Hilmag

we had our annual world conference in Estonia in 2019. We had just recently gotten married so my husband and I decided we were goingtoattendtheconferenceand also use the trip as an opportunity for a mini honeymoon, because, why not? During the trip, I had the privilege of meeting many young people from all over the world running their own businesses—and sustainable businesses, for that matter. Surprisingly, this trip gave me that much-needed energy, so, when we came back, I resigned and started working on Hilsmag. I already had a passion for cleaning but also for assisting women from marginalised communities, so I decided to merge those two passions into Hilsmag. An organisation that creates clean environmentsthroughtrainedand professional female cleaners.

The challenges and solutions

Hilary Mukwenha shares her inspiring story on how and why she started her business Hilmag, a housekeeping solutions company that focuses on providing premium house staff, cleaning services, and training. We’ve featured women inspiring the next generation of female leaders, and Hillary was one of our Top Ten. Environmental issues are becoming a concern across the globe, so businesses that address community issues on this front should be applauded. We sat down on a one-on-one chat with her to find out more, and here is our take home!

Tell us the story behind your business, your vision, and some of the things that keep your business relevant.

Wearelivinginatimewherethere is an increasing need for a clean and sanitary environment, yet there is less time for families and businesses to devote to ensuring that this environment is achieved. This gap between what is needed and the resources that can be devoted to it is one that Hilsmag seeks to close.

In 2018, I was a member of Junior Chamber International (JCI), and

As entrepreneurs, we sometimes are so passionate about our idea that we don’t spend enough time doing environmental strategic analysis prior to launching the product or service so that it is tailor-made to suit the intended clientele and environment. So the challenge comes when there are gaps between when you launch, when you are correcting mistakes, and when you start making a profit from the business and you don’t have that much-needed runway. We have now put research at the centre of our operations, and we also have a continuous feedback culture with our clientele, which informs us on how to best improve our services. The social responsibilities that women have are often overlooked, even by the women themselves. I am married with four children who still need so much of my attention, and sometimes it’s a challenge to juggle between building a business and being a mom. People do not often see this as a challenge, but its presence is very real, so every day there needs to be a conscious decision about what you are going to choose to prioritise and also manage your time very well so that each aspect of your life gets the attention it deserves. I have managed to structuremylifetoensurethatallparts of it are complementary and fit into each other.

How she gives back to the community and plays a major role in it in Africa—more of the big women-led cooperatives providing fellowship programs to women-owned businesses. I currently love and appreciate what WIA is doing with the Mentorship by Deloitte programme and I think there should be more of such programmes and opportunities across Africa. Currently, I am part of the African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative Cohort 5, and it has certainly helped me push my business forward.

African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative: taking the lead and how it helped Hillary

AWEC has been God-sent! The biggest gain has been the structures I have been able to put in place in each department or intend to put in place when the departments are set up. All the modules have been so practical, particularly the Sales Pipeline template, which has helped me easily track if I am going to meet my monthly targets or not. AWEC has provided that much-needed clarity that any business owner needs, and meeting so many women in business across Africa has been a plus!

Hilsmag’s vision is to grow across the region in the next 3 to 5 years. I have managed to establish relationships with women in the countries we intend to grow into, which has been so beneficial in terms of knowing more about those countries.

To conclude, I will speak particularly to the aspiring female entrepreneur. The world is your oyster. You can do anything you set out to achieve through persistence and focus. Some very practical advice thatIwillgivetosomeonewanting to start their business is to become an expert in that area by reading widely—newspapers, business books, memoires—follow the captains of industry and see how they have built their businesses and note key lessons. I believe in planning ahead, so set up structures around you that will help you achieve your goals. Surround yourself with people who push you to think differently, support your dreams, and challenge you at the same time to keep growing. Personal development is gold and will impact your business, so daily introspection to assess areas in your life that you need to work on should be a habit.

The reason I love my business so much and wake up every day really excited about it is because we give back to the community through all the day-to-day tasks. A job completed is a family fed; a contract won is a family assured of sustenance on their table for the duration of the contract. Through each job, there is also the promotion of good health and well-being for those who stay or work in those environments.

Wehavealsotakenstepstoensure that we use eco-friendly chemicals, although this is an area we will only have 100% control of when we start manufacturing our own detergents and equipment. We are slowly contributing towards the goal of sustainable cities and communities.

Why women should be encouraged to do more

I think firstly, women entrepreneurs need to support each other through skill sharing and network sharing. There needs to be more organisations that also provide structured mentorship programs