Samoan business woman Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai – SSAB CEO
I Lesatele
The Women’s Commonwealth Forum this week heard of the economic empowerment barriers and challenges women in member countries face.
During the two day meeting there were calls from women delegates in the 56 countries of the Commonwealth to increase economic activities and investment for women.
A Commonwealth press release on the Women’s Forum stated that it could take 137 years to lift all women out of poverty according to a United Nations Report. .
The women of the Commonwealth are now calling for Commonwealth leaders to “ work harder to get rid of the barriers and the biases that continue to hold back women and girls in the 56 member countries,” according to a Commonwealth press release,
This urgent plea will be presented in a report to the Commonwealth leaders meeting in Samoa this week.
Despite this bleak situation there were success stories of women heard in the meeting. One of the stories was from Samoa.
Samoan business woman Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai told her story of the success of her business SSAB Samoa Stationery Bookshop at the meeting.
SSAB is the biggest stationery bookshop in Samoa and has opened up branches in other locations in Apia and the big island, Savaii.
SSAB has also diversified into a wide range of products to become a megastore.
As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SSAB , Tofilau said that her business was founded on two things. Firstly her faith in God and secondly a strong desire to succeed.
“ Faith in God has always been the foundation of everything I do,” Tofilau said
It was this faith in God that gave her the strength during challenging times in her business.
“In times of challenges especially during the COVID epidemic it was the Lord who guided me and gave me strength to keep going.”
Tofilau also underlined the driving desire to succeed which she said is something many business women have.
“Desire to do something great. Failure is not an option.”
She added that there are many principles that helped her to build a successful business. One is being a doer.
“Just be a doer. Do not procrastinate. In business time is money, if you want to start a business do the research and work on a business plan.
“Pray to God, ask people, talk to the banks. We can dream all we want but success only comes if you take action”
Tofilau added that if women want to be successful in business, having an education is important.
Education is critical for women in business and that it is a must for women to continually educate themselves she continued.
” Research the markets, study the gaps and look for opportunities.” she advised.
Before starting up SSAB s she found out in her research that there were funds earmarked for schools. Those grants she said were the first sales for SSAB.
Being strategic is also a principle for Tofilau’s success.
“ Strategy drives success. In business we have to be customer centric focus.”
Other principles followed by Tofilau are’: Innovation, Resilience and Empowerment.
“ You have to be innovated –constantly improving product offerings
. “Resilience has been crucial to our success especially during COVID.”
Empowerment of staff is very important to Tofilau as they are the greatest asset of her organisation. SSAB currently has a staff of over 200 .
“ I empower my staff because they are the greatest asset in my organisation I support, trust and love my staff. I know them all by name. I provide them with training both in-house and overseas.”
Staff are given bonuses on special occasions and other benefits.
Tofilau in reflection said that it is not just about financial independence but building a foundation on faith and desire to succeed by being a doer.
More than 400 delegates including prime ministers, ministers, women rights advocates and business leaders attended the Women’s Forum held at the TATTE Building.