Today we’d like to introduce you to Yemi Sholotan.
She is the CEO and Creative Director of Havilah Concepts: an events and public relations company based here in Houston. Her areas of expertise include Event Consulting, Life Coaching, Public speaking, and Brand Management. She’s also the President and Founder of Diamond in The Dust nonprofit which serves as a reinvention platform for mature adults to achieve a productive, fulfilled and happy life.
Yemi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The story of my creative and entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 15 when I would help my mom to keep books for the several businesses she ran over the years. Following that, my first job after graduating from college was in an Advertising and Communications company, I learned and grew so much at the job, and after 3 years, I felt confident to start out on my own.
So, I started my first company – Ember Promotionals Ltd (A Public Relations & Brand Management Company) in Nigeria at the age of 26, a few years later, out of my love for fashion, I included a unisex boutique – AstroAnthea’s, dealing in Italian leather goods, clothing, perfumery, jewelry, and lace materials.
After my family’s relocation to Houston in 2007, I continued running my businesses across the globe, but over time, I wanted something to do locally in Houston, and so in 2010, I started Havilah Events & Promotions which I later rebranded to Havilah Concepts.
Even with the ups and downs that come with entrepreneurship, I must say that the journey has been very fulfilling, for me, doing business has been about going after what makes me happy while at the same time making money from it, God has used my gifts and talents to bless me thereby causing the journey to be rewarding so far.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It is true, pursuing one’s passion is very helpful in driving business, a passionate entrepreneur will be willing to work extra hard to achieve success, however, there are other factors needed to lessen the stress of an entrepreneurial journey. I’ll be willing to share those other factors another time.
However, things have not been as easy as I would have wanted them to be. Even though I had staff back in Nigeria, my hands-on style of work was a major driving force of our business, and so, our branding clients were always requesting me personally, which became increasingly difficult as I was thousands of miles away, even our virtual meetings were not enough to satisfy them.
Also, navigating the American business terrain also posed an initial challenge when we moved to Houston, but over time, I have become confident in doing business here and I’ve met very good people along the way.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Havilah Concepts story. Tell us more about the business.
Havilah Concepts is a multifaceted company that deals in Event Production/Management, Media Content Production, Public Relations, and the Supply of Promotional Items. In the area of event production, we have been privileged to produce concerts both in the United States and Internationally for renowned artists, we’ve also planned a remarkable number of corporate and social events. Havilah Concepts consists of a team of creatives and vendors that are experts in their fields, and so, every event that we work on is creatively designed and professionally executed. In addition to the skills that the team members possess, we all have the much-needed passion for what we do.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Well, some call it luck, but I say it’s a divine plan. In 2009, a friend voluntold me to moderate the Nigerian traditional marriage of a member of the church I attend, to play the role of “Alaga” (Yoruba word for a Chairperson which simply means an Emcee in this case), at the time, I really didn’t think I could do it, but the friend assured me that she thought I would be perfect for that role. She ended up being absolutely right. At the end of the event, guests wanted my business card! That was how I started that part of speaking business. In 2015, I was featured on CNN International for my unique and modern way of carrying out the function of an “Alaga” (Emcee) at Nigerian Traditional marriages. I experience great joy each time I do it, it’s a little funny how sometimes it may take people around you to point out what you are good at, and that very thing may turn out to be your life purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.havilahconcepts.
com or www.yemisholotan.com - Phone: 713-447-9001
- Email: havilahconcepts@gmail.
com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/yemisholotan/
https://www.instagram.com/havilah_concepts/
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/yemisholotan/? ref=bookmarks - Twitter: https://twitter.com/
yemipep - Other: https://www.facebook.
com/Havilahconcepts/
Image Credit:
The two images in Nigerian attire with head ties – Tunde Majek; Others – IMG Artistry
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