CH ePROFILER EDITION 3 by CorporateHeelz

3rd Edition | FREE

FOCUS YOUR AMBITIONS THIS YEAR

ALSO INSIDE

How to Engage A Mentor Tozana Mudenda-Mvula From Corporate World to Entreprenuer

LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION FOR WOMEN

MAINZA KAWANU Best Foot forward

contents 4

4 6 14

9 Focus on your ambitions this year 11 Mainza Kawanu - Footsie 14 Nou Koncept– Kapesa 16Karen Nakawala (cover featutre) 21 7 Lessons From 7 Great Minds 23 CHer Member Profile – Silvia

Makeup Tozana and Karen’s Make Up by Kapesa Singogo Smith Chatterjee - Nou Koncept Karen and Tozana’s photography by Maynard Mainza’s Photo’s courtesy of Mainza Kawanu Corporate Heelz team Editor – Janice Matwi Sub Editor – Veronica Simubali Sub Editor – Pamela Munyanta Copy Editor -Limpo Chinika Design & Layout - Mojo (www.lskmojo.com)

Leadership Communication for

Women

Advertising Corporate Heelz editor@corporateheelz.com 0966395383 Kabili Branding (helpdesk@justkabili.com) 0969 272 948 |0968 469 012 |0955 469 012

Tozana Mvula

Chimpampwe

27 How to engage a mentor 28 Quotes 29 Entreprenuers Toolkit 30 Entreprenuer’s personal tools 31Business Startup checklist 32 Exit Opinion

CHEditorial

s we bade farewell to 2012 and welcomed 2013, I took time to reflect on what the year has been for Corporate Heelz having been our second year in existence. There has been a lot of growth at personal, professional, and organizational levels. CH has come a long way and scored numerous successes in the past year, which successes we owe to the amazing support from Zambian Corporate Women – CH salutes you, and we call on your support yet again in the New Year 2013. As a follow up on my editorial on Vision Boards I thought now would be a good time to touch a little on resolutions. Many

a new year’s resolution is made and many are achieved, albeit reviews and adjustments, while many fall on the way side. A number of reasons cross my mind as I think about why we lose sight of what we initially set out to achieve for the resolutions we leave on the way side, why do ‘new years’ resolutions hit fatigue? From conversations and consultations I observed that among many reasons the common one is a lack of neither strategy nor tactical plan for the objective set out; we do not break down our visions to manageable quarterly milestones. One cannot overlook the dynamism of life; a lot happens between the first days we pronounce our resolve to the end of the year, not that the resolutions lose relevance but we allow short term issues to affect our long term plans. Resolutions are to an individual as are objectives to an organization, and as such it helps to treat them as an organization does its objectives; break them down to manageable portions, write them down and ensure firm commitment. One very essential aspect few will tell you about is the need to share your resolutions with that one personal supporter in your life, that one person when everyone tells you it’s impossible he/ she reminds you nothing is impossible. Share your resolutions and seek reminders and guidance, everyone needs a trusted voice to drown out the many soothsayers who predict your failures well before the second sentence. CH wishes those who achieve their resolutions another good run in 2013 and those who have had difficulty keeping up with resolutions the past year to translate your resolutions into achievable short term milestones, a vision statement that you can share with your ‘supporter’ to help you keep that firm resolve.

In 2013 CH looks to keep highlighting the Zambian Corporate Womans achievements, creating progressive networks, mutually beneficial linkages, support Entrepreneurs, and see more participation in our meets. We will be updating you on the planned events on our Facebook page. Our edition focuses on Entreprenuers, Our cover Karen, is an amazing woman who shares of her resilient spirit that refused to fold when the chips were down. Tozana is yet another Entreprenuer in the subscriber management business who is defining her own destiny, Mainza also another determined Entreprenuer turned her passion for shoes into a business. We also have an Entreprenuer’s toolkit to for those looking to start their own business. We would like to hear from you a lot more, so email us or visit our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ corporateheelz) and invite friends to like our page, we have a lot coming soon starting with a website to be launched soon. Our CH MeetUps continue this year as well, so like our page to keep posted on dates and venues. Happy New Year and till our next edition, Keep creating connections.

inspiring,

enlightening

powerful

TOZANA MWEEMBE MUDENDA-MVULA Entrepreneur defining her own destiny

Tozana Mweembe Mvula was born Tozana Mweembe Mudenda, the fourth child in family of five, Tozana is the youngest of three girls and has always been a reserved but very analytical person.

ozana spent most of time observing her father, a former Prime Minister in the First Republic, the late Mr. Elijah H. K. Mudenda undertake his tasks of running the country with ease. Mr. Mudenda, entrenched in his children a culture of discipline, integrity and follow through. Tozana speaks of how these values taught her never to give up no matter how tough the situation was. “Dad’s legacy to us was education and these values have kept our family close and hardworking. This legacy is also one I have now passed on to my children.” A mother of four, Tozana speaks to CH profiler about her life, as a life focused on God and family then business. “My faith in God has carried me through some very difficult times in my life. I lost my dad and my husband within a week of each other. The day I buried my dad was the day my husband, my friend, passed on. This was a very difficult time for me and without God and my family’s intervention, kindness and love, I wouldn’t have survived that period.” She talks affectionately about her ‘babies’ Kube, Anthony, Mainsa and Salima, she says they are her “motivation” to do the impossible. “I want my children to emulate me. I want to be a living example of what hard work, honesty and integrity can achieve. My mother taught me the importance of family and hard work so even when I was working hard to rise up the corporate ladder, I made sure I was there for my children.” Tozana joined MultiChoice (Zambia) Limited in Customer Service and worked through the various departments rising to the position of Business Analyst. “I learnt to multi-task and handle customers from different cultures. It taught me patience. During “BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR my years there, I saw the value of hard work. It OPENS YOUR MIND UP was a job where I was rewarded with almost instant results from the work I put in.” TO A WORLD OF INFINITE

barbershop and partnering with her sisters Sibajene and Nana in the events management business. “It’s an extremely ambitious 12-month project plan which I know I will achieve.”

POSSIBILITIES. IT CHALLENGES “My role as a Business Analyst grew my urge to run my own business. Formulating strategy to YOU TO FIND SOLUTIONS grow the business in a market where people Tozana shares some TO PROBLEMS THAT YOU thought it was saturated showed me that there valuable pearls of wisdom is a lot of potential to grow the subscription FACE. YOU HAVE NO MD OR as we conclude: management business. This seed to start my MANAGER TO RUN TO. IT’S Don’t burn bridges – When own business grew in me through the years. But ALL UP TO YOU.” you are leaving your job, I knew I had to prepare myself both emotionally please leave on a high or good and financially. I was in the corporate world for note; don’t burn bridges because you 15 years and that was the only world I knew. Being an entrepreneur was an idea I entertained but wasn’t may need to return and cross it again. very sure of even though the urge to start my own business was getting stronger. It took me well over 12 months to make Ethics – Ethics are key to me. Without ethics, there’s no longevity in a business. Customers will come back once they my move.” realize you are open and truthful in your dealings with them. Tozana further adds…… “My job at MultiChoice equipped me with the skills I required to start this business and I was Network – Most of the business I’m getting now is from fortunate enough to leave my job a happy person. I wasn’t my networking. People look for me, recommend me and unhappy but I knew I had to move on to make room for support my business because they have met me and have formed a link with me. It makes it easier to market one’s others and to grow myself.” business when you have someone to vouch for you. She left MultiChoice (Zambia) Limited to start her own subscription management Agency on behalf of MultiChoice Work hard – someone will definitely notice. (Zambia) Limited, the company that owns the DStv and Family – My family has been my pillar and sounding board GOtv brands in September, this year and she admits she for my sometimes out of this world ideas…(laughs) Yes…I misses her old job but wouldn’t change her decision if she intend to take over the business world! had to make it again. The future looks extremely bright for Tozana, or Tozie, as she is affectionately known by her family and friends. “I will expand into other regions and markets with the subscriptions collection business.” Further, JENATO will be expanding through the opening of a coffee shop, boutique, hair salon/

Tozana’s business JENATO Investments Limited is situated at 4902, Los Angeles Boulevard next to Lusaka Golf Club. Tozana, cheers to the future and CH wishes you much success!

LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION

FOR WOMEN:

Ladies, You Were Born This Way! Guest article by Marilyn Ringo, ex-CNN News Anchor, now a communications coach

omen are the better communicators. At least that’s what social scientists tell us. As the great 21st century philosopher, Lady Gaga says, “Ladies you were born this way!” Yet when it comes to business communications, women sometimes find that we’re not as effective or confident as we’d like to be. How can we communicate in a way that is credible, confident, and harnesses our strengths as women? How can we communicate in a way that moves and influences people? When trying to sell your business idea or product; when conducting a meeting or teleconference; when delivering a presentation or when rallying the troops, there are three keys to effective leadership communication: •

Focus your message so you are clear, credible and memorable.

•

Deliver your message in a style that confidently connects.

•

Handle Q&A with authority.

Of course, these are not exclusive to women. These are fundamentals to great spoken communication for everyone. But there are some issues around these fundamentals that pop up for women in particular.

FOCUS YOUR MESSAGE SO YOU ARE CLEAR, CREDIBLE AND MEMORABLE One of the most important things you can do to be an effective speaker is to be clear with your message. Avoid rambling or backing into a point. Often we talk around our point before we eventually get to it. Or we have our own private “vomitzva”, showing up and throwing up, telling our listeners everything we think they should know. Selena Rezvani, founder of “Women’s Roadmap”, a leadership consulting firm, believes that business women can muddy up their message by diluting it with “soft talk”, that is talking around a point or qualifying it with apologetic statements. The apologetic qualifier sounds like, “I’m no expert but… ”. Instead she advises say, “The facts show”. She says women need to be more direct.

Nothing connects you better to your listener or builds your credibility faster than good eye contact.

was coaching with an executive from a leading insurance company a few years ago. We were talking about the importance of getting to the point sooner rather than later, of being more direct. She said, “That reminds me of my husband. He tells me ‘Baby, quit circling the

airport and land the darn plane’.”

their careers and influence.

One way to land the plane is by focusing your message on three core ideas. Come up with your core ideas by asking yourself one key question, “What are the top three things my audience must remember? What points must they take away?”

When it comes to how we sound, women can have a disadvantage since our voices are often higher-pitched and softer than a man’s. So it’s particularly important to speak with energy and move people with the conviction in your voice, like you’re having an animated conversation with a good friend. Diane Swonk does this especially well. As chief economist with Mesirow Financial she is often called on by the media to explain complicated economic matters. She does it with such clarity and energy she genuinely seems to enjoy spreading the economic word. Her enthusiasm is contagious.

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook is a great example of focus. In her TED talk about how to get more women into top leadership roles, she focuses on three key points to her female audience: • • •

Take a seat at the table. Make your partner a true partner. Don’t leave before you leave.

She goes on to explain and illustrate each point with compelling personal stories about her experiences around these ideas. This is good leadership communication, focusing your message; being clear, direct and compelling.

DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE IN A WAY THAT CONFIDENTLY CONNECTS How we look and sound when delivering our message really matters. You have to connect with people and engage them before you can lead them or get them to buy into your idea or business. A famous communication study from UCLA shows that 55% of the impression that we make when we speak is in our visual presence, our body language, eye contact and facial expression. Thirty-eight percent is our vocal presence, how we sound. It’s particularly important to be aware of our visual and vocal presence in this age of texting, when we don’t practice the art of communicating face-to-face as much as we used to. Nothing connects you better to your listener or builds your credibility faster than good eye contact. Some researchers tell us that women are better at eye contact than men in personal situations. But when it comes to business, good eye contact is easier said than done. Virginia Rometty, President and CEO of IBM, knows how critical eye contact is to leadership success. Rometty became the first woman to lead IBM in its 100 year history. People in the know say that her business savvy helped her rise through the ranks, but her communication skills got her to the top. One of her key skills is eye contact. An IBM executive who has been in meetings with her told me that Rometty personally connects with everyone in the room with “incredible eye contact that makes you want to follow her lead”. How do you make eye contact like Rometty? In smaller groups think about having a “mini conversation” with each person and hold your eye contact with each person for 3 or 4 seconds or through a thought. To improve your eye contact, practice noticing the eye color of everyone you meet. Something else women need to consider is body language. In business situations, whether standing to present or sitting at a meeting, we often use body language that may feel comfortable but looks timid, closed, and girlish. Instead, take up some space. Use open, expansive body language. A recent study from Harvard and Columbia University Business Schools showed that simply holding one’s body in “high power poses”, arms out and away from the body, standing and sitting tall, taking up space, reaching out to a white board for instance, can give you an extra surge of power and a sense of well-being. You not only look but feel more confident. The researchers noted this has particular implications for women as they seek to be heard and grow

Besides adding energy and conviction to your voice, be aware of toning down the “upspeak” and “vocal fry”. These are two vocal fads that have crept into our daily talk over the last decade and can sabotage a confident, professional presence. Upspeak is the habit of ending a declarative sentence with a question mark. This sounds more like you’re apologizing or asking for approval instead of confidently making a point. I’ve heard professional women with impeccable credentials instantly lose credibility with this uptick in tone. Instead, finish your sentences with a strong downbeat. Sound like you mean it and believe it. Vocal Fry is another vocal pattern that has snuck into the speech of young adult women. Vocal fry, once considered a speech disorder, is that guttural, froggy quality where the speaker seems to swallow their words at the end of a sentence. Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton are famous for contributing vocal fry to the popular culture. It used to be just teenage girls were guilty of this. But those girls grow up and move into the workplace where people expect them to speak like adults. That means breathing, finishing a sentence so we can hear your words and leaving those girlish ways behind.

HANDLE Q&A WITH AUTHORITY Your credibility can rise and fall depending how well you handle Questions and Answers. Do you do it in a way that inspires confidence? You can if you prepare for the questions ahead of time. Studies show that we can predict about 85% of the questions we’ll be asked. So before you go into a meeting, a presentation or a teleconference, write down the questions you think you’ll get, both the easy and tough ones. Ask your colleagues for questions they think might come up. And then practice how you’re going to answer the questions. Get to the bottom line answer in the first two sentences. Keep the answers tight. There’s just something about answering a question concisely that makes you sound knowledgeable. I recently attended a women’s leadership forum where a high level aeronautics industry executive spoke. When answering a question about how she set herself apart in a male-dominated industry, she got right to the point. She said, “Be prepared and don’t second-guess yourself”. She went on to give a terrific personal example to illustrate her answer. It’s that kind of communication skill that helped to get her to the top levels of her industry. You can get there too if you practice these fundamentals of effective leadership communication. Let’s prove those social scientists right and show the business world that we women were born to communicate and succeed. This article was written for The NextWomen by Marilyn Ringo, a former News Anchor for CNN Headline News and an Emmy Award winning television producer and reporter. She has been a Speechworks coach helping professionals communicate successfully for over 15 years. She teaches Business Communications in the Georgia Tech MBA program

Corporate Heelz

MeetUps

WOMEN’S NETWORKING EVENT Grow your Network Corporate Heelz Network MeetUps are get-togethers and a great way for our members, the CHers to meet face-toface to talk business, create business opportunities and collaborate around business focus subjects and other areas of interest.

