wil newsletter may 2010[1]

MAY 2010 1. WIL NEWSLETTER Edition 01

WOMEN IN

LEADERSHIP NETWORK (WiL)

Tips from the top:

Habits of Mizinga Melu10

The Alchemy

“Show me a Woman”An Award to recognize contributions of women in Zambia.

Monthly SurveyEmployer of Choice - Banking Sector

Meet Alchemist of the month - Guy Phiri

Alchemy HR Solutions Ltd.

WELCOME to the first edition of The Alchemy Women in Leadership (WiL) Network Newsletter: WiL - Powerful Beyond Measure.

This is the first of its kind in Zambia – a Newsletter that focuses solely on connecting women and empowering them with information which will further propel them to fully achieving their destinies. The focus

of this first edition is to encourage women to take control of their destinies. I recently saw a Blackberry advert with the heading

Become CEO of your Life and it resonated with the objectives of the network. Having worked as a Human Resources practitioner for over 15 years, it never ceases to amaze me how many people

expect their respective employers to have a blueprint for their careers. The hard reality is that very few organisations do. Relinquishing your destiny to your organisation will not get you where you want to get. It is absolutely critical for you to know where you want to go and then make it happen.

We have held a series of sessions where we have invited speakers who have done exactly this. The Women in Leadership Seminar in November 2009 saw Judge Lombe Chibesakunda share with us the challenges she faced as a pioneer in the 70s as one of the first women in Zambia in both the legal profession as well as in the diplomatic service. We laughed in sympathy as she recounted how she was repeatedly asked when the Ambassador, her husband, would be arriving when she attended a function in one of her missions. Guy Phiri in the March 2010 Alchemy Mentorship Programme, Unlimited, emphasised how critical it is to not only define your own success, but to also proactively pursue it and not to limit yourself by thinking small. Defining your own success is about the quality of your whole life and not just what should be a compartment of your life, your career.

We build on this theme this month as we launch the network with Mizinga Melu, the MD for Standard Chartered Bank. As a returning Alchemist (she spoke at the November 2009 Women in Leadership Session) she requested that she share with the women who attended the November event her view on success, which is about taking control of your life – your career, your personal finances and attaining a work life balance that ensures a more complete or holistic approach to life. In a nutshell becoming CEO of your life means a more sustainable and enriched life. See you there?

Become CEO of your life!

2. WIL NEWSLETTER Edition 01


Tips from the top:

Habits of Mizinga Melu10

Know what you are good at - you will find it easier to 1. excel at what you are good at. Visualise your future, where you will be in 3 years in 5 years.Your behaviour, attitude and appearance matters.2.

Dress for your next job.•Behaviour - your conduct matters .•A positive attitude is important.•

Networking matters.3. Seek out people you don’t know, people you can

learn from, people who can help you achieve your goals. Connect with people who will support you in your next role and maintain a connection with them. Expand your network, expand your ability to succeed.

Surround yourself with the right people.4. The sounding boards - people you can bounce •

things off.The all weather friends - people you can be •

yourself with. The cheering squad – people who will always •

encourage you to be your best.Don’t aim for perfection in your work sometimes it 5. delays.Don’t share too much information, especially personal 6. information. It can be used against you or diminish what people think of you.Try and be one of the first three people to ask 7. questions in a meeting - people always remember these questions and the people who raised them the best.Learn to say no, don’t over commit yourself. 8. Be bold. Take courage. Don’t ask for permission, if in 9. doubt act and apologise later - don’t ask permission to do things.Work the hours overtime and beat the deadline.10.

THE INTERNET age has brought many marvelous tools to enhance our networking. However it hasn’t been without it’s hitches. Most of us open accounts on Hi5, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter and never to visit the sites again. This can work to our disadvantage as it now been widely reported that potential employers now “Google” you to see what you are really like. Your CV maybe glowing with wonderful work experience but your Facebook page depicts a contrary image of drunken binges that may leave that potential employer with a bad taste in their mouth and you ending up losing your shot at the dream job.

So here are a few of the many tips to consider as you go about your networking;

1. Be careful what you write. Keep in mind that just about anything that is online can be read by someone - or everyone. If you don’t want the world to read what you’ve posted, make sure they can’t. Don’t put it online or post it anonymously.

2. Don’t just join popular sites, take some time to find the people you are trying to reach and the conversations you are trying to join. Virtual groups like “I Drink More Beer than Water.” might seem harmless enough to you, but for a potential employer trying to find a mature candidate for an open position, it doesn’t leave a great impression.

3. Ensure that your information is updated

periodically on your pages. There’s nothing as bad as having a picture of yourself in the year 2000 on your page. Just as you’d make sure to wear your best clothes to an interview, polish your profile with the same care. You don’t have to update your page daily, set aside once a week to update your page or alternatively, you can temporarily deactivate your profile until you are ready to network.

4. A strategic way to build your network is to use a “friend-of-a-friend” approach. Avoid random or open-ended outreach, which can distract you and waste time.

5. Whether on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc, your profile pic is worth a thousand WORDS. A major part of your social

networking personality is your profile pic and your profile bio. The first rule of profile pics and biographies is to stay consistent across social platforms. You are a brand and so you have to be very careful with the brand image you are sharing online. Don’t brand your personality for the day, the month or the year. This is serious stuff. What you post stays around for a pretty long time and the information (good and bad) isn’t too hard to find. Your posts offer vast archives of information about you.

As with anything in life, there are rules/guidelines and if you follow them you will reap the benefits. We would love to hear from you, what are your thoughts on online social networking?

Please send your comments & contributions to [email protected]

Online Social Networking



MY MOTIVATION to write this article on the subject of Family Business Constitutions, which I recently stumbled across would not have seen the light of day - despite an initial attempt to pen it down - had I not read the Times of Zambia article of Friday 9th April 2010 headed ‘Pick n Pay projects $27m investment’, which is summarised in the caption below.

Upon reading this article, I had some aha-Alchemy moments for the following reasons:-

Firstly, to quote Mrs. Sylvia B. Mwansa’s advice to the Alchemy network in her email of 6th April 2010 which stated... “I encourage you to belong to at least three networks and this way, you will always have a connection and know what is going on in the environment. It’s time to stop wondering what is going on when you read or see articles in the media.”

And for sure, for me, the above-captioned Times newspaper article on the Pick-n-Pay investment in Zambia could easily have passed as one of those business-as-usual articles had it not been for some recent information that I stumbled across prior to reading the article concerning its founder Mr. Raymond Ackerman. This made me put 2-and-2 together and sigh ‘aha’ ...so that’s what Mrs. Mwansa meant about understanding articles that you read or see in the media.

Secondly, my understanding that the ability of Pick-n-Pay to make this significant (and admirable) investment in Zambia, was

- in addition to its business growth strategy - rooted in part to the family business constitution of the Ackerman family and the vision of its founder Mr. Raymond Ackerman as espoused in his book - The Four Legs of the Table by Raymond Ackerman & Denise Prichard.

In the usual summary tale of ‘one-thing-led-to-another’, the sequence of my discovery of the subject of family business constitutions, and the book entitled The Four Legs of the Table was through the following ‘Googled’ articles –

At this stage you’re probably wondering ......how ? ..or what ?....triggered my discovery of all this information? Surprisingly, it was a simple –but not quite so simple- question in the Alchemy survey of the following email:

The culpable question in the survey was ‘where do you see yourself 5 years from now?’. Easy I thought, because obviously from my current position at work I expected to be promoted to a more senior position. But in terms of my the 5-year plan of a small family business ....my response was – managing the strategic growth of family business interests. I was amused by this response as these were certainly big words when you consider that they apply to a

An aha-Alchemy Moment !Family business constitutions vis-à-vis Pick N Pay projected $27m investment in Zambia

Building lasting legacies – Family owned businesses by Dudu Msomi

http://www.destinyconnect.com/blogs/nomdayi/archive/2009/10/04/building-lasting-legacies-family-owned-

businesses.aspx

Heritage and Tradition in Family Business: How Family-Controlled Enterprises Connect the Experience of their Past to the Promise of

their Future by Richard L. Narvahttp://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=365222340&page_url=%2f%2fwww.genusresources.com%2fsite%2fcontent%2fpublications%2farticles%2fnarva_heritage.

asp&page_last_updated=4%2f28%2f2006+5%3a10%3a59+AM&firstName=Wendy&lastName=Ackerman

THE FOUR LEGS OF THE TABLEAckerman, Raymond & Prichard, Denise

Raymond Ackerman is the chairman and founder of Pick ‘n Pay, the most successful re-tail chain in southern Africa, with over 350 outlets. In this, his sec-ond book, he reveals the secret of his success with a marketing philosophy based on the model of ‘the four legs of the table’ that can be applied worldwide. The book also looks at the five mentors of Mr. Ackerman, their achievements and how they contributed to the growth of Acker-man’s personal and business principles.

