Aderonke
Lawal while growing up thought it would be best to be a stock broker or investment
banker. So post-graduation from Lancaster
University (with a year at The University of Richmond) where she undertook a
degree in International Business (Economics). She worked
with the Insolvency Service and upon leaving university moved on to the DTI. She then started working as a finance and
personnel manager for a top health and fitness company where she confirmed that
her passion was really for business growth and business marketing. She took on her
very first client whilst still working, eventually gathered her savings then left
that job to focus on her true path as the founder of RSL; a marketing
management business which works with SMEs and entrepreneurs to reach the best
that they can. This was in 2004 and at this time she was just in her early twenties.
In order to succeed,
she drew up a concise business plan and focused on networking … her research as
a young entrepreneur showed her that networking was crucial in growing her
business and it did. Today she has not only grown RSL to enviable heights, she
is also a partner in a London based fashion label; The Simone Williams Label – www.simonewilliams.co.uk, she is on the board of Trustees of Voluntary Action Islington, on The Employers Panel for the National Employment Savings Trust and on the board of advisors for Precious Online. She is also a Mentor for The Cherie Blair
Foundation and a mentor for The EN Start Ups Campaign for young entrepreneurs.
All in the UK! *Good stuff*
Her advice to ladies who would like to do as she has done...
“It
can be lonely if you don’t have a business partner. There are absolutely no guarantees; you have
to create your own path and follow it; learn from mistakes and pick yourself up.
I have had to repeat that mantra to myself; even whilst it seemed sometimes that
I was not moving forward but I am able to stay focused and motivated because
deep down I know that I am worthy of greatness.”
1) Follow
your passion and stay focused.
2) Make sure you actively network in your business
and professional life and engage with the right people, but be sure to push
yourself outside of your comfort zone.
3) If
you can, get a mentor, or at least surround yourself with a positive and
powerful circle of people who will champion you in your career journey.
4) Seek
continual business development through training and seminars; education is
important but only if used actively. Use education wisely as part of your long
term professional strategy.
5) Most
importantly be courageous; a member of the chamber’s tagline is “I go where
there is courage” – I think this should be everyone’s tagline. Be brave in your
career.
6) Don’t
ponder on mistakes for too long, learn from them and move on. You can reach
anywhere in your business if you so wish – don’t let anyone hold you back,
least of all… yourself.
This busy
lady says she would have also loved to be a travel journalist or a counsellor.
Let’s
hear it for Aderonke Lawal an Extraordinary Nigerian Woman.
You
can ask her questions directly as you follow her on twitter @ronkelawal.
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