Thanks to a generous nomination by @womenworkkenya I have been selected as a YAZA Africa March IKON, amongst fellow phenomenal African women.
In honour of the International Women’s Day 2021, YAZA will be celebrating the women of Africa, as the March IKON. So this whole month YAZA will be sharing 100 stories from 100 women across the continent.
For YAZA, an IKON is a woman who is successful in her own right, who knows who she is and what she stands for and who uses her power for the greater good.
My March IKON story is now published. Enjoy the delicious read on yaza.afica website here!
About YAZA: YAZA is an online media brand for modern African women, with carefully curated stories by African women and on their own terms. And operates in a collective market of 700million people in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and soon more countries.
Yes, I’m the First Businesswoman in my entire family.
But it didn’t come without a fight, for I was only given two options: 1. To do what the family patriarchs sat, discussed and decided I should do for a living & receive their full support. OR 2. To do what I wanted for a living with a TOTAL withdrawal of their support.
I’d thought it was a joke. I remember thinking: “They can’t be serious, right? They took me to school to be enlightened, to expand my options and to access more freedom than my foremothers.
“Until I chose to pursue my own path. And in a snap, the withdrawal took effect. No phone communication. No financial support. No emotional support.
I suddenly became redundant because I didn’t choose a career path that would elevate the patriarchs in my family. I must admit. It was SO SCARY facing the rejection. And it took a lot of humility to brave through the pain, anxiety attacks, confusion and brokene$$.
In fact, I remember once searching for coins around the house to afford me a packet of Ksh. 50 sanitary towels. Yet on TV I saw the patriarchs display their wealth in business and politics.
However, there was something in me that wasn’t shaken. For the first time in my life, I felt FREE to CHOOSE. A freedom that not so many women in my family have afforded themselves. In hindsight, I’m so grateful for the college student I was then for affording me the freedom to choose.
To make decisions about my own life. To be openly ambitious. To earn my own money. To build businesses. To fund my own dreams. To fall in love with myself again. To create my own legacy as a woman.
Turns out… I am the example I’d been waiting for all along! Sis, don’t wait for an example. BE the example – for You first, then others.
And when you see the L on my business name LetS… think of Legacy – a Family Female First.
I’m helping women like me to take charge of their own stories and use them to launch their wild women dreams.
What do you #choosetochallenge about the women-specific narratives you grew up around in your family and community?
Over the 5 years as Founder and Coach at LetS, I’ve had the pleasure of serving +400 women leaders across 5 continents like: Former Wall Street Boss Woman, International Fashion Designer, Pioneer Woman Architect, Globe-Trotting Women Consultants, SME Women Founders, and even a Stay-At-Home Mum who found her way back into doing what she loves for a living.
As I now delve deep into the future of LetS with great optimism and determination to achieve the vision of women stories leading global change, I’m taking-on new risks and opportunities to put women stories on global stages, innovation spaces, decision-making tables, iconic history books and business marketplaces. Our stories carry with them ideas, contributions, perspectives, strategies and experiences that are urgent in the progress of our world today.
Expect new interactive content, conversations with guest experts, digital coaching products, fun storytelling challenges and more.
If this is your first time interacting with the LetS brand… Welcome! Watch this short video to get you started.
Enjoy the fun birthday goodies I’ve prepared for you below! Thank you for journeying with me over the storyful 5 years.
Pssst… Swing by the new LetS Shop for the free goodies I’ve left for you.
Joanne Achieng @growafricanhairlong (Hair Love Coach & Biologist) recently hosted me @ayuma_michelle for a conversation about “Self-love” as part of a new series about the Black Woman, Black Hair and Black Girl Magic.
This took place on Saturday, 1st August at 4pm EAT /3pm CEST on the Relaxed & Natural by GAHL (Grow African Hair Long) Facebook Group – Now +8,000 women strong!
The Self Love Series will be happening throughout August so join the GAHL women’s community and be part of the magic!
Our Facebook LIVE video recording now available on the GAHL Facebook group.
