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Women's History Month: We celebrate Yvonne Witter

ENTERPRISING: Yvonne Witter

YVONNE WITTER is a writer and global enterprise consultant.

She set up her company, Ampod Ltd and worked with central and local government to deliver business start-up and growth services across London.

Witter’s passion is encouraging business owners to realise that the only real limit is themselves as they strive to achieve their creative potential and that failure exists as an opportunity to grow and learn.

She says that her ultimate achievement was working on international entrepreneurial projects in west and south African countries, Myanmar in the Far East, North America, South America and the Caribbean – all of which are experiences which have broadened her knowledge and skills. She has also been a visiting lecturer at Ashesi University in Ghana.

Witter closed Ampod Ltd in 2012 to focus on overseas opportunities, training and business consultancy, writing and research. However, she is still passionate about supporting young people to pick up the baton and follow through on their dreams and aspirations.

"I am inspired by my late family members, who all exited the UK for St. Thomas, Jamaica in the ’60s and ’70s.

"They built modest, comfortable and bespoke shiny new homes and set-up their own businesses creating employment and impacting lives, before taking their rightful place as respected and valued members of their communities.

"My career role models are my parents, who returned to Jamaica in 1969 with me and set-up thriving businesses. I developed independence and a mind-numbing work ethic, which was frankly wasted on employment in the UK when I returned to finish my education and stayed. I should have started working for myself 15 years earlier than I had.

"The best part of my job is having creative licence to do what I want. Seeing multiple global opportunities and knowing that the choice is mine to do what I want, where I want to do it and the sheer joy of figuring out how to do it.

"In my spare time, I like to have a good discussion about politics, African Caribbean history, travel, and culture. I read and listen to audio books, I am an avid radio listener, too. I like to dance and I cook almost daily.

"I would tell my younger self not to feel responsible for the detrimental decisions of adults who impacted my life before I could make sense of myself in the world. Follow what your gut tells you and pursue that goal relentlessly.

"I am determined to spend my time doing what makes my heart sing, because if I am doing what I want to do, I have reached an awesome level of freedom and peace, and it does not feel like work.

You can find out more about Yvonne Witter by clicking here or searching for 'yvonnepwitter' on LinkedIn.

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