Success Story: How I sold everything to start Zaron cosmetics – Oke Maduewesi

Founder and chief executive officer of Zaron cosmetics, Oke Maduewesi has revealed that she sold all her possessions to start her company.

Maduewesi said this on Sunday while speaking at the launch of ‘Bland to Glam’, the lifestyle department of Spar, in Lekki.

The mother of two, who worked as a manager in Zenith bank, said she came to Lagos to start her company after the death of her husband.

“At the time I left banking, I was at a point where I knew more but I didn’t know what I wanted. I was living in Port Harcourt and I came to Lagos to start Zaron.

“I sold everything I had including my house. My mother was in tears when I was leaving but I told her that I had to move to the next phase because Port Harcourt reminds me of pain, it was where I lost my husband.”

Encouraging women to keep themselves engaged, Maduewesi said she could not have survived the loss of her husband if she was not working.

“If I was not working when I lost my husband at 30, I don’t know how I would have survived with two children. A woman must do something no matter how small. She should also let her mind work because you can’t think it and not work towards it.”

Maduewesi was on the panel with Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, an event planner, and Adesua Etomi, a Nollywood actress; all of whom encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace their failures.

“There will be times that you will not have money, there will be times that you will feel like you can’t face the money. Embrace your failures and pains. Build your strength and mix with people that cover your weaknesses.

“Make it work, that is where most Nigerians fail because you start a business and do nothing to make it work. That is where the work actually starts, you have to keep moving. When you hit a comfort zone, know that something is going wrong. There must always be a target to pursue.”