1. Who is your Super Woman?
Nneka: I have two. First my mum obviously, and my GOAT, Serena Williams.
Anu: Lool, even I can answer this on your behalf. I have super women, my mum and my sisters.
2. Do you inspire other women? How?
Nneka: Honestly, I don’t know. I want to believe that there are women who have been inspired by the way I live my life and the work that I do. Actually, I’d say yes because I have had people send me DMs, telling me how they admire the way I am able to remain my authentic self despite being in the corporate space. Let’s be real, corporate life has the tendency to suck out your creativity and joy.
Anu: Aww, I admire you too. I actually do gloat about my ‘unusual team’ to my friends. But yeah, I’ve had women DM me as well, or just mention it when we meet about how I carry my work with pride. I’ve had a corporate life my whole career and with each day I am more confident in being apologetically myself. it’s still surprising for me, because I don’t realise people are watching.
3. Do women need to be financially secure?
Anu: 100%! Money stops nonsense and I believe it through and through. I know life takes people on different journeys, however, as a woman, if you are in the position to work and earn for yourself, please do. I believe that money is the most powerful control tool in the world and is often used against people, not just women. However, given the way our society is set up, women have more to lose. If my finances aren’t in order, I cannot be okay. I’m grateful for my privileges and the exposure grown up and chance to learn from the mistakes of people before me. Besides being a big flex, I never want to feel less than or in a position to compromise my self worth because I am financially dependent on anybody. I also have no issue with people who want to be catered to, top to bottom. Financial security just buys you a lot, including your freedom.
Nneka: Hell Yes!! Anu has put it perfectly. The first advice I give women is to get their money up, always! Financial security is literally freedom. As women, we are a marginalised group, and as an African woman, we face all sorts of discrimination. They say money doesn’t buy happiness, that’s okay, let me cry in my Porsche 911 GT3 RS, walk into my penthouse in Monaco and cry some more.
4. How in tune are you with your health?
Anu: Now, I’d rate myself a 5/10. I’m learning to care for myself more, regular check ups considering there’s a long list of medical conditions in my family.
Nneka: Gosh! I’ll say 2.5/10. I’m currently running on vibes. I’m learning to prioritise my mental health and slowly adopting healthier practices. That check up thing, I need to do better and do it fast!
5. What do you think about the concept of her body, her choice?
Anu: It’s not that simple, but at the end of the day, it’s her body, her choice. There’s really not much you can say, you should not police women’s bodies. I believe in guidelines that protect women through their respective choices but at the end of the day. It’s her body and she’d do whatever she wants with it.
Nneka: I think it is simple. Whatever I choose to do to my body is my business. If I want to tattoo every part of it because I think it is art, that’s my business and whatever the repercussions of that, that’s my business and problem to deal with. People already think I am controversial, so I’m going to go ahead and say it, I am pro-choice. As long as I am of sound mind, I reiterate, whatever I choose to do with my body is nobody’s damn business but mine. At the end of the day, I will stand alone and answer to God, if you believe that sorta thing.
6. Diversity hires still exist, true or false?
Nneka: True. I am torn because if you just hire people based on their qualifications and what they can do without any bias, you would have diverse teams because we live in a diverse world. Unfortunately, not everyone can rid themselves of bias.
More importantly, not everyone has had the same starting point. Let me explain, people say a lot of bad things about affirmative action but in my opinion, that is true equity. Both of us are privileged, we’ve gone to great schools, home and abroad, we’ve had strong support systems who have instilled confidence in us, making us believe we can do anything. In summary, we got a head start in life.
There are people from other marginalised groups who are fighting bigger battles in Nigeria. Queer people for example, and I know many people may not want to hear about that topic but my point is, diversity goes beyond gender and I believe in developing policies that create opportunities for marginalised groups.
Anu: Diversity hires still exist and I believe they should until we are able to close the gap. I think its all about the mindset, just the same way we’ve demonised the word ‘Feminist’, we are slowly making the term ‘Diversity Hire’ an insult. But the fact is, there is a huge gap, and you cannot expect a marginalised group of people to have a better chance at opportunities. We have to be intentional, not because of the optics, but because we care about building an inclusive society. We also have to understand that not every hire can be contributed to the diversity quota. Some roles require the best hire and I do not think that should be compromised. Like Nneka has said, our privileges have given us a head start that our counterparts did not have, man or woman. We must pave a way for everyone to get a fair chance. Truly, it’s beyond gender, its belief system, tribe, race, etc.
7. Women then vs now: are women standing on business?
Anu: With what I’ve seen in the last few years, abroad maybe, in Nigeria it seems like online business. Offline is a different story so I prefer not to really speak. However, women are killing it out here. Women are going for more than gold and I love it. I know what anybody is standing on, just do you and be the best.
Nneka: Lol. I know I am. Women are definitely standing on business on the streets of Twitter, but if that fiasco concerning the woman who said she wakes up at 4:00 am to cook for her husband each day has taught me anything, it is that for every one of us standing on business, there are five women who aren’t.
8. How better can women be supported?
Nneka: Community. The way we have embraced the Africapitalism philosophy, is the same way as women we need to help ourselves by investing in ourselves. I always feel bad for women who say they don’t have female friends or they prefer hanging out with men. All well and good but you are missing out on something great. Women supporting women is not just a hype phrase, it is something we should practise. My GOAT Serena Williams says “Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another.”
When we see people who look like us or people who have had similar trajectories in life killing it, it makes us feel like if they can do it, I definitely can. My community of women have advised me, encouraged me, empowered me by giving me opportunities, and I’ll be damned if I don’t do the same for other women.
Anu: Nneka has said it all. Recognise her, educate her, fund her, train her, support her, include her.
9. Whats your take on mean girls?
Anu: In 2024? That’s razz. There are zero benefits from being a mean girl. There are zero benefits from pandering to mean girls, especially online, just to be validated by them. I believe mean girls are threatened by you, hence they belittle you as a means to control you. Cowering to mean girls says a lot about your self esteem. In the work place, the dynamics are a bit different. If your boss is mean, better shine your 32 and get your work done, keep it professional.
Nneka: What are we? 13? It’s such a loser move. As an adult, I’ve come to understand that it comes from a place of insecurity. Now, I just feel sorry for them.
10. What about performative allies?
Anu: By their buzz words you shall know them. I really do hope for a time where special days such as this are void of performances. Big words, big events and optics. We’re getting there, we just need to be honest with ourselves as a community.
Nneka: Oh I know them, they make the loudest noise. They’re annoying as hell. I’m always excited when their day of reckoning comes.
11. Do women really support women?
Anu: Yes, we do. My female friendships are my most divine connections. I have the most phenomenal women in my life. From my mentors to the younger women rooting for me. The love they show me is overwhelming. I’m talking about, women who just want to see everybody win and be the best versions of themselves. I’ve seen women lift each other up day in day out and it’s the most beautiful thing to see.
Nneka: I think I answered this in number 8. I’m surrounded by amazing women, in my personal life and in my professional life, I really am blessed. So yes, women indeed support women. The ones who don’t are in the minority. Quote me.
12. Have you ever faced discrimination in the work place?
Anu: Yes, but the most prominent was based on my religion. Christians assuming im Muslim based off my first name, and one very special colleague who assumed I was a Christian based on my middle name which I go by. See me see trouble. Other times, it was my age and very subtly my gender. What I noticed over time was that these people could never really disrespect me with their chest because of my presumed financial privilege. I respect myself and I too felt they were irrelevant in the grand scheme of my life, hence, I did not care and they knew how I felt. I like tensioning such people.
Nneka: To be honest, no to the best of my knowledge. If it has happened, it happened behind my back. To my face or to my knowledge, I dare you. I feel if I’m going to be discriminated against, it wouldn’t even be based on my gender but rather, my piercings and tattoos. If that happens, I feel sorry for them, because it says more about the kind of people they are than the way I’ve chosen to express myself. Plus, they unfortunately miss out on my greatness. That felt a little Ye-like lol.
13. How can we create a more inclusive society?
Anu: I believe we can start by being better people. Let’s see people as humans, just like ourselves and not identify them by their genders, races or creeds. We have unique societal differences and biological abilities, but inclusivity lies in recognises our uniqueness and creating space for each other to thrive. Let us first admit and accept that women have been excluded and marginalised in various aspects of social and economic prosperity and begin to bridge the gap to level the playing field. Be it at work, at home, in education, healthcare and our various societal institutions,
Nneka: Perfectly said, Anu.
14. Any wise words to those reading?
Anu: Exclude me, I dare you.
Nneka: I am the shit. And I hope you realise you are too.
For our boomers, I’m basically saying I am confident, you can’t make me feel small or less than I am, you can’t deny me opportunities I know that I deserve. I hope you all move that way too.
