Elan and Al's story aims to put in perspective some storms that female and youthful entrepreneurs in Africa go through and how they have overcome them. Its main objective is to train on key entrepreneurial topics through the story that goes through the timelines of their lives.
The topics covered are in the Glossary which has links to the main content topic in the Synergy4africa Blog and my website: www.annbelonyando.com
Different from other business training, we use business and normal everyday experiences to explain business concepts. We believe this story will not only give you a practical day to day perspective but show you how solutions are applied in a replicable manner. Should you need help addressing any pertinent entrepreneurial challenge feel free to contact us using any of the contact forms on our blogs and websites.
To get started below is a brief on our main characters.
Elan is in her 40s but doesn't look a day over 30. Has panache and style, is shrewd yet honest in her business dealings. It has got her in trouble most of her life. Got married late, has been betrayed by both friends and family over and over again. She is eager to please, will forgive 7x70 times - this, her weakest trait. All said, she is focused, has great ambitions for herself and those around her. Over time, she has developed an uncanny ability to read people, always hoping that the bad intentions they exude change. However, that hardly happens. To accomplish her purpose she needs to stop being so trusting and hopefully those she trusts reciprocate.
AL
Elan's husband. In his mid-30s handsome, passionate young man. Attracts the ladies without trying. Wants to prove himself to his father who thinks his older brother is a better man. Is considered a rebel. Wants to make his own money and loves the freedom of doing as he pleases. He keeps doing the opposite of what his father expects of him.
SOUTH AFRICAN FAMILY - EXTENDED
CHIEF HAMMAD
Leila & Zan's father, Florencia's husband. Happy content man, once a chief justice has lots of influence and accounts outside the country. But that is not all he has outside the country
CHIEF UGOCHUKWU
Al & Sam's father, Shamim's husband. Bossy and can bully his sons who have turned out to be as strong headed as he is in their own way. The only one he listens to is his wife who he has named everything he owns after.
FLORENCIA
Leila & Zan's mother. Brought up in a strict Christian family somehow found herself married to a Muslim man. Continues to struggle with the change in culture in her sunset years sometimes loving it sometimes feeling oppressed. Always coming up with community ideas.
SAM
Al's brother. Happy go lucky but very serious about business. In his father's good books as he went into the family business.
DELA
Elan's personal assistant in her 50s. Has years of experience in the corporate world and is Elan's, right-hand woman. She is knowledgeable and has contributed a lot to Elan's success in South Africa through her previous and current networks.
MARGARET
Part of the Board in Elan East Africa and works for KRA is in her 40s, has experience dealing with corrupt government officials in East Africa. Has information and dirt on many influential people in the country and though she could use her extensive network negatively uses it for good. She is respectful and soft spoken so no one is really sure how much power she actually wields.
FEMI
Company driver. Street smart knowledgeable of Lagos life and South Africa culture in general. Curious
GINA
Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Elan. Openly mean and aggressive. Has hots for Al after he helped her secure a job having struggled to get employment for over a year. She doesn't hide her attraction to Al and openly resents Elan
NELISA
Elan Fashion and Beauty, Shop manager
OLU
Young graduate receptionist and customer service at Elan. Cheerful, friendly absolutely admires Elan and loves her job. Hopes to one day be a personal assistant to Elan but Dela is in that position.
OJAY
Accountant Elan group
SADIA
Customer Relationship Manager at Elan grp, The Snake, snitch, pretty, devious, young,and mysterious. Will do anything to get to the top.
ZIPPY
Assistant in Leila's Shop
KENYA FAMILY EXTENDED
BABY
About to go to college. Tekla's teen daughter 18
JENNY
Beautician, Elan's last born sister. 30, Easily overreacts, likes to help but is emotionally unstable due to the loss of parents when she was 12 and abuse by Penrice's husband.
MELINE
Elan's elder cousin. Con woman. Brought up by Elan's parents, has always been jealous of Elan since they were children. Has since lost touch with Elan after she coned her. She is married to a man she controls has two daughters.
MZEE ZABLO
Retired Widower. Terrified of dying a nobody. Elan's uncle, father to Meline. He has political ambitions. Not having been succeful in his younger days, he hopes to leave a mark in his sunset years.