Hosted regularly, these events allow you to: Discuss business issues • Talk about areas of interest • Network and build relationships • Introduce yourself and your businesses to other businesswomen

And here are some of the benefits identified by past attendees... • • • • • • •

Great to put a name/product to a face The presentations are very educative and informative The Meetings have given my confidence a boost Motivation So inspiring being around other ambitious and motivated women Future recommendations, sharing of ideas, information and knowledge Getting out of the office, my usual environment and trying a new place with a new group of women has given me a different perspective

Join our network for FREE today by sending an email to editor@corporateheelz.com with the subject line MEMBERSHIP for more details.

The details for the MeetUps are usually posted on our Facebook page. Like our page to receive dates and details. https://www.facebook.com/corporateheelz

Focus Your

AMBITIONS with the Lifehacker Hierarchy of Goals

BY THORIN KLOSOWSKI

etting goals is easy, but prioritizing them is hard. Humans suck at properly weighing what we need to achieve our goals. We take on too much, skip steps, and often, as a result, we give up. Once you commit to a framework to prioritize your goals and cut the junk, achieving your goals gets a lot more realistic. Here’s one way to do it.

Writing down all your goals is a good way to prioritize

If you’re anything like me you have a ton of goals. Unfortunately, compulsive goal setting can be a major roadblock to actually achieving goals. Applying a rigorous approach to your goal setting is not only a great way to help you along the path to meeting them, but it’s also a way to prune out all the junk you don’t really need. Writing down all your goals is a good way to prioritize and that’s essentially what we’re doing here. However, instead of listing them we’re going to categorize and compare them with a simple pyramid structure. (Think a little like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, but for your goals.) By the end you’ll have weeded out unnecessary steps and ditched goals you don’t really care about.

Consider this a system of life designing that helps you question assumptions and figure out what you really want. Here’s how I divided the different goals up.

Footsie Mainza Kawanu

Putting her best foot forward Climbing the corporate ladder in heels is a saying weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all used time and time again, CH meets a woman who is climbing the entrepreneurial ladder in heels and ensuring all of us have the heels we need to look great whilst conquering the world. Mainza turned her passion for shoes into a lucrative Zambian brand.

“My mother single handedly raised my brother and I. Growing up in a single parent household was not easy.. family is the first agent of socialization we are exposed to so it became apparent to me at a tender age that my setup was different.”

“I had my questions but my mother never made me want for anything. She went above and beyond to compensate for the absence of a father figure at home. I grew up surrounded by love and wholesome values. At a very tender age she introduced me to God. At some point l lost my way..but im proud to say I'm fully grounded as a Christian.” shares Mainza. Mainza remembers when the local airline, Zambia Airways was liquidated and her Mother lost her job as an airhostess. “Things got very rough for us, she is an excellent cook and would make burgers and wraps and sell them at the airport to make ends meet. During school holidays i would help too. I remember hiking to the airport with my little basket of goodies and going to sell. I learnt resilience from the whole experience. My Mother taught me how to be strong.” “The only parents I've known are my Mother and my Grandmother..all iam today is because of those two

women and I vowed I would honour them all the days of my life.” She attended primary school at Lake Road School and completed her grade 12 at St Mary's secondary school in 2002. “Academically I soared. I remember entering a countrywide essay competition for grade 12 pupils sponsored by the World Bank and I was second best. My essay and picture was published in the post and I remember that’s the day I resolved within myself that that would not be my last newspaper appearance.” With a focused resolve to appear in the local papers as a headline yet again, she had a day in the press when Mainza got a full page dedicated to her as Mnet announce her as the Zambian field presenter for Big Brother,Africa, a pan-African reality show. “I had big shoes to fill as it was a job that was previously occupied by Chishala Chitoshi Jnr.” Chishala Chitoshi Jnr is a Celebrity DJ and TV personality. “There have been more press mentions and each time for something different, reaffirming my resolve to be a person of note.” “It was during my work for Endemol through Big Brother Africa, that I met my husband. From the first time we spoke he told me he would marry me….and true to his word….

©Mainza Kawanu

he first born daughter of Mavis Nkomeshya and Viscar Bbuku, Mainza describes herself as “a Zambian aged 28..a SON of God..not child of GOD..big difference, a wife to a loving man, a mother, an heir to the soli royal establishment and an entrepreneur.”

©Mainza Kawanu

My struggles when growing up..its the things we suffer in life that build our character.

within a year we were married.” Mainza adds with a shy laugh. The couple now have a 14month old son. CH: Why footwear? Why did you decide to start Footsie? With the right shoes a woman can conquer the world. I love shoes….In life we walk different paths littered with different terrains..you can't go hiking in heels..you have to wear many shoes….others wear many hats..I wear plenty shoes. CH: What makes Footsie different from other footwear stores?

CH: What have been the highlights of your business? When I open an outlet at Manda Hill Mall..that will be my highlight..I'm striving to grow my business and make mysef relevant to my target market. CH: You do you see Footsie in a year’s time? Bigger better and a force to be reckoned with. CH: Do you have any previous entrepreneurial experience? Aside from boot sales,No..learning on the job.

The best answer to that is "come and see"..I think Footsie has enough substance to speak for itself.

CH: You are a wife, a mom and a businesswoman, could you share your work/personal life balance strategies?

CH: You officially launched your store, something that many ”young” Zambian businesses don’t do. What prompted you to launch?

My business is secondary to my family. I'm very old fashioned when it comes to family values and my role as a wife. From the time we courted….my husband comes home for lunch everyday and we eat together and catch up. We have done this for four years. Every Wednesday we have datenight to keep things alive..I keep a very small circle of friends and Lusaka night life no longer appeals to me. Aside from Footsie, Iam heading an advertising agency called AIM (advertising in motion) so my work schedule is pretty hectic..but what holds it all together for me is God..in HIM I do all things.

The most crucial stage of a new business is its infant stage..every newly born baby cries to announce its arrival..that's why I had a launch. CH: What have been business challenges have you faced so far? Competing with counterfeit shoes that have flooded the market. Footsie will never stock designer brands that aren't authentic. I stand and swear by that..hold this word against me. In Zambia's current economy, most customers are looking for bargains and sometimes “settle” for counterfeit products....our policy to stock authentic brands leaves us with a limited range of brand names. We would like to stock LUXURY brands like Christian Louboutin but the kind of market we currently have might frown upon paying 3,500(KR) for a shoe and that’s just the minimum retail price. So we stock brands that are affordable to our target and potential market because we can grant it will not be a knock off….my entire business is anti-counterfeit. I will be quick to give all due respect to others in the trade..we are all governed by different rules. Not everything I stock is branded though, I supplement my high end stock with items from high street stores sourced from the UK and US to keep sales momentum balanced.

CH: In your opinion, do you think entrepreneurialism is on the rise is Zambia? Absolutely..its the conventional thing to do to go to school, get qualifications and find a good job..but more and more people are stepping out of the comfort zone of work and treading into waters unknown. CH: What single piece of advice would you give to a woman thinking of venturing out in the entrepreneurial field? Stand for something, sow a prophetic seed and let God shock you..that's my formula..I can't speak outside what I haven’t experienced. CH: Do you have any role models or mentors? My husband mentors me, he is very knowledgeable.. spiritually..my mentor is apostle victor mavungo..I recently completed a 7day water only fast..I am supercharged CH: What motivates you? My struggles when growing up..its the things we suffer in life that build our character. CH wishes Mainza all the best in her future endeavours, we cheer you on as we follow the growth of your business profile. Brief background: Hobbies.

Everything that keeps me in tune with my father in

Heaven, COOKING!! Interior decor and writing Favorite Companies. APPLE...I'd like to be the Steven jobs of something in Zambia..leave a legacy when I die Universities attended. UNZA..BA development studies with merit and post grad diploma CIM from ZCAS

CHC Beauty tips

ou can share your opinion, ideas, secrets and dreams but do not share your make up! Whilst at Nou Koncept we have borrowed the expression â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sharing is Sexyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which has become a common phrase, sharing MAKE UP however is just bad manners!

SharingMake Up We have all probably found ourselves, myself inclusive, sharing make up between people. Not too long ago, I asked a friend if I could use her blush. I didn’t, however, use the brush /applicator that came with it but wiped the top of the brush powder with a tissue and used a separate tissue for application of the make up.

Contacts Twitter: @noukoncept  Email: info@noukoncept.com Website: www.noukoncept.com  Instagram: noukoncept Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Nou-Koncept Group: www.facebook.com/groups/NOUKONCEPT

Swapping cosmetics means TRADING GERMS! And that is SO NOT SEXY!

Whilst wiping of products and not sharing applicators such as brushes, sponges, puffs, etc can save you trouble, the reality is that you don’t really know how well that particular individual’s make up is stored. It may as well be a breeding ground for bacteria or past its expiration date! So why risk it? You can make exceptions to what you can or cannot borrow such as products in powder form. You can borrow blush and face powder. Remember that the EYES are the most delicate area which can easily attract an infection. Whilst you cannot see viral infections such as conjunctivitis or pink eye, some things like mascara, eye liner and other eye products especially creams, liquids, gels may carry these infections which are extremely contagious! Other diseases associated with sharing makeup include the herpes virus, which causes cold sores, and dermatitis. So why share your lip products too? Understanding that sharing make up with anyone, no matter how close, is not hygienically appropriate between people! WHY? Your health always comes first! Swapping cosmetics means TRADING GERMS! And that is SO NOT SEXY! Make up applicators and brushes easily carry bacteria; moist and dark containers easily allow for germs to thrive. If you really can’t avoid sharing makeup, Polis advises that you at least protect yourself. “Wipe off the top layer of the product after a friend uses it or when you’re at a makeup counter in a store. If it’s a liner pencil, sharpen it. And swipe a lipstick or shadow compact with a tissue.”

BY KAPESA SINGOGO SMITH CHATTERJEE (MCOM IST, BSC, HDA, A+, MCP, TSIA)  FOUNDER IS A SERVICE THAT AIMS TO EDUCATE WOMEN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-IMAGE AND HOW TO MANAGE IT AT ANY AGE, BUDGET OR LIFESTYLE.

Like seriously, just educate them about hygiene! Remember, your health matters.

CHCover story

KAREN NAKAWALA A woman with many well fitting hats

f you tune into Radio Phoenix early Sunday morning, you hear a bubbly calming voice on the airwaves playing some really good music. Karen wears many hats Corporate MC, Entrepreneur, Mentor and most important role of all, mother.

Karen not only runs Afro Media entertainment which has successfully handled events like Design Expo but owns Zambian fashions week which has been running since 2005 which she took over in 2010 and before that Karen worked in the corporate world and excelled in her corporate roles till she decided she wanted to be an entrepreneur. CH took some time to chat with Karen and speak to her on tips for Zambians entrepreneurs, how to start and run a successful business to which Zambian business she admires… “I was among five kids raised by a single mother in a tworoomed house. Apart from my three brothers and sister we had other dependants and at any given time there were not less that ten people in the house. During holidays the number easily went to sixteen. Being my mother’s first born, I took it upon myself to help her out soon as I completed my secondary school education in 1989 at Njase girls secondary school and went straight to work.” It was whilst on her first job as a travel consultant that Karen undertook a design and tailoring course. Karen then got married and relocated to South Africa. “When the marriage wasn’t working for me, I decided to come back home.” Karen shares. In 2004, Karen got her first PR qualification from UNZA, determination and drive saw her become the only student to get a distinction. She got her second qualification in 2005. Later, she studied Marketing, PR and Advertising with the Institute of Commercial Management and went up to postgraduate diploma level. She has since taken a break from school but intends to go back. Karen draws strength from the lessons her mother taught

her and from the lessons she has learnt from being a single mother. “My mother did a good job and am happy to say that we are all very independent now and my little sister who is the last born has also become an entrepreneur at the age of 27 and that makes me proud. One thing my mother taught me was to always make the best of any situation no matter how bad it may seem and not to use any circumstance as an excuse not to work hard or even be happy. That has seen me through especially when I lost my hearing and wanted to give it all up. I pulled through it and have survived the numerous operations to restore it and will keep surviving them for as long as I live. I have been through a divorce, bad relationships but I always look at the positive side of every thing I go through and use them as learning aids. Everyday is a new experience for me and being a single mother, which isn’t very easy has been very fulfilling and am able to look after my two girls. I wish there was something positive I could say about my father but I only met the man in my teens and it’s been a struggle forming a relationship with him. On his side am the third or fourth born and there are about twelve of us. I was the only child between my parents. That is why am so passionate about children being raised by single mothers and always speak out against fathers deserting their own children.” Karen is a testament of what a positive state of mind can do. CH continues to chat with Karen on the business side of things…. CH: Tell us about the decision making process which led you to leave the security of your corporate role and create something of your own. I had been toying with the idea of starting out on my own since 2005 but I knew I wasn’t ready at the time and was obviously in a comfort zone which kept clouding my better judgment. However, when I was retrenched from CFAO in 2009 June, where I had worked as communications

December salary to do this luckily I got a not so expensive office at Mulungushi conference Centre and Afro Media was born. Being a single mother meant no matter what happened, I had to make it work. I think it’s because of my two girls that I have gone from strength to strength. Within two weeks of operation I had my first two clients and the rest is history. My decision to startup on my own was made stronger by the fact that I was always doing private jobs and making more than my salary. Also, when you have a creative mind it’s difficult to put a lid on it because your mind is constantly working and you can’t do that whilst wearing a straight jacket! You need freedom to do as you please but as they say there is a time for everything and I believe for me that was God’s time and I have never looked back since! CH: How did you feel after you’d left the Corporate world and what were your hopes for your new business at that time? When I left the corporate world I was both very happy and scared and the first thing I asked myself was ‘Karen what do you think you are doing? But I guess I was even more convinced I had done the right thing because of that fear inside me. I had to prove to myself that I could do it. I wasn’t out to please anybody that’s why it’s just my inner self that I was fighting with. I got offered a very lucrative job a month into my own business, which was very tempting. I sought people’s advice but in the end it was my decision to make and turned down the job. I wanted so much for Afro Media. I wanted to run the best events, deliver good communication strategies to companies, television and radio production, magazine publications, the works! My mind was pregnant with ideas and I had to start giving birth to them one by one.

