{"id":53720,"date":"2025-04-04T17:52:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T17:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/nicole-ansoni-s-journey-of-entrepreneurship-and-empowerment-video\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T10:30:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T10:30:53","slug":"nicole-ansoni-s-journey-of-entrepreneurship-and-empowerment-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/nicole-ansoni-s-journey-of-entrepreneurship-and-empowerment-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicole Ansoni\u2019s journey of entrepreneurship and empowerment (VIDEO)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With over a decade of experience in creating socio-economic impact across Rwanda and West Africa, her story inspires countless others to follow their dreams, even when the path seems uncertain.<\/p>\n<p>Nicole is a young Rwandan entrepreneur who began her journey with a completely different career trajectory in mind. Originally trained in political science and international relations, she had a clear path toward a career in diplomacy.<\/p>\n<p>However, a series of events, bolstered by guidance from mentors, led her to a bold decision, to become an entrepreneur. \u201cI was set to have a career in diplomacy, but I pivoted completely. Luckily, I was young enough to make that choice, to go from studying political science to becoming self-employed,\u201d Nicole recalls.<\/p>\n<p>She admits that the transition was not an easy one. \u201cIt took a lot of mentorship. I was fortunate that my cousins and brothers, who were entrepreneurs themselves, rallied around me. They helped me understand the value I could contribute to Rwanda\u2019s business sector.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her shift into entrepreneurship came with many challenges, particularly in the hospitality sector, which was still emerging in Rwanda at the time. But she had a strong belief in the power of mentorship and passion-driven work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat I believe in most is mentorship. I\u2019m the product of mentorship, and I want to offer the same opportunity to others, especially young women who want to enter hospitality but don\u2019t know where to begin,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FPWPePVdgI4\" title=\"Successful entrepreneurship requires a holistic approach - Nicole Ansoni on The Perspective\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Despite her educational background being far apart from the business world, Nicole made a conscious decision to focus on her passion for food and hospitality. She knew that in order to succeed, she had to build a strong foundation around the industry.<\/p>\n<p>Her focus became clear; to create businesses that not only thrive but also contribute positively to the community. However, the lack of infrastructure in Rwanda\u2019s hospitality sector in the early days presented a significant challenge.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the beginning, we worked with an unreasonable amount of suppliers because there was no centralized supply chain and barely any suppliers specifically geared towards the hospitality\/wholesale industry. You\u2019d have to run all over town to find what you needed for your business, and purchase retail instead of wholesale which affected our cashflow\u201d Nicole recounts.<\/p>\n<p>This logistical nightmare was compounded by the lack of trained human resources in Rwanda\u2019s hospitality and tourism sectors, with students who had the theory but not the hands-on experience.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these challenges, Nicole was determined to make her business work. One of her major breakthroughs came with the creation of Inka Steakhouse, a restaurant that would go on to become a symbol of Rwanda\u2019s growing hospitality scene.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84837 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_1-269.jpg\" alt=\"Nicole is focused on continuing her entrepreneurial journey, expanding her businesses, and supporting the next generation of leaders.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhen I decided to open a restaurant, I wanted something authentic. I didn\u2019t want an Italian or French restaurant, because I am neither of the two. I wanted to create a place where people could enjoy locally sourced meat and produce in a setting that celebrated Rwanda,\u201d she reveals.<\/p>\n<p>Inka Steakhouse became a passion project for Nicole, a way to elevate Rwandan beef and support local farmers. The name \u201cInka,\u201d which means \u201ccow\u201d in Kinyarwanda, was chosen as a tribute to Rwanda\u2019s agricultural heritage. For her, Inka is a love letter to Rwanda. It represents dignity and nobility.<\/p>\n<p>Inka Steakhouse is not just about food, it\u2019s about community. The restaurant has become a platform to showcase the country\u2019s agricultural potential and raise awareness about the importance of supporting local farmers.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, Nicole\u2019s restaurant became part of a larger movement that changed the face of cattle farming in Rwanda, helping farmers improve their practices and increase the quality of their products. <\/p>\n<p>Her commitment to empowering others is not limited to her business ventures. Her philanthropic work, through the Ansoni Foundation, has been a major part of her journey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we started the foundation seven years ago, I wanted to support schools by providing them with books. But when I visited schools, I realized that the real issue wasn\u2019t the books, it was that the children weren\u2019t coming to school because they didn\u2019t have enough to eat, their families couldn\u2019t afford the school lunch and meals\u201d Nicole explains.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84832 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_10-21.jpg\" alt=\"Inka Steakhouse is not just about food, it\u2019s about community.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>One of the foundation\u2019s accomplishments this year already was donating over 200,000 meals to a school in Huye, district, Southern Province. With a conviction of education as a key pillar for development, Nicole was very passionate about helping kids access it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been given so much in my life, and I believe that those who are fortunate have a responsibility to give back,\u201d she states. This belief is reflected in both her business practices and her philanthropic efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Nicole is focused on continuing her entrepreneurial journey, expanding her businesses, and supporting the next generation of leaders. She is especially committed to helping Rwanda\u2019s youth harness the opportunities available to them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need an educated and focused youth. We need more discipline and rigor. Entrepreneurship is not glamorous, it requires hard work, self-discipline, and perseverance,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84831 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_8-38.jpg\" alt=\"Her commitment to empowering others is not limited to her business ventures. Her philanthropic work, through the Ansoni Foundation, has been a major part of her journey.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>An award winning entrepreneur, Nicole has numerous accolades to her name including restaurant of the year (five times), young entrepreneur of the Year (three times, best steakhouse in East Africa and was recently nominated for the Forty under 40 global awards slated for April 12, 2025 in Dubai.<\/p>\n<p>Her message to young Rwandans is simple but powerful: \u201cThere are endless opportunities here. Keep dreaming, keep learning, and take the time to prepare yourself for success.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nicole Ansoni\u2019s journey is a testament to the power of mentorship, passion, and the willingness to embrace change. She continues to inspire a generation of Rwandans to believe in their dreams, pursue their passions, and use their success to uplift others.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84833 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_11-20.jpg\" alt=\"The restaurant has become a platform to showcase the country\u2019s agricultural potential and raise awareness about the importance of supporting local farmers.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84835 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_13-13.jpg\" alt=\"An award winning entrepreneur, Nicole has numerous accolades to her name.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84842 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_6-65.jpg\" alt=\"One of the foundation\u2019s accomplishments this year already was donating over 200,000 meals to a school in Huye, district, Southern Province.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84836 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic-111.jpg\" alt=\"Nicole continues to inspire a generation of Rwandans to believe in their dreams, pursue their passions, and use their success to uplift others.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84840 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_4-110.jpg\" alt=\"Inka Steakhouse became a passion project for Nicole, a way to elevate Rwandan beef.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84843 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_7-49.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84839 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_3-152.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84838 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_2-190.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84834 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_12-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84830 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_9-29.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84844 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_14-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nicole Ansoni\u2019s entrepreneurial journey is a powerful tale of transformation, resilience, and empowerment, deeply rooted in her passion for hospitality and a determination to give back to her community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":2000084829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[72],"byline":[3135],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-53720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-featured-news-home","byline-sam-k-nkurunziza-2"],"bylines":[{"id":3135,"name":"Sam K Nkurunziza","slug":"sam-k-nkurunziza-2","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"contributors":[{"id":3135,"name":"Sam K Nkurunziza","slug":"sam-k-nkurunziza-2","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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