Mum Naomi Agyekum is raising entrepreneurs
BY LISETTE FELIX
Wife and mother of three, Naomi Agyekum, runs a tight ship, balancing her home life with running a successful business, teaching young children to be entrepreneurs. Agyekum is the founder of Kids Deziah Business, a social enterprise for 7–17-year-olds.
Armed with a BA in Business with Sociology from Middlesex University and an MA in marketing from London Metropolitan University, Agyekum started her business in 2021 during the COVID pandemic, after her sister suggested she offer courses she has been working on for several years.
“I realized that there were a lot of young creative minds that would benefit from having this kind of opportunity to learn how to start a business, it’s like nurturing those aspirations from a young age.”
Agyekum’s own love for business dates back to childhood. “When I was 8 or 9, I would buy 20p stamps at the local corner shop and re-sell them to my friends and family for 25 pence, at a profit. I just thought it was a way for me to get some money. I would sell magazine posters like Smash Hits, Word Up and Just 17. I would bake cakes too. So, I have always been an entrepreneur in the real sense of the word,” she said.
Kids Deziah Business is a play on words, describing children’s lack of inhibitions who unlike adults are naturally risk takers. Agykeum believes her business stands out because of her long history in entrepreneurship.
“I studied and have worked in – I still work in – the environment of helping people set up their own businesses, developing those businesses and selling. Everything I learn, I incorporate back into the business, be it through a webinar for work or something new I have listened to. I love what I do.”
Agyekum attributes her strong work ethic and commitment to success to her African heritage. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, attendance, and the ability to balance multiple responsibilities.
“Having a full-time job and a ‘side hustle,’ was the way our parents did it, which is still true of my generation today and I am an example of that. I have a full-time job and my business. Thanks in part to the help and support of my husband.”
Kids Deziah Business, offers a £120 course, for six weeks focusing on six core steps including branding and marketing resulting in a product pitch to a panel of judges in a Dragons’ Den scenario.
“One thing that they all learn, and that I appreciate very much, is that in the very first session I say: look at everything around you as a business. What you wear, what you sit on, whether you have a phone or a laptop, whether you wear glasses, whether you wear earrings – all of that is somebody’s business.
“We had a young person who started a Slime business, which is fun for children to engage in but also has a therapeutic element to it. The same child didn’t continue with the slime business but did use the skills she had learnt to start her own lip gloss business two years later. “
Agyekum’s own children who range from six to 16, are all fledgling entrepreneurs and each is responsible for managing their own business as their role model mum taught them.
Esra, is the oldest, developed a football business which included active sessions combined with nutrition. These days he does not have much time as he plays for Tottenham Hotspur in their under 18 team. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Nya originally started a snack business called Own it Snacks, which changed into a fashion accessories business Own it Fashion. Her youngest daughter Niecy, 6, started Niecy’s Pieces which sells items for party bags.
Agyekum believes that her children and others she mentors gain financial independence through learning about money management in the course. “The aim is for it to become a habit for students. We do a model whereby they save some money and reinvest in the business, spend some and give back at least 10% to charity or just bless a friend.” The goal is to help young people move beyond their circumstances, she said. “You’re really giving them an option to say that you do not have to stay there, break the cycle.”
While classes are open to anyone, most participants are African Caribbean. Sessions are offered virtually in the evenings during the school term, but Agyekum hopes to get local funding so that she can hold them face to face. When not in class, students enjoy experiential activities like The Children’s Business Fair and with the Run Academy.
Agyekum has had positive feedback from parents and attendees including one parent who said that her daughter owes her passing a business studies exam to the course. Another student from America, is convinced that waking up at 3:04 am each morning to join the class live helped her achieve her professional goals. She is now a photographer, who makes her own greeting cards and postcards.
With just two teachers or course leaders, herself, and her sister, Agyekum is mulling over ideas for future expansion, maybe even teaching adults. “A couple of parents were like, why are you just doing this for the kids? We want to do it too,” she said.
For information visit: www.instagram.com/kidsdeziahbusiness
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Mum Naomi Agyekum is raising entrepreneurs
When entrepreneur Dennis Owusu-Sem launched his minority, youth-focused organization Success Talks UK in 2013, he didn’t let limited resources curtail his dream. A decade later, it has impacted hundreds through more than 30 live events, conferences and workshops which have hosted some of the most influential people in the country.
Owusu-Sem, an analyst, wanted to remove barriers that deter young people of color in the UK from being successful. He chose to focus on areas including learning computer coding, entrepreneurship and media, using apps as a way to reach his audience. “The world is always evolving and changing which is the main reason that we want to be able to provide the younger generation with these skills,” Owusu-Sem said.
The organization attaches great importance to the concept “Do more with less.” Owusu-Sem explained, “From my perspective, I think we try to do everything to the highest quality. And that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a lot of money. We just utilize all our resources properly to make sure when we do things; we do them to the best of our ability. That’s pretty much what it means.”
Doing just that Owusu-Sem has attracted some of the UK’s top professionals from all walks of life to assist in his cause. They include former corporate CEO Damon Buffini, Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu and orthopedic surgeon Samatha Tross, all of whom have spoken at the organization’s events.
PricewaterhouseCoopers, commonly known as PwC, a multinational professional services network, joined with Success Talks because of Sem’s methodology. Partner Paul Cleal said; “I believe this approach will be successful in engaging young people, because it has a good medium (the app) and a good message – I like the way he uses people from very different backgrounds to talk about where they came from and their journey to success, rather than simply where they are now. This helps people understand that successful people are just like them.” Cleal was pleased about some recent workshops and events; “We had a room full of people with lots of questions about what careers are like at PwC.”
Owusu-Sem who was born in London of Ghanaian parents, has a background in education, creating GCSE notes. He recalls that founding Success Talks UK was inspired by his passion for his role as president of the African-Caribbean Society at the University of Bath and for creating computer apps.
Technology is at the center of the organization’s educational efforts and participants are encouraged to be innovative. “When you stop innovating, others catch you up and you can get left behind. We have to stay relevant and useful to the people we want to attract,” Owusu-Sem emphasized.
Owusu-Sem has used personal networks to fund the non-profit’s operation, using its flagship events to draw the attention of a wider audience and to promote its cause and services.
Many have come in contact with Success Talks through word of mouth or advertisement. “The first time I heard about Success Talks was when I went to an Oxford University conference by their African and Caribbean Society, and Success Talks advertised their organization and one of their insight workshop there,” student Liberty Martin said. Martin was a participant at the organization’s maiden event, a pitch camp, where young participants were taught how to become better public speakers. Mohammed Hammeda who also took part contacted Owusu-Sem after finding out about the free workshop. “We were afforded with the opportunity to speak in front of a lot of people, so we increase our confidence,” he said.
With already several well-attended events under its belt, Success Talks UK’s has big plans for the future. Owusu-Sem said he would like his organization to be global in five years; “And by global I mean I want us to become a one stop shop, where we can gather speakers from different ethnic backgrounds and from all over the world.”
Owusu-Sem is also working on a program, called Internship’s Insight event, where professionals who have overcome adversity to become successful share their respective experiences with the younger generation.
“This will enable the younger generation to realize, that even though they come from a challenging background, people have become triumphant and successful, without necessarily being a member of a well-to-do family or graduating from a higher learning institution,” Owusu-Sem said.
For more information about Success Talks UK, visit http://www.success-talks.co.uk/
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