Always ask for directions when you get lost, don’t and marketing manager since 2006, I be shy to show your somehow knew it was time to take the plunge. But then again, I discovered I emotions and don’t CH: What lessons did you was pregnant with my second baby so learn in your corporate decided to wait till after I had given birth. pretend to know it career and go on to apply to At the back of my mind I knew that was just AfroMedia? another excuse. As luck would have it, I was all. employed by Zambezi airlines as marketing and Discipline was one of the things sales manager when I was 5months pregnant and believe it or not I was among 60 other applicants! Moving from a large corporate to a smaller one proved very challenging because instead of the proper reporting channels I was used to and the free reign to carry out my programs, I found that not to be the case. People resisted anyone new and I can bet you not once did I get my report through to the CEO! I realized after my baby was born that it was time. I had to find a reason to wake up and go for work every morning and it wasn’t healthy! When you get to that point wherever you are, that’s a sure good sign for you to take stick of where you are at. It’s either you are wrong for the job or the job is wrong for you. So after a year, I decided to leave and the first thing I did was get an office. I had absolutely no money and was waiting on my

I learnt in the corporate world and I apply that a lot in running the company. There is financial discipline, corporate discipline and personal discipline, which are very key in running any organization. I also learnt that man is not an island and always sought help from colleagues in my department and I always do that by asking colleagues in similar fields for advice and input because I believe that though a mother gives birth to her child, it takes a whole village to raise it. I have surrounded myself with people that are supportive and who bring out the best in me. It’s like being in a department at work. CH: Who were your first customers and how hard was it to attract them? My first clients were Chilufya Chilangwa and Ukusefya

Pa Ngwena association. I had bumped into Chilufya at arcades during lunch and she asked me if I knew anybody who could help launch her new book “Under the African skies”. I told her not to look any further and that was just the most beautiful experience ever! She taught me a lot and helped strengthen my own belief in myself. Before her launch I got a call from Ambassador Bwalya Chiti asking if I could help launch a book for one of their members. This was one of the most exciting launches ever, the cocktail food was all traditional including the drink. We had Chief Luchembe as guest of honor. My network was working for me and bringing me the clients.

CH: Have you come across any other exciting entrepreneurs recently and what is it about them that appeals to you?

CH: Do you have any tips or advice for women who are thinking about becoming entrepreneurs?

I recently met a group of female entrepreneurs at the Design and Innovation and again am proud to say half the exhibitors were women running their own businesses! One that stood out was a very young lady called Janet Fredman. I was in awe of this young lady because you could clearly see that she loves what she does. She makes handmade jewelry and has turned that into big business because of her passion. At such a tender age, you expect her to be wanting the finer things in life but for her it’s work, work, work. She inspired me and gave me reason to believe that there are plenty more women out there who just need a little push in the right direction.

For those women thinking of being entrepreneurs, I say go for it. Why wait till you are 55 when you will have very little power left in you to run around, but;

CH: Finally, your forte is in PR, what kind of PR strategy would you advise for female entrepreneurs with limited time and budget?

A) Be sure to follow your own dream not someone else’ because if you do that, you will not succeed

For those with limited budget and time, there is always a way around it. Create a strategy that will fit within your budget and trust me that will be the best strategy ever. Think about it, if you have a huge budget, you will end up hiring people at exorbitant prices and they will end up doing a shoddy job but with a small budget, and because you know its limited you will pull your meagre resources together and make sure that it works for you without wasting any of it. I have always loved working with limited budgets because then I don’t take anything for granted. Yes, we all love making that extra money but I think I love the challenge that comes with working on limited funding.

B) Make sure you are ready to take the plunge as long as you are positive and know what you are doing. Sometimes we are afraid of the unknown and afraid we might fall flat on our faces but I have come to believe that there is a safety net waiting to catch you just before you hit rock bottom. C) Always ask for directions when you get lost, don’t be shy to show your emotions and don’t pretend to know it all. D) Whilst I literally had no money to start out, I suggest that you save towards your new company just so you have a cushion till you start getting the business in. I always advise people not to do what I did even though it worked for me, it was very foolish of me but like I said, it was God’s time. E) Listen to that small voice inside you. No matter how small it is, sometimes it gets drowned with all the noise around you but take time to listen to it F) Surround yourself with people that have your best interest at heart and know that not everyone will be happy to see you succeed G) Face your fears H) Discipline, discipline, discipline. Remember it’s your company! G) Love what you do!!!!!! CH: What do you think is the attitude toward female entrepreneurs in Zambia? I think that the attitude towards the female entrepreneurs is changing because people have finally realized we are a force to reckon with. Gone are the days when it was believed that if a woman is successful then she is sleeping her way to success! We work hard because we have so much responsibility on our shoulders and we generally look out for others and we work hard others benefit from it. The government is also in support by coming up with various programs to help women in business. The world has finally sat up and realized “we are just as good if not better that the men”.

As for time, I am yet to meet someone who is happy with the time they have to do something or carry out a project. Truth is. ladies, there isn’t enough time but you can always create the time! Period. That’s where the discipline comes in and if you follow it to the hilt, you will actually find that there is bit of time left over. Relook at the way you do things, cut down on the time you spend idling, chatting with friends and create that extra time to doing the more important things in life. I know some ladies that attend kitchen parties every weekend and even go looking for invites.... That’s a no no. You can use that time to catch up with family so that you do not have an excuse in the week not to out in an extra hour or two to finish your project. I work everyday and I have come to manage my time as such. I do Television every Saturday if am not on the. I have an event somewhere or cooking for some event. I do radio every Sunday and I remember a time when I stopped bothering going to church because I had no time. That’s a thing of the past because I go to church early and on radio at 10am. So, in short, always learn to create time, be flexible and not keep a rigid timetable. I look forward to 2013 because one of my many dreams will be born in January and am so excited. You will be the first to know ladies and hope you get inspired. Lastly, even if you are not where you want to be, thank God for where you are right now and for the fact that you are not where you used to be and do not ever go back there! CH takes our hat off for this resolute woman with many hats!!

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7 Lessons From 7 Great H Minds ave you ever wished you could go back in time and have a conversation with one of the greatest minds in history? Even though these great teachers have passed on, their words still live, and in them their wisdom. I’ve made a list of seven what I believe are some of the greatest teachings by the world’s greatest minds.

REALIZING YOUR DREAMS “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” - Lawrence J. Peter

In order for us to achieve our dreams, we must have a vision of our goals. Writing down our dreams and creating a list of actions helps us stick to our plan. As it’s said “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. When we turn our goals into measurable actions, we gain clarity and are able to see the necessary steps we must take in order to achieve them.  Action: Visualize a life of your wildest dreams. What did you dream of doing when you were a child? What would you do if you had a million dollars? Create a vision for your goals and start breaking them down into small actions that you can take on a dayby-day basis.

OVERCOMING FEAR “It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The best way to learn something is to dive right in to it. When we overcome our fear of failure, we learn that only those who are asleep make no mistakes. Fear is the only thing keeping us from experiencing a life of love and fulfillment. If we make a commitment to an uncompromisable quest for truth, we will realize that as we grow more into the truth, our fears start to disappear.  Action: You must define your fears in order to conquer them. Create a list of everything you’re afraid of and start facing them one at a time. Make a commitment to yourself now to not let fear rule your life.

INTENTION AND DESIRE   “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.”- Guatama Buddha

Our thoughts determine our reality. When we stop thinking about what we don’t and begin thinking about what we do want, our lives begin to transform. Instead of working against our desires and intentions, we move into alignment with them.  Action: Create a list of your intentions and desires. Wherever you go, take this list with you. Read it when you wake up and before you go to sleep.

imperfection. When we realize this we can reclaim the truth of our perfection and live in love and acceptance.  Action: Make a commitment to never go against yourself. Practice non-judgment and realize that the same part of your mind that condemns you is the same voice that caused you to take the action in the first place. We don’t even have to believe what we say to ourselves.

APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE   “So much has been given to me, I have not time to ponder over that which has been denied.” - Helen Keller

How many times do we count our misfortunes rather than our blessings? When we take time to open our eyes to the miracle of life we can see the many gifts that have been given to us. Remembering all the beautiful aspects of life and all the reasons you are blessed can immediately shift our mood. We can move from sorrow and despair to appreciation and hope.  Action: Each time you find yourself complaining about something, redirect your focus to something you are grateful for. Make a habit of transforming your awareness of troubles into an awareness of abundance.

HAPPINESS   “Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.” - Benjamin Franklin

Happiness comes from an inner peace, understanding and acceptance of life; a perspective of truth that opens your eyes to the beauty of life all around us. Happiness cannot be achieved by external status, it must be an internal state that we realize when we see our innate perfection.  Action: Realize that happiness is a choice. In every decision you make ask yourself “how can I respond to make myself happy and fulfilled?”

