Malini Sarma 0:02

Hey, Angie, thank you so much for coming to the show. I'm really, really excited because you are my first guest from the African continent. And I am so excited to have you on the show. Thanks

Angie Waite 0:16

to this show,

my name is Angelica

Malini Sarma 0:20

Waite from Kenya. And I'm so excited to hearing your story. I'm sure there's so many other women who can relate and who've been, who are just waiting to hear all about you. You had said that. You grew up in Kenya in a in a traditional household in the village. And you're the youngest of nine. Yeah.

Angie Waite 0:42

Yes.

Malini Sarma 0:43

So what were some of the experiences that shaped your upbringing? Winston, can you talk a little bit about that?

Angie Waite 0:53

Yes, I grew up in a small village in Kenya, a peasant farmer sort of family. And I'm the names in the family. I am actually the last one. Okay, and bring up I experienced much as we didn't have so much to talk about in terms of property. There's a lot of love that went around the kitchen, or around the fireplace, where we all sat and told stories. So growing up, let me say at a very happy childhood. In terms of brothers and sisters, I know I found myself on the receiving end, most of the times, on the one somebody really would be looking around, that was me. And therefore as far as I grew up, secretly without them knowing at this edge, be the leader. I have this edge to be noticed. And so as I grew up, because I liked singing, I love singing from when I was little, I found myself in a school choir singing a solo singing a duet, you know, and I think it was not ideal being up front. And being seen as a leader really kept pushing me. And as I said in the village, went to school to the primary school level secondary school level in the same area. Until when I was at college. And that's how I came to the Yeah, that is that is a background of how I grew up. Yes.

Malini Sarma 2:30

So So when so you you studied in prime and primary and secondary school in the village. And then when you had to go to university, you moved to the city?

Angie Waite 2:41

Yes, I came to the city when I was coming to college, or Co Op, the secondary school part was still in within the club setup. It was a distance, I believe it was like a two hour drive from home. Plus still within the same vicinity so far of environment wise, nothing much. Really. Yes. Okay.

Malini Sarma 3:03

So growing up, Who were some of your role models? I know you said you, your father and your mother, they know you're a very loving relationship. We know Yeah, family, so who one of you some of your role models growing up.

Angie Waite 3:18

Um, let me see, environment that I grew up. I'm having very loving parents who are really cold calling. And until late in life is when we realized that they were killing each other. That is how they used to call each other and growing up in their lives. You know, until we knew it was actually just barely translated to our mother tongue daddy. And I found that nice that people grew up calling me appalling. But I had a brother, elder brother, who looked like he was achieving and he was getting his way around the kitchen. And he was a teacher as I was going to my secondary school, he was a good teacher. And I really looked up to him in a lot of ways, you know, I desired in order to, to achieve something in life like my brother, because that area, even after today, I have so many women to to look up to in terms of being a role model. They can be like fun. So there wasn't really much of that. Until I still have this desire to be the person one day, I probably would look up to a desire to be like one and say yes, I am a person that people within the village as a one would look up and be like,

Malini Sarma 4:49

okay, okay, so um, so your your brother was your role model and the way he was achieving and that's what prompted you to go to university.

Angie Waite 4:59

Yes, there was There wasn't much else to look to look at. There wasn't much exposure there. No TV. So not like you see somebody performing on TV and which would be like so long. So, my brother really inspired me a lot.

Malini Sarma 5:16

Okay, so, so when you went to university, what did you study? Sorry, I didn't hear you. When you went to university, what did

Angie Waite 5:25

you study? What did they study? Mm hmm. Okay, I went to college called otally Kenyatta college. Um, it is the best institution within Eastern Africa that offers courses for tourism. And so we had a good exposure in college in terms of people from other countries, wonderful rooms fans in New Orleans. Because I think even today, that is still the best institution in as far as hospitality is concerned. So I started hospitality so to speak, early I did tour dating and administration. And then they further did ticketing which is the internationally renowned course for ticketing. And, um, that's what I have done as a career. Like all my life, that has been my career, I mean, hospitality, I mean, tourism, and I'm really happy to be in this industry.

Malini Sarma 6:29

So when, when you went to the University when you went to college to study hospitality, is that like a three year degree? Is that a four year degree? How does that work?

