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By Chinenye Anuforo
Women professionals and entrepreneurs have been urged to adopt intentional career strategies, build structured systems, and prioritize continuous self-investment as critical pathways to leadership and sustainable enterprise growth.
The call was made during a webinar organised by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) in commemoration of International Women’s Day, themed: “There Is No One Path: Designing Growth as Emerging Women Economic Actors.”
Industry leaders at the panel discussion, which focused on career advancement, entrepreneurship, and system-building, emphasised that success is rarely accidental but driven by deliberate choices and disciplined execution.
Speaking on career progression, a senior executive, Phyllis Migwi, stressed the importance of self-awareness as the foundation for growth, noting that professionals must make a clear choice between comfort and advancement.
“Growth and comfort cannot coexist,” she said, adding that individuals must take ownership of their career journeys. “It doesn’t matter who pays your salary, you must see yourself as working for yourself.”
She explained that defining personal non-negotiables, identifying value, and actively seeking opportunities are crucial steps in building a successful career. According to her, many professionals, particularly women, miss opportunities because they hesitate to “raise their hands” or step forward when they identify gaps.
Migwi also highlighted the role of mentorship, urging women to be intentional in seeking guidance and periodically evaluating the relevance of mentors to their evolving goals.
On entrepreneurship, business leader Dr. Chibuki Aigbe underscored the need for structure from the early stages of building a business, warning that lack of systems often limits growth.
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“You cannot scale chaos,” she stated.
She emphasised the importance of separating personal identity from business operations, registering businesses early, and maintaining financial discipline through proper bookkeeping and accountability.
Aigbe further advised entrepreneurs to clearly define their target market rather than attempting to serve everyone, noting that clarity in customer segmentation helps streamline decision-making and strengthens brand positioning.
She also stressed the need for decentralisation, explaining that businesses must evolve beyond being owner-dependent to achieve scalability.
From a policy and consumer advocacy perspective, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor highlighted the central role of customers in shaping business success, noting that enterprises must balance regulatory compliance with customer satisfaction.
“Businesses don’t do business with regulations; they do business with people,” she said.
She explained that understanding customer needs and building systems that prioritise user experience are essential for long-term sustainability. At the same time, she warned that failure to comply with regulatory frameworks could expose businesses to financial and reputational risks.
Professor Ndukwe-Okafor also encouraged entrepreneurs to remain proactive by staying ahead of regulatory changes and continuously expanding their knowledge base.
The panel further emphasised that curiosity, adaptability, and continuous learning are key drivers of both career and business growth, urging women to explore diverse opportunities and avoid limiting themselves to predefined paths.
Participants agreed that building sustainable success requires clarity, structure, and intentional action, with a strong focus on delivering value to people rather than merely operating within systems.
