D.I.V.A of the Month – April 2011
D.I.V.A of the Month – April 2011
Jackie Ssempagi, a daring entrepreneur from Kampala Uganda tells us about how she quit her job to run her own business!
Lelemba: Who is Jackie?
Jackie: I am a marketer by profession, a business woman, mother of two pretty girls (9 & 2 yrs) and wife to Larry Ssempagi. I am a very social and down to earth person that likes her fun and freedom.
Lelemba: You run your own fashion business, can you tell more about that and how and why you got started in that line of business.
Jackie: My business is called Elegant Fashions and we supply clothes, shoes and accessories for both men and women. From a long time ago, I used to admire my older sister who owned a business and seemed to be under less pressure than I was being an employee at the time. I love shopping with a passion and love buying clothes, shoes, bags and just about anything nice I see therefore I knew I would do well in this kind of business.
Lelemba: When did you get started in the business?
Jackie: I decided to quit my job to run my own business in October 2009. I had reached a point where I would feel really bad waking up in the morning and not wanting to go to work regardless of the money I was getting. Being in the media industry and more so in advertising, meant that at times I would leave the office at midnight to ensure that the client’s adverts had gone to production and print. I remember thinking to myself one night that “If I can make the company all this money and find these many clients for my employer, why can’t I do it for myself regardless of the kind of business?” And that’s how I decided to quit my job! Some people were shocked and thought I was crazy when I did it whilst others assumed I had probably been offered another job elsewhere:).