Margaret Ajibode | IT

Obatec
www.obatec.com

Margaret is founder of Obatec which provides IT Management Solutions to enable businesses to be more efficient and effective in delivering their services using technology.

Precious: Did you always want to be a Business Woman?

No, but as the years went by, the idea to become one (a business) grew stronger and the opportunity to do it came knocking and I took it and have not looked back since.

Precious: How and when did you come up with your business idea?

In 2004 and then I formally established it in 2005.

Precious: Tell us about the business planning stage

Although I had the technical skills, there was a business skills gap, so I contacted East London Business Support Agency. I had an advisor who was exceptional and she guided me through my thought process and helped me write down what I wanted to do and how to achieve it – this translated into a business plan, which was then presented at the New Entrepreneur Scholarship(now defunct) panel for a grant to start the business.

Precious: What funding sources have worked for you?

I only applied for the NES grant and made a conscious decision not borrow from any sources such as banks.

Precious: How do you work on making your business grow?

Most of my work has come through referrals, word of mouth and networking and I always try reminding people of what I do, wherever I am

Precious: How do you see your business developing over the next five years?

In the next five years, I see Obatec penetrating the international market and overall being very successful and continuing to provide quality service. Being in business has been much tougher than I thought, but things are now beginning to happen.

Precious: What's been the most exciting event to happen in your business life so far?

I was selected as 1 of 36 women from every continent in the world as an IT role model in the "Doing IT Around the World" initiative. www.passionit.info
I was also recently awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship (www.wcmt.org.uk) to carry out research on businesses in the USA, Australia and India, who have recruited and retained women in Engineering and Technology.

Precious: Apart from Precious do you belong to any other networking groups?

Yes, Camden Women’s Forum, The Kings Cross business network, UK Resource Women Centre for women in STEM and Women in Engineering Society.

Precious: How has family/friend support affected your business efforts?

My family and friends have been very supportive of my efforts and have helped me to carry on when I felt like giving up.

Precious: How do you achieve the work life balance?

This is sometimes difficult! but I always ensure I take time for myself to do other things.

Precious: What's your advice to potential female entrepreneurs?

Believe in yourself and what you do, keep soldiering on, it will pay dividends eventually

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