Building a business as a woman is not always easy. Growing through every season takes patience, faith and the willingness to keep going when nothing seems to be moving.
Some seasons look like progress. At other times, it feels like waiting, stretching, and starting again.
I was recently honoured to receive the Businesswoman of the Year award. Recognition like this is meaningful, and I do not take it lightly.
Building a business as a woman comes with its own set of obstacles. According to a World Bank report on women entrepreneurs, women still face significantly more barriers to capital, networks and visibility than their male counterparts. That makes every milestone reached more meaningful, not less.
However, what it represents matters far more than the moment itself.
Because recognition is never just about what is seen. It is about everything that came before it. The long days, the quiet sacrifices, and the seasons where nothing seemed to be moving.
In many ways, it reflects something deeper. The journey you have been on, the work you have put in, and the values that have shaped you over time.
It is a reminder that what is often called an overnight success is built over years of unseen effort.
For me, it is not so much about the award. It is about what the award confirms.
That every season mattered.
Each lesson counted.
And the path I was on, even when it was unclear, was shaping something with purpose.
Where It All Started
My journey in business did not begin with strategy or structure.
It began in a small uniform shop, working long days on my feet. The work was tiring, and the pay was little, but it was honest.
At the time, I was simply trying to get through each day. However, looking back now, I can see that I was already developing the discipline that business requires.
That season was building something in me.
Learning Before You Realise You Are Learning
After that, I found myself running a salon while also selling second-hand clothes. Life required me to adapt quickly.
Because of that, I learned how to work with people.
I learned how to manage responsibility.
Most importantly, I learned how to take initiative.
Although it felt like survival, I was laying the foundation for entrepreneurship.
Starting From Experience
Later, I entered the travel industry as a receptionist. I did not know much, but I was willing to learn.
So I paid attention.
I asked questions.
I invested in my growth.
Step by step, I improved. Eventually, I decided to try something of my own.
I walked door to door with business cards, introducing myself and looking for clients. It was difficult, but it taught me something critical.
Business growth is rarely immediate.
When Business Does Not Add Up
There were seasons when things did not make sense financially.
During those moments, we had to think differently. We started selling shoes and handbags from our car while still trying to build the business.
It was uncomfortable. However, it built resilience and resourcefulness.
I learned how to sell.
I learned how to communicate value.
And I learned how to keep going, even when results were slow.
This is what building a business as a woman often looks like — and why I wrote about work-life balance for women and the trade-offs that come with every season.
Building From Experience, Not Perfection
Eventually, I had to start again.
But this time, I was not starting from nothing. I was starting from experience.
That is how Arimah Travel and Tours was born. It came from lessons, failures, and a clearer understanding of what I wanted to build.
Even then, the journey did not become easy. Instead, it remained a process of learning, adjusting, and growing.
Leading With Perspective
One lesson stayed with me through everything.
I never forgot what it feels like to be on the other side.
I know what it feels like to work hard and feel unseen.
I also understand what it means to push through because you have no choice.
At the same time, I know what it feels like to be respected and appreciated.
Because of this, I lead with awareness, knowing that people are often carrying more than we can see. It is the same principle I shared in Unsung Heroes: The Women Who Build in Silence.
Nothing Is Wasted in Business
When I reflect on my journey, I see a clear truth.
Nothing was wasted.
Every challenge taught me something.
Delays prepared me.
Uncomfortable moments shaped me.
Even when it did not make sense, I was growing through every season in business.
If You Are Building Right Now
If you are in a season where you are trying to build something, this is for you.
Do not give up.
Do not lose focus.
Because where you are right now is part of the process.
You are learning.
You are growing.
And through it all, you are growing through every season in business.
One day, you will look back and understand how each step contributed to what you have built.
Still Growing
This journey is ongoing.
I am still learning.
I am still growing.
And I am still growing through every season in business.
Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” That promise has carried me through every season.
If this story resonated with you, share it with a woman who is building something quietly today, or read Walk Boldly in Faith for more on stepping forward when the path feels unclear.
