Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to HRH Queen Ameenata Koita . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

HRH Queen Ameenata, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

My defining moment came when I was crowned Sarauniya of Fulbe in Ashanti Ghana. As the Queen of an entire Kingdom, I had to decide exactly how I was going to serve and in what capacity I would do it in. There are 2 primary choices in life, to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them. – Denis Waitley In looking at the conditions of my people in Africa, and being a women/girl child advocate, I chose the latter, and I decided to step up and do something about the many issues impacting women and girls

Talking to many women across the African Continent I learned that people living in remote villages do not have access to medical care, there is no hospital nearby, no clinic, no menstrual supplies, nothing. Women are dying in childbirth at alarming rates, getting infections because of the methods they are forced to use while on their monthly menses. Girls not being able to attend school and thus flunk out, and women lose jobs (which are hard to come by) because they have to call out while on their monthly cycle. This to me was simply heart-breaking.

This set me on the path to advocacy and fundraising to purchase the supplies needed so I could donate to these communities. I went and got certified in Human Rights so that I would have the right credentials to speak and highlight this issue globally. Additionally, I have started building a team of professionals to help start a mobile maternal health clinic so we can take the needed care to the women and children in these villages.

HRH Queen Ameenata, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a USA-born African named Her Royal Highness Queen Ameenata Koita. I am the Queen of Fulbe in Ashanti Ghana. I have dedicated my work to the people of the African Diaspora in the USA and work closely with the Royal African Kingdoms in Africa. I am a transcontinental business owner, some call me a Global Tycoon-ista, and a world-renowned speaker. I am often requested to speak across the globe about human rights and women’s empowerment, I am an advocate of human and women’s rights, girl-child education, and equality, and my goal is to help the African continent develop modern farming and ranching.

I own companies in the USA and in Ghana focusing on import/export, trade, housing, farming, agriculture, and development. Additionally, I have a women’s empowerment platform called the #ISpeak Movement. This is a free platform for women to tell their stories, their way, in their voice. I often tell people that “your pain is someone else’s salvation.” Storytelling is a way to heal and to minister to others.

My for-profit companies are global and currently operating on three different continents. The world is global and in today’s world like never before, you have to get out there and join spaces that are outside of your “normal operating zone” if you want to be successful. I have put together a great team of people who are dedicated to success and opening doors for others to join us in our journey.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The main lesson which I have had to unlearn over the many years in business and life, in general, is that failure is the opposite of success. The truth is failure is a part of success, not the opposite of it. It is a natural part of the growth process which helps you along the journey. In fact, I would go so far as to say the only time you fail is if you quit altogether, anything else is just a learning experience meant to help you become great. Studies show that people who worry about mistakes shut down, but those who are relaxed about doing badly soon learn to do well. Success is built on failure.

There was a time early in my journey when I thought the so-called failures of my past would follow into the future thus damaging any future success. It was only when I came to the realization that failure is an illusion, a deception played by the mind, that I began to grow as a person and in business because I now understood the journey. I once read someplace that Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you, that quote changed my entire outlook on things.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

When it comes to managing a team and maintaining high morale, it can be tricky given different personalities, however, it is not impossible. The top three things I put into practice have worked wonders for the team which I lead.

*Show employees they are appreciated -when you recognize the strengths and contributions of people, they tend to be more productive and engaged. Appreciation is powerful and it spreads quickly thus improving morale.

*Keep communication open and allow people to disagree and have different opinions without fear of retribution. When people feel heard and listened to, it makes for a more productive team.

*Develop relationships with your team beyond work. Team building exercises that encourage fun bring the team closer together and give it a “family feel” I also have one-on-ones with my team where we talk, I try to focus on personal development as well as professional development. This has proven to be very successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://queenameenata.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenameenata/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queenameenatak
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/queenameenata/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/queen_ameenata
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@QueenAmeenata
• Other: linktr.ee/queenameenata