Rasheda A. Walker is a business development professional skilled in marketing, customer relations management and art direction. She specialises in helping emerging business enterprises seek proficiency to facilitate growth by establishing their brand structure, offers, and strategies and giving them the necessary tools to upscale and achieve objectives. She is also an experienced international trade expert with a history of working in the oil and gas sector. This multifaceted woman is also the founder and curator of Bolivar bar – a Lagos art and nightlife scene that offers patrons a break from the Lagos hustle and bustle with unique and welcoming space for laughter and peace. She also wears the hat as the Managing Director at Forts & Shields Ltd, an exclusive distributor of frontline protection products in Africa, with over a decade experience in security consulting and business development. In this interview with Maria Diamond, she spoke about the rise and downs of women in businesses, especially the ones in a male-dominated field.
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Tell us about your background and how it have shaped you to become who you are today
I am a Black-Latin-Caribbean woman living and working in Africa. I attended college in Chicago for two years and then started working full time. At the time, I was more interested in making a living for myself and supporting my family as the oldest of my siblings than furthering my education. I started off working in corporate business with insurance firms and real estate developers as a coordinator while also operating a concierge service, selling automobiles. I later moved onto the hospitality industry where I discovered my passion for customer service.

As a Latin Caribbean, growing up with Trinidadian grandmother has provided me with a multifaceted cultural background infusing native Caribbean roots and West Indian upbringing. I grew up in a full household of about eight to ten family members (siblings & cousins) and my grandmother fostered in us (myself and siblings) a natural disposition towards honesty, integrity and leadership, which have helped in shaping my character to date.

Take us through the humble beginning of your career path in Nigeria?
In 2008, I took a trip to Lagos in Nigeria where ‘a series of my business opportunities became a journey’. I started my company, RW Energy Solutions, where I worked as an international rep/broker, aligning with companies like Shell and KBR, working on oil and gas deals directly with Venro Petroleum, a subsidiary of PDVSA, a Venezuelan oil company. I closed my first deal, which I brokered between RW Energy Solutions and The Sahara Oil group in 2012. The rest have been everything till present.
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As a female international trade expert in a male-dominated sector, tell us about your experience, challenges, and how you were able to excel amongst male counterparts?
When I first opened my security business in Nigeria in 2013, I was the only female managing director in my position. I was also an exclusive distributor to one of the top manufacturers of bulletproof in the market. Of course as a Latin Caribbean woman, I thought I would break boundaries. I found that most times people would rather see or speak to my male partner or personal assistant mostly due to cultural and religious reasons. I also faced challenges coming in with extensive knowledge of military grade products where I was involved in dealings with military chiefs as a civilian woman. There was also the occasional issue, dealing as a woman, working in a male- dominated sector, where we were not seen as knowledgeable/competent enough to manage a highly sensitive security and law enforcement contract company. I have been able to thrive in this field primarily due to the fact that my products have been tested by the Nigerian security agencies and adjudged as one of the most highly rated lifesaving equipment on the market. I have learned that Nigeria is all about relationships. I am humble enough to take a seat when I need to, and train my staff enough to lead when I can’t. I have come to learn the culture norms in Nigeria in order to succeed. You break those gender barriers by being consistent, professional and having integrity while still wearing your crown.

Based on your expertise in business development and management, and considering the massive economic downturn and inflation, which is affecting business enterprises in Nigeria, would you say the country is at risk of having multiple companies shut down due to recession? If yes, what would you say is the way out?
Unfortunately this has become a harsh reality for many. As an international investor, this is a double-edged sword as Africa, especially Nigeria, has so much potential and will thrive in the near future. I admit that in the time I have spent in the country, I have experienced a few business enterprises having to close down due to different reasons, these before the current economic situation in the country. I have also seen business enterprises start up and excel at the same time. Regarding the economic downturn, I believe that’s a general issue being faced by most countries in post-COVID era.