Angie Waite 6:40

Um, it is a three year degree. Okay. So we had exposure of the bush, and learning flora and fauna, planning all this history about the animals so that when you graduate, you can be able to take a safari and teach the tourists or people that you're heading and what it is that you're doing. So it was like a three years?

Malini Sarma 7:04

Yes. Okay. And so so you had planned after you graduated that you were going to go work for a tourist company?

Unknown Speaker 7:16

Yeah. Boss, what?

Angie Waite 7:20

Because that is the industry that absorb you after the cost that I was reading. And so soon after college, I think I stayed home for about two months. And I caught a job, it wasn't very hard to get a job in our industry at that time. So I was able to get a job and work in the tourism industry. And I moved from college from one company to another, I think I only moved twice. When when I joined the first company, it was sort of an attachment. And then soon after that admin for six months, I got a job with a different company that I worked with for 12 years. And then they were bought out by another company. So we were all taken to the company. So basically, it was one long division of employment, give the same element vironment and they worked there for another 16 years.

Malini Sarma 8:17

Wow, this is pretty unusual these days to be able to stay with one company for that long

Unknown Speaker 8:23

I know

Malini Sarma 8:25

Incredible, I mean, they must have been I mean, at that time, too, they must have been, you know, it must have been really good. And the industry has been good. The company must have been really good. That's amazing. The company

Angie Waite 8:37

was good. The industry was good. But I think what kept me more there is not the company being good at the industry being that I needed that.

Malini Sarma 8:50

Okay, I think a lot of our own, our own drive kind of forces us to do what we need to do. Yeah, yeah. So So tell me a little bit more about your family. So while you were working, were you is that when you got married? Did you find your husband? After you will after you found your job or while you were in college? How did that all work out?

Angie Waite 9:13

The way I was brought up, and in the village set up for me both days. We didn't have a story of dating. You have this boyfriend or you dropped off and you have another boyfriend and that never happened in my life. Living with even when I left the village in the city, the mindset never changed. So as I was in college, I knew for a fact I never dated anyone. Once we went out with girls and what have you, but I never like had a boyfriend because to me, the moment you have a month friend in your life, that meant marriage because I'm not ready for marriage. I did not and so When I left college, when I was in the company that I was from, I'm part of my work and period going around to different hotels, we had like a sales desk in different hotels, we would have a sense of appeal on at the north of the Stanley. And we took turns several in this as a sales group. And we rotated round the hotel desks, three days a lot for the one deal three days, only three days in the country days. And that's how I met my husband. Huh? When I was doing those rounds in as an intern, that's where I met him because then he was working at a hotel at the Stanley Hotel to be specific.

Malini Sarma 10:49

So he was also in hospitality, just like he was in

Angie Waite 10:52

when I

was working in a health club within.

Malini Sarma 10:58

Gotcha. Okay. So So in, in Kenya, it is, it is. So is that how normally people get married, they would find their own partner would date and then you would get married or get to your parents find somebody in a range because, you know, you have to find somebody from the same village or anything like that.

Unknown Speaker 11:18

Um, in not,

Angie Waite 11:22

we probably have a little of people's marriages that have been arranged their but never force, what parents would would normally do, you probably within, in my mother's circle of friends, maybe one one parent is seeing another man's child and disaster and chill, incinerate, you know, not so much in the open but like, I think so. And so son is not so bad. I don't think anybody would agree upon entering marriage in Kenya, no. People will. You will love each other, you will date you will introduce your partners to your families. Sometimes they'll say yes, they will say no, but really, you're you're left to sort of like decide you want to get married. This is not the whole of the country because we have particular as I mentioned before, have different tribes in Kenya, we have about 44 tribes. So we have, like the Masai community, the Masai community has both of those that have gone to school and studied. And I think that the book to date and murder people allow, unfortunately, I'd say less than 50% has actually gone to school, the majority are still within the rural end of environments, and records arranged not arranged and they are let me use the right word forced forced marriages because those students are normally married of as under age 1314 year old. So what they do is listen through go, circumcision to speak FGM, right? When the child is still small, 12 1112 year old and moment to conclude that right, you're ready for marriage. So an old man who has enough cattle will come and you know, speak to your father when they're happy that drink and go will offer 50 hours, whatever, and your father will murder you off to the highest bidder who so happens all but still happens to be it within that community. Okay,

Malini Sarma 13:40

so you said there are 44 tribes in Kenya and the Masai are the largest.

Angie Waite 13:45

No, they're very small, the Kikuyu at the largest. They're very small and effect with their culture. In fact, when you talk about tourism in Kenya, only that you hear more about is the masai. They're very, very popular. But they are a small community. They are very proud of their culture, therefore, you know, it's that like, it's almost become like a signature for Kenya's culture.

Malini Sarma 14:12

Right, right. Yeah. So what is your tribe?

Angie Waite 14:16

What is your tribe? You come from the central part of Kenya. So my tribe is called Kikyu. No, I think Kikuyu is the largest tribe that we have in Kenya, the most dynamic people want business minded, you know.

Malini Sarma 14:35

Okay, so So, there is no requirement that you have to marry somebody from your own tribe. No. Okay. And especially now things have really changed.

Angie Waite 14:49

People have actually lost a lot about their culture, except the mass eye and that's why they have become the like the signature for the culture. We are Strong, let me say as a country, we also encouraging cross culture marriages. And why we are doing that is because like things when we have elections, you find politicians, you find politicians like political along table lines. And a few instances have happened in the past, I have fought with each other, your next door neighbor speaks a different language to me, and you fight because, you know, it is my tribe that wants to take the seat for them. It's my tribe that once it's my tribe, and so even as parents, I can tell you for a fact, we are encouraging our children, both through cultural cross cultural marriages, magnetize marriage to a man who's of a different language and culture for mine. Because we want them to have a direction that identifies themselves as Kenyans not as claims. Right, right. Because once my grandchildren don't even know who you are, or who you another family does not know that they are new or combat. Finally, you end up being Kenyan.

Malini Sarma 16:12

Great.

Angie Waite 16:14

So we actually really encouraging the cross cultural marriages, and we think it's gonna help heal this country. At the end of the day, I think people will look at themselves in a national way.

Malini Sarma 16:40

Um, so so there is only so every tribe has its own language. Yeah.

Angie Waite 16:45

Yes, we have different languages. Okay. Some of them we understand each other. And we don't

Malini Sarma 16:52

so, so it is all it's all speaking. I mean, does it have a script? Or is it only the speaking,

Angie Waite 17:01

just even in the script, because like, people have Bibles in their own languages, okay. But now we have Kiswahili. Kiswahili is our national language. So we all meet.

Everybody understands this.

Malini Sarma 17:16

Okay. So jumbo? Yeah, yes. Okay, so I did not know that. So Swahili is the national language of Kenya. But you also have your tribal languages, depending on the

Angie Waite 17:29

year. And then English is the official language. The language that is used in schools for stuff?

Malini Sarma 17:36

Yeah, just like in India, in India, also English official language. Yeah. We also have different languages for every state. Yeah. Yep. And we do have Hindi, which is a national language. So I understand. I understand. I didn't realize that Swahili was the national language, but

Angie Waite 17:52

that's what is a national language.

Malini Sarma 17:55

Okay, so so when you when you got married to your husband, did you have to introduce him to your family? Yes, I did. In that they asked me in pitch tribe he's from was he from the same tribe as

Angie Waite 18:07

here is from the same time but from a different region. Okay, so what happened because of people in my village, not really putting in the kitchen to have giving it a lot of importance. Most of my age mates drop off school and got married at a very early age. And so, every time I go home, our close college, my mom used to say, Oh, you've not shown as a friend, why can't you? And I kept telling them, I'm still in school, to say, look at so and so. They have a big child as they drop off school. Class five have gone to college. So I had so much pressure, so much pressure from my parents. My mom, as in you getting old and my dad, only 22. Mm hmm. But because there's already have killed him. It seemed like multiplicatively somehow. So anyway, so when I finished college, and I'm still going through this pressure, and I do not have a boyfriend. And she kept asking, and I told her, okay, I will bring some books home. And then when I started when I started seeing my now husband, as I told you, I was not even employed. So I didn't, I didn't have and he was a manager in the hotel, where one of the hotels where I used to work. And so my dad got sick, very, very sick, something that was very unusual, had never seen or had my that's my entire life. And I told him, You know, I need to go home and see my daddy. Do you mind coming with me? I have no intention of introducing him as I think it has been three months seeing each other. And he was like, Oh, you're not afraid? Or like, What for? Let's go home. We went home. And for my parents for them to see me in the company or man, that meant something. My dad hadn't in bed for like two weeks. He had not left his bed. So when he had, or allergies Yeah. And she's the friend. I think he has interpreted Oh, she's come to show me her boyfriend who happened to be or something. And so for the first time, in two weeks, my dad actually woke. Wow. And came to the city motors, I think for us for everybody. Oh, this is a plus sign. And when he came and met me, everybody's name is called me. You know what my dad asked me. In our culture, we have a habit of your, your daughter's husband. You call them bad. And like no make my no calls me mom. My father in law would call me mom because yeah, we'll have their names. Oh, that's how we name our children. So for my dad, my husband, his his father, was if we bear children, we will name him for that came and asked me. Is this my dad? Oh. Okay. What related you Melinda because I got lost. confused. Like I said, Yes. Somebody that I hardly know. And then my daddy calls him hold his hand and tells him that

I bless you. Oh,

Unknown Speaker 21:54

what was his reaction?

Angie Waite 21:56

Was my dad's reaction. My husband, my husband. Now Mick was like, thank you. We came back to the city. Who weeks down the line? My dad. Oh,

Malini Sarma 22:11

this You got this. You got to show him you know, this. He got to see a thing he died knowing that you couldn't be okay.

Angie Waite 22:18

No, he's the man saying. I did not even ask for your hand in marriage. You're dead. literally gave you to me. That is how my introduction

for my family was

it was never planned. It was not my husband. I was not at not hardly known you. And then that became it.

Malini Sarma 22:46

sahami after How long did you actually get married after your father passed away?

Angie Waite 22:51

My dad passed away. Um, I got myself a small zoo. I was renting a small Emerson small room, which had everything you need. The toilet is just one step in the plane at one step in

a very small bed.

And while I was in that bed sits up mix that now coming to visit one day one chat the next day one trouser, and before I knew it.

Malini Sarma 23:28

So so in Canada, I mean, do you guys have like religion? I mean, do you have your own tribal way of getting married? Do you follow a piece of Christianity? Or is it something else? How do you when you when you have a religious ceremony? Do you have it like whatever is your tribal way of celebrating?

Angie Waite 23:48

We've got we've got three ways how people do marriages in Kenya, you can either do it the traditional way, where you will go to the parents, they'll tell you what they need you to opt out. The parents will tell you depends on which culture you're taking it to. We have Christianity where you also agree who's charged. Normally you use the bell stat. If your denomination is different than Christianity, we have so many other you know, if you live your purpose, and most of the times you use the Dallas church, if it's any different from yours,

or you can actually go to the ag

however, I can tell you without those three options, the majority just do come with a

Malini Sarma 24:39

What is it? What is it? What is the common way?

Angie Waite 24:42

Can we say most of the people have become mistake? I've gone seen your parents? Yes. They said yes, we lived together for marriage. And people have stayed in marriages for 1020 years. And the only solid missing them 20 years down the line but they've been living together. Oh, okay.

Malini Sarma 25:00

So that's pretty okay. As long as you have your parents blessings, you just you just live together there is no no,

Angie Waite 25:06

you not not. You should solemn lies because things happen Really? Things happen like Yeah, but when people get comfortable, you find them living together without, you know, anything formal that leads them to get that man and wife. Mm hmm. That happens a lot. Yeah.

Malini Sarma 25:23

Okay. So there is no. Um, so what happens like when you have children, like you said they will get your parents names. They know. Yes. Okay. So do you take

Angie Waite 25:35

different based on tribes, again, sometimes named after a mama tribes like from Western Kenya be named with the time Mama. Sometimes somebody might just like you as a friend millennia and then the next day like that is all Malini. So yeah, it depends on the type,

Malini Sarma 25:58

say the interview like a take your husband's name, like, you know, when you get married, your last name changes. That's how they do it in other places. Does that happen? Are you stay in keep your original name. Do you have like a first name and a last name? Like your Angela, your Angelica? Wait. So if we like your father's name is that your husband?

Angie Waite 26:19

Is my husband's name. And it is the way you wish to do it as a couple is nothing restrictive. Because still have your marriage certificate? And if you keep your maiden name in your house, yes, you do in defense, but not in our generation, you want that that limit to get out. Okay, not that it adds value. Yeah, you want to be nimble. You need to be known if somebody else's name. Metadata has said no, I'm keeping the names you keep your your husband and wife. And balance goes on. Okay, yeah,

Malini Sarma 26:56

yep. That sounds about right. Yeah. So so but what about you? Did you actually like go to a church and get married? Or did you just live together? Or did you have a truck? Where have you? How did you do? Did you legalize your arrangement or now?

Angie Waite 27:10

Mine went through phases of all of those. The beginning it was a step up, as I told you, when we went and saw my parents, and then we moved in one, one shot one jacket. And finally him and miss me get together until a pillow boy was about to run who's ready for now? And that's when he said, No, I think you need to solemnize this. Do we have a very small catch? chat reading. We didn't even bring our parents than in a hurry. I was told, like, you know, meeting out Monday or Friday and we called a few friends. We had it solemn nice. And then he took off and went somewhere to look for a job for about three months. God knows. And of course that was and so that when you're away, you cannot change your mind and gone through. Can we stay through that wedding? And yeah. Okay,

Malini Sarma 28:22

so yes, your son is your younger child or your older child.

Angie Waite 28:27

My son is the youngest.

Malini Sarma 28:29

Okay, so So um, after after you got married you found your job with the with the tourist company?

Angie Waite 28:39

Yes, I did. Okay,

Malini Sarma 28:41

so you were managing with

Angie Waite 28:44

so yes.

Malini Sarma 28:47

And in the husband in the house and then you had

Angie Waite 28:51

an babies yes in how did

Malini Sarma 28:53

you manage all that

Angie Waite 28:57

tough task after you know when when a good marriage management as you hear we met in a hotel he was there. He was a manager for them. And but the time we were getting to know each other for three months before he went home. Three months after we came from home he stopped one Don't ask me why? Because he did not know why he stopped working. And so when when we stayed together, I ended up being the only breadwinner

he refused to work he's ever talented man.

He would go do our jobs wherever wherever our trust to me. For those many years, he's never known what his children it or the claws are the way to school.

No.

But um, let me say We are very lucky in our community, be lucky maybe and lucky, you can choose. For me, I would say lucky, somebody else would think I am being selfish. Unfortunately, the fact that I cannot change, because we are able to get house helps, and they're not that expensive to keep. For if you're lucky to get a good house help, will stay with your children, then you are able to hustle and go to work. And still be able to have your children in good hands. So I was able to have good house helps along the way. But when it came to the time when the children of school came in hand at that point, in terms of helping reboot the home, and so I was able now to handle employment, family. And it's not easy. It's not easy when you're you're the only breadwinner. And sometimes when you when you want to come home and feel like somebody is affirming what you're doing or is appreciating what, you don't hear anything. Be very difficult. Yes. Very, very difficult. No, let me say it's not been easy. It's been over 30 years of marriage. And many a time. Not them. Even now. I still I still like ask myself, does it feel to be loved a man? What is their What is? What is this relationship with a friend some people so happy about? Am I missing a point diamond is something is not right. So so it leaves you with a lot of bumps in your life. Wanting to feel appreciated for the little that you bring. You're putting food on the table, you're paying rent, you're buying clothing for not just the children including our Daddy, you could be a family, you buy you feel as if you just want to take a break. Unfortunately, there isn't a break.

Unknown Speaker 32:13

Going.

Angie Waite 32:15

The governor of courage, being good at it. Yeah. And thank God for every day. Because my children and out and it's cool, they've both done their master's degrees. My daughter has a degree in environment and marine. And she's now working with me, sustainability here. My son has done his master's degree net. And we just looking at how it is on Warsaw and also someplace so good. Is that been able to see them through school? And, yes, that at least makes me happy. That's

Unknown Speaker 32:58

what it was. Yes.

Malini Sarma 32:59

I mean, that is all your sacrifice. Right. And and your hard work that has got them through college and degrees and now they're working and on their own for the most part. Yeah. Hmm. So, um, so, you You said that you had worked for this one company for more than 20 years, but then something happened and that kind of prompted you to start on your own what was

Angie Waite 33:27

oh my goodness.

Let me tell you, Malini during my employment, I worked hard ad as had can be.

And the reason why I worked so hard

is because I had no fallback plan

and no fallback plan because I did not have somebody who could support me in the family. In as far as the family front is concerned, if I did not have this job, who will feed my children? Mm hmm. How do I get them?

