In this episode, Ruth Ferreira talks with Tutu Akinyede, a remarkable businesswoman and educator. Tutu shares her journey from being a single mother tutoring with a baby, to building a tutoring business that now serves over 2,000 students and employs over 70 staff. Key topics include entrepreneurship, marketing strategies, business pivoting, and the significance of mindset. Their conversation offers valuable insights on creating a thriving business that also makes a difference.
Key Themes:
- Accidental Entrepreneur: Tutu didn’t plan to be a business owner, but personal circumstances led her into entrepreneurship.
- Old-School Marketing: She grew her business through word-of-mouth, flyers, posters, and even vehicle signs.
- Niche and Pivoting: Tutu identified a niche and pivoted her business, especially during and after the COVID pandemic, leading to major growth.
- Mindset and Tenacity: A growth mindset and tenacity were crucial in overcoming challenges and scaling the business.
- Investing in Yourself and Team: Tutu stresses the importance of lifelong learning and building a strong team.
- Customer Experience: Focusing on client satisfaction rather than profits helped grow her business through referrals.
- Impacting the World: Tutu is mission-driven, aiming to change lives, particularly for immigrant parents and their children.
Key Moments:
- The Origin Story: Tutu started as a secondary school teacher but turned to full-time tutoring when her child’s illness led her to re-evaluate her career.
- Scaling from 20 to 2,000 Students: She transitioned from home visits to opening a tutoring center and later shifted online, attracting more clients.
- Navigating COVID: Her business went from zero to 2,000 students by adapting to online tutoring and targeting immigrant parents.
- The Power of Word of Mouth: Tutu’s reputation for results led to rapid growth through referrals, and later through social media.
- Mindset and Teaching Philosophy: Tutu uses growth mindset principles in both teaching and business, which contributed to her success.
Memorable Quotes:
- "I never focused on making money. My priority was always customer satisfaction and helping students gain confidence to succeed."
- "I discovered my niche was immigrant parents who needed guidance on the UK education system, and I tailored my marketing to them."
- "The mindset of always asking ‘what’s next’ is crucial—whether teaching or running a business, that’s how y
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