There is something truly inspirational about women entrepreneurs who harness the real power of the media, in particularly TV and Radio, to empower women in their countries through positive messaging, great storytelling, and powerful women role-models. Rwandan entrepreneur, Pascale Bukize, and her fellow team members founded Nawel Company Ltd to produce not only great content and TV shows, but also to launch a pioneering show The Real Women Show, to uplift and inspire other women in the country.
LoA spoke to founder Pascale Bukize to find out more about this great entrepreneurial venture and its ambitions for the future….
What does your company do?
Our business, Nawel Company Ltd, produces TV shows. We are also involved in video production and media relations. We created a TV show, The Real Women, which is broadcast on a local TV station (TV10) in Rwanda. Our goal is to empower women to pursue their personal aspirations, and encourage women to support others who are making a positive impact.
"Our goal is to empower women to pursue their personal aspirations, and encourage women to support others who are making a positive impact."
What inspired you to start your company?
Our show, The Real Women, started because we believe in what women can do - many talents are out there, hard workers are there, but they are not recognized. Not only are we uplifting and encouraging the Rwandan women - we aim to educate the world that Rwanda has a different story than the usual negative brand image associated with African people, especially the women.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Nawel Company Ltd ( nawel means talent in Arabic), designs great television concepts and produces interesting, informative, entertaining and educative content, all delivered with good HD video quality, and good sound. Through our TV shows and our video production work, we pride ourselves on offering a personalized experience to our customers.
"Our show, The Real Women, started because we believe in what women can do - many talents are out there, hard workers are there, but they are not recognized."
Tell us a little about your team
We are a team of six - this includes three programme hosts, a cameraman, an editor, a sound man - other technical specialists such as our make up artist and our costume designer are hired as needed, but not on a permanent basis.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My entrepreneurial journey started some years ago when I worked with many local TV stations as a news anchor, a presenter and a reporter. After that initial experience, and as my country has grown with a greater focus on technology and the increase in the number of TVs and channels in the country, I decided to launch my own production company which provides TV content and specialist interest TV shows, such as our flagship programme The Real Women Show, which is a pioneering programme.
"Not only are we uplifting and encouraging the Rwandan women - we aim to educate the world that Rwanda has a different story to tell than the usual negative brand image associated with African people, especially the women."
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future plans, as Nawel company Ltd, are to satisfy the Rwandan market with quality TV programming - we want to make television really informative and platforms that are inspirational and entertaining, by producing not less than 7 television shows each week. But as The Real Women show, we are building a remarkable, informal community of influential women determined not only to build fruitful professional and personal relationships with one another, but to be advocates for an exciting new generation of business talent. We want to celebrate our women who are looking to achieve women’s empowerment development in our country and who contribute to gender equality. This is how our celebration of Rwanda’s women will contribute towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). We are planning to launch our new magazine, "The Real Women Magazine" which will be featuring the whole of East Africa. We are also creating a specific brand with the target of improving women's hygiene and sanitation.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The best satisfaction is to know that I am ONE of the people uplifting and serving the whole community. When I receive messages from people in different corners of the world, telling us how much we are contributing to their lives, that gives me total satisfaction. And I like the way it's challenging!! TV production is something that needs to be updated everyday, meaning only a few hours sleep. But still I enjoy what I do, as always I am thinking about what is new and interesting to be aired on people's screens.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
If God put that vision into you, only trust Him to make the first step - the provisions are there. The right time to do what you like and are passionate about is today. Don't count on tomorrow, it's not yours. We have been given this life to live once. So, act today!!
Contact or follow Nawel
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | EMAIL bukizepa@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
Television is a powerful medium to get positive messaging out to a wider audience, and to inspire and upflift women to be the best versions of themselves through positive examples of role models who are out there making their mark in the world. Pascale Bukize and her team are living proof that you can make a huge difference if you think big, think creatively, and harness your creative talents (whatever they may be) to build a successful and game-changing business. Nawel company Ltd is a women-owned and run business making a significant contribution to the world of television in Africa, and empowering new generations of Rwandan women in the process - this is a company to watch out for in the coming months, destined to do great things! --- Melanie Hawken, founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa