Where My Journey Began

Before I joined Miko & Anna, I worked as a domestic worker. I spent my days cleaning and caring for other families while carrying a quiet dream of building a better life for my own. The work taught me discipline, humility and the importance of showing up every day, even when the road ahead is uncertain.

When I discovered Miko & Anna, I first saw beautiful handbags and watches. I did not yet realise that I was also looking at a new future. I understood the women I had worked alongside, the long hours they carried and the dreams they kept alive. I wanted them to know that they, too, could build an income, grow in confidence and create more choices for their families.

Starting One Bag at a Time

I began with what I had. I sold one bag at a time from my table, learned how to speak to customers and gradually became more confident in sharing the business opportunity with others. Recruiting frightened me at first, but I learned that inviting another woman to grow was not something to fear. It was a way of opening a door.

There were days when I wanted to give up. On those days, I remembered where I had come from and why I had started. I wanted to build something of my own, support my family and help women with stories like mine see what could be possible for them.

From Zero to Senior Brand Ambassador

Within nine months, I grew from starting at zero to becoming a Senior Brand Ambassador. Today, I have stock of my own, Team Leaders who look to me for guidance and a business I am proud to represent. The same hands that once worked to build someone else's home now help me build my own future.

Four principles helped me grow:

1. Care for customers. People return when they feel valued, not simply sold to.
2. Know the products. Product knowledge gives me the confidence to recommend the right pieces.
3. Share the opportunity. Releasing the fear of recruiting allowed me to help other women begin their own journeys.
4. Work as a team. Progress becomes more meaningful when we learn, support one another and succeed together.

Building More Than a Business

Miko & Anna has taught me that a handbag can represent far more than a product. It can help a woman feel confident. It can become the first sale in a new business. It can remind someone that her circumstances do not have to define her future.

If you are a domestic worker, a mother or a woman who doubts what she can achieve, I hope my story encourages you. I began with a dream, a table and the willingness to learn. If I could grow into a Senior Brand Ambassador, you can begin building something of your own too.

Elizabeth Maleoa
Senior Brand Ambassador, Miko & Anna Africa

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