And this is exactly why we’re celebrating millennial boss lady, Victoria Anorue, today. She is total #WCW goals, as she reminds us that humble beginnings are a beautiful phase, as one strives to fulfill their purpose.

Growing up, Vicky, who is the CEO of Vikyvera Catering, always loved food, and often cooked as a hobby. This hobby has now become a start-up business that is flourishing rapidly.

“When I discovered food was part of my life, and as such; something I couldn’t do without, I always thought about doing something with food for a living. I started by cooking food for family and friends for free, and serving at their events. Along the way, I decided to channel my energy into simultaneously turning my hobby into a lucrative business,” she says. 

Vicky may not be the biggest food mogul yet, but we actually love that. Just seeing how passionate she is about her profession, and seeing her embrace the gradual journey of building her empire, is a breath of fresh air.

Like many entrpreneurs, when Vicky was in the set-up phase of her business, she encountered some challenges. For instance: Funds for the business, discouragement from friends and relatives who advised her against having a food business due to the perceived stress of running a business of that nature, low number of clients, etc. She has now overcome these challenges, and Vikyvera Catering is growing steadily.

Speaking on what keeps her inspired as she strives for continuous success, she says:

“My greatest inspiration is my mom and my sister. I see how they started out with nothing, but worked hard to achieve their goals – and turned those “nothings” into something. Also, the quest to employ young people who are out of jobs was an inspiration as well. But ultimately, it is the passion for what I do that keeps me going. When I see how happy people are after eating my food at events, it inspires me to do more.”

You can follow Vicky on Instagram (@chefviky).

Tosin did not choose photography as a profession, rather; photography chose her. It was a combination of life events that ultimately led her to this field.

She obtained Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Sociology respectively, from the College of Staten Island in New York, a degree in Business Management from Shanghai University in China, in addition to a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech.

After traveling the world and accomplishing her educational goals, Tosin decided to move back home to Nigeria to explore new opportunities.

She moved back when the country’s makeup industry first began to bloom, and so a family member advised her to be a makeup artiste. However, she soon discovered that wasn’t her calling, and found herself more fascinated with the business side of the industry, as opposed to the artistry aspect.  And so she delved into makeup distribution, which ultimately led to her foray into product photography, as she needed to take photos of the makeup items she was distributing, for marketing purposes.

It was at this point that her love for photography began to blossom, especially when people who saw her work and would commend her creativity. After rigorous training and numerous professional certifications in photography, she proceeded to dabble in fashion photography, event photography, and child photography. Her struggles to conceive, battling with infertility, and then finally becoming pregnant, were all pivotal experiences that would thrust her towards her true calling.

The rest, as they say, is history.  Today, Tosin is one of the most sought after child photographers in Nigeria.

Her educational background in psychology, sociology, and business management, have set her apart from her peers. Countless clients trust her with their children due to her intuitive connection with them. Her business management acumen has also helped to ensure that her photography business continues to thrive.

Tosin Rufai, CEO of Teefal Studios, is a proud female, Muslim photographer that has broken  numerous cultural barriers by virtue of being in this field of expertise. It is her hope that other women will draw inspiration from her story, and pursue their dreams with no limitations.

#WomanCrushWednesday