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 28 March 2010 15:55Subject: Alchemists Network

Dear All

We plan on formalising our women in leadership network and offering services and products to members. Please fill in the questionnaire below to better enable us meet your expectations http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XSB6V8DChimango

- Kabinda Kawesha


Family Business Constitutions and Governance

Family business may be the greatest secret never told, or at least never reported......Some family-controlled business enterprises are values-driven endeavours and the core values upon which strategic and tactical decisions in such companies are founded are often rooted in the history and experience of the founding family. .....There are successors whose lives and business leadership can both be illuminated by these values. Thus, the company is more than a financial balance sheet. It is a heritage: “Something other than property passed down from a preceding generation”

Abundant literature exists advising families who control businesses to create governance structures for their families which parallel the structures that control their business enterprises, e.g., family assemblies or family councils as parallel counterparts to a corporation’s board of directors.

small catering business. However, this left me with some lingering

thoughts on what more I could achieve beyond the growth of this family business, and more specifically, I began to ponder more on the issue of family legacy, because at the end of the day, my desire as a parent would be to ensure that the business was passed on as an inheritance to my children.

Thus, my ‘Google’ search on the topic of family legacies in the management of business led me to the following articles - ‘Building lasting legacies – Family owned businesses by Dudu Msomi and Heritage and Tradition in Family Business: How Family-Controlled Enterprises Connect the Experience of their Past to the Promise of their Future by Richard L. Narva, where I was intrigued by the following statements from the articles:-

Often, but not as often as suggested, such family structures are useful. But when the formality of such structure is advisable, it may often be rendered much more effective by the process of creating a formal written document--herein denominated a family constitution--which as the constituent document establishing family governance serves to connect the family’s core values and commitments to future family control of the enterprise to the enterprise’s own core values and governance structure. Consider the following language from the preamble of the Ackerman family’s constitution establishing its family council:

PreambleWe, the Ackerman Family, resolve to work together to ensure the continued profitability and vitality of the Ackerman Family Interests. We, the members of the Ackerman Family, while recognizing each other’s individuality and respecting any differences in opinion which may arise, do personally commit ourselves to work together in the interests in such a manner that will promote total harmony. We recognize that family harmony is essential for continuation and growth of the Ackerman Family Interests. We believe it is important for the family to serve the business. We recognize our Family Interests as v a l u a b l e a s s e t s that have provided us with our l i f e s t y l e and the resources to enjoy many

opportunities. The family business provides qualified members of the family with meaningful career opportunities and rewarding employment for family and non-family members. Our family business embodies the values that have been passed down to us through the generations and is an important part of our family’s heritage, and we strive to abide by high moral standards in all that we do. We seek to continue as a family controlled business, to pass ownership of the Ackerman Family Interests to the future generations, and to provide employment for qualified family members in Family Enterprises. We recognize that given the size, complexity and competitive nature of our family business, it is necessary to involve non-family members in management. (Ackerman Family, 2000)

I have few words to express how confounded I was with these articles, and particularly those contained in the Ackerman’s family Constitution, suffice to

say that I was impressed and humbled for my search on the topic of family legacies had yielded results beyond my expectations!

For me, the discovery of the concept of a Family Constitution presented hope and a living testament for parents, children and family members to develop a vision and

heritage of the family business to be passed on from generation to generation. I use the word ‘living- testament’ deliberately because the one word or document that we are accustomed to in terms of understanding how family businesses will be passed on is the ‘Will’. But as for the family constitution...now that’s hope!

So with this discovery, inspired by the Alchemy survey question on ‘where do I see myself in 5 years time? - you’ve guessed right! I’ve since purchased the book entitled THE FOUR LEGS OF THE TABLE, through Dot.com Zambia [email protected] and wish Pick-n-Pay success and prosperity as they come to invest in Zambia.

Categories for the award •Communitywork/outreach•Professionalwomen•Entrepreneurs•Mothers

We look for women who have demonstrated Ubuntu by giving back and being selfless in the way they give by being nurturers and encouragers. We look at women who encourage collaboration and foster environments where people can thrive in a collaborative way. We look for women who through their integrity, diligence, leadership style inspire and engender admiration from other women.

The Alchemy

“Show me a Woman”

Award is to recognize contributions of women in Zambia.