Oh, do I pay for rent

and therefore I give it my best shots. I wish my boss could say something that you need your face. Because I worked at this company belongs to me. I became good at what I was doing. It grew from just that to a travel consultants. I went to senior consultant I went to branch manager and finally Evans business development manager for more. And I say I stayed so long in employment because I was a fridge. Let me see. How was a fried lose. The only thing I was sure of a salary that I was getting every month. Everything that I was But along the way, the salary was never enough. Because as the children grow, the needs are increasing. But again, you also have parents as here with extended families, so much out of view every other time. And so I learned how to do side businesses A long time ago. So I look for a day when I'm off duty, and I would go to secondhand market and main number.

We call secondhand clothes tomorrow.

I buy them tomorrow tumba at wash them, I own them, pack them in the bag. And I would go around the offices selling out call my friends out sell shoes out. When I got money. I remember years back I started Shylock Shylock business with 50,000. So I'm sure we did 50,000 I'll be getting another 10,000 in a month. And what relates to forex, forex, whatever, and a lot of people do that I have a lot of month or the end of the day, actually. However, it taught me a good lesson in being able to do something for me in terms of the income, because a good month, find you're probably making more money and your salary, your side business, whatever little that you're doing, but doing it over and over again, and you're able to put some money aside to a saving man slowly by slowly I was even able to save enough money to buy some land.

Malini Sarma 36:49

So your side business actually made more money. So you could actually buy land and build a house?

Angie Waite 36:56

Yes, yes. At some point. Yes.

Wow. Hmm.

So I want and I'm watching worked really, really hard. But in 2016, which is when my daughter, but first baby or a baby, it wasn't my cup of tea. On the 25th of may 2016, she gave birth to have more, Misha Abadi and had taken leave for three weeks to take care of him, it was in my house, then

three weeks down the line and go back to work.

And about four days after I got back one more my employer called me give me a call. When I was working. Um, I was having a branch where my boss was not there every day, he used to come once on a Wednesday for about an hour, then we would go through the work of the week. They've coming work we have we are taught this as an End of story. So this one day, I'm in the office and he calls me and says are you in the office? And I said, Yes, I am. And he told me, okay, come to the cafeteria downstairs. So I grabbed my notebook and a pen and I ran downstairs than usual, if my boss ever called me only if whatever I go for a meeting, I always have something to screw. I think I think that when I sleep. So I went expecting to just find him. I found the whole management scheme around a table having coffee, and the accountant in the laptop. And something told me something's not right here. Because when things are held within my area of jurisdiction, so to speak,

an area called parrot

It is me who arranges for those meetings because it is my area when I go to the head of is another manager. And so when I found them within my area without my knowledge, and I called for a meeting, so who called for this meeting. Anyway, I grabbed my book sat down, say hello and asked for a cup of coffee.

And I'm relaxed because after all,

but as I'm taking the coffee, my boss now starts talking and he said have had or have been told that you have opened up trouble under the desk. You have been stealing my clients and selling them your services.

And

what do you have to say and I told him, whoever told you is lying. It is not true. I don't have a company registered. I have no business. netstat is earning under the desk, I have not tried to take in the company. And if you want to know the truth, talk to the client, because even clients, the clients are the ones who can tell you the truth. And not based on any reason Malini but my boss happens to be white. And most of the times in the area that they work that where I now leave happened to be white. And therefore I know the loyalty. I knew the loyalty. This banks used to walk into the office, if somebody has not been in the area or after a long day, is to walk in and ask you the one person as Alan still owns this company before any their loyalty to my boss. And I told him talk to the clients. They're the only ones who can give you a true picture of who I am running a business under the desk or not. And he said no, I've been telling him a lot, it is not true. Ask a client. And if you find one client, one client who I ever approached to give services outside your office, I am ready to walk away. Just got back to his briefcase, got a letter it to me and said you're fired. Oh my gosh.

I did not ask.

And then I was meant to go back to the office app to access my colleague follow me up. And the sticker on my desk what we pack so that I don't pick anything that belongs to the company. So my few belongings I called my boss and accountants. And I took them to the back of the office where we had a safe and I told them now here limited permission. So at least you're able to run the office while I'm on of them how to do the combination of them now when I'm an unattended in case something happens, then I am not responsible. Right? Look, I have a few belongings in my paper bags that I collected around the office have not unpacked.

I picked a few things that belonged to me.

When downstairs got to buy a small car.