While there is always the risk of companies shutting down, it is appropriate to highlight that the country presents a very viable environment with quite a lot of untapped potential. I can only suggest that business owners demonstrate resilience while the government does more to support businesses, especially taking into consideration the somewhat harsh business environment along with other day-to-day challenges we face in conducting business legitimately.
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It has been observed that however tough hard times hit Nigeria, nightlife businesses such as the Bolivar bar you founded don’t go out of business. Why do you think this is so?
I have come to know that there’s a common saying in Nigeria that goes thus, “suffering and smiling”. I have also read that at a time, Nigeria ranked really high on the world happiness index ratings. While I am aware that these rankings have changed drastically over time, I believe there is a reason for the high index rating previously. In the time I have spent in the country, I have come to realise that Nigerians do manage, somehow, to smile and live life to the fullest of their capacities in the face of adversity. This is a very peculiar characteristic to Nigerians, which I believe is responsible for both the happiness index rating and ultimately the success of not just nightlife businesses but entertainment and hospitality in general. I am so thankful to be celebrating five years at Bolivar. We definitely have our usual challenges but I believe we have worked hard to align with our customer base and give them a free space to just be themselves. Most of Bolivar’s clientele are frequent customers (4-5 days) a week and we strive to ensure we deliver a welcoming service, especially to our regular customers who in return continue to be repeat patrons to our business.

Aside from your expertise in business, you’re also into frontline protection products in Africa. Take us through this journey
Frontline protection products are vital and acquired by every country. I specialise in bulletproof wears, especially for high profile people like presidents and governors. I got into the business when an opportunity presented itself. I took a meeting to represent a client at a security meeting as a consultant. Following the level of professionalism I demonstrated at that meeting, I was able to secure an exclusive contract arrangement to supply their products to West Africa. As I was the one who single handedly secured the contracts, I was tasked with delivering on the agreed KPIs.

By stroke of luck, that opportunity which I seized placed me in a position to delve into the security sector and work my way up to where I stand currently as the managing director of my firm.

Are there points in your career paths when you wished you were a man or felt you could have attained greater height if you were a man?
As I previously said, there are a number of challenges any woman would face trying to conduct business in a male-dominated sector. But at the same time, I have been a woman all my life so these challenges naturally come with the territory. I do find that while being a woman presents some barriers, especially in the way of dealing with individuals with different cultural/religious background norms, I must admit that there are also some positives with being a woman. The least would be the thrill and excitement of excelling despite these highlighted challenges. As a woman in this field, I do feel I definitely could win more contracts. I also find that men are more eager to provide insight and show me their ‘fire power’, which puts me at an advantage sometimes in negotiations. Ultimately, being a man or woman comes with its own challenges and advantages, and I believe you just have to work to your strengths without focusing too much on the shortcomings of your gender.
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Tell us about the football club you own
I am a co-owner of a football team in Lagos. I used to be a player and was considered a top receiver before I retired and went into ownership. I personally joined to work on my mental health and to have a healthy outlet outside of my work. This league gives me so much perspective and opportunity to work with people in the community I would have never interacted with. We work on player development and recruitment to more professional leagues like the NFL. One of my players was recruited and tried out for the NFL in America. Being able to build this platform with fellow business owners is more than just the game, it’s bridging the gap of social norms, where players from all walks of life come together and participate. Everyone is treated as an equal when it comes to the sport; the biggest joy is training and seeing the young females learning, playing and making big plays. This, for me is priceless, to see Nigerian women playing Flag football with men and dominating brings me pleasure. Bolivar is an official sponsor and tries in its own way to contribute to the wider community.

If you had not taken this career path, which other one would you have chosen?
I believe that if I didn’t take this path, my journey would have been in commodity trading.

What is your advice for younger women who see you as a role model?
Every dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember that you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world, says Harriet Tubman.
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Keep going, take a deep breath and keep choosing you; the world will adjust.

Looking ahead, in the next 10 years, what success story would Rasheda Walker be telling professionally and individually?
To look ahead, I would first look at the previous 10 years and how far I have come in that time. Coincidentally 10 years ago was when I moved to Nigeria and in that time I must say I am quite proud of what I was able to achieve both personally and professionally. I have come to understand that it is difficult to plan ahead and chart a course of destiny in advance. I have realised from my experience that the dots usually connect, looking back in hindsight. In direct response I would present a quote from the late Steve Jobs: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down and it has made all the difference in my life” Being able to do international business on a high level and being able to succeed without the regular eminent educational credentials, I must admit that the lack of education definitely prevailed in some of my business dealings, but I have been able to succeed without a conventional educational qualification. I am really much known in the Nigerian environment as different and outside of the norm. I have created my own lane and stayed there, redefining the impression that most people have about what an international businesswoman looks like. I will continue to bridge the gap between multicultural communities to demonstrate that our different backgrounds, cultures and heritage make us who we are, but ultimately we are all human.

What drives your work ethic?
My work ethic is driven by discipline, passion, eyes for details, and refined excellence.Theyset me apart in all my endeavours.
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