Today we’d like to introduce you to Gladys Agwai.
Gladys, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
How did I get here? Well, I was fired! Yes, I said it out loud – FIRED!! After 30+ years in Corporate while on International Assignment in Nigeria as the West Africa Sales Executive. It was my opportunity of a lifetime to be in country, my continent of Africa the last emerging market. I wanted to help with the company/employee transition, know the culture, how they did business, make connections to step into business myself. I needed and wanted this transition. I was like a bird in a too small cage. Have you ever felt you were in a cage that was way too small and knew there was more? Don’t allow fear to keep you from what you need or want – set a plan! I asked for it. I was told it would never ever happen. I did not accept that. I continued to put my case forward. I was given two months to work from Africa, find a job, or come back and keep doing what I was doing. Persistence! I knew that to keep doing what I was doing was not an option for me. I had been passed up for a promotion only for me to train the guy that was promoted. I became laser focused to get out of the cage and the international assignment in Africa was my way out. I networked and volunteered to do some work on the SME environment in the telecommunications industry across 21 African countries. He liked my work and we had built a relationship and true connection. He asked if I could extend my stay. I said hell yes without even asking permission. It was “clear” this was my direction “at this given moment”! We are in a constant state of change and transformation. Don’t get stuck in the same place doing the same thing with the same people!
After working in Africa for three years, that cage started surrounding me again! I needed to get out. But how? I was in a foreign country and had financial responsibilities. My purpose to mentor, coach, and develop new employees in Africa to understand how to navigate the system to excel would end. I was working 14-hour days which I allowed to impede the focus needed to make a smooth transition into business. I felt stuck and so stayed in a role and working environment that I had come to hate! Do you know that 25% of workers “hate” what they do? 63% are disengaged at work! Have you ever felt stuck or hated what you were doing? My mind viruses took over – Am I Enough, Am I Capable, Am I Ready, Am I Worthy! I was telling myself no when so many other times I told myself yes! I knew by May I needed to be home to witness the birth of my granddaughter. The job would never let me do it. I said God make a way! A way was made – I was fired. I was naturally angry – how dare they. But by the time I got home, I had never felt so liberated to finally stop being an IMPOSTER in my life and get to Know Me, Be Me, and Love Me being unapologetic about it. Getting fired forced me to sit with myself long enough to get clarity about what did I really want, why, and what was I willing to sacrifice to make it happen. I had to go “within” and “ignite” that fire within me to make a non-fear based, transformative transition out of Corporate. I was clear that I wanted to be an entrepreneur but an entrepreneur doing what. My journey of self-discovery began.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey of self/business discovery has not been a smooth road. However, it is a road that I didn’t expect to be smooth. I looked forward to the process and accomplishment of doing the work to reach my goals. The biggest struggle that anyone has, including me, is the mindset of limitation. In my quiet time, just me and the mirror – How did I get here? What do I do now/next? Will anyone really pay me for my services, buy my book, interested in my messages, etc. I would go back to my mind viruses that I mentioned previously working through them to ensure that I propelled myself forward versus them holding me back. My experiences in corporate were very helpful because I had worked across multiple functions, industries, cultures, jobs and understood consulting and selling. However, it’s different running your own business.
I am the CEO. I don’t take direction. I strategically give direction while allowing creativity. As CEO, I needed to understand all of the components of a business model and put a plan in place that took a holistic view with a plan. To be successful, I had to begin to connect with purpose to engage with other entrepreneurs and ensure personal and business development to know what to do. Mistakes were made. I put the cart before the horse, such as, building this great website that looked great with no content, no services or methodology that connected with my target audience or even fine-tuning my audience, the problems they wanted solved, and the solutions I had to help solve them. The key to overcoming the challenges and struggles is to connect with people who know more than you in the areas where you need help and who want you to succeed.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As an Author of the book IMPOSTER – 5 Strategies to Your Authentic Self and co-author of Life Boosts, Speaker, Coach, and Strategist, Ignite Within works with individuals and organizations to take fearless action to accelerate their life, professional, and business growth. We take them through a 5 “C” step methodology to ensure CLARITY of objectives, CREATION of a strategic plan, CONNECT with purpose, COMMUNICATE effectively their brand, and how to CAPITALIZE on opportunity. Our focus is to ensure clarity on leadership and transition strategies across all areas of their life, business, and career while understanding the importance of and how to be globally competitive in a high-performance culture.
I am known as an authentic, engaging, and inspiring speaker and coach who transforms lives. By taking fearless action to accelerate their growth. I am most proud of the lives and organizations transformed through my guidance and direction but also in seeing them do the work required to achieve success as they defined it. I am proud of my Girls Ignited program working with high school and college girls with workshops and 1:1 coaching. What sets me apart is how I integrate my global experiences to help clients move away from their fears to get clarity on:
– The need to be locally, regionally, and globally competitive.
– How to know, be, and love who they are being unapologetic about it.
– Those fears that keep them stuck, managing and moving past them.
– What they want, why they want it, and what they will sacrifice to get it.
– On an effective plan to execute with confidence
– You Matter!
What were you like growing up?
I was born in Atlanta but raised in Gary, Indiana. My parents wanted us to be out of the South at the time because of civil rights issues. I came back to Atlanta in 1980. I come from a middle-class steel mill family. Back then everything was centered around family – church every Sunday as a family, my mother worked at our school as office manager, my father was at “every” school dance, game (brother played sports and I was cheerleader, PTA meeting, etc.), my parents knew all of the teachers and they came to our house for the best house parties. You know the ones where breakfast is served the next morning. A house full of laughter and fun. So, I grew up knowing how entertain and to play the card game my parents would play at their parties because they would have so much fun – Bid Whist!! But, I also had a strict upbringing. Peer pressure was never more important than the pressure I knew my father could bring. I did what I was told, didn’t argue or ask why. Back then you didn’t question your parents as children do today. Absolutely NOT!! I was quiet, insecure, with low self-esteem and self-image acting like I was not. I was being an IMPOSTER in my life even back then! My brother was the star basketball player and people knew me because I was his sister. I shiver thinking how insecure I was back then and though I am much more secure now, I must always pay attention to my emotions to understand if I am operating in that place of insecurity setting an intention to change and take the necessary action if so.
A classmate came to one of my speaking engagements and talked about how I was always the one who brought sanity to an insane situation, clarity to what wasn’t clear, balance to imbalance. I still carry that today and it is an integral part of my talents and gifts that I interject in every aspect of my life. I don’t really like to read but I love to read inspirational books or books that enlighten or bring knowledge. I love learning. Vacations anywhere on the water has always and will always be a favorite of mine, in Gary we had Lake Michigan. When moving to Atlanta, I did miss being that close to the water. But I like Lake Lanier and Lake Alatoona.
In essence, I am still the same little girl who has moments as a woman of insecurity, etc. But now I’ve learned how to manage it so it doesn’t keep me stuck, scared, financially broke, and broken. It is liberating and I love that little girl that is still inside of me!
Pricing:
- Free Take Fearless Action Strategy Session – https://qi411-19277d.pages.infusionsoft.net
Contact Info:
- Address: 3464 River Mill Lane
- Website: ignitewithin.org
- Phone: US: +1-404-317-2055
- Email: gladys@ignitewithin.org
- Instagram: ignitewithinu
- Facebook: Ignite Within Transformative Coaching and Consulting
- Twitter: ignitewithinu
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/gladysagwai
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