Top 5 8. WIL NEWSLETTER Edition 01

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”Marianne Williamson

The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.Oprah Winfrey

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.Maya Angelou

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.Eleanor Roosevelt

Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his/her goals.Dr Dorothy I Height

favourite quotesAlchemy WIL

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Ask the Experts

With Chimango Chikwanda, Director Alchemy HR Solutions

I run a family owned business which has grown over the years. We now have over 200 employees. When we started the business 10 years ago we employed two gardeners on a casual basis, we never drew up contracts for them. They have been with us 10 years now.

We had to fire them recently because of some thefts which we knew they had committed. We have just been informed that we are required to compensate them for years served despite the fact that they were not on an employment contract and despite the fact that they were caught stealing from us. What should we do?

The Employment Act provides for verbal contracts, so although there isn’t a formal contract of employment the fact that they have been working for you and you have been paying them on a monthly basis, they are protected by the Act.

My advice to you would be that you engage your lawyers and their representatives, if they have some, and find out what they want in terms of terminal benefits. The minimum you would most likely have to pay is 2 months for every completed year served as per the Redundancy clause for verbal contracts.

We strongly advise you to immediately normalise the situation by introducing a Disciplinary Code, ensuring all your employees have contracts of employment, and that the Conditions of Service and Policies and Procedures are current. Further instant terminations are frowned upon by the Industrial Relations Courts as every employee is considered to be entitled to have a fair hearing in any case. Some training for your Managers and Supervisors on how to conduct a disciplinary case is also advised.

Why gamble with your business?

Alchemy HR Solutions Ltd.

Tel +260 211 236898 / Mobile +260 97 7770805 Email [email protected] / Website www.alchemyhr.com

Contact Alchemy HR Solutions for specialised HR advisory solutions.

Administrative SupportEmployee Record & File •

ManagementFacilitation of Compliance Training•

Operational HR GuidanceStaffingProcessDevelopment•RecruitmentofKeyExecutive•

PositionsNewHireOrientationProcess•

Policy&Procedure•Development

Strategic SolutionsPerformanceManagement•

SystemDevelopmentRetention Strategy•

LeadershipPlanning&•Development

OrganizationDesign•Consulting

AFTER secondary schooling in Lusaka (Roma Girls) followed by graduating in Architecture from Copperbelt University (CBU) with an MA from Belgium, I pursued a career in architecture and design. I was based mainly in Lusaka but with much travel within Zambia and abroad.

In 2006 I married Adam Lethbridge, a British businessman who has himself lived in Zambia for many years. At the age of 38, after having two children in quick succession I felt what all women feel – elated but tired and needing pampering and relaxing! I was also looking for a new challenge in business to complement my full family life (four children altogether).

I have always been convinced that professional and personal dreams can be fulfilled together and I was myself inspired by my friends and contemporaries who have successfully combined family life with business pursuits. I like to think that I

am a good ‘multi-tasker’ and I have always maintained my interests in architecture, landscaping, floristry and property development.

When I opened Avocado in March 2009, it was the realisation of a dream that I had for a long time – to own and run a Health and Beauty business.

My philosophy at Avocado is no different to my approach to my other interests; if it’s worth doing, do it properly. We took great care in choosing the location, the equipment, the products and most importantly the staff in order to create something to be proud of – Lusaka’s first all comprehensive Hair and Day Spa offering the full range of beauty, hair and body treatments. Location is essential and our premises offers the space, tranquillity and privacy that are so important.

Avocado has made a very satisfactory start but good standards, once set, must

be maintained and constantly improved, particularly in the personal service industry and our regular clients will notice that we are always adding new features to raise the standards, from new massage facilities, to a retail beauty shop and a different coffee shop menu to name a few.

The range of services that Avocado offers include full Spa facilities of massage, pedicure, manicure and all body treatments together with a hair salon with stylists for all hair types. We also have a very popular barber shop to complement the many men’s facilities.

I believe we offer a unique combination of quality with affordability in beautiful and accessible surroundings. My vision is for personal and customer satisfaction – but in all my businesses the customer always comes first!

PassionEarning


Avocado proprieter, Mwangala Lethbridge


Powerhouse- Monica Musonda

YOU sometimes meet people who are larger than life, their aura and energy is so powerful it permeates the whole room when they walk in – you instantly feel their presence. When I reflect and think of people I know personally who have had that effect on me, three women’s names jump out at me: Margaret Mwanakatwe, Mizinga Melu and Monica Musonda. I met Monica Musonda 15 years ago when she was still in University and remember asking my sister when Monica left the room “who was THAT?”

