Kasope Ladipo-Ajai ventured into entrepreneurship because she had the urge to do something more meaningful than the traditional 9-to-5 job. So, in 2012, she started OmoAlata, a Nigerian food service and packaging company that is focused on producing hygienically processed and packaged local Nigerian soups, spices and peppers.

OmoAlata Food Services desires to be Nigeria’s pioneer food packaging company providing easy to use pepper mix to the general public with operations in key markets across the country. The company aspires to use its strong local brand identity to position an international product range that will sit in stores all over the world for Nigerians and other customers present in these markets.

A computer science graduate from Babcock University, Kasope loves cooking, travelling and old architecture. In her past life, she worked as team lead in Air Nigeria where her responsibilities included information technology (IT) related service, business analysis and project management. She also worked with Taytom Group where she handled core IT project implementation.

At what point did you decide it was time to start your own company, and what was the first thing you did when you decided?
I had always planned to start my own company. I told my first job interviewers that I would probably be working for myself in five years. I got the job and resigned four years later to become an entrepreneur. When I decided to finally take the big leap, I registered the business name to make my decision concrete.

When you started out, did you get any resistance from family and friends?
Yes I did. Many people thought I should not quit my job until my business was up and running efficiently. I stayed resolute to my decision even when it seemed it was best to go back to paid employment. Those days are still not over but are further in between now. I keep telling myself that in ten years, I would look back and laugh at my hustle escapades.

Was there any point when you felt like giving up on your business?
Many times. Any entrepreneur who says otherwise is not being truthful. If one sets out with realistic expectations and enough passion, one will weather those times. It also helps to socialize with fellow entrepreneurs to stay motivated and know your situation is not peculiar

Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself when you just started your company?
There’s light at the end of the LONG tunnel. Slowly but surely is the key.

What does success mean to you, both in business and personally?
In business, it means OmoAlata products being used in most households. The success of my business is my pride and joy. Our dream is not only to sell products but to affect people’s lives through this business; employees, mentees, less privileged etc. We have a number of offshoot programs planned as we grow. This would give me personal fulfillment and success.

If you win the She Leads Africa competition, what’s the first thing you’d do? How would the prize money impact your business?
There is an expansion plan already drawn up. The prize money will go into purchasing machinery to increase capacity.

If you could give one piece of advice/encouragement to a large group of aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Entrepreneurship is not for the lily-liver person. Business plans act as guides and are not cast in stone. Be ready to adapt to suit your environment.

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To learn more about OmoAlata, visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter. To see Kasope pitch live on stage, reserve a ticket to the She Leads Africa 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase HERE.

Every day this week, we will be profiling the six finalists of the She Leads Africa 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase. Follow the series HERE.

After graduating from North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in Finance and Accounting, Ngozi stayed in her professional field and went to work as a financial analyst. But she always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur, so she opened up a small hair studio in DC to tend to clients after work each day. In 2012, she used her savings from her finance job to launch Heat Free Hair Movement, an educational initiative for women with, or those considering, natural hair that highlights the benefit of healthy hair through protective styling.

Prior to opening her own business, Ngozi worked for eight different entrepreneurs to gain experience in business ownership and management. Because of her interest and passion for the world of natural hair, she also worked as a manager for natural hair care industry lead, Carol’s daughter. Her interest and passion for natural hair is so deep that at some point, she moved to Qingdao, China where she studied to become a hair manufacturing technician.

Ngozi is interested in technology, real estate, and modern architecture. She loves to travel for leisure, and to attend different conferences and events around the world to meet new people. She also enjoys reading as a pastime; her favorite books right now are Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill and Zero to One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters.

At what point did you decide it was time to start Heat Free Hair, and what is the idea behind the business?
I’ve always had the spark of an entrepreneur inside of me. I grew up around them in my family and worked for many so I always knew I was destined to be one. I first owned a hair studio, and at the time the most popular style women would request was a weave. One of the reasons my studio was sought after was because of our healthy hair philosophy and approach to styling. When I noticed that women who wore weaves experienced tremendous hair growth on the sections of hair that were protected but experienced breakage on their “leave-out” because they had to continue to apply heat to their hair in order for it to blend in with the weave, I felt like a hypocrite. I immediately started thinking that there had to be some type of way for women to wear the protective style of choice while also protecting all of their hair at the same time. Thus, the initial idea for Heat Free Hair was born.

I used my savings from my finance job to launch Heat Free Hair in 2012 and lived completely off the money I earned doing hair. I created the business to assist women, who are natural or going natural, with protective styling options through high-quality wefted hair, closures, wigs, and clip-in extensions. Our hair is created to blend effortlessly with the different curl patterns and textures of a woman’s natural hair. The Heat Free Hair Movement expands beyond our products and focuses on the education of the natural hair community through seminars and instructional videos as well as events for natural women to network with other women alike.

http://www.heatfreehair.com

When you started out, did you get any resistance from family and friends?
Of course! I actually didn’t tell my parents that I quit my finance job. I talked to them about the idea of owning my own business and the concept of Heat Free Hair. They were supportive but wanted me to wait a little while longer before taking it on full time. Both my mom and dad had working backgrounds, so they were apprehensive at first but slowly began to get on board when friends and family would call to tell them that their daughter was being featured in different media outlets. I just kept my eyes on what I wanted and they are now my biggest support system!

