Abisola Owolawi - a Nigerian entrepreneur harnessing communications to positively impact human capital
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| Abisola Owolawi |
Nigerian woman-owned startup 30Watt Media understands the power of exceptional service delivery and great communication, helping companies to make the necessary business shifts from simply selling products to offering real customer experiences. At the heart of the business is an understanding of the power of human capital to make a difference to the way consumers experience brands and businesses.
NTT found out more about this innovative communications specialist and how she is looking to change the way businesses engage with their customers.
What does your company do?30Watt Media is an integrated consultancy with a focus on communications and how it affects human capital within organisations. The company offers a turnkey approach to improving communication skills employed within organisations through customer service training sessions, capacity building, and content creation services. In order to empower and motivate participants, 30Watt's service arm sources high potential, qualified unemployed youth, screening and inviting them into our customer service and communication skills training sessions and then linking them up with potential employers for opportunities in their respective fields. Through its Communication arm, 30Watt also offers proofreading, copy editing, content creation services, and the production of television content around the importance of exceptional customer service delivery to sensitise the public.
"30Watt Media is an integrated consultancy with a focus on communications and how it affects human capital within organisations."
What inspired you to start your company?
I spent most of my professional life interviewing business leaders across West and Southern Africa as a Business & Financial Journalist. From promising start-up founders to high level blue-chip entrepreneurs with million dollar value companies, I loved the insatiable drive of the African entrepreneur working against tough terrains and odds. While I had the great honour of sharing some truly compelling entrepreneurial stories however, it came to my attention that something was amiss many times, I realised that I too, was a customer to many of the brands and companies I evangelised about and I was one of many who had been let down by the interactive experience of some of their services . In Nigeria, where I am based, appalling customer service appears to be the order of the day with many service providers. It dawned on me that many passionate business owners often forget that a great interactive experience is truly the most powerful story any business can tell and another great interview will only go so far in converting an already disgruntled customer. A company's people are the real custodians of its image. I decided to set up a company that would help address the communication gaps within businesses and service delivery and help energise staff and business owners to deliver greater service experiences. We achieve this through a thorough communications skills and service training programme offered to the corporate and hospitality industry with staff in customer-centric positions.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Anyone who believes in the importance of exceptional service delivery and great communication should use our service. When a business shifts its thinking from being a product to being an experience, the multiplier effect is invaluable.
I spent most of my professional life interviewing business leaders across West and Southern Africa as a Business & Financial Journalist. From promising start-up founders to high level blue-chip entrepreneurs with million dollar value companies, I loved the insatiable drive of the African entrepreneur working against tough terrains and odds. While I had the great honour of sharing some truly compelling entrepreneurial stories however, it came to my attention that something was amiss many times, I realised that I too, was a customer to many of the brands and companies I evangelised about and I was one of many who had been let down by the interactive experience of some of their services . In Nigeria, where I am based, appalling customer service appears to be the order of the day with many service providers. It dawned on me that many passionate business owners often forget that a great interactive experience is truly the most powerful story any business can tell and another great interview will only go so far in converting an already disgruntled customer. A company's people are the real custodians of its image. I decided to set up a company that would help address the communication gaps within businesses and service delivery and help energise staff and business owners to deliver greater service experiences. We achieve this through a thorough communications skills and service training programme offered to the corporate and hospitality industry with staff in customer-centric positions.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Anyone who believes in the importance of exceptional service delivery and great communication should use our service. When a business shifts its thinking from being a product to being an experience, the multiplier effect is invaluable.
ell us a little about your team
I have a very lean team of four who are very passionate and creative individuals. We are driven by the desire to help change mindsets and illuminate great ideas.Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I started 30Watt Media just over a year ago. The company is built on two core pillars of Perception and Interaction. Perception being the communication arm and Interaction being the service arm. The company uses the media platform to sensitise and create visual content around the importance of exceptional customer service delivery. I don't come from an entrepreneurial background and it has been a journey of a few peaks and many troughs already. Every day is a great new lesson in business, and the promise and prospect of changing mindsets, creating opportunities and driving impact is indeed an incredible drive for me.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My aspirations for 30Watt Media include offering a platform for Africa's greatest communicators to help empower more human capital across enterprises. Being able to help them drive change with us in a rewarding environment. It will be incredibly rewarding to help create a lot of job opportunities for many youth knowing they will be great service ambassadors.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Being an entrepreneur will test your patience, disrupt your comfort and sometimes balance, but it will also expand your critical thinking and problem solving skills - true satisfaction comes from seeing the impact your work or venture has on others.
Being an entrepreneur will test your patience, disrupt your comfort and sometimes balance, but it will also expand your critical thinking and problem solving skills - true satisfaction comes from seeing the impact your work or venture has on others.
"If you are passionate about driving change & solving problems, there is no better time than now."
- Abisola Owolawi, founder @30wattmedia
Don't wait for a 'right time' - If you are passionate about driving change and solving problems, there is no better time than now. Start somewhere, seek advice, do some research, seek funding or start small. Move one step closer today.
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