We never became close friends, but we moved in the same circles so I often heard of her progress. What amazed me most was her courage, first she was in the UK doing her masters, then she moved to South Africa and worked for one of South Africa’s leading law firms, then in Washington with the International Finance Corporation and most recently I heard she had somehow found herself in Nigeria working for one of Africa’s richest men - Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Forbes Magazine ranked him as the 3rd richest person of African descent at US$2.5bn after Mohamed Al Amoudi (US$9bn) and Oprah Winfrey (US$2.7bn). She was personally recruited by him and reports directly to him. She also sits on two of Dangote’s Boards and represents the Group on a number of international associations and committees.

She is currently Director Legal and Corporate Affairs for Dangote Cement in Nigeria. The Dangote Group is one of the leading conglomerates in Sub-Saharan Africa, generating annual revenues in excess of $2bn and with over 8000 employees. The Group’s interests are diverse – the most significant of which are basic commodities e.g. sugar, salt, flour, cement etc. The Group is currently embarking on the construction of a 1.5mtpa cement plant in Ndola, which Monica (for obvious reasons) is heavily involved, in ensuring that the project comes on line, on time and on budget!

Monica obtained her LL.B from the University of Zambia and holds a Masters degree in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London. She is dual qualified – Zambian Advocate and Solicitor of England and Wales. She manages a team of lawyers, advising on all corporate & finance transactions including negotiating multi-million dollar contracts and negotiating acquisitions, the most significant valued being a US$350m project financing transaction. She is currently advising on the consolidation of Dangote’s cement assets in West Africa and the subsequent listing of the merged entity on an international exchange. She is only in her early 30s.

I had the privilege of chatting with Monica on her path, achievements and asked her for any advice she had to offer Zambian women about wakening the giant within them.

QA&


1. To what do you attribute your success?(a) Dreaming Bigger and being goal orientedFrom a young age I always dreamt big and set myself goals. I remember when I was at university, I knew I wanted to do commercial legal work and so focused my attention on trying to achieve that. By the time I graduated, privatisation had begun and my work at the Attorney General’s office allowed me to achieve this goal. Every step I have taken since then has been to achieve a personal goal I have set for myself – each goal being bigger and more challenging.

(b) Having Great MentorsI have been fortunate because I have had many good people around me to guide and mentor me and walk with me through my professional career. Three people immediately come to mind, Valentine Chitalu, Moky Makura and Bunmi Akinremi.

Valentine has been a great mentor and inspiration, who has been there for me through ever step I have taken professionally. He has always challenged me – making me think deeper about my decisions and the path I wanted to take. He has also guided me to think outside the box, think beyond a legal role and has offered great business advice.

Most people know Moky because of her TV roles but to me, she is like an older sister. She has been an important source of personal strength and drive for me. She always reminds me about having focus, understanding what you want and believing nothing is impossible. I met Bunmi at a time when I felt I was losing my passion for the work I was doing and was feeling “stuck”. He taught me about taking calculated risks and also more importantly stressed that I run my own race and never focus on what other people were doing!

(c) Building a Contact Network and leveraging it!I have built my career – particularly being in a service industry – through my contact network. I have learnt that your network is your “net worth” and so many opportunities open up once you learn to leverage them. It doesn’t matter if you meet someone at a conference, a meeting or even a casual contact. For instance, I first interacted with the International Finance Corporation way back in 1997 on a transaction. I was a junior lawyer then but I kept the contact and they came in handy later on!

(d) Believing that failure is not an option It’s not been an easy road but I believe that God did not bring me this far to fail! And I remain truly thankful for all He has given me! Not everything has worked out exactly the way I wanted – but all setbacks are learning opportunities/experiences - you take positive steps, adapt, dust yourself off and move on!

(e) Having Passion for what you doThis is very important – it’s not about showing up for work and getting a pay check at the end of the month. It’s about living your work experience, wanting to contribute, to provide leadership, to ensure the success of your company (and ultimately be a part of that success)!

2. If you were advising young women who aspire to your position, what deliberate strategies would you tell them to follow? (a) Raise your Standards. Believe that you can do more, don’t tolerate mediocrity in yourself and in others. Write down all the things that you will no longer

accept in your life and all the things that you aspire to become! Know what you want!

(b) Change your limiting beliefsIf you raise your standards, but don’t believe that you can achieve them, then you won’t win the race! Believe that you can do…even if it means taking small steps!

