7°c Partly cloudy
8°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Network gives entrepreneurs a leg up
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Segun Olude: working together
LOCAL African-Canadian entrepreneurs have created their own business network in a bid to grow their businesses and encourage other newcomers to follow in their footsteps.
The People of African Heritage Business Network (PAH Business Network) has eight founding members, some of who have been around for a decade or more and others who have been in business for less than a year.
-
Manitoba's history is built on a foundation provided by settlers from the U.K., who came here seeking better lives
-
As city's population experiences dramatic growth, Indo-Canadian pioneers recall their warm Winnipeg welcome
-
Immigration from the Philippines has transformed Manitoba, with the province's Filipino community reaching 60,000 due to an immigration boom over last five years
-
Africa is one complex and gloriously unmanageable 'theme' to choose to kick off our 2012 series, Our City Our World, which is why it took up the whole newspaper on Jan. 18.
Related Items
"One of the reasons we started it is our belief that we need to bring together all African-heritage businesspersons and prospective entrepreneurs to brainstorm on how we can best build and widen our business network...," said network chairman Lana Adeleye-Olusae.
Adeleye-Olusae, who owns Surefooting Consulting, Training and Coaching, said it's difficult to get a handle on exactly how many PAH businesses there are in Winnipeg because many are part-time, home-based enterprises rather than full-time, storefront operations. But his best guess is there are at least 30.
The ones who belong to the business network include an accounting firm, a graphic-design studio, a financial and investment advisory company, a beverage manufacturer/marketer and several consultants in the management consulting, import-export and information technology fields.
A second reason for launching the network was to encourage more immigrants to consider entrepreneurism as a career and show them where to go for information and help in launching and growing their business.
"A lot of times they don't necessarily know what the rules are or even know where to start," said Segun Olude, another network founder and owner of Indigo Ink Studios, a local graphic-design shop. "They just have ideas."
Olude said network members can also offer advice and provide services for the fledgling firms.
"I've done business with a couple of the other members already. That's another thing we try to encourage."
A third reason for establishing the network was to help PAH businesses connect with other local businesses through organizations like the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, where the network has its own chapter.
"It's not just about African businesses working with African businesses," Olude said. "You can't work in a vacuum."
Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Dave Angus said about half a dozen ethnic business groups belong to the Winnipeg chamber, including groups from the Islamic, Filipino, Latin American, Indo-Chinese and aboriginal communities.
murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 18, 2012 B6
More Africa
- Back to Top
- Return to Africa
Poll
Proudly brought to you by:
Most Popular Africa
- Immigration stats from A to Z
- Their cup of tea: Former Nigerian residents brew a unique business here
- Friendship spawns new mindset, charity, book
- Non-African's Guide to African Food in Winnipeg
- African students have much to teach Canadian peers
- Refugees answer churches' prayers
- Exotic eats: Intrepid foodie discovers unusual, delicious foods while exploring the aisles at Dino's
- Lessons Learned: In Chad, ‘one learns the art of living in the moment’
- Child soldiers: You can do something
- Trip to Ghana changed drummer's life
- Lessons Learned: 'An amazing experience'
- Non-African's Guide to African Food in Winnipeg
- Immigration stats from A to Z
- Francophone community grows
- Their cup of tea: Former Nigerian residents brew a unique business here
- Refugees answer churches' prayers
- Immigrants bring wealth of work skills
- Land of opportunity and snowmen
- Child soldiers: You can do something
- Non-African's Guide to African Food in Winnipeg
- Trip to Ghana changed drummer's life
- Seeking new life, finding gang life
- Immigration stats from A to Z
- Francophone community grows
- Faces of Africa: Former African residents share their first impressions of Manitoba
- Lessons Learned: 'An amazing experience'
- Their cup of tea: Former Nigerian residents brew a unique business here
- Friendship spawns new mindset, charity, book
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.