ELLE | Otegha Uwagba On Building A Brand

Author, entrepreneur and founder Otegha Uwagba is on a mission. Since launching her company, Women Who, in 2016, she’s become a motivational force in helping female creatives work better. She's currently writing her second book after her first, a career guide, became a Sunday Times bestseller. And she's just been named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. All by the age of 27.

From the outside, Otegha appears to have self-assured success in hand. But building a brand is far from easy; hard graft and irregular cash flow is often edited out of the story.

“My time in advertising had taught me so much, from how to build communities and manage budgets to engaging an audience and pitching myself. A great network of contacts had evolved with connections that I rely on to this day. I’d absorbed so many skills without realising it and felt inspired to combine the things I loved the most.

An idea had been growing for a while. I wanted to create an online platform that spotlights and supports creative working women who are figuring things out. I wanted it to feel modern and relevant, not corporate or stuffy. But with a demanding full-time job, I hadn’t had the time - or the guts - to focus on it. Now that I was self-employed, I had the space to get it off the ground.”

“Women Who was originally a website of interviews with cool, inspiring women, but I quickly realised how important it is to have a real-life aspect. I also wanted to create buzz around the brand, so after many long days and late nights, I self-published my first book.

I released just 250 copies and they sold out in two days. I was thrilled! And not expecting it at all.

The book led to hosting IRL events where like-minded women from all backgrounds can connect face to face. I received hundreds of RSVPs, and they just kept on coming. It was insane. Women Who caught the mood of that moment, and I was in the right place at the right time. I'm still astounded by its success.”