(c) Skill up and create your own enabling environmentActively put yourself in the right environment to better create opportunities for yourself.

(d) Network!I am a strong believer in networking. I must however emphasise that it must be ‘deliberate, informed and intelligent networking.’ Learn the game! Keep in touch with people after you meet them, even if the encounter doesn’t initially lead to a business lead, you now have created a relationship with the person which you or someone you know might be able to leverage at a later point in life. I often say that I want to be “Mizinga Melu” when I grow up because in many of my meetings, when people hear I am from Zambia – they ask if I know Mizinga. A champion networker! We can all learn networking strategies from her!

(e) Put your hand up!Don’t be afraid to let it be known that you aspire for great things, for a leadership position or to tell them that you will have their job in a few years time. Let people know that you are coming….

(f) Identify a mentorIdentify someone who has a quality you admire or that you respect or is willing to coach you and guide you. Mentor other people and give back. Mentoring other people also refreshes and gives you confidence in yourself.

3. What personality traits do you need to get to where you are I think I am a fairly A type personality – competitive, strong achievement orientation, a bit aggressive (sometimes!) but clear about what I want. I am always trying to achieve excellence and sometimes this is difficult because it puts a strain on me personally and on my team! But, all in all I am professional and hard working. I do try to find the balance between being aggressive and being approachable but never at the expense of getting the job done. In terms of management style, I believe I am participative – I encourage feedback from my team but I am also a very hands on manager, which is at times construed as being a micromanager. The quality of my deliverables is very important to me, so I do tend to closely monitor output.

4. Have you ever felt disadvantaged as a woman?No – not as a woman.

5.What challenges have you faced?

When I lived in South Africa, I felt •disadvantaged because I was not a black South African (for purposes of BEE regulations) and so sometimes I wasn’t able to work on certain mandates or included in certain meetings. But what it did for me was to allow me to stand out because of my professional ability (if I was in a meeting, it wasn’t because I was a black face) and as a result I was made partner at my firm and I managed to carve out a niche for my practice fairly early.Finding “work-life” balance and finding •time for myself and my family. I have a larger team now and so its’ a whole lot better. In the past I used to wake up and try to remember which country I was in and which transaction I was working on!I miss being in Zambia and being directly •involved with what’s happening there.I also realise being seen as aggressive •does have its downside – not everyone can handle it and you will definitely not be winning the “popularity race”!Working in Nigeria has also been •a big adjustment for me! It’s a very aggressive business environment with very successful Nigerian entrepreneurs looking for the next big thing! There are lots of very educated, smart people vying for the same job and so you learn very quickly to be on top of your game at all times, making sure you are available to do work at short notice at anytime of the day! Also because of the size of the market, it attracts many of the big players across all the sectors and you have to quickly learn to walk the walk, talk the talk and understand the business environment you operate in. Watching Quest on Business is not enough!

6. What was your lowest point in your career? Did you ever feel like giving up? What kept you going, from where did you draw your strength? I once made a career move at a wrong stage in my life. I left a challenging position to join an organisation which I felt was bureaucratic and hierarchical. I felt that I was not able to have much client interaction or to participate in the

type of work I wanted to. It was very frustrating because I knew I had capacity for some much more! I didn’t stay long and moved on….and never looked back.

7. What advice do you have for other women? What is your wish for other women?Take it to the next level. It is great to see more women assuming leadership positions, but even more need to assume frontline positions. Women are so hardworking and dedicated – they need to come out of the shadows and participate. Also – live life, love what you do and leave a legacy! We all need to think of giving back!

8. What business book has made the biggest impact on you and the way you think? Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. Keith writes about building lifelong relationships one at a time as a secret to success!

9. What other book, not business, has made the biggest impact on you and the way you think ?I like the author Jhumpa Lahiri especially Unaccustomed Earth. She writes about Indian immigrants in the US and their struggles to maintain their culture in their new reality, their conflicts over working and advancing in corporate America vs. raising a family with a strong sense of Indian culture and identity.

10. People look at you and think you were just lucky – in the right place at the right time…I don’t believe it’s about luck – but about making informed decisions and committing to the result. You create your own luck. I made very clear and definite decisions – I chose not to marry early so I could pursue my career. I chose to take a step back into law practice in 2002 (taking a rather big pay cut!!) so that I could sharpen my legal skills. I chose to take a job with one of Africa’s leading conglomerates so that I could learn more about what it takes to run a business in Africa. We are all faced with opportunities at some point in our lives – it’s about the decisions we make and what we do with the opportunities when they are presented to us that matters!