SELF ACCEPTANCE   “If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” – Jesus

When we stop trying to be what we are not, we realize our authenticity. Before we had knowledge, we were completely authentic. We learn to use knowledge to measure and judge, which is a powerful tool we have as humans. However we create an image of perfection in our mind of what we should be, but are not. We confuse knowledge for nature. We believe in the lie of our

THE ART OF SIMPLICITY   “I made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it short.” - Blaise Pascal

Perfection is not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing more to take away. As Bruce Lee once said “the height of cultivation always runs to simplicity.” True mastery of our lives is realizing the simple joys of life, removing distractions and clutter from our lives.  Action: The art of simplicity is knowing what to take away. Practice recognizing when you’re spending your time on unimportant tasks and re-focus on the important.  This list is by no means exhaustive. There are other many great teachings that I did not include here because I felt like they were already expounded on thoroughly elsewhere, such as Einstein and Gandhi’s timeless classics. There are also great teachings to be found from our parents or friends.  Courtesy of IlluminatedMind

CHMember Profile

SILVIA CHIMPAMPWE

o man is an island they say and we at Corporate Heelz are grateful for all our members who have made us who we are today. One such member is Silvia, she has been a consistent source of encouragement and inspiration for us.

CH followed her updates when she was in school pursuing her master’s degree from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits). She completed with top honours and we celebrate her success! Silvia was one of our first members and continues to contribute positively to the growth of Corporate Heelz. As we got to chatting, we found out there was more to Silv than meets the eye, she is a well focused go getter who wrote an exam days after giving birth to her little girl and achieved success!

Early schooling & Family History: I come from a family of four, three boys and myself. I am the third born. I lost one brother a couple of years back and so that leaves one elder and one younger brother. My parents divorced when I was very y o u n g (lower

primary) and so my mother raised us all by herself – and she did an amazing job! I did both my primary and secondary education at St. Mary’s here in Lusaka. Upon completion of my grade twelve I was selected to UNZA to study Law (my first choice career!) but due to the financial woes mum was facing, educating and providing for I and my brothers (who were all still in school at the time I completed), I had to forfeit UNZA and instead started work as a sales executive at Media Resource Centre. In the meantime, I studied a short computer course which landed me my next job at a USAID project, PCI, as an admin assistant. Thereafter I studied IMIS levels I and II which in turn saw me get the subsequent job at Finance Bank as an IT dept. assistant. I have a natural flair for IT and excelled at my work earning me a confirmation by the Bank within two months! However, I was soon drawn to mainstream banking and literally became a self -taught instant success at general banking; of course I had the support and counsel from more experienced bankers and in my entire banking stint I never once incurred the infamous teller shortage regardless of the pressure! In 2001, I got married to an awesome man who is not just my best friend but my mentor, biggest critic and my lover, Joseph Chimpampwe- with whom we later had three beautiful kids, Mwewa 10yrs (male), Mukuni 7 years (female) and Chibobola 5 years (male). Joseph, the kids and I live in our dream home, resting at the foot of a mountain in Kabangwe area of Chibombo District. We are immensely proud of our home as we sat down together, planned the details right down to the structure and positioning and later saved up for it. Our home exudes the different characters in our family and it’s not only a place of solace but our own spacious haven! In 2004, one baby later and another one on the way, I decided to return to school and enrolled for the distance education program at UNZA to study Development studies and Economics while working full time as a bank teller at Finance Bank. At the time UNZA was experiencing rampant closures and given my tight schedules I opted to drop the economics course which was very demanding and replaced it with Public Relations in the second year.

“Romans 8:28 truly holds true for me and I want to believe for any other woman out there who isn’t afraid like I am to listen to their inner voice and chase after their dreams!” 24

I vividly recall rushing from the ward at B13 leaving my newly born baby girl in the care of

by the massive international exposure I had personally gained through my ingenuity and excellence- I had my inner ambitions/dreams to fulfill. Despite the occurrences and events that had shaped my childhood and eventual life- I never stopped dreaming, I never stopped strategizing about how and where I wanted to be and so going after the master’s program, even if it meant skipping the country, was just a part of the proverbial “universe conspiring to make things happen” as I had long decided. Looking back, I could have stayed in my job; an increment was due the very next month in fact! Afterall I already had a first degree, a comfortable home, a cool ride, cash in the bank, a husband that provided for all my needs and three awesome kids to show for my years, BUT, for me the sky has never been the limit and I knew I couldn’t stop myself even if I tried! I hate to admit this but am already thinking of my PHD thesis!

my dear mum, to go and sit for my end of semester exams at UNZA. Sitting for 3 hours was a nightmare as can be imagined but the results were a sweet reward! During this time I also went on secondment to the union office (ZUFIAW) on and off from 2006 until 2008 when I joined the Union on full secondment as Head of Department for Gender, a position I held until December 2011 when I resigned from the Bank and subsequently from the Union in order to pursue a master’s degree from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa. It was during the phase at ZUFIAW that my leadership and industrial relations aptitude was enhanced and am grateful for the exposure as well as the vast training both locally and internationally that helped harness the service and delivery excellence at my job. While at Wits, I resumed my “unfinished course” in Economics and proudly obtained a distinction at the end of the course! My study at Wits was part sponsored by my husband and my mother Beatrice- my two biggest fans! Leaving my job and the work that I loved was not an easy decision for me by any stretch. Especially that it meant also leaving behind my babies, with my last born being only four at the time in the care of my husband who had to literally jump in at the deep end to step into my shoes as both daddy and mummy. The heart-wrenching moments when he would call, perturbed with my little boys endless crying for his mummy nearly sent me packing and rushing back home on more than one occasion! Am grateful that Joseph and the kids truly love me enough to have made the sacrifice. Prior to taking this leap, I realized that in as much as I had job satisfaction and the pay wasn’t too bad either, coupled

Am back home now, having completed my course with a distinction and an outstanding performance award, I look forward to applying my newly acquired knowledge in an environment that will positively exploit this reserve. However, I don’t intend to ply my trade for others for very long as I am gearing up to go after yet another “awaiting” dream- i.e. to run my own labour consultancy firm where I can offer, explore and enhance my skills uninhibited by organizational structures! That said, it is self -evident that am not one to give up despite the odds, I set my goals timely and clearly always and I strive to accomplish successfully so. One of my favorite quotes is “conceive it, believe it and achieve it”- I think that my life and my story have espoused that very essence. I had to pay for my secondary education fees with my own salary after my father abandoned us and mum couldn’t always afford to pay the termly fees, but it came to pass, later when I was accepted to UNZA, mum so wanted me to go, but it would have been at the expense of the boy’s school fees/upkeep and a huge burden to mum so I got a job instead and started to help her out. When eventually I could put myself into UNZA, the closures frustrated me to the core, the office work load, the adjusting to married life and motherhood was sometimes so overwhelming I wanted to quit, but that too came to pass. I initially applied to UNZA for a master’s program and out of all my colleagues from our stream was the only one not picked! Again I never gave up, when the Wits program came up, I had so many reasons why I couldn’t leave home as compared to why I should, but yes, that too came to pass! In short, Romans 8:28 truly holds true for me and I want to believe for any other woman out there who isn’t afraid like I am to listen to their inner voice and chase after their dreams! I eagerly look forward to 2013, it’s all about new beginnings for me, career wise and at a personal level as I intend to make up for lost time to Joseph and the kids big time!

