Rasheda A. Walker: Being consistent, professional, and honest can break down gender barriers.
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Rasheda A. Walker is a business development professional skilled in marketing, customer relationship management, and art direction. She specializes in helping startups establish brand structures, offers, and strategies, and pursue skills to drive growth by giving them the tools they need to scale up and achieve their goals. We specialize in She is also an experienced international trade professional with a history of working in the oil and gas sector. This multifaceted woman is also the founder and curator of Bolivar Bar. Bolivar Bar is part of Lagos’ art and nightlife scene, offering patrons a respite from the hustle and bustle of Lagos with a unique and inviting space for laughter and peace. She is also the Managing Director of Forts and Shields, the exclusive distributor of frontline protection products in Africa, and has over 10 years of experience in security consulting and business development. I have. In this interview with Maria Diamond, she talks about the rise and fall of women in business, especially in male-dominated fields.
Tell us about your background and how it shaped you into the person you are today.
I’m a Black, Latinx, Caribbean woman living and working in Africa. I attended college in Chicago for two years and then started working full time. At that time, I was more interested in making a living for myself and supporting my family as the eldest of my siblings than in pursuing higher education. At first, I worked as a coordinator in corporate sales with insurance companies and real estate developers, while also selling cars and operating a concierge service. He then moved into the hospitality industry, where he discovered his passion for customer service.
As a Latin-Caribbean, growing up with a Trinidadian grandmother gave me a multifaceted cultural background that blended my native Caribbean roots with my West Indian upbringing. I grew up in a large family with 8 to 10 members (brothers and cousins), and my grandmother instilled in us (myself and my siblings) a natural disposition for honesty, integrity, and leadership. . That has helped shape my character up until now.
Tell us about the humble beginnings of your career path in Nigeria.
In 2008, I traveled to Lagos, Nigeria. There, “a series of business opportunities became a journey.” I founded my own company, RW Energy Solutions, where I worked as an international representative/broker, partnered with companies such as Shell and KBR, and traded oil and gas directly with Venro Petroleum, a subsidiary of Venezuelan oil company PDVSA. I worked on it. I closed his first deal in 2012, brokering between his RW Energy Solutions and The Sahara Oil Group. The rest is all up to the present day.
As a female international trade professional in a male-dominated field, please tell us about your experiences, challenges, and how you were able to excel among men.
When I first started my security business in Nigeria in 2013, I was the only female managing director in the role. I was also her exclusive agent for one of the top manufacturers of bulletproof products on the market. Of course, as a Latin Caribbean woman, I wanted to break boundaries. I have found that most of the time, people prefer to meet and talk to my male partner or personal assistant, mainly for cultural and religious reasons. As a civilian woman working with military commanders, I also faced challenges in gaining extensive knowledge of military products. There were also the occasional challenges of working as a woman in a male-dominated sector, where I was not considered knowledgeable or competent enough to manage a highly sensitive security and law enforcement contracting company. I have been able to succeed in this field mainly due to the fact that my product has been tested by the Nigerian security agencies and rated as one of the most highly rated lifesaving devices on the market. . Nigeria has learned that relationships are everything. I am humble enough to take a seat when necessary and train my staff well enough to lead when I cannot. I came to learn the cultural norms of Nigeria in order to succeed. By being consistent, professional, and honest while wearing your crown, you can break down gender barriers.
Based on your expertise in business development and management, and considering the massive economic downturn and inflation that is affecting businesses in Nigeria, it is important to note that the country is at risk of multiple business closures due to recession. If yes, what do you think is the solution?
Unfortunately, this is a harsh reality for many people. This is a double-edged sword for international investors as Africa, especially Nigeria, has great potential and will prosper in the near future. I will admit that in my time in this country, prior to the current economic situation in this country, I experienced several businesses having to close for various reasons. I’ve also seen companies start and grow at the same time. Regarding economic downturn, I think it is a common problem that most countries will face in the post-corona era.
Although there is always a risk of companies closing down, it is pertinent to emphasize that the country has a very viable environment with a huge amount of untapped potential. All I can say is that while governments are putting more effort into supporting businesses, especially given the somewhat tough business environment in addition to the other day-to-day challenges faced in doing business legally, business owners need to be resilient. All you have to do is demonstrate.
It has been observed that no matter how tough the situation is in Nigeria, nightlife businesses like the one you founded, Bolivar Bar, will not go out of business. Why do you think this is so?
