Over the past three weeks, we鈥檝e released three episodes of the HER docu-series, spotlighting three women who are making things happen. In other words, we鈥檝e been giving them their flowers, and we鈥檙e not ready to forget about them.
So, here鈥檚 everything we love about the women we鈥檝e put in front of you, the process of creating the series and what we鈥檙e doing to #ShiftTheStory.
- These Women Said No to Convention
Each of the women we鈥檝e spotlighted said no to doing things the conventional way. Whether it鈥檚 choosing to start a business with her friends over a comfortable 9-5, passion about a sport women rarely follow or making a life for herself in a completely different world, these women decided to do something different and continue to stick by their decisions. Maybe that鈥檚 something we need to do as women. Maybe we ought to say no to convention more often.
- Community Was Prominent in Their Lives
Whether it was IBK鈥檚 community, Tara’s customers and friends or Nneka鈥檚 classmates and fellow K-Drama lovers, these women held community close. For them, it鈥檚 more than just having people in your life. It鈥檚 about having your people share and believe in your vision. Having them push for it just as much as you do. Their communities included friends, family and even mentors who鈥檝e watched and helped them build things from scratch.
- They Had Men Who Supported and Encouraged Them
Emphasising the importance of community also brings us to another point, which is possibly one of our favourite things about the series . IBK, Tara and Nneka all had men who believed in and supported them. IBK鈥檚 father and brother spoke about her like they knew her beyond being family. Tara’s biggest supporters as a young footballer were her male teachers, and Nneka started watching K-Dramas with a group of men and had a cousin with whom she shared her money-making ideas. We can all agree on the importance of choosing the right kind of men to have in our lives and sharing our ideas with.
Also Read: Tara Gave Up Football, Learnt Henna, & Took Back Her Life
- Our Women Are Money-Making Women
Let鈥檚 be serious. Our girls were not just learning languages, or new skills and studying numbers just to sit at home and watch TV. Even if they were, that鈥檚 definitely not where it ended. At some point in their lives, money became an important thing, and they leveraged what they had to get it. Whether it was skill, knowledge or networks, they utilised these things to the best of their ability. Survival for them was key, and they realised the importance of money in ensuring that.
- It鈥檚 Important to Tell Our Stories As Women
These women鈥檚 stories have surprised and inspired us. Having the behind-the-scenes context of everything they did to get to where they are, and the things they鈥檙e still doing has shown us how important it is to do the work. How hard it can be to balance life and career, but also how necessary and important it is to do it.. Shoutout to our women for sharing their stories with us, and shoutout to the women who do it everyday.
- We鈥檙e Learning New Ways to #ShiftTheStory
Here鈥檚 another thing we鈥檝e loved about the docu-series and the #ShifttheStory campaign, we鈥檙e seeing the nuances and similarities in the lives of women and learning from them. Despite their differences, you鈥檇 be surprised just how similar each woman鈥檚 story is. It鈥檚 helped us identify niche stories of women who need amplification. If someone has gone through this, then there鈥檚 the possibility that something similar or completely different exists! And just like that, we鈥檙e filling holes, closing gaps, letting women know that they鈥檙e not alone and that we recognise their differences.
But then again, that鈥檚 the whole idea of the campaign. Learning, relearning and unlearning. Understanding that there鈥檚 much that鈥檚 the same about us, despite our differences. We have so much more in store for you, and we can鈥檛 wait for you to see it. Things are about to get really interesting. Stay tuned!
Next Read: What We Know About Ibukun Akinola, the Money-Moving Woman at PiggyVest
