Afrigather Within the coronary heart of Gaborone, Botswana, comes a narrative of audacious reinvention, a story of a lady who dared to remodel her life’s trajectory from the standard to the extraordinary. Dr. Wedu Somolekae, a reputation now synonymous with doggedness and tenacity, paints a story that started in a cocoon of ambition and has now emerged as a beacon of inspiration globally.
This interview with Dr. Wedu Somolekae, 30, reveals the threads of her life’s tapestry, every strand woven with goal and willpower. From her childhood days, marked by each brilliance and self-doubt resulting from private struggles, to her transformative determination to leap into aesthetic medication, her story embodies the essence of resilience and the ability of self-belief.
Dr. Wedu Somolekae, 30, based Medi Glow Aesthetics, Botswana’s main magnificence therapy and aesthetics firm. She tells Enterprise Elites Africa how she began a first-of-its-kind medical observe with the severance pay she bought after resigning from her authorities job and all of the bitter-sweet episodes that occurred afterwards, which ultimately led her to the limelight.
Inform us about your childhood, what ignited your ardour for medication, and the way you landed within the medical aesthetics area of interest.
My identify is Dr. Wedu Somolekae; I’m a medical physician with a particular curiosity in aesthetic medication. This implies I’m a normal practitioner with post-graduate coaching in aesthetic medication. I used to be born within the 12 months 1993 to hardworking Kalanga dad and mom. My father is an data techniques analyst, and my mom is a lawyer. I’m the youngest of two, my older sister, who can also be now an lawyer. I grew up in Gaborone, Botswana.
Rising up, I used to be a bubbly youngster, though barely introverted round new folks. I used to be very shiny and infrequently excelled in my research. I loved taking part in sports activities and took part in something I used to be good at.
I began eager about what I needed to do after I grew up round highschool. The considered changing into a health care provider got here as a result of I believed it was a prestigious and elite occupation.
Throughout my upbringing, I struggled quite a bit with self-confidence resulting from extreme pimples and dangerous enamel. This had a unfavourable influence on my vanity. Luckily, my dad and mom took me to a dentist and a dermatologist, the place I bought braces (for many of main college) and was on pimples medicine in highschool. Regardless of these struggles, I used to be all the time curious about girly-girl issues like hair, pores and skin, and make-up. So after I was first launched to aesthetic medication, I believed it was the proper mix of my coaching in medication and my curiosity in magnificence. It was an important match as a result of I skilled firsthand the influence of low confidence and low vanity in your psychological and relationships with others.
It was not a straight path to aesthetic medication from medical college, which I accomplished on the College of Botswana. I first did a 12 months of internship after which labored for the federal government of Botswana as a medical officer in a Northern village known as Masunga for about three years. Throughout this time, I made a decision to pursue a profession in aesthetic medication after a visit to an aesthetic clinic {that a} buddy made whereas we had been in Johannesburg, South Africa. I used to be extraordinarily intrigued by the idea, and it felt like the proper match. I began saving up and ultimately registered for a number of coaching programs with the American Academy of Aesthetic Drugs and Medskills Academy based mostly in Pretoria, South Africa.
Being a comparatively new trade in Botswana, the success of the observe, regardless of a number of challenges led to each nationwide and worldwide recognition. We had been featured in varied newspapers and journal articles and even appeared on a information section on nationwide tv. I used to be additionally included within the 2023 Forbes Africa 30 underneath 30 listing as one of many latest self-made younger innovators and leaders scripting a brand new imaginative and prescient for Africa.
You resigned out of your authorities job to start out your personal enterprise. This can be a step many individuals are afraid to take. How do you know it was time to make that transition, and what gave you the braveness to do it?
After coaching, I made a troublesome and brave determination to resign from my authorities job and utilized for positions with completely different medical practices. The primary purpose for resigning was that, with aesthetic procedures, the earlier you begin placing them into observe, the higher. It’s the solely means to enhance your abilities. In any other case, you overlook. Sadly, no person was curious about introducing aesthetic companies to their clinics. Though it was a lot sooner than I believed I might, I began my very own observe.
Earlier than beginning the observe, I thought-about returning to my authorities job, however that will imply by no means actually having a chance to discover my newfound ardour. Additionally, I had invested a lot in my coaching with my financial savings I couldn’t let that each one go to waste. Thoughts you, aesthetic coaching programs are fairly dear. However most of all, I had determined that this was what I needed to do for a residing, and I might a lot reasonably attempt to transfer to a different nation the place aesthetic medication is broadly practiced than not work in aesthetics in any respect.
Though my household didn’t fairly perceive my imaginative and prescient or why on earth I would go away a safe job for this dream, they supported me nonetheless. This additionally helped give me the arrogance to attempt.
What experiences had you garnered in medical aesthetics earlier than beginning your observe? Additionally, how did you begin Medi Glow Aesthetics?
All of the aesthetic coaching programs I attended had been sensible. Which means that there are demonstrations of procedures, and also you get an opportunity to carry out the procedures on a mannequin. I additionally shadowed an skilled aesthetic physician, Dr. Chris Giezeng, at his aesthetic clinic in Pretoria for a day. The remainder of my expertise got here from practising with family and friends members till I began performing procedures on shoppers.