And something told me, Angie, you have a decision to make either you go home. Or you start off somewhere. And I told God at that point. My boss has just said to have a travel agent. I don't. I had no intentions of opening a travel agent. And that time. But you've been pushed to the wall. You do this thing, you know how? And I said to myself and I told God give me the strength, that travel agenda. But he talked about I will have. And they drove around the current area Malini looking for space and asked me where I was I didn't have an idea. So just went to malls, or do you have space. And I did that for a week. But while I was doing that, because as the business development manager at this company for solo plants knew me and knew them apparently had the mid the good farmers response number for the company. But my number was on the website, every client Newman number. And they had almost every client. And so I called a few of them. I told them I have left. And this is what has happened. And some of the friends of his were asking me out just how the people who did not know the boss because I had so many plans that I had brought in myself over the years asking me how does one get sacked from their own company? And I'm like, it wasn't my company. No, no, this no employee who behaved the way you have behaved. People that I brought to the company didn't know I was not known. So they were supporting me all these years best to the relationships that we built and thinking no he, I own the business. Anyway, as I struggled and count the clients evidence to adapt a fee next door, they knew me. Fortunately, I'm a very good person, family friend, easily and they went on to The gentleman that I don't even know what I need a table here. And I will be reporting at this level every morning, and I'd be working from here. But what if I so used to come do my coffee, call my clients, I have a lot my laptop. And believe you me, for the first week, I was able to sell it from the offer to my area. Clients trusted me with their money doing very well, I don't have an office. They left me with their money. And I was able to buy ticket and they could get from Belize office and become an affiliate. I found that very helpful, that client has come up here money. knowing very well, if I ran away from that, they probably would have no idea.

They still went ahead and trusted me.

And it does have that struggle looking for an office, you go back to Java, you call plans. I got an offer. This is an office space where I don't have money because my boss never paid me any date. And now I enter the office and I'm looking at this space, and suddenly it hit me and you have no money until you have no furniture you have no zero. And I sat on the floor with my laptop. And I can tell you Malini for the first time since I was sacked. I cried, cry, I cried so hard.

Behind that closed.

As I cried, I told God, I pray to open this door for me. So that I will make our sole employee happy and happen for me. I was able to buy a few desks and stacks and bow in a month, two months, three months you're working alone, but you are getting somebody to just help you if you're busy. Make a call to a friend or please do give me this petition for a safari bla bla bla. And

I can tell you four years down the line.

Yeah.

am very, very proud of what I am doing.

I have a staff of five, not mentioning the drivers. And

I could not ask for more.

Malini Sarma 47:40

And your daughter wish to do today. My daughter is

Angie Waite 47:43

working with me open sustainability departments to be able to make people have responsible travel is training at a travel agency or to companies to do responsible travel to do eco rating for hotels around the country.

And that is where we are.

Malini Sarma 48:06

That's awesome. That is so awesome. When God closes a door he opens a window doesn't he?

Angie Waite 48:11

He does. He does. So I told my daughter before she designed talking and I'm telling her learn from my life. Don't wait to be employed for 2030 years. And that's getting your brand in your 50s get employed, do the best while you're there. do your very best, but leave employment and grow your brand. And that she has accepted to do that. I'm really, really happy that she has taken up the challenge. Because right now even as she runs the Department for sustainability, the very company she worked for has given her work as a consultant.

Malini Sarma 48:53

That's awesome. My daughter's what 2728

Angie Waite 48:58

is 28 at all her always respect where you walk because you never know when you need to knock again. Right? Okay, so do your best where you are even when you leave, if you knock that door, they will embrace you. Right now she's able to do consultancy for them because she left you know, clean I am sure my boss, the former employer anytime but what I've learned in these four years

I can lemma and done

so I'm moving on and I'm really happy that my daughter has listened to me. And she's doing something for us as a brand as an actress. And she's also growing her own brand that is God called

Malini Sarma 49:52

What is it called?

Angie Waite 49:54

Been catalysts. Oh catalyst. Yeah. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 49:59

That's awesome.

Malini Sarma 50:01

Did you did your boss ever call you back after you started your own company?

Angie Waite 50:06

Yes, he did. Oh, you did, as I took him

to pay my dues,

because you don't work for 17 years, faithfully, which is what actually really had me faithfully and I'm serious about it, and work on the empty handed.

And so I took him to court.