Was there any point when you felt like giving up on your business? How did you overcome that point in your life?
Several. During my first year of business I consistently felt like giving up. Starting my company was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and I was afraid of both the potential success and failure of my business. I got to a point where I told myself that I could not let my fears be more powerful than my desire to succeed in my life.

Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself when you just started Heat Free Hair?
There really isn’t anything I would go back and tell myself. I really do believe I was where I needed to be in life when I needed to be there. I learned the right lessons at the right time and because of that, I can stand comfortably and happily where I am today. Obstacles along the road I traveled served as building blocks and I’m truly thankful for my journey and the development of my business.

What does success mean to you, both in business and personally?
To me, success means I am able to achieve a dream I believed in while also bringing value to someone else’s life.

If you win the She Leads Africa competition, what’s the first thing you’d do? How would the prize money impact your business?
I would first thank the SLA team as well as my family and Heat Free Hair followers for believing in our message. I would  use the prize money to continue to increase  our company’s marketing efforts to reach different parts of the U.S. and Africa.

If you could give one piece of advice/encouragement to a large group of aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Never allow your fear of failure or success have more power than your desire to pursue your passions and dreams. Don’t give up. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

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To learn more about Heat Free Hair, visit their website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To see Ngozi pitch live on stage, reserve a ticket to the She Leads Africa 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase HERE.

Every day this week, we will be profiling the six finalists of the She Leads Africa 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase. Follow the series HERE.

Meet Chef Imoteda, the founder of Heels in the Kitchen, a cooking show with a fashion and style edge that gives you an interactive experience on how to plan and create amazing meals. A self described creative’s creative, Imoteda brings a unique understanding of being a working mother in Lagos who, after a long day of working in heels, must go into the kitchen to cater for her family. 

Heels in the Kitchen is a cooking show with a fashion and style edge. An interactive experience during which viewers will learn how to plan, create and plate amazing meals while looking fabulous. The show will pull in content from current events, inviting celebrities and public personalities to come share a meal and their opinions. This show promises to have something of interest for all types of viewers. (Read more about Heels in the Kitchen HERE)

A Cordon Bleu trained chef who enjoys spending time in the kitchen creating amazing and easy meals for family and friends, Imoteda’s long-term goal is to one day be featured on Food Network. Imoteda holds a degree in liberal arts and a minor in women’s studies with a focus on violence against women.

Before starting Heels in the Kitchen, Imoteda worked as a freelance makeup artist for five years and then full time in television and film production. She loves everything artsy, reads a whole lot, and finds it difficult to focus without music — right now, her listening obsession is Ciara’s new album, Jackie.

“It’s easy to not notice how much you’re growing when you’re involved in the progess. Each time the progress I have has made kept me going.” ~ Tomi Aladekomo

Why did you decide to start Heels in the Kitchen and what was the first thing you did when you decided?
I knew as soon as I conceived the idea of the show that it wasn’t something I wanted to hand to someone else to create. I didn’t want to risk the vision being diluted or something made that wasn’t up to the standard I wanted. Starting Heels In The Kitchen was the only choice. First thing I did was talk to my older brother. He’s my sounding board and the one person I can trust to offer me completely honest advice. When he was thrilled with the idea I knew I was on the right track.

Did you get any resistance from family and friends?
I was really lucky in that my family and friends all immediately loved the idea and jumped on board. There were a few reservations about me switching careers but those were easily assuaged when they tasted my cooking!

Was there any point when you felt like giving up on your business?
Ha! I wish it was only one point. Every startup is a huge learning experience and it’s never easy. Being a mother I have a lot of financial obligations and sometimes the idea of getting a salaried job with steady pay appealed to me but every time that happened I stopped and looked back at where I was two months before that point. It’s easy to not notice how much you’re growing when you’re involved in the process. Each time the progress I had made kept me going. Thankfully those days are far behind me. It’s been a long while since I thought about giving up. Now all I can think about it growing the business even faster.

Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself when you just started your company?
Find a business and finances savvy partner ASAP! I’m more focused on the creative aspect of things so at several points the business almost died out because it wasn’t being properly managed. I almost lost even the company name because I didn’t do the registration on time. Such a little detail but I overlooked it in my pursuit of culinary excellence. The upside though is that I have been forced to become more business savvy.

What does success mean to you, both in business and personally?
Can I say a ton of money in the bank? That sounds like success. lol

Honestly for the most part success in business for me is creating a brand that people want to use and enjoy being a part of. Personally success is simply living the happiest life that I can. Turning my dreams into reality makes me happy, spending time with my family makes me happy. Being able to combine both is success to me so, personally I’m feeling pretty successful already.

If you win the She Leads Africa competition, what’s the first thing you’d do?
Throw a dance party with my offspring and a nice five course dinner with my friends and family. I already have my menu planned. I’m an optimistic person.

Any amount of money is great for a business. It would probably go into buying supplies and equipment for the business.

If you could give one piece of advice/encouragement to a large group of aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Ignore the yes men, listen to you naysayers. You’ll always have people in your corner and while you need to always be appreciative of them, it’s the people who have something negative to say that will push you to grow. You should work so hard that they run out of negative things to say. No matter how petty the negative is, fix it immediately.

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To learn more about Heels in the Kitchen, visit their website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To see Imoteda pitch live on stage, reserve a ticket to the She Leads Africa 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase HERE.

Every day this week, we will be profiling the six finalists of the She Leads Africa 2015 Entrepreneur Showcase. Follow the series HERE.