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HOW TO ENGAGE A MENTOR By ABI Staff, Anita Borg Institute Technology

for

Women

and

Question: There is a role model I admire. How do I engage them as a mentor? Answer:Just ask! It truly can be as simple as just asking if they will mentor you. CHECK FOR CHEMISTRY Start by requesting an informational meeting of twenty minutes (an amount of time most people can spare). Engaging a mentor is like going on a first date – you would not ask for somebody’s hand in marriage on a first date! Don’t ask your role model to mentor you the first time you meet. It is a big commitment for both parties to make. Instead, test the water with the informational meeting, to see if there is a match. Before you meet, prepare three or four specific topics for discussion. If the meeting goes well, and you sense good chemistry, ask if they would like to meet on a regular basis. Negotiate the frequency and format that benefits both of you. If your company has a formal mentoring program, sign up for it. They are generally well-designed, and include a list of potential mentors who have volunteered and are awaiting assignments. Your role model may already have volunteered. The program will give you guidance and protocols for getting started, but be aware that the most successful mentoring relationships continue beyond the initial term and become more informal.

WHY STOP AT ONE? Kim Brown, VP of Finance at Wal-Mart noted the crucial role that mentors have in your career growth, saying “You might only need one mentor, but I have five.” She mentors five to eight individuals herself. What many employees don’t realize is how very much mentors gain from the experience.

PAY IT FORWARD: MENTOR OTHERS One senior-level woman, a leader in telecommunications, said “Do I have a mentor? I do. I believe it’s very important that you not only have a mentor but that you also are a mentor to others. I learn as much through mentoring as I do by being a mentee. It keeps me on my toes because usually they are younger people who are going through some of the challenges that I went through earlier in my career.” As a mentor, she gains new perspectives on what’s going on in the world, and keeps in better touch with her own organization and the challenges that are there today.

Question: I had a man tell me he would feel uncomfortable mentoring a woman. If you are a woman engineer and all the potential mentors are male how should you proceed? Answer: One approach is to know that there simply will not be chemistry between everyone you wish to have as your mentor. Schedule those informational meetings, and keep doing so until you find a match. A second approach, if you are somewhat courageous, is to position this as a learning opportunity for both of you. You could say something like this: “To be honest, I was a bit uncomfortable approaching you too. I have not had a male mentor before. Since we are both new to this, there might be things we can both learn. I could answer any questions you have about working with and mentoring women, while you teach me about a… b… c…. Why don’t we set up an initial meeting, and see how it goes. If we decide to continue then great, and if not, that is fine.”

Q CHQuotes

or those women thinking of being entrepreneurs, I say go for it. Why wait till you are 55 when you will have very little power left you in you to run around, but;

uotes

ntil one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.   Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too ...  A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.  I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it! - Goethe -  - W. H. Murray - Early Himalaya Explorer!  Come on CHers ... DREAM BIG and then .... ACT ON YOUR DREAMS!!! January 2013 ~ Tamenji Palale (CHer)

on’t burn bridges – When you are leaving your job, please leave on a high or good note; don’t burn bridges because you may need to return and cross it again. Ethics – Ethics are key to me. Without ethics, there’s no longevity in a business. Customers will come back once they realize you are open and truthful in your dealings with them.

Network – Most of the business I’m getting now is from my networking. People look for me, recommend me and support my business because they have met me and have formed a link with me. It makes it easier to market one’s business when you have someone to vouch for you. Work hard – someone will definitely notice.

Tozana Mvula, Entreprenuer

a) be sure to follow your own dream not someone else’ because if you do that, you will not succeed b) make sure you are ready to take the plunge as long as you are positive and know what you are doing. Sometimes we are afraid of the unknown and afraid we might fall flat on our faces but I have come to believe that there is a safety net waiting to catch you just before you hit rock bottom. c) always ask for directions when you get lost, don’t be shy to show your emotions and don’t pretend to know it all. d) whilst I literally had no money to start out, I suggest that you save towards your new company so just so you have a cushion till you start getting the business in. I always advise people not to do what I did even though it worked for me, it was very foolish of me but like I said, it was God’s time. e) listen to that small voice inside you. No matter how small it is, sometimes it gets drowned with all the noise around you but take time to listen to it f) surround yourself with people that have your best interest at heart and know that not everyone will be happy to see you succeed g) face your fears h) discipline, discipline, discipline. Remember it’s your company! G) love what you do!!!!!!

Karen Nakawala - Corporate MC, Entrepreneur, Mentor

CHMember Profile

Entreprenuers Toolkit 29

CHEnteprenuer Tools in it for the long haul. Frustrations and setbacks will arise continually and you must have the ability to maneuver past them time after time. Maybe your business has not taken off like had envisioned it would. Are you going to call it quits for entrepreneurship? Many of the greatest business visionaries have failed time and time again but they were unwaveringly committed to seeing their visions come into existence.

Courage You must be determined to conquer your fear of risk and failure no matter how difficult it may seem. Those who are afraid of the unknown remain in a dependent position, while those who produce answers in the unknown create freedom. Use your fears of failure and rejection as motivation to push harder towards success.

Perseverance

The Entreprenuerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PERSONAL TOOLS

Many people will doubt your ability to be an entrepreneur and produce a successful business. Are you going to let their discouraging and pessimistic talk kill your aspirations? If the distractions of outside influences negatively interfere with developing your business then you are destined to fail. You must be your biggest and loudest cheerleader when BY YURA BRYANT

mbarking on the journey towards entrepreneurship is exciting when envisioned in your mind but can be very daunting and demanding when actually materializing your ideas. Let me clearly state that being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart or those who are mentally weak. This career path will highlight your strengths and your weaknesses and will force you to focus intently on bettering yourself to find success. Are you tough enough mentally and emotionally? Are you prepared to work unbelievably hard and constantly keep a competitive mindset on how to better enhance yourself for success? This is what entrepreneurship demands of you on a continual basis. Make sure you are completely prepared and mindful of what awaits you as a hopeful entrepreneur.

Resolve In

entrepreneurship

there

are

Let me clearly easy answers to finding solutions for problems. Developing a business state that being an along with finding customers for that business is truly complexing. entrepreneur is not for the You must have the persistence faint of heart or those who are to make yourself visible valuable within the mentally weak. This career path and marketplace to attract the much needed attention to your will highlight your strengths and business. This means developing your weaknesses and will force the right ingredient of effective business ideas and business you to focus intently on operations that lead to consumer No matter how difficult bettering yourself to find it satisfaction. may be, you must find solutions to consumer needs and wants in order to success.

Here are 6 personal tools needed to help assist you along your entrepreneurial journey.

Ambition Just generating ideas in your mind about your success is not going to produce the desired results. You have to be willing to put in the necessary work and a little extra to get in the position you are seeking. When you speak to people about your business they should be able to feel the passion you have to see your ideas prosper. This demonstrates your ability to keep pushing towards your goals without hesitation until they are finally achieved.

Commitment If you want to be an entrepreneur then prepare to be

things seem the most impossible to accomplish.

gain success.

Will-Power You have decided to be an entrepreneur so do everything in your capacity to make this decision a reality. This will require the strength and desire to persist through any setbacks and discouraging circumstances. You will have to be your strongest advocate and loudest motivational coach. Only those who truly want to succeed and be the best have the determination to push forward and come through standing tall. You must have the undeterred drive and ability to do the same. Becoming an entrepreneur is an intriguing, competitive and demanding journey. Only those who are most determined and focused will succeed. Make sure you are included in that exceptional group of people. Yura Bryant is the Business Development Manager at Sherry Bryant & Associates, a consulting business in Atlanta, Georgia. Yura writes extensively and is dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and small business owners.

BUSINESS STARTUP CHECKLIST Starting a business is both an exciting and demanding time. The checklist below is meant to help new business owners by providing a list of the most common startup steps. Depending on the type of business you intend to start, additional steps may be required for your business.

Prepare a business plan Business plans define the Who, What, When, Where, and How of your business and the products and/or services you plan to provide. Business plans clearly outline the goals of the business, explain the operating procedures, detail the competition, include a marketing plan, and explain the company’s current and desired funding. If your company plans to seek funding either in the form of a traditional loan or from venture capitalists, a thorough business plan will be required for the application process.

Register your business with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) Registration of A Business Name The registration of Business Names is governed by The Registration of Business Names Act No. 16 of 2011. (You can view the Act on the PACRA website) A Registered Business Name or Firm is an association of one or more individuals or corporations that have entered into partnership with one another for the purpose of carrying on business for profit. A Business Name or Commercial name, as it is sometimes referred to, is a designation which identifies an enterprise. Business Names should be registered in order to be protected as a trade name of one enterprise or firm may not be used by another. A name or

designation similar to another trade name, if likely to mislead the public, may not be used by another enterprise. The Registration of Business Names Act No. 16 of 2011 requires that: “Every firm that has a place of business in Zambia and carrying on business which does not consist of the true surnames of all partners who are individuals and the corporate names of all partners who are corporations without any addition other than the true Christian name of individual partners or initials of such names” and “An individual who has a place of business and carries on business under a name other than his true surname must register his business name and other particulars with the Registrar of Business Names as provided for by the Act.” Benefits of registering a Business Name 1. Registration of a business gives it legal status. 2. It gives the owner exclusive rights to personally use the business name 3. It enables one to enjoy the pride of being an honest Zambian or foreign business undertaker 4. It gives one the right to enter with confidence into the competitive business arena using the business name 5. Registration of the business affords one the chance to contribute to national economic development and prosperity How to Register A Business Name The form to be used in applying for registration of a Business Name is BN Form III, regardless of whether the applicant is an individual, a group of individuals or a body corporate:Fees applicable to Business Names Registration fees Names are

for as

Business follows:-

1. Sole Proprietorship K75,000 2. Partnership K75,000 3. Body corporate K95,000 The sealing and issuing of the Certificate of registration marks the

end of the process for registration of a business. However, if the proposed name of the business is rejected on approval stage, the client is requested to collect the name clearance forms and pay a name search fee of K10,000. The process of name clearance as stipulated above is once again followed. For more details please go to www. pacra.org.zm

Obtain a Tax identification pin or Tax Clearance certificate TPIN Registration  TPIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) is a unique 13-digit number given to each taxpayer. The TPIN is a prerequisite to all procedures of tax registration under VAT, direct Taxes and Customs & Excise Divisions. The TPIN was introduced because Zambia Revenue Authority is working towards integrating the operations of the three Divisions (Customs & Excise, Direct Taxes and Value Added Tax) in order to simplify the tax administration and to consequently reduce on the administration costs. What is a TPIN?  Taxpayer Identification number is a unique thirteen-digit computer generated number allocated to a taxpayer under any of the following types of business:  • Limited company  • Partnership  • Sole trader/proprietor  • Other When this number is generated, it is presented for collection as a certificate. Who registers for TPIN?  • Companies or Partnership Businesses  • Individuals  • Non- Governmental Organizations, Clubs, Associations, Missionary bodies & other similar organizations registered with Registrar of Societies  • Entities

Government ministries/institutions, including foreign Governments and agencies/missions. How to apply for TPIN Registration Application form TPIN 1 which can be obtained from the ZRA Advice Centre in Lusaka or any local ZRA office, has to be completed and submitted to the same office, accompanied by copies of the following documents: Limited company under the companies Act

apply for VAT registration if they deal in taxable goods and services and their taxable turnover exceeds registration threshold of K200 million per annum. How to apply for VAT Registration Copies of your certificate of incorporation or registration must be attached to the application form and a with Directors details which can be obtained from Registrar of companies.

Required documents:

The following requirements must also be attached to the application form:

• Certificate of incorporation

• Taxpayer Identification number

• Certificate of share capital

• Sketch map of location

• Articles of Association

• Latest Bank Statement

Income Tax Registration.

• Business Plan

Having registered for TPIN, a taxpayer will be required to register for Income Tax. Taxpayers whose turnover is below K200, 000,000 in a charge year, will register for Turnover Tax.

• Certified copy of certificate of registration or incorporation

Those Taxpayers whose turnover is above K200, 000,000 will register for normal Income Tax. This is applicable to individuals and Limited Companies. Partnerships and Consultancy businesses do not fall under Turnover Tax regardless of their turnover being below K200, 000,000. Partnerships will register for Income Tax to facilitate for the receipt of Partnership annual returns on ITAS at the end of the charge year. Partners will register for Income Tax separately as they will be taxed according to their profit sharing ratios. It is extremely important for every person who registers for TPIN to register for Income Tax because the Income Tax account number is the one they shall be using to remit income tax. PAYE Registration  This will apply to individuals, companies, partnerships, etc who have employees. Upon registration for PAYE, they will be given a PAYE account number, which they will use to remit PAYE deducted from their employees’ salaries every month. VAT Registration  Businesses intending to register for VAT must ensure that they are registered for TPIN before submitting their application Form. Businesses are required by law to

• Evidence of records like cashbook, purchases daybook, sales daybook, invoice books & set of accounts confirmed orders/contracts signed. Businesses may also register for VAT on voluntary basis provided they fulfill the conditions set out in Gazette notice No.80 of 2007. VAT Obligations  • Display the VAT registration certificate  • Submit VAT returns and make payments  • Maintain sufficient records and retain them for a minimum of 5 years  • Advise ZRA of any business changes  • Allow officers of ZRA to enter the business premises and examine goods/records  • For businesses registered on Voluntary basis, notice must be given to the Commissioner General 30 days before expiry of 12 months of the intention to renew registration failure to which de-registration will be effected immediately. Visit www.zra.org.zm for more details

Open a business bank account

It is very important for businesses to keep the finances of the business separate from those of the owners. To open a business bank account,

most banks require information on the company, such as its formation date and type of business, and names and addresses of its owners. Some banks require corporations to provide a resolution from the board of directors or managers authorizing the opening of the business bank account.

Obtain the necessary business licenses and/or permits Depending on your type of business, you may need licenses in order to begin operations. Visit your local Municipality for more details.

Lease office space (if applicable) If you are not going to be operating a home-based business, you’ll probably need to find office space for your new company. Along with leasing an office, don’t forget to purchase or lease the furniture and office equipment you will need to get your business up and running.

Set up your business accounting You may decide that your accountant will handle the accounting for your business, or you may want to handle the accounting yourself with a small business accounting solution. Either way, you’ll want to ensure that you are prepared to properly account for all business disbursements, payments received, invoices, accounts receivable/accounts payable, etc. Create business materials Having materials such as a logo for your business, business cards, and stationery will help your business develop an identity and potential customers find you.

Develop a marketing plan for your products/ services

A primary reason you are starting your own business may be the hope of making money. In order to make sales, people need to be aware of what you’re selling and how to find you.

CHExit Opinion

BY ORIANA FINDLAY

INTERNATIONAL FASHION

ZAMBIAN DESIGNERS

Internet image

‘There is a wave of interest in zambia’s cultural ascension.’ International fashion influence and zambian designers

ORIANA FINDLAY The writer Oriana is 16 years old and is a  student at The American International School of Lusaka. Currently in Grade 10  , she has a fanatical interest in Fashion and Journalism.   She is an amazing singer and song writer too.  The Fashion Article she has written is for her Personal Project.

‘What is reallly evident in culture is very important and the moment you lose it, you lose something very valuable.’ -Vatice of Inzy

*This article has been published as part of the Corporate Heelz mentoring programme.