By CHIMPREPORTS
Gloria Kyarisiima, the founder of GBK Super Cleaning & General Services Ltd, shares her inspiring journey and how she became one of the winners of the 6th season of dfcu Bank’s Rising Woman Initiative:
Background and Journey:
Gloria’s journey began when she saw the call for women entrepreneurs to participate in the 2024 Rising Woman competition, which sought individuals engaged in business with the aim of creating social impact. Gloria, the founder of GBK Super Cleaning & General Services Ltd, emphasizes the company’s sustainability drive and her commitment to closing the unemployment gap and fighting poverty while offering professional services to the corporate sector. Participating in Rising Woman was an opportunity to contribute to her community. After writing her proposal, Gloria made it to the top 20, defended her proposal, and ended up among the top 10 winners.
Business Industry:
Gloria is building her business in the institutional and industrial cleaning industry. GBK provides cleaning and maintenance services to commercial establishments of all sizes and types, focusing on creating a healthy environment. The choice of this industry stems from Gloria’s passion for cleanliness and the increased demand for professional cleaning services, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entrepreneurial Inspiration:
The inspiration to become an entrepreneur struck during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a teacher by profession, Gloria, along with many educationists, lost her job due to school closures. However, the pandemic created an opportunity and demand for cleaning services. Recognizing her passion for cleanliness, Gloria seized this opportunity and founded GBK Super Cleaning & General Services.
Impact of Rising Woman Initiative:
The mentorship and support from the Rising Woman initiative have significantly influenced Gloria’s entrepreneurial journey. The program provided her with the chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and through the mentorship program, she learned valuable lessons. Notable takeaways include learning to separate herself from the business, creating processes and systems, setting strategic goals, and conflict management within her company and with business partners. Gloria expresses gratitude to dfcu Bank, Nation Media Group, Uganda Airlines, and other partners for the opportunities provided through the Rising Woman initiative.
Advice to Aspiring Women in the Industry:
Gloria advises women aspiring to excel in the cleaning industry to prioritize continuous learning, emphasizing that learning is a never-ending process. She encourages them not to underestimate their capabilities and emphasizes that the industry has ample opportunities for everyone.
Nairobi Study Tour Experience:
Gloria describes the trip to Nairobi as enlightening and eye-opening. Networking with women entrepreneurs in Kenya revealed better business practices that women in Uganda can adopt. Key lessons include the power of collaboration within the industry, appropriate pricing for high-quality services, and the importance of understanding and tracking business financials. Gloria highlights the significance of women in Kenya working together and collaborating rather than viewing each other as competitors.
Contributions to Causes:
Gloria expresses a desire to change how garbage is handled and disposed of in Uganda. She plans to initiate community projects with coded garbage bins in trading centers to promote garbage separation for recycling. This initiative aligns with her goal of addressing climate change.
Advice for Female Entrepreneurs Interested in Rising Woman:
Gloria encourages every woman in the country to participate in the Rising Woman Initiative, emphasizing that it goes beyond winning money. The initiative offers valuable learning experiences that can propel any woman interested in starting and running a successful business, including the essential skill of writing a proposal, which alone can elevate a business to new heights.
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