NADIA
In trade, import, and export. Meline's sister in law married her brother who is a drug dealer. Ambitious, hard-working trader, outspoken and loud, unguarded. Morally upright and fair.
PENRICE
In civil service. Elan's Sister. Always in competition with her yet emotionally torn between her jealousy of ever sister and what she deems right as a Christian. Divorced has 3 children.
TEKLA
Model, Elan's Sister. Spoilt, self-centered always wants to be noticed. Loves beauty and clothes.
JUNIOR
An orphan, 23, recent graduate, Mzee Zablo's nephew, and a distant cousin to Elan. Lives with Mzee Zablo and acts as his errand boy. Grateful to Mzee Zablo for taking him in
OTIENO
Nadia's drug dealer husband. 45 Never graduated and does anything to survive. His wife does not know about the drugs
PETRO
Meline's husband. In his 50s. A none starter seems to fail in anything he does so he relies on the wife for ideas and solutions.
The TEAM
Team of hackers and criminals who have reformed. They were involved in a range of illegal activities 419, ISIS, Drugs, etc. Now, they are part of Elan's think tank, developers, and private investigators. They go for special military training as part of their reformation and learning.
Based on this they have agreed to come up with their own member rules that require that they separate from all previous criminal networks and reveal the networks and all they know as part of the teams intelligence in exchange for their protection and employment. They are also required t go through the same military training those before them went through before they are accepted in The Team. This is because everyones past life in the team may be at risk.
Their mandate is to polish up and get ready for market Elan innovations and products, actualize solutions to community problems. Their number is not known as there is always someone who knows someone who can do something but has no job, wants to turn their life around, is running away from something, some people, corrupt government, or unfair laws and regulation. The top management is seven and only three know the full neetwork.
MARIA
In her 20s Bright, street smart with exceptional senses; taste, hearing, and touch. Started off picking pockets, then picked locks, was used by gangs to pick locks when she met Elan. Now often works on projects where an insider is needed as she is not only good at picking but is a brilliant judge of character, strong, and a great cook.
CANDY
In her early 30s Drop dead gorgeous, intelligent, studied medicine, and was an obstetrician. She lost her license when she was accused of malpractice after the doctor she worked with framed her on an abortion gone went wrong. This left her jobless and unable to practice or fend for herself and her family. She started practicing illegally, working with families who could not afford high medical fees. She met Elan through Dela as she is the one who treated her son when they were in hiding after her husband was killed
DAN
Early 30s, 2nd inline on the Team. Computer geek. Handsome failed as a male model, decided to use his looks to dupe unsuspecting rich women from all over the world. Well travelled, class defined.
IBRAHIM
Mid 20s Was recruited to ISIS while in Kenya sent to Somalia and taken to Arabia for training however not convinced ran away when he got the opportunity to when on a mission back in Kenya. Met Elan in Nairobi while running away, she helped him secure a passport and get surgery, then relocate to South Africa. Has good understanding of explosives. Loyal, quiet and observant.
JAMES
Mid 30s Head of the team, works at Elan Group as head of IT, computer geek specialising in software and IT security systems. Tall, average build. Hacked systems for a living and stole card numbers from online and physical unprotected wallets till he met Elan at a restaurant one day when he tried to hack into her wallet but she noticed. Decided to work with her after and came along with 2 of his fellow hackers
JAKE
Psychologist, specialist in human behaviour, in his previous life designed online conversations and emails to help 4.1.9 gangs fleece money from unsuspecting 'lovers' for a commission. Now acts as a bar attendant in one of Elan's clubs
MARK
Late 30s Hardware engineer can computerise anything, specialises in robotics. Met Elan while on holiday after he lost his business when the innovation he was working was stolen, and, his then partner who happened to be a politician used his influence to stop access to his bank accounts. After an attempt on his life he contacted Elan who provided a refuge for him and an opportunity to start over.
HOUSEHOLD STAFF
NJERI
Housekeeper at Elan's
SAEED
Gateman at Elan's
MUSTAFA
Head Chef at Elan's
GOVERNOR
State Governor in Elan's home county
CHRIS
Transport business, Dela's youngest Son.23 Loves mom and bro obedient and hardworking
DESMOND
Export-import business, Dela's Eldest Son. 25
