The April edition of the She Means Business Dialogue, hosted by the NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), brought together women entrepreneurs and business owners for an insightful session focused on “Human Capital and People Management for Small Businesses.”
The virtual dialogue featured renowned business coach and entrepreneur, Ayotunde Meshioye, who shared practical strategies for managing people effectively, retaining talent, and building productive workplace systems within small businesses.
Welcoming participants to the session, the Publicity Secretary of NNEW, Eniola Mayowa, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs through capacity-building initiatives and monthly engagement platforms. She noted that the She Means Business Dialogue continues to serve as a valuable platform for learning, collaboration, and business growth.
Also speaking at the session, the Vice President of NNEW, Bolanle Edwards, highlighted the importance of human capital in sustaining and growing successful enterprises. She emphasized that effective people management remains one of the key pillars for long-term business success.
During his presentation, Ayotunde Meshioye described human capital as one of the greatest assets of any business and stressed the need for entrepreneurs to adopt structured hiring and performance management systems. He explained that small business owners must pay attention not only to recruiting talent but also to creating an environment where employees can grow, contribute meaningfully, and remain motivated.
The session explored critical aspects of workforce management, including onboarding processes, workforce planning, talent retention strategies, workplace policies, and performance tracking. Participants were encouraged to establish clear expectations for employees, define measurable performance indicators, and maintain consistent feedback systems to improve productivity and accountability.
Ayotunde further emphasized the importance of workplace culture, integrity, and professionalism in managing teams. He advised entrepreneurs to develop clear workplace policies covering ethics, conduct, use of company resources, and employee behavior, while also ensuring that employees feel appreciated through recognition, growth opportunities, and flexible work arrangements where possible.
The dialogue also featured an engaging interactive session where participants asked questions on balancing competitive remuneration with skill acquisition, handling difficult or disgruntled employees, managing relatives within business structures, and deciding whether to rehire former staff members.
Despite intermittent technical and connectivity challenges experienced during the virtual session, participants described the engagement as highly impactful and insightful. The session concluded with appreciation to the guest speaker and organizers, while presentation materials were scheduled to be shared with participants for further learning and implementation.
Through initiatives like the SheMeansBusinessDialogue, NNEW continues to provide women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge, professional support, and strategic insights necessary for building sustainable and thriving businesses.