#AWPOWERFIFTY: Vivian Onano

What motivated you to become an entrepreneur OR take your career in the direction you did? Is having your own business OR this role you are in something you always wanted?

I have grown up always in service of others. I was always a student leader since kindergarten and those leadership opportunities provided me with the opportunity to lead and positively impact the lives of my fellow students. While in Kindergarten, I used to help other kids when they were going to get their porridge, ensuring that they were in class, and I used to lead most of the reading activities even though they made fun of my deep voice. That started instilling leadership skills in me that helped me to slowly develop my confidence and self-esteem and see myself as a leader. With that background in mind, I have always known that my life is a life of service and I have an important role to play in shaping the policies and transforming the lives of the marginalized people in our society. And my role is not limited to just one group of people, or country, or continent, but really cuts across the globe and is transformative. So that took me to the path of public service. Working with leaders to understand their development agenda, working with them to see where the opportunities are, the gaps are, how to resource for funding for their initiatives, and how this translates in impacting the lives of the people on the ground. My work around women and girls’ empowerment was built on this foundation too - the need to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to maximize on their God given talents and skills for the greater good.

Which woman has positively impacted you in your career/business? And what is the one lesson she taught you?

I have a lot of female mentors and supporters. I have mentors in the business world. I have mentors in the political space. I have mentors in the international development space. That said, I have my main mentor that has been part of my life for the longest (literally since I was a teenager) and continues to journey with me, her name is Peggy Peters. Peggy is very special to me because she has seen me through it all, the good and the bad, and has been fully present to help me navigate everything while I continue to maintain my individuality and own voice. She is a philanthropist and a community leader, and has done a lot of work in supporting the community in education and leadership too. She is very impactful yet so humble and grounded. One thing that she taught me when I was still very young, I think I was in high school, is the power of humility. And that doesn’t mean that I shrink myself. But humility is what will sustain me in the long run, and I completely concur with her.

How do you define success?

I define success by the number of lives that I've transformed, the number of opportunities I've created for other people, and for me, that's what success is all about.

One insight for anyone interested in the industry you are working in?

You need to be persistent, you always have to be clear about what exactly it is that you would like to do and how that translates to tangible impact, , and always ensure that you have done your homework by equipping yourself with the right knowledge and skill set. You have to be humble to be able to grow, and be willing to go the extra mile. Nobody remembers those who do the bare minimum. So being proactive, seeing opportunities where others don’t, and being willing to do the tough things, will definitely set you apart. This is a space where you are constantly learning and reinventing yourself, and I think that is the beauty of it. It stretches your thinking capability and allows you to be innovative because the one size fits all approach doesn’t work.

What is your one key guiding principle in your work life?

Do your best and then leave the rest to God

What do you believe is the most impactful and immediate action your industry can take to Accelerate Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment. (this is the theme for INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY in 2024)

Governments should work hand in hand with the private sector leaders to ensure that women and girls have the right education and training, access to funding/credit lines, and mentorship opportunities for them to thrive as entrepreneurs or business leaders. Economic empowerment of women is vital for the sustainable development of our societies. We also need to couple these with advocacy work to ensure that women and girls, more so in marginalized communities, know of their rights and are able to fully exercise them. I have always been a strong advocate for women economic empowerment as a means to ensure inclusive development where no one is left behind. As they say, when you educate/empower a girl or woman, you empower/educate a whole nation because of the ripple effects of their actions.

The three books that changed your life