Mompreneur Interview With Gani Shittu (Founder of Simiraj Styling)

I have the ultimate respect for all moms in full time business. Being able to effectively balance the roles of a mother and an entrepreneur is a super-power. So, in honor of Mother’s Day Month I will be highlighting some really cool mompreneurs in my circle. It is with such pleasure I present to you, Gani Shittu Founder/Head Stylist of Simiraj Styling & Consulting, LLC. Get to know more about her and if you are getting married soon, you might be in need of her amazing service.

What inspired you to take the path of entrepreneurship?

I’ve always known that I wanted to “be my own boss”.  I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to really focus on because I am known as a “Jane of all trades. I was thankful for my work experiences during my college years and thereafter. Through performance reviews, my leadership skills were a known strength for me. Taking initiative was just innate, growing up as the eldest child of 3. I took care of my siblings and cousins at a young age. I started my career as a manager in training program at club Monaco. It was the best and I learned a lot of habits, and a lot of best practices which helped shape my management style. I continued with Kenneth Cole Productions where I became an assistant store manager and gained more knowledge of what it takes to run a business. Lastly, I moved on to Tory Burch, LLC as a General Manager where I learned the steps to creating experiences for clients. What I appreciate most about this time of my life was learning that “people” are who shape the business. People relate to people and so whatever it is you are selling or whatever service you are providing, people will come to you because of the experience they had with you.

Everybody has a story, what is your story?

One thing I knew for sure was that I LOVED everything fashion. I grew up in a home where fashion was one of the many ways we communicated with each other. What I learned from them was that looking good correlates with how you present yourself to others and it ultimately shows how you feel from within. When you take the time to put effort into your overall look it sets the tone and lifts your spirits.

Although I had many years of experience in fashion, being a bridal fashion stylist was my niche. I remember planning my wedding looks and selecting the colors of my bridesmaids’ dresses. And while it was all fun for me, I could see how it could be overwhelming for someone who isn’t interested in those details. It was also important for me to create a luxury experience for every bride.

Brides always get so caught up in planning and forget that this will also be the moment they are exchanging vows with your significant other. I also know that all brides needs an advocate especially on their wedding day, this is a day they should be treated as a queen and enjoy every moment of it.

My job is to take their vision and provide extra guidance to bring it to life with an unbiased- expert point of view. My Wedding Day Coordinator helped with choosing professionals for every other aspect of my wedding – the photographer, caterer, DJ, and décor were all carefully selected to ensure my guests were treated to a memorable experience.

However, the assistance of a professional bridal fashion stylist could have been utilized. The style of the bride and bridal party sets the tone of the entire wedding, and choosing the perfect gown is one of the most important parts of planning the wedding celebration, which is where I come in.

What advice will you give your younger self?

Don’t ignore those fabulous ideas you have spiraling in your head. It is ok to be different and to think outside of what others think is the “norm”. Remember those thoughts were given to you for a reason. Yes, someone else might be doing something similar, but what makes your ideas unique is YOU. Know and believe that this path was created only for you, and it is the path that you’re destined for. You shape how you want success to look like for YOU.

How do you balance entrepreneurship & motherhood?

How do I balance??? Hmm, that is a great question. I think it is safe to say that I am still figuring it out lol. I will say that I am learning new ways every day and that it is ok. What I do try to stick to is adding all the “kid’s stuff” onto my calendar. A calendar and a to-do list will be your best friend (when used properly lol). This year I said one thing I wanted to work on was an easier way for clients to reach out and book consultations with me. So now I have a booking link on my social media and website that goes directly to my calendar. I’ve also updated my work schedule, so I am not working after hours. I am very intentional when it comes to scheduling family trips and I make time for soccer and swimming lessons, including going to the park.

What advice can you give to mompreneurs who are juggling life and business?

One thing that I would say I appreciate about being a mompreneur is having the autonomy of your personal life and work schedule. The work-life balance has become such an important part of my life as. So, take that time to spend with your family and friends. Take that vacation time because you answer only to yourself. You already work so hard to utilize the saying, “ Work Hard, Play Harder”.

Relationship building – Let’s talk about this! How important is relationship building for you and how did it help your business?

Relationship building is very important, most importantly in my line of work. Having those relationships with designers, seamstresses, event planners, makeup artists, and hairstylists (just to name a few), really sets the tone for my services. My services are unique because of the relationships I have built. Yes, a lot can be done by yourself as a bride or celebrant without a stylist. But if in a moment you need a last-minute dress or the person you really wanted your bridal robe from is now booked for the year, whom do you turn to? I’ve learned that you can’t do it all by yourself and people like to work with others who have the same business mindset as them.

Do you take risks? What risk did you take? Was it a good or bad risk? What would you do differently?

I have to say it but I am not a huge risk-taker. But I do believe that it is ok to feel uncomfortable. It is good to feel safe when doing something. You have a 9-5 job and because you feel “secured” you go and clock in every day because that is what you were hired to do. You are paid on a bi-weekly basis and you have health insurance for yourself. What I learned with entrepreneurship is that NOTHING is guaranteed or secured. The company you work for can easily replace you when needed. So are we really secured? I was scared when I left my day job because I didn’t want to ever not have enough to support myself and my family. But with the support of my husband, I took the plunge, and today I will say I work way harder with way more hours, but I am happy. I set the tone for the day/week. I enjoy my work because the kicker is, it really doesn’t feel like work.

What do you do for personal growth & development?

I am a part of “Black Millionaires” which meets once a week on zoom. The focus is to help entrepreneurs build million-dollar brands. I also reach out to people who are within my industry to learn new ways and techniques. I also love listening to the words of Steve Harvey and other influential people.

Was there a time you felt like giving up? What inspired you to keep going?

Every day I feel like giving up. I have now learned that it is a part of the process. Nothing that is great comes easy and going through the process only makes me stronger. I am also a very faithful person and when I do have those moments of weakness, I make an extra prayer to God who made me and beg him to see me through. And you know what HE does, I get a random message from a client sharing how thankful and appreciative they are for having me as their bridal stylist. I really put all my trust in HIM. It is my faith that keeps me going. I also occasionally do a “focus workshop” with my life coach. I am very big on affirmations, and I use them in my life and my children’s life daily.

How do you self-care?

Self-care for me consists of, spa days, shopping with hubby’s credit card, girls’ trips, listening to music, an occasional trip to the nail salon, and of course, getting dressed for date night.

What advice would you give to anyone who is about to embark on the entrepreneurship journey?

Do your research. If you wanted to be successful as an entrepreneur, plan for it and plan for it well. Make sure you have at least a year worth of your bills and extracurricular activities covered. This isn’t for the weak so be prepared for anything that comes at you. Always stay positive. There will be a lot of naysayers but keeping those that are true to you near, will really shape your mindset. And remember, have fun and enjoy the journey to greatness. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

She can be reached on her website and on her instagram page @Simirajstyling