The Global Entrepreneurship survey showed that 72% women want to open their own business. We talked to Goran Nikolic, General Manager of Herbalife Nutrition for Southeastern Europe, about the reasons for women entering the business world and the challenges that accompany them.
In recent years, we have witnessed a real increase in female entrepreneurship. In your opinion, what is the reason why women decide to pursue an independent business path?
Decision for starting your own company it is certainly not an easy undertaking, but nevertheless we notice that the entrepreneurial spirit appears more and more often in individuals, especially in women. As a leading global food company that offers a business opportunity, we sought to understand the advantages that women perceive when they decide to enter the entrepreneurial waters. Our research, in which 9,000 representatives of the fairer sex participated, showed that the most common motivator is the possibility of increasing income, but many women also decide to start entrepreneurship because of the desire to change their lifestyle - they want to be independent, they want flexible working hours that will allow them more time for private life and family.
For many women, an entrepreneur is a person who can influence others, inspire them and change their lives. That is why many choose to become entrepreneurs in order to help future generations and become role models for younger women and girls.
No beginning is easy. Starting your own company also comes with many challenges, such as start-up capital and a lack of knowledge in the fields of finance and marketing. How did you overcome all this?
Of course, major life decisions, including entrepreneurship, can be worrisome. Everyone wants to be confident and able to take on new business ventures. So it's no surprise that it is 52 percent of the respondents were of the opinion that a mentor who would guide them on their entrepreneurial journey would help them take the first step in starting their own company. And the very answer to this is a business opportunity Herbalife Nutrition.
I will highlight just a few reasons why our business opportunity is so attractive and why so many women choose Herbalife Nutrition. First of all, this is an opportunity for additional income. Not everyone is ready to start a full-time freelance business, but they are looking for business opportunities to make extra money. Many women run their Herbalife Nutrition business part-time precisely because of the flexibility it offers. On the other hand, many choose to work full-time as an independent Herbalife distributor. Most often, they decide to do this because they fell in love with the products they used, felt a passion for teaching others, and realized that they are actually great motivators and leaders and want to help other people in the process of changing their lifestyle. Ultimately, they feel satisfied and motivated because they can positively influence others.
A study The McKinsey Global Institute it shows that people who are engaged in their own business are more satisfied with their professional lives. They feel more motivated and feel a real passion for their work.
As we can see, people in entrepreneurship recognize many advantages, but also challenges. How does Herbalife Nutrition support its female entrepreneurs?
Lack of knowledge, experience and skills are common reasons why women hesitate to step out of their comfort zone and start their own business. That's why it is Herbalife Nutrition an excellent starting point for them, as the company supports its independent distributors every step of the way. Our distributors have access to a wide range of training tools, we organize educational events for independent distributors and offer them a mentoring model.
We empower everyone who decides to approach our business model with knowledge in the field of preparing a business plan and monitoring costs, using social networks, we offer product training and the like. The entire education process is supported by the mentoring relationship that distributors have with their sponsors. This close one-on-one relationship encourages and motivates new distributors to gain knowledge and training so they can best support their customers.
We all want to be young, healthy, beautiful and fit for as long as possible. What do you advise to achieve these goals, is it enough to use a certain product or is something more necessary?
There is no single solution, as each of us has different needs. In order to achieve our goals, each of us needs a unique, comprehensive and personalized nutrition and well-being plan that cannot be found in regular stores or online stores. That's why our distributors receive regular training from our nutrition, fitness and coaching experts so they can recommend a customized diet and exercise plan to their customers to help them achieve their nutritional goals. This added value is why our products can only be purchased through independent distributors, because the road to success is much more than just buying products at retail or looking for nutritional advice online. A personal connection with a distributor provides clear instructions and a personal plan that is unique to each individual, while also providing social support, motivation, encouragement and accountability. Only a combination of all these aspects can lead to lasting results.
In order to achieve our goals, each of us needs a unique, comprehensive and personalized plan.
What are your future plans?
We are a world leader in nutritional products, especially weight control meal replacements, as well as nutritional supplements and skin care products. We have more than 2,000 products manufactured to the highest quality standards and are constantly developing new and improving established product formulas to meet market demands.
But Herbalife is not just products, Herbalife is a lifestyle. Our distributors are a major factor in promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. To achieve a healthy lifestyle, not working with a Herbalife member is like going to the gym without a trainer.
On a global level, including in Slovenia, we intend to strengthen our market position and provide support to our independent distributors in doing business and maintaining our brand.
