Though born with silver spoon, she is not beclouded by the affluence rather she embraces hard work and laced it with integrity. She earns a living from what she started with as a passion. Uyok Hanson, whose mother is currently Nigeria’s Ambassador to Czech Republic, is the Chief Executive Officer, Lotus Fitness, a graduate of Sociology from the University of Abuja, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. She also had a diploma in Financial Management Systems from the Leeds Metropolitan University’s Small Business Summer Programme, and has a Financial Modeling and Valuation Certification from the American Investment Banking Institute in Houston, Texas. On her return from the UK, she worked with the United States African Development Foundation, where she specialised in Small Business Advisory services, business analysis, and financial management systems for grant access, and feasibility writing. She also worked with UK Owned Osprey Investments, a private equity and business advisory firm before quitting to run a Real Estate brokerage business in the United Arab Emirates. Senior Reporter, Anthonia Soyingbe encountered this trendy mother of two.
Uyok Hanson
Catching up with her that sunny Sunday was an easy task unlike what is obtainable with many top executives. One can’t take away fitness from her and so she was so fit and equally trendy and not skinny.
For her, she developed passion for fitness when she was 15 years old as she was having weight problem then, she embraced healthy eating and a very good diet plan.
Looking beyond her passion, Sunday Independent asked her how she got into the business since there are not too many women in that line of business, “I have a passion for fitness, health and nutrition. I am always talking with friends and families about weight maintenance and fitness. After we relocated to Lagos about a year ago from Abuja, we were looking for a gym around Lekki-Epe axis that will be affordable but what we go around this side was very much on the high side. It has been a huge success since we started and we are hoping to add some other services.”
Like many women will do, she has since introduced a healthy eating plan for her family. Although it wasn’t easy introducing it into her home but now she has successfully done that.
“Initially it was very tough because we Calabar people love to cook with lots of palm oil. When I started to cut back on many of the excessive eating, my family kicked against it, but now, they have seen the positive side of it. When I started, it was extremely tough and many people laughed at me. But when they begin to see the result, they joined me. We are all living healthy lifestyle now.”
Hard work runs in her blood and she proudly confessed that she works as if she is broke. “Hard work and open mindedness to receive whatever opportunity God brings my way have been the hallmark. I am not afraid to work hard and get my finger nails broken and I am not afraid to confront issues.”
Family often lays the foundation for human’s attainment in life. She confessed that her parents did not treat with levity when it comes to finance rather they encouraged her to labour too. “My background has helped but my parents are very strict and they always encourage us not to depend on them and they are not the type that will give you financial handout.
“My parents will tell you that they struggled to get money and so they expect you to also struggle to get your own. The best I can hope for in terms of opportunities from family is to create my own contact and ask for their help if I need their help.
Continuing: “I have being encouraged by my parents to do things on my own and they have always supported me. They actually thought I was going to end up in the civil service but my mind is too restless to be in the civil service and I don’t care the benefits in the future. When you have strong confidence and you have a marketable skill, you will get to a point where people will trust you with their ventures. When you are looking for opportunities, opportunities will definitely come. I also keep my eyes open and I grab whatever comes.”
Like most female entrepreneurs, she experiences some form of stereotypes which often discourages many. Tenaciously she wasn’t deterred, and today, she seemed to have overcome that. “Initially some people who have been to other gyms are often amazed when they see that a woman is in charge here but I am open and friendly and result-oriented. I am also very responsive to my clients. Once they see that you are responsive, they have confidence in you. I don’t think I experience much stereotype. The feminine touch is an added advantage for us in Lotus.”
She said her major challenge as a female entrepreneur is balancing family life and career. “The major challenge is balancing the home with my business. There are times you will need to close late but you have to shut the work down and go home because of family factors. The other challenge is being taken seriously especially when you are trying to raise finance and looking for partnership.
“Sexual harassment is another issue. There are some places you walk into and they can’t help but be naughty comments. At such time, you won’t respond to such and there is no need for some conversations. You just ignore it and move on. If it means not getting what you want, you walk away.”
Radiating inner joy and happiness she glowingly praised her husband for encouraging and standing by her in all her entrepreneurial endeavors. “I have a very supportive husband who encourages me to take a risk and achieve my dream. Before I started this business, I wasn’t sure if I could really fit in and when this opportunity came, I grabbed it with the full support of my husband. I still pick up my children from school and my home is doing very well.”
After she conceptualized the idea of running a fitness center, she was initially scared but with the network she has built over the years, it wasn’t too hard as she swung into action with the network of people. “When I took that decision, I was a bit scared that it wasn’t going to work, but it wasn’t too difficult because I have built my network before I quit paid employment. I also have a spouse who was also supporting any financial shortfall. I always tell people that there is always something to do and you don’t have to sweat especially when you have the gift of entrepreneurship.”
With the vision of setting more Lotus Fitness gym in different parts of Lagos, she confessed that her guiding principles in life are freedom and hard work. “Freedom is my personal guiding principle. I work very hard, I work as if I am broke and I need to do that, so that I can live like a rich person one day. I don’t have a lazy bone in my body and I don’t understand why some people are laid back and wait for people to come and do things for them. My family is equally very important to me and I don’t sacrifice my family on the altar of any opportunity whatsoever.”
The post I work very hard as if I am broke –Hanson appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.