11. I admire your drive and ambition in attaining your goals. Do you ever stop to smell the roses and enjoy life outside your passion, which is your job?Though my career and goals are important to me, I do pursue other areas of my life with the same passion. “What’s the saying - all work and no play....” I love entertaining around food and at home! I love to cook for people and to try out new recipes. Entertaining especially at home has allowed me to personally connect with people, and I think this is why networking comes so naturally to me. AS Keith Ferrazzi says Never Eat Alone! Also, I took up running when I moved to the US. I have run a few races since then (the Army Ten Miler being the longest so far) and am working on running a marathon at some point next year! Wish me luck....

12. Do you consider your self successful?Not yet ….as long as I work for someone else, I do not consider myself to be successful. Have I done well – Yes! Will I get where I want to be….without a doubt!


Career Time lineJune 2008 to date Director - Legal and Corporate Affairs Dangote Cement Plc (Lagos, Nigeria)

April 2006 – April 2008 Senior Counsel - International Finance Corporation (Washington DC, USA)

April 2002 – March 2006 Partner Edward Nathan Corporate Law Advisers (Johannesburg, South Africa)

February 2000 - March 2002 Legal Counsel - Africa Media Group (TVAfrica) (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Dec 1998 – Jan 2000 Lawyer - Clifford Chance (London, UK)

1996-98 State Advocate - Attorney General’s Chambers (Lusaka, Zambia)


Alchemist of the month - Guy Phiri

We invite the Alchemist of the Month to select a book which has made a significant impact on them in their careers or book they are reading now (see Guy Phiri’s profile above). Those interested to read the book can place an order with us and we will get the book.

What the Alchemist of the month is readingThe Mind of a Fox - Scenario Planning in Action Many of the world’s true leaders in politics, business and sport have succeeded by adopting the mental processes typical of the ingenuity of one of nature’s most resourceful animals - the fox. Are these mental processes extraordinary? No, they are perfectly natural, and can be a powerful tool in scenario planning and making decisions. By drawing on fascinating examples found in business, nature, science, space and sport, Chantell Ilbury and Clem Sunter provide a crisp and entertaining analysis of the mind of a fox and identify the two questions you should ask before committing yourself to action: what do you and do you not control? What is certain and uncertain about the future? They have constructed an ingenious matrix around these questions, which assists you to identify the rules of the game; assess the key uncertainties; paint scenarios; evaluate realistic options; and thereby make effective decisions. Essentially the matrix will give you the edge: The Mind of a Fox.

Q: When you graduated from university what did you want to be? Did you think that you would be a CEO in the time frame it took?A: I graduated from university in 1991 at the age of 21. My ambition then as it is now is to be a major influence in whatever arena I was playing in. I did envisage being a CEO of a multi national corporation before I was 35 so to achieve this at 33 was within my expectations. Q: If you were to choose 5 deliberate actions or steps you took or pivotal

events which got you where you are now, what would they be?A: I have always been a big picture thinker without ever overlooking practical considerations. Involvement, Energy, Integrity, Performance are words I try and be associated with at all times. Q: If you could meet or be more like one person in the world (living or not) who would that be and why? What qualities of this person do you value most?A: I have a huge respect for people who can combine power, intellect and humility effectively. Barack Obama certainly fits this description, but I have people not in the public arena that are equally impressive to me.

Q: What’s next for you, what’s your Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) 10-30 year goal?

A: To be the person most recognised for liberating Zambians from poverty Q: Is there a book, movie, song, poem, saying or quote which has changed your world view or carried you during difficult times?A: Martin Luther King’s speeches of 1964 (I have a dream) and 1968 (I have been to the promised land). The book “Tumble turn” – the biography of Natalie Dutoit. Q: What’s your passion?A: Being in a position to change what I don’t like. Q: What are your values?A: Many - but integrity and performance stand out. Q: What are you reading now? A: “Mind of a Fox” - Clem Sunter

IN this section we profile past Alchemists who have mentored at one of our sessions. Guy Phiri was a Mentor at the Unlimited Seminar. Guy Phiri is a Professional turned Entrepreneur.

He started his professional career as an Engineer working for the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) in Kitwe in 1991 before joining Mobil Oil Zambia in 1993. He was appointed Managing Director in 2003. He retired early in 2008 to pursue personal business

interests. He is involved in property development, consulting and still sits on the Boards of Engen Zambia Limited and Engen Botswana Limited. He possesses a Masters Degree from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London.

Guy is involved in community work, fundraising and event coordination for various charities. He is also an avid swimmer, golfer, rugby player and an amateur photographer.


Monthly Survey

Employer of Choice - Banking Sector

Survey Results

Standard Chartered 31%Citibank 20%Barclays 13%Zanaco 12%Eco Bank 7%Stanbic 6%Access 4%UBA 4%ABC 3%Investrust 0%Finance Bank 0%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

How did you get your current job or if you are self employed, how do you get most of your clients?

Referrals through your network

Newspaper 33.9%Tenders 3.6%Referrals through your network 62.5%

The female personality rated as most inspirational (not someone known personally) was Mizinga Melu.

Tenders

Newspaper

StandardCharteredCitibank

Barclays Bank

Zanaco

EcoBank

Stanbic

Access Bank

UBA

ABC


Alchemy Mentorship

Programmein pictures

Main Picture L-R: Alchemists, Saviour Chibiya - Citibank MD, Mukwandi Chibesakunda - Access Bank MD, Chriticles Mwansa - ZRA CG and Guy Phiri - Entreprenuer.

Other pictures L-R:Faith Kobusingye- Barclays1. Jennifer Nawa - Entreprenuer2. Alchemist, Charity Lumpa - 3. EcobankGeorge Mubipe4. Muziana Banda, Alchemy HR 5. SolutionsJulie Washburn - Alchemy HR 6. Solutions and Chola Lungu - Standard Chartered Bank


Other pictures from top to bottomChriticles Mwansa with Barclays 1. Women in LeadershipMwangala Lethbridge, 2. EntreprenuerMato Shimabale - Customer Service 3. Director, Zain ZambiaL-R: Yvonne Nundwe, Matilda K & 4. Kate Sikazwe all from BarclaysShupi Mweene with Public Sector 5. Develoment Programme DirectorCecilia Makota - Chairperson, 6. Zambia Women in Agriculture (ZWA)

Main Picture: Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Hon. Felix Mutati presenting a certificate of attendance to entreprenuer, Wendy Chivunga

DATES COSTALCHEMISTS COURSE CONTENT

16 July 2010

Evans MuhangaExperience -Marketing Director, ZainZambiaBrand Manager, BATDavid BowaExperience -Sales Director, ZambianBreweries PlcHead of Sales, Celtel ZambiaMato ShimabaleExperience - Customer Care Director, Zain Zambia

The Advanced Series is for professionals who would like to gain more knowledge in their respective fields. It draws on the experienceand knowledge of individuals who have woekd in their areas of expertise for over 10 years working for worldclass organisations, with some of the that experience at Executive or seniormanagement level.

This focuses on Marketing, Sales andDistribution and Customer Service.

The Advanced Series - Commercial (Kitwe)

Alchemy Women in Leadership Launch (Copperbelt)

5 June 2010

Alchemy Women in Leadership Launch

5 May 2010Lusaka

Mizinga MeluManaging Director, Standard Chartered Bank

JuneKitweLusaka

Chimango ChikwandaExperience -Director, Alchemy HR SolutionsHR Director Zain ZambiaHR Director SABMiller, ZambiaOD Consultant PwCRecruitment ConsultantKPMGPersonnel Officer ZCCMMufulira DivisionNyangu KayambaHR Director ZambianBreweries PlcPassmore HamukomaHR Director MopaniDavid KaundaHR Director, Zanaco

Businesses expect more out of their HRDepartments than just administration or personnel management. This requires a completely different skill set from the administrative and personnel skills set. This course aims to focus on HR developing and implementing an HR Strategy, focusing on the more technical and advanced aspects of the HR Strategy:

Developing your HR Strategy and how to • track itDeveloping your Compensation Strategy• and Compensation Structuring• HR Reporting for impact• Strategic Resourcing•

K1.2million

The Advanced Series- Human CapitalManagement

26 June 2010What Businessmen know about business that you need to know

July 2010 Guy PhiriEnterprenuer

Executive Book Club

QUARTER ONE


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Alchemy HR Solutions

Contact us on: Tel +260 211 236898 Mobile +260 97 7770805

Website: www.alchemyhr.com

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all comments & contributions to [email protected]

Alchemy Mentorship

Programme

WOMEN IN

LEADERSHIP NETWORK (WiL)

wil newsletter may 2010[1]

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