We've noticed, we've not done a hearing date as we speak right now. Um, so in the middle of things, he called me once. And he said, he would like us to settle up the court. And so I went, and we had coffee. And, and he kept saying, I'm truly sorry, I should have listened to you. Something went wrong somewhere. But even if I give you a job, he would take it. I told him, you're right about that. I'm not gonna take the job back. And he told me, would you like to settle outside court? And I told him, if there's something that I would love, if you settle this matter in public, because we were friends, whatever happened, I do not know. But I know that you worked as friends. Besides you being my boss. Our working relationship was good, because my daughter is that was also working with him for auditing. But now from where she used to watch you to be sent to when recording for the company. It came for my daughter's graduation. And like, we're friends. So I don't know what happened. And so he said, okay, something went wrong, and we wouldn't take back your job. Okay, let me give you an offer. Fine. Give me an offer. I'm happy to do that. I had sued my boss for about 7.5 million.

He gave me an offer for one week.

Malini Sarma 52:06

He settled outside of court.

Angie Waite 52:09

I told him, you know,

let's meet in court.

Okay, we met in court once and they asked for an adjournment for whatever reasons. And then by time, it was adjourned. COVID happened. So we haven't had a chance to meet again.

Unknown Speaker 52:28

Good for you. Angie, you went after them.

Angie Waite 52:30

Yeah, so So basically, I'm still in court with him. We may say hello, will I have no bad blood at all? My daughter is still doing a consultation for fo bat company. No problem. But I really I really feel that I was unfairly judged I have never given the chance to be had. And clients told him just as much you suck your best stuff. Mm. No, but it was it was the bridge too late. Too late. But I found that happens. I truly thank God it happened. Now a new something different.

Malini Sarma 53:12

Yes. So in all these years, you figured things out you know when you're back to the wall, you had no help you had no fallback. You figured out what you need to do what long? You did what you needed to do most. It took care of stuff you took care of your family take care of your kids did your clients so what was the most what would you say was the most important lesson you've learned so far?

Angie Waite 53:40

Sis, let me say this.

What I have loved and what I would tell every girl every woman and possibly every man always have multiple streams of income. never rely on this one line. We flee because we don't know you there's no surety that this life is gonna last forever. So along the way a band a lot of little things here and there. Like I just said they sold me clothes and the cello with my 50,000 sometimes you lose the money sometimes you gain have done forex trading. I've sold clothes even as we speak today. My car is a shop My dear.

I always have something to sell and

have a look at the season and I go with the season like you had a very cold season last month. I always have fleece blankets in the car for sale. Right now we are going to hot season September October. They already have designed very beautiful hats some hats that have too much During this COVID, as a travel agent suffered, I was able to put food on the table using the fleece blankets. I talked to people, and I'm not afraid to say what I'm doing. And I will find myself taking 1000 2000 3000 in a day and put food on the table, at least even around for the office that I have now. As we wait for things to open, so always have something always have a fallback plan, have a fallback plan.

The second thing that I have learned

is that we always have a fear of failure. Mm hmm. It's okay to fail, my dear. Okay. problem would be if you don't wake up from that place, and try again, to never be afraid to ask because you think fail, failure will always come. But keep giving yourself a healthy inner dialogue. So often. But if you have fun yourself a firm that what you're doing is right, believe in yourself. Take action, even when your knees are shaking that option. Because nobody has

Unknown Speaker 56:18

nobody. And it's very true. Very true.

Malini Sarma 56:22

So looking back at your journey, Angie, and knowing that everything that you've known and living you know what you've done so far, and knowing what you know, now, what would you have told your younger self? Or is there anything that you would have changed about yourself?

Angie Waite 56:41

Even though to me, little Angie, those days?

I would tell her this.

Believe in yourself

that to be loving new,

and pursue happiness at whatever costs.

All say that, then

you only got yourself to lean back on. It's true. Oh, do not capitalize on a negative self talk. And dwelling on the past. I think that is what I would tell myself, Alya. And what I can tell a friend who could be suffering would be thinking I'm not enough I cannot do this is that it could be very dark in your life right now. But tea comes in the morning. So never give up.

So if I was to put it in a nutshell,

I would see

you find you then.

Or I know now, I would have done it very differently. Yeah, very differently. And I've taken some decisions about money life. And I would never entertain fear. As a workplace. I would hold my head very high. And believe in me. That's

Malini Sarma 58:26

so cool. Thank you, Angie, this is truly inspiring. I'm sure lots of other women