AWEC Alumnae Spotlight: Jocelyne Landry Tsonang - How Continued Learning Has Transformed Her Construction Business in Cameroon

Starting a company is no easy feat and entrepreneurs often describe it as building an airplane as its taking off.

For African women business owners, it’s one thing to start a new venture, it’s quite another to grow and sustain it particularly in the midst of the COVID crisis, often without much support or guarantee of success. But with access to the right knowledge, networks and opportunities, these women find that their businesses thrive even beyond what they thought they were capable of. 

Despite the challenges SMEs have been facing over the past year, AWEC alumnae continue to experience positive impact as a result of the skills learnt in AWEC’s core program.

Here is just one story of an AWEC alumna who experienced business growth as a result of her time in the program. She highlighted the program areas that enlightened her the most and how she was able to take her business to the next level. 

Tools to Grow Your Business

Jocelyne Landry Tsonang describes herself as “a serial entrepreneur who needed a little help.” After her participation in AWEC, she took a close look at her business and decided to relaunch it with greater strategy, focus, and vision. As the Founder and Sustainability Manager of D&D Smart Construction, she develops affordable, eco-friendly homes in Cameroon. Since completing the AWEC program in early 2020, Jocelyne has invested in new equipment, hired project-based employees, and applied her knowledge to secure her first contracted customers.

Here are three things that Jocelyne implemented to grow her business;

Create Better Customer Experiences

“Construction is not like any [other] business,” Jocelyne explained. Customers can be very demanding when it comes to their homes and Jocelyne strives to build trust with customers. She credits AWEC with her ability to create a better customer experience, specifically referencing the session topics on how to use customer insights to improve products and services and how to navigate difficult conversations. By implementing the knowledge and skills from these sessions, she now develops a tailored approach for each of her customers and meets their demands with empathy and insights. This year, Jocelyne has utilized these skills to secure two new customers with an additional contract pending.  

Interact and Learn From Your Peers in Business

Jocelyne has also found learning from her peers and interacting with others to be very motivating: “Hearing about others’ journeys stops you from feeling discouraged, like you are not alone. It also makes you feel accountable.” This community accountability has led her to stay in touch with other alumnae and her mentor, and she attends AWEC Alumnae Network (AAN) Masterclasses as often as she can. 

Continue to Build Your Network Virtually

Jocelyn credits her AWEC experience with her ability to maintain relationships, particularly in a virtual setting, a skill that became particularly useful when the pandemic hit. These online networking skills led to her being invited to sit on the board of the African Circular Economy Network, a pan-African sustainability professional organization, in December 2020. 

Looking towards the future, Jocelyne plans to use this 2021 achievement to form a foundation for greater success and growth. She is focusing on limiting overhead by hiring on a project basis and utilizing social media for advertising. Her goals in 2021 are to serve 10 customers and manufacture 100,000 eco-friendly bricks. In the long term, she looks forward to being an industry leader in the construction field, pushing the sector towards more sustainability and greater impact. 

Being a business owner is an evolving adventure. Having the right set of tools and a supportive peer network of business owners who have walked in your shoes before can set you up for success. Jocelyne’s business growth demonstrates  how timely and practical lessons have the power to shift your thinking and elevate your business. Embrace continuous learning to build a business that is resilient and strong even in the face of change.