Making the right strategic and operational decisions are key to running a solid business, but often those strategies and systems are missing in the early days of launching. So, entrepreneur Nicci Stewart, founder of The Why Effect, has built her business on providing the support and expertise necessary to help entrepreneurs to create effective strategies, systems and processes in place to grow.
LoA met with founder Nicci Stewart, founder of The Why Effect to find out more.
What does your company do?
The Why Effect's primary objective is to grow entrepreneurial businesses. We act as consultants to help entrepreneurs put the right strategies, systems and processes and resources in place to create sustainable, growing businesses. We work with both new and existing companies. Our primary objective is to give business owners the peace of mind to know that operationally their businesses are running smoothly so they have more time to focus on higher level strategic decisions. Through our holding company, nnfinity, we also work with our clients to help them make the most of an entrepreneurial network and examine opportunities such as enterprise or supplier development programmes.
"We act as consultants to help entrepreneurs put the right strategies, systems and processes and resources in place to create sustainable, growing businesses."
What inspired you to start your company?
The company was born out of a passion for growing entrepreneurship. Many entrepreneurs feel over whelmed by the amount of work they need to do to grow their business or they simply don't have the skills in certain aspects (such as marketing and sales). My aim is to help fill that gap and offer much needed support. The support I offer is not only on a consultation level, but on an implementation level as well.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Entrepreneurship can be a very lonely journey. Entrepreneurs that have succeeded have had support throughout their journeys. We offer that support. We have the skills and experience to back up our offering. We work with a team of people with a variety of skills who all focus on the same objective; creating more time for business owners, growing streamlined, operationally efficient businesses and making a contribution to the economy as a whole.
Tell us a little about your team
We are a small streamlined team with expertise in strategy and operational efficiency. We have relationships with various partners that allow us to tap into their skills as and when we need to without incurring on going unnecessary overheads.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I started my first company in 2008 in the communications field. Although I started with a solid client base I realised over the next few years that I was great at my job but not that great at running and growing a company. In 2013 I was selected as one of the Goldman Sachs 10 000 Women Programme for Female Entrepreneurs. This was a life changing course for me and highlighted all the errors I had been making in my business. It also highlighted the importance of having a strong network of support and asking for help. It was during this time I decided I wanted to work with other entrepreneurs and help them grow their businesses. Hence The Why Effect and nnfinity were born.
"Our primary objective is to give business owners the peace of mind to know that operationally their businesses are running smoothly so they have more time to focus on higher level strategic decisions."
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future plans are to get more clients on board and ultimately grow my company to become the go to place for entrepreneurs in South Africa. Thereafter I would like to expand outside of South Africa's boarders.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Knowing that I'm helping others grow their businesses and in doing so creating jobs and making a contribution to economy.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Ask for help, it's out there and people are willing to help, but still be prepared to work hard.
Contact or follow The Why Effect
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL nicci@thewhyeffect.com
Why LoA loves it….
At LoA we love all those entrepreneurs who have a passion for using their experience and expertise to help other businesses to grow. Nicci Stewart is one such entrepreneur who is bringing her extensive knowledge and experience of strategic planning and operational efficiency to the table, proving that great help and expertise is out there for those who need it. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa