In honour of\u00a0Arese Ugwu<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s new book,\u00a0The Smart Money Tribe<\/strong><\/a> sequel to her best selling book,\u00a0The Smart Money Woman: An African Girls Journey To Financial Freedom (NGN 5,000)<\/strong>, we\u2019re kicking off an interview series featuring 13 questions (in honour of the book\u2019s 13 chapters) about the interior lives of some of the most inspirational and interesting female leaders on the continent.<\/em><\/h4>\nYou may know\u00a0Kefilwe Mabote\u00a0<\/b>as the super glamorous fashion stylist, creative content creator, and influencer.\u00a0 The Johannesburg businesswoman has famously collaborated with brands home and abroad in both the luxury and FMCG sectors like\u00a0Witchery Fashion<\/b>,\u00a0Jean Paul Gaultier<\/b>,\u00a0\u00a0Lays South Africa<\/b>,\u00a0Diane Paris<\/b>,\u00a0Nescafe<\/b>,\u00a0Rolls Royce<\/b>. She is undoubtedly one of the continent\u2019s most successful and influential creators. Having spent over a decade in the fashion industry, Kefilwe is as well-known for her stunning, editorial level content and seriously fab style.\u00a0 Fashion nous aside, it\u2019s Kefilwe\u2019s insane level of consistency, work ethic and commitment to her business that inspires us most. Read on to learn some of Kefilwe\u2019s key money lessons!<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaijastyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/72193492_2172420993063329_8333971773552369040_n.jpg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBNS: What part of your work would most people find surprising?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nThere\u2019s nothing that I\u2019d say is surprising about my work except that there\u2019s a lot of intuition that goes into it. A lot of people think of it mostly in just practical terms, like it\u2019s all about clothes, travel, hotels, etc., but you need to have a very high level of intuition in order to make the right business and creative decisions.<\/p>\n
BNS: Who would you like to have a 30-minute meeting with?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nCamila Coelho or Aimee Song.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaijastyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/72785141_166342267892177_8972027261652348660_n.jpg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBNS: What are your go-to resources for keeping up to date on your industry?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nWell, most industries have periodical publications. Unfortunately, there\u2019s no such for social media, I haven\u2019t come across any in South Africa. So I go online and join the social media ecosystem to keep up to date with what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaijastyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/office2.jpg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nI take some time off and do something that\u2019s not related to my work; it can be reading some inspirational books, watching a movie, meeting up with a friend for lunch, or simply just doing nothing.<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaijastyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/bellanaija-style-kefilwe-mabote-beauty-looks-1.jpg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBNS: What do you wear to work to feel powerful?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nHonestly, I don\u2019t really approach my wardrobe with the mindset of dressing to feel powerful. I think the idea of dressing to feel powerful is more applicable when you work in a corporate environment. I work in a very different environment. In my line of work, we don\u2019t really dress to feel powerful, unless \u2018powerful\u2019 is the theme of a project we\u2019re working on, but we perhaps dress to make a statement. What I wear to make a statement, if we were to talk about that, depends on so many factors. From a fashion stylist\u2019s point of view, I\u2019d say \u2018it depends on plenty of things.\u2019<\/p>\n
BNS: How would your closest work colleague describe you?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nThat I\u2019m humbled and fun to be around, I hope (lol).<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaijastyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bellanaija-style-kefilwe-mabote-lerato-kgamanyane-maps-maponyane-nti-ramaboa-grey-goose-le-logis-paris-trip-live-victoriously-56857831_1400868743387591_2504804057926230815_n.jpg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nInvest in yourself first. You\u2019re your own biggest asset.<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaija.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/KMozie_20171028_LAOLU_CHICAGO_0060.jpg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBNS: What do you do when you\u2019re feeling uninspired?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI take some time off and do something that\u2019s not related to my work; it can be reading some inspirational books, watching a movie, meeting up with a friend for lunch, or simply just doing nothing.<\/p>\n
BNS: Who do you love to follow on Instagram?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nEveryone I follow on my gram lol, that\u2019s about 337 people?<\/p>\n
BNS:\u00a0 Best money advice ever received.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nInvest in yourself first. You\u2019re your own biggest asset.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaijastyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/28764483_425065171280441_3709665001330442240_n.jpg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBNS: What are you working on right now that you\u2019re most excited about?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI can\u2019t say at the moment because it will ruin the surprise. Let\u2019s just say soon enough you\u2019ll know.<\/p>\n
BNS: Your advice for starting a career in your industry.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nKnow your worth and keep educating yourself. Also, be consistent and stay true to yourself.<\/p>\n
BNS: What does a typical month in your \u2018money life\u2019 look like.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI make a budget and make sure I stick to it. I put some money away into savings and some into my investments.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bellanaijastyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/76637B06-D709-482F-BFFD-A3FDE35E5A76.jpeg\")
@kefilwe_mabote<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBNS: 3 things people don\u2019t know about you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\na) I\u2019m a bit shy in real life.?
b) I\u2019m a pretty domesticated woman.
c) And I love drawing and painting<\/p>\n
BNS: Who are your career\/money role models<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nArese Ugwu<\/strong>\u00a0of course! Also, I learn from everyone and make my own informed decisions.<\/p>\n_____________________________________________________________<\/p>\n
How to Buy the Smart Money Tribe<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nFind out more about the book\u00a0HERE<\/a><\/p>\nBUY IT HERE<\/a>\u00a0or call\/WhatsApp +2348091268000<\/p>\nFollow us on Instagram @smartmoneyarese<\/a> @thesmartmoneytribe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
BNS: What part of your work would most people find surprising?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing that I\u2019d say is surprising about my work except that there\u2019s a lot of intuition that goes into it. A lot of people think of it mostly in just practical terms, like it\u2019s all about clothes, travel, hotels, etc., but you need to have a very high level of intuition in order to make the right business and creative decisions.<\/p>\n BNS: Who would you like to have a 30-minute meeting with?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Camila Coelho or Aimee Song.<\/p>\n BNS: What are your go-to resources for keeping up to date on your industry?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Well, most industries have periodical publications. Unfortunately, there\u2019s no such for social media, I haven\u2019t come across any in South Africa. So I go online and join the social media ecosystem to keep up to date with what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n BNS: What do you wear to work to feel powerful?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Honestly, I don\u2019t really approach my wardrobe with the mindset of dressing to feel powerful. I think the idea of dressing to feel powerful is more applicable when you work in a corporate environment. I work in a very different environment. In my line of work, we don\u2019t really dress to feel powerful, unless \u2018powerful\u2019 is the theme of a project we\u2019re working on, but we perhaps dress to make a statement. What I wear to make a statement, if we were to talk about that, depends on so many factors. From a fashion stylist\u2019s point of view, I\u2019d say \u2018it depends on plenty of things.\u2019<\/p>\n BNS: How would your closest work colleague describe you?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n That I\u2019m humbled and fun to be around, I hope (lol).<\/p>\n BNS: What do you do when you\u2019re feeling uninspired?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I take some time off and do something that\u2019s not related to my work; it can be reading some inspirational books, watching a movie, meeting up with a friend for lunch, or simply just doing nothing.<\/p>\n BNS: Who do you love to follow on Instagram?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Everyone I follow on my gram lol, that\u2019s about 337 people?<\/p>\n BNS:\u00a0 Best money advice ever received.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Invest in yourself first. You\u2019re your own biggest asset.<\/p>\n BNS: What are you working on right now that you\u2019re most excited about?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I can\u2019t say at the moment because it will ruin the surprise. Let\u2019s just say soon enough you\u2019ll know.<\/p>\n BNS: Your advice for starting a career in your industry.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Know your worth and keep educating yourself. Also, be consistent and stay true to yourself.<\/p>\n BNS: What does a typical month in your \u2018money life\u2019 look like.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I make a budget and make sure I stick to it. I put some money away into savings and some into my investments.<\/p>\n BNS: 3 things people don\u2019t know about you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n a) I\u2019m a bit shy in real life.? BNS: Who are your career\/money role models<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Arese Ugwu<\/strong>\u00a0of course! Also, I learn from everyone and make my own informed decisions.<\/p>\n _____________________________________________________________<\/p>\n How to Buy the Smart Money Tribe<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Find out more about the book\u00a0HERE<\/a><\/p>\n BUY IT HERE<\/a>\u00a0or call\/WhatsApp +2348091268000<\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram @smartmoneyarese<\/a> @thesmartmoneytribe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
I take some time off and do something that\u2019s not related to my work; it can be reading some inspirational books, watching a movie, meeting up with a friend for lunch, or simply just doing nothing.<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n
Invest in yourself first. You\u2019re your own biggest asset.<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
b) I\u2019m a pretty domesticated woman.
c) And I love drawing and painting<\/p>\n