Violette Wambua is the CEO and founder of Networking In Heels. She is a serial entrepreneur and quintessentially, a multipotentialite, with interests in tech, health, along with house and garden businesses. She is an experienced marketing and communications professional and was driven to grow Networking In Heels from her passion for women empowerment.

She is currently a PMP candidate, and will soon be a Certified Project Manager, and has plans to pursue a Law degree in the near future. Violette is also a writer and has recently co-authored a book ‘How We Rise’, a navigational guide for women who aspire to succeed.

1.Describe the business – What do you do and where are you based? 

Networking In Heels is an event series based in Nairobi, Kenya, and is designed to empower and connect professional women. It provides a platform for women to network, share experiences, and support each other’s personal and professional growth. The events often feature guest speakers, workshops, and interactive activities aimed at fostering meaningful connections and collaborations among attendees.

2. How did the business get started?

Networking In Heels was founded with the vision of creating a supportive and empowering community for women from various professional backgrounds. It began when I recognized the need for a dedicated space where women could share experiences, gain insights, and build meaningful connections outside of traditional networking environments.

The aim was to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in various industries, and provide a platform that goes beyond typical business networking to include personal growth and well-being. This vision led to the creation of events that blend professional development with wellness, social interaction, and mutual support. Through word-of-mouth and dedication, Networking In Heels quickly grew into a thriving community.

3. Is there a set of skills you need to run a business like this? Which ones do you have?

Yes, quite a number including: Ability to lead and inspire a team, set clear goals, and maintain a strategic vision for the organization, strong networking skills to build and maintain relationships with attendees, partners, sponsors, and speakers, expertise in organizing and managing events, including logistics, budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating with vendors, knowledge of marketing strategies, including social media, email marketing, content creation, and public relations to effectively promote events and attract attendees and managing finances, including budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring the financial sustainability of the business.

I possess a lot of these skills, naturally, by experience and by training, but I struggle with Financial Management, so I hired an accountant. I also recognize that my creative juices tend to dip when I am in burnout, so I consult a lot in that area. 

4. What would you like to see more of, especially in Kenya, when it comes to professional events and entrepreneurship?

I would like to see more inter-business collaborations to leverage resources and amplify impact, and partnerships, especially between large corporations and small businesses to provide resources, mentorship, and funding. I would also like to see more mentorship, diversity and inclusion at events, with a wide range of industries, career stages, and backgrounds represented. Accessibility and wellness are also important to me so I would like to see a push towards including those from underserved communities or with different needs and incorporating health and wellness programs and providing resources and support for mental health, including workshops, counseling, and stress management techniques.

5. Where did you find the inspiration for this business?

It was really a eureka moment that happened at a mixed gender networking event where I noticed that the women were hardly taking the mic, yet they were doing big things in their professions and businesses. I recognized the need for a supportive community where professional women could connect, share experiences, and support each other in their career journeys.

6. What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced? Lessons learned?

Consistently drawing in participants and ensuring they return for future events can be challenging. I’ve learned it’s essential to provide valuable content and experiences to keep attendees engaged. Also, coordinating all aspects of event planning, including venue selection, scheduling, catering, and technology, can be complex and time-consuming, and let me not get started on how difficult securing funding and managing the budget to cover expenses such as venue costs, marketing, speaker fees, and other operational costs can be.

Competing with other networking events and organizations for attendees, sponsors, and media attention can be tough. I recently experienced this during the International Women’s Day event, where there were a minimum of 15 events happening in Nairobi, all targeting the same niche.

Some of the key lessons I’ve learned so far are on the importance of building and managing relationships with everyone including employees, attendees, sponsors, partners, and speakers, actively seeking and learning from feedback, being flexible and adaptable to changes, upskilling when it comes to technology especially when working with limited resources, maintaining strong time and financial discipline, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and having a clear vision, metrics and evaluation methods for success. Another big one for me as a woman balancing family and entrepreneurship, is maintaining a healthy work-life balance by prioritizing my personal well-being.

7. What has been your proudest moment/achievement so far?

The proudest moments for Networking In Heels have been organizing successful events that received positive feedback from attendees and fostered meaningful connections. Seeing tangible results in the community, such as participants forming valuable professional relationships, advancing their careers, or starting collaborative projects, has been immensely rewarding.

8. Where would you like to see the business go over the next 3 years?

I’d definitely want to grow the event series to new cities and regions, both nationally and internationally, to reach and empower more professional women. I’m also looking to develop an online platform or mobile app to complement in-person events, offering virtual networking opportunities, webinars, and resources for members and form strategic partnerships with influential organizations, brands, and sponsors that align with our mission to provide additional resources, funding, and opportunities for members.

9. What advice would you give women looking to take the leap into running their own business?

Believe in Yourself. Confidence in your abilities and vision is crucial. Trust that you have the skills and determination to succeed. Make sure to conduct thorough research and develop a clear business plan to give you the best chance at success. Connect with other entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry professionals and embrace continuous learning. Celebrate every win, no matter how small and stay on top of your mental health to avoid burnout. 

Bonus Question

10. What are some of your favourite businesses/brands in the digital marketing space that are women owned/led in Africa?

I have 3 favourites.

Enya Séguin – YAPILI: YAPILI is a digital health platform that connects healthcare professionals and patients. 

Yvonne Muthoni – The Bantu Hub (Kenya): The Bantu Hub is a digital marketing and branding agency that helps businesses and entrepreneurs build their brand presence online.

Ife Durosinmi – Herconomy (Nigeria): Herconomy is a digital platform aimed at empowering women through various services, including digital marketing and financial literacy, fostering a community of women entrepreneurs.

You can get in touch with Violette and Networking In Heels through the contacts below.

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