I used my severance pay from my work within the authorities to lease a small room to work from and purchase a little bit little bit of inventory. I additionally had a small funding coverage that matured after College. My mom had withheld the proceeds from me till such a time that I actually wanted them. Throughout my first month, she gave me the cash. I then used the ability of social media to constantly submit about companies we provide on varied platforms, from Fb to Instagram and even TikTok.
Aesthetics medication was comparatively new to the Botswana magnificence trade while you began. What was your preliminary advertising and marketing technique, and the way did you land your first shopper?
All I knew, at first, was that aesthetic medication was extra lifestyle-related and would enchantment to a particular demographic. Largely middle-aged to older girls and dealing professionals with disposable earnings. With the intention to attain that focus on market, I relied on social media.
We created a brief and thrilling launch video and sponsored the submit to spice up views. We took footage of varied procedures being executed on each men and women to pique the general public’s curiosity.
The placement of the room, albeit small was in a stunning neighbourhood and was inside a medical advanced that had different service suppliers similar to diagnostics/imaging, pharmacy, heart specialist, and a dentist. That additionally helped to convey visitors my means.
What’s your tackle the skin-bleaching tradition in Africa?
The pores and skin bleaching tradition may be very dangerous to the pores and skin and displays an absence of self-acceptance amongst many African girls. It’s nonetheless broadly believed that fairer pores and skin is extra lovely than darkish pores and skin, which for my part, is fake. Nonetheless, magnificence does lie within the eyes of the beholder and may be very subjective. My purpose is to all the time improve what already exists and to not change too drastically. I’ve discovered that any shoppers requesting bleaching are sometimes satisfied they are going to look higher in the event that they grow to be lighter, which is a matter that goes past the bodily.
Figuring out that one thing on the market can change them distracts away from the hassle that must be put into self-love and self-acceptance. Many would as a substitute experiment with dangerous bleaching merchandise than uncover the foundation explanation for the dissatisfaction with their pores and skin tone.
Transitioning from a medical skilled to an entrepreneur requires a particular mindset. What ready you for entrepreneurship, and the way do you keep motivated regardless of the challenges?
I attempted my finest to arrange myself by taking a brief course in Enterprise Administration Fundamentals with the College of Stellenbosch earlier than resigning. Nonetheless, nothing can actually put together you for all of the challenges that you’ll face. Operating a enterprise whereas making an attempt to do your finest to assist others requires a agency understanding that all the things in enterprise has a price, and in case you don’t discover that stability, you’ll run at a loss. So, regardless of wanting, with all my coronary heart, for my shoppers to be glowing and completely happy, I can’t let empathy make me low cost companies, which I typically discover myself doing within the early phases.
I can’t say I’m all the time motivated, however self-discipline takes over on autopilot the place motivation is missing. I’m typically inspired by seeing my shoppers proud of their outcomes and even spreading the phrase to their buddies and colleagues. I’m very targeted on what Medi-Glow Aesthetics might grow to be and won’t relaxation till that dream is realised.
What challenges have you ever confronted in your entrepreneurial journey, and the way did you overcome them? You need to use one problem as a case research.
One problem I face is importing merchandise from throughout the border. The retail a part of the enterprise entails promoting skincare merchandise and different complementary dietary supplements. I supply these from South Africa.
Someday final 12 months, my courier had points with getting the merchandise throughout, and his car was detained for over a month with my merchandise nonetheless inside. I needed to discover a strategy to proceed enterprise whereas ready for this order, which was ultimately launched. It was extremely irritating as shoppers always known as to ask when their skincare would arrive.
Our money movement was stifled, and I had no concept when the merchandise would arrive. I questioned if I might be capable of make all my overhead funds that month. Fortunately, the service facet of the enterprise continued, and we had been capable of cushion the shortfall by not promoting merchandise. I needed to keep sturdy and present up every day regardless of not realizing how issues would end up. I additionally needed to talk with shoppers successfully and maintain them calm regardless of the inconvenience.
All of it labored out, and I discovered quite a bit about completely different procedures and protocols that all the time have to be adopted to make sure we don’t have the identical state of affairs on our arms ever once more.
What had been the important thing components that contributed to your success as an entrepreneur?
Perseverance – To start with, I might see just one shopper a day, generally none, however I stored going.
Optimism – I believed that I might succeed ultimately, regardless that I wasn’t certain when or the way it was going to occur
Failing ahead – Studying from setbacks, errors, and failures to assist me develop into a greater physician and a greater entrepreneur.
How do you overcome the worry of failure?
I focus extra on the reward and risk of success. I’ve additionally accepted that worry is part of life and all the time lets you develop. They are saying, ‘Should you attempt, you threat failure, however in case you don’t, you guarantee it.’ I imagine in all the time giving it a shot.
What recommendation would you give anybody who wishes to depart their 9 – 5 job to start out a enterprise however is afraid due to the worldwide financial challenges?
I counsel them to take a calculated threat and look earlier than leaping. Do sufficient analysis and have a backup plan to fall again on in case your enterprise doesn’t succeed! I want you the very best, and I hope my story will encourage you to go on your desires!