I learned that there is a proverb in Nigeria that says, “Smile through suffering.” I also read that at one time, Nigeria ranked very high on the World Happiness Index. We are aware that these rankings have changed significantly over time, but we believe there is a reason why the index ratings were higher previously. During my time in this country, I realized that even in the face of adversity, Nigerians somehow manage to smile and live life to the best of their abilities. This is a very specific characteristic of Nigerians and I believe this contributes to both the Happiness Index rating and ultimately the success of not only the nightlife business but entertainment and hospitality in general. I am. We are so grateful to be able to celebrate our 5th anniversary at Bolivar. While we certainly have our usual challenges, we believe we have worked hard to align with our customer base and provide them with a free space to be who they are. Most of Bolivar’s customers are frequent customers 4-5 days a week, and we strive to provide a welcoming service, especially to our regular customers who continue to do business with us as repeat customers.
Beyond your business expertise, you also have an interest in Africa’s frontline protection products.I will guide you through this journey.
Front-line protection products are essential and are being deployed in every country. I specialize in bulletproof clothing, especially for celebrities such as presidents and governors. I got into this business when an opportunity presented itself. As a consultant, I represented a client at a security conference. Following the level of professionalism I displayed at that meeting, I was able to secure an exclusive contract arrangement to supply products to West Africa. As I was the sole contractor, I was responsible for achieving his agreed KPIs.
Fortunately, I took the opportunity and found myself in a position that allowed me to delve deeper into the security field, rising to my current position as Managing Director of the company.
Is there anything in your career path where you wish you had been a man, or where you feel you could have reached greater heights if you had been a man?
As mentioned earlier, women face many of the same challenges that any woman would face when trying to develop a business in a male-dominated industry. But at the same time, I’ve always been a woman, so these challenges come naturally to me. Although I feel that being a woman has some barriers, especially when dealing with people from different cultural/religious backgrounds, I also feel that being a woman has some advantages. I have to admit. Perhaps most important is the thrill and excitement of excelling despite these highlighted challenges. As a woman in this field, I definitely feel I can get more contracts. Men also tend to offer insight and want to show me their “firepower,” which can sometimes give me an advantage in negotiations. After all, being a man or a woman comes with its own challenges and benefits. I think we need to work on our strengths and not focus too much on the flaws of our gender.
Please tell us about the soccer club you own
I am a co-owner of a soccer team in Lagos. I used to be a player and was considered a top receiver until I retired and became an owner. I joined to personally work on my mental health and have a healthy outlet outside of work. This league has given me many perspectives and the opportunity to work with people in the community that I would otherwise have never interacted with. We work on developing players and recruiting them into more professional leagues like the NFL. One of my players was scouted by the American NFL and tried out. Being able to build this platform with fellow business owners is more than just a game, it bridges the gap in social norms and allows players from all walks of life to come together and participate. Everyone is treated equally when it comes to sports. The greatest joy is watching young women train, learn, play and make big plays. For me, watching Nigerian women play flag football with men and dominate is a priceless joy for me. Bolivar is an official sponsor and strives to contribute to the wider community in unique ways.
If you had not chosen this career path, what other career path do you think you would have chosen?
If I hadn’t chosen this path, I think my travels would have turned into commodity trading.
What advice would you give to young women who look to you as a role model?
Every dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember that you have the strength, perseverance, and passion within you to reach for the stars and change the world, says Harriet Tubman.
Go on, take a deep breath and keep choosing you. The world will adjust.
Looking ahead to the next 10 years, what success stories will Rasheda Walker have to tell, both professionally and personally?
Looking ahead, I start by looking back at the past 10 years and seeing how far I’ve come in that time. Coincidentally he moved to Nigeria 10 years ago. I have to say that I am extremely proud of what I was able to accomplish personally and professionally during that time. I have come to understand that it is difficult to plan ahead and chart the course of your destiny. From my own experience, I have found that in hindsight, the dots are often connected. In direct response, I would like to share with you a quote from the late Steve Jobs: We can only look back and connect. So we have to believe that the dots will somehow connect in the future. You have to trust something: your intuition, destiny, life, karma. “This approach has never let me down and has made a huge difference in my life.” I am able to conduct international business at a high level and be successful without the usual advanced education. I must admit that it was definitely due to the lack of education that prevailed. In some business transactions, it was possible to succeed without traditional educational qualifications. In the Nigerian environment, I am well known as being unusual and outside the norm. I created my own lane and stayed there, redefining most people’s impression of what an international businesswoman looks like. I will continue to build bridges between multicultural communities and prove that although our different backgrounds, cultures, and traditions shape us, ultimately we are all human.
What drives your work ethic?
My work ethic is driven by discipline, passion, eye for detail, and refined excellence. They set me apart in all my endeavors.
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Source: guardian.ng