “Fall out among partners, colleagues, friends and families can happen, but always leave a little room for reconciliation. “Never burn your bridges.”

Many people are familiar with the concept of putting aside a little money to save for a brighter future.  This concept was reinforced by Andia Chakava, an investment professional with over 13 years’ experience in asset management. Andia is an expert in pioneering investment products in new markets, business unit management, investment strategy formulation and implementation as well as new business acquisition strategies. She is also skilled at stakeholder management, inter-disciplinary team leadership and project management.

 Today, Andia holds pride of place as the co-founder of Alpha Africa Asset Managers, having made history as one of the first female (and youngest) fund managers in the region when she was appointed Managing Director of Old Mutual Investment Group responsible for assets under management of USD 1 billion.

Andia brought this wealth of expertise and knowledge to the Eve Sisters forum and with a powerful presentation, showed women the various ways they can invest their money for a guaranteed return that would safeguard their futures. Spanning the different alternatives from low risk to moderate and high risk ventures, Andia outlined as clearly as possible the pros and cons of each of the routes. 

“You must develop and maintain a culture of saving,” she advised. “Be committed to putting aside a specific percentage of your income, then invest that money into a plan that will give you guaranteed returns.”

Taking on a different mode of presentation, Flora Mutahi, the CEO of Melvins Marsh International, the makers of Melvins Tea, shared her life experience to demonstrate the unconventional journey she took to wealth. A poor, inattentive worker at best, Flora struggled for a long time to keep a job. That was until a friend discovered her and her entrepreneurial spirit reared its head. Through many battles with her parents and naysayers, Flora navigated an unfamiliar path that ultimately brought her to the position she is in today — the head of an international company with her tea displayed on shelves around the world.

Her discovery of Melvins Tea is a story too long for these pages, but suffice it to say that the journey into value addition into tea was accidental. However, once she embarked on it, there was no looking back irrespective of the hurdles, some real, others imagined.

Just start!

“I’m telling you my personal story today so that you can learn one very important lesson — to just start. Whatever your idea is, whatever your plan is, don’t over-think it to death. Many times we make that mistake and several years down the line, we still have not made any move towards executing our ideas. What you should do is just start. Some things will work, others will fail. But that should not discourage you to give up. Instead, it should encourage you to do things differently,” said Flora.

To conclude a spectacular day full of astounding gems was Yvonne Wamalwa, a deputy director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the former deputy ambassador to Australia, the widow of the late Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa, and a security expert. Yvonne was quick to demonstrate just how easily it is for a stranger to acquire information about a person without detection, and to then use that information against a particular person.

“Many of us talk about our daily itineraries without thinking of security, yet there could be people listening who have been paid to finish you,” she warned. “Today, there is brisk business in information trading. People are paying to get information about others and if you are not careful, you can be the source of your own destruction.”

Yvonne cautioned against carelessly leaving phones, ipads, tablets, laptops and other electronic gadgets lying around. Why? Because in this age of high-tech digital technology, there are devices that can be hooked surreptitiously to copy all the data contained therein and to even corrupt the gadgets. “It’s so easy to do these things,” she said. “All I have to do is connect a little device to your phone and in less than a minute, I have copied everything – contacts, messages, everything.”

As if this was not chilling enough, Yvonne continued: “Whether you are in business or employed, information is power. People are talking to maids, shamba boys, watchmen and other labourers in your house to get information about you. These people are so kawa that you cannot tell that they are spies. Be very careful.”

Her advice: “Vary your movements and do not reveal everything about yourself to everybody. Teach your staff to not divulge information about your whereabouts and activities to strangers, no matter how harmless or innocent they may appear.”

Yvonne’s warnings were reality checks and eye openers for many in the audience, including her peer speakers; and everyone left the hall with heightened awareness of their surroundings and their security.

All in all, it was a morning well spent. The next Eve Sisters event will be held on the first Saturday of June at the Hilton Hotel.