Editor: How did you first hear about i-genius? And why did you choose to join the i-genius community?
Sev: I first heard about i-genius because I had won sponsorship as a Level 1 award winner with UnLtd. I had put my project forward “Women & Young People’s Safety Solutions” and my project manager Tom Shuttle supported me. I read about i–genius with the literature that had been sent through to me and I also had a look on there website. I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to attend and meet other socially minded entrepreneurs, as well as promote my business and make connections with like minded people / organizations. In December 2007 I received an email saying I had won the opportunity to attend, I accepted and the journey begun.
Editor: What does Women & Young People’s Safety Solutions do? And how does it achieve its main aims?
Sev: “Women & Young People’s Safety Solutions”, assists young people, women and front line workers on all safety issues that affect them. My project provides practical, simple and real life tools, techniques and information by teaching participants threat awareness, avoidance, the law, how to manage risk, self esteem and confidence building. It provides a forum where people can share their experiences; find new strategies / techniques on how to resolve the difficulties as a result of abuse from criminal activity, gang culture or culture beliefs which has caused physical, mental, sexual, emotional, financial or psychologically distress.
All my work stems from my own personal experiences and the knowledge I have acquired.
Editor: What other projects and work are you involved with?
Sev: Another project I work with is called, “Counselling in Schools”. I work as a counselor on-site at schools, promoting effective ways of managing and resolving difficulties of feelings of inner conflict, relationships with others and many problems that children / young people are faced with daily.
Other work that I am involved in include providing personal training / nutrition / personal safety / counseling / NLP. Providing this to individuals and organisations that are interested in their health and well being. It’s about taking control of your life and your brain and achieving what you want in life, without letting daily problems become your main focus.
Editor: What were your thoughts on attending the i-genius world summit in Thailand last March? And have you formed any partnerships and/or friendships?
Sev: Inspiring speeches throughout the conference for me were David McQueen’s, Been Keene and Reid Ridgeway’s. I think that humour and story telling are always the best way to get your message across to an audience of like-minded people. Several of the workshops and other speeches, such as Cliff Priors and Martin Orton’s who were also informative and relevant to my business. I believe that more positive female role models, telling their story of how they created a successful business from nothing to something after their struggle would have been appropriate for a large proportion of the target group that attended. I would have also personally liked to have been given an opportunity to give a one-minute pitch of my business either during the conference and or at the gala dinner. Unfortunately even though I did my best to speak to as many people as I could at the conference I know I didn’t. I think the one minute pitch would have helped me to let some of the others know what I did and what had inspired me.
I must say that I met some wonderful people and an awful lot of them live in my local area. I am looking forward to the i-genius reunion and found myself missing the event, on thought on my experiences. It was inspiring, supporting, motivating and fun. I enjoyed all the food, the resort, the events that were so thoughtfully put on and most of all the people I met and was able to connect with. Paulette West CEO – of gap has already agreed to mentor me and I am meeting with a few other people over the next coming weeks to discuss our projects. My aim is to find interested partners that feel as passionately about my work as I do, so I can continue to grow my business in the direction I have dreamed of.
Editors: Do you have any news stories and/or events that you would like us to know about?
Sev: I don’t have any events at the moment but have loads of stories (ha ha). Anybody interested in contacting me around the subjects that I am passionate about are more then welcome.
Editor: Where will you be going on your next vacation and what will you take with you?
Sev: I am planning to go to Copenhagen for the weekend to visit my friend who currently is working out there. It’s a treat to my self, for my birthday. No other vacations planned, however looking to go to Mexico. What I’ll be bringing with me is my swim wear and a good book to read.
Editor: If you could paint the world in three colors, what would they be and why?
Sev: It would have to be four colours: Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow. The primary colours that would make all colours. All colours are equally as important and play a vital part in our well-being and earth.
Editor: Thank you Sev Necati!
