Esther Fawole
The African business industry is playing a transformative role in solving Africa continent’s biggest business challenges , some of the major players in the industry have offered their unique advice to entrepreneurs to help them grow regardless of how tough the business space might look.
The successful African business leaders are MD/CEO of Endeavor Nigeria, Tosin Faniro-Dada, Head of Growth, Rest of Africa at Flutterwave Munya Chiura, CEO Paystack, Shola Akinlade, Founder and CEO of MFS Africa, Dare Okoudjou, Founder of Sari for Change, Rayana Edwards.
These successful African business leaders decided to advise and enlighten other entrepreneurs and business owners on how they can attain great milestones in their various businesses.
MD/CEO Of Endeavor Nigeria, Tosin Faniro-Dada: Focus On Long-Term Value Creation
My advice to aspiring or starting entrepreneurs is to focus on long-term value creation and never lose sight of the “why.” Entrepreneurship can be a long, lonely, and arduous journey, so make sure what you are working on will stand the test of time. Avoid jumping on trends just because they are popular and focus on ventures with tangible long-term benefits.
Head of Growth, Rest Of Africa At Flutterwave, Munya Chiura: Find People Who Believe In Your Vision
Collaborations and partnerships are crucial. Get the right people on board, pool resources, align your visions and be strategic with your methods towards achieving your goals. Doing these will surely tip the scales in your favour.
CEO Paystack, Shola Akinlade: Focus On Solving One Problem
Businesses are bought, not sold. The most important thing is to choose a problem you are excited about solving and focus on that every day.
Founder And CEO Of MFS Africa, Dare Okoudjou: There Is No Perfect Time To Start A Business
There is no perfect time to start a business. Whether a crisis is caused by tough economic times or caused by a pandemic, new needs arise that could be short-term or enduring. To be more precise, many of the same needs remain, but they need to be met differently. Ultimately, it depends on the business.
The pandemic has had a significant impact on all aspects of life, but pandemics eventually go away. As long as you are creating products that address consumers’ immediate needs during that time, you can set up a successful business.
Founder Of Sari For Change, Rayana Edwards: Stay Authentic
Trust your instincts, you will always have naysayers, but most of the times, they are your teachers. When your intention is clear on “why you are doing what you do”, your “how” will manifest.
Ensure you are part of good networks and share your story and ideas all the time. Stay authentic, and if you can see your vision and you are consistent in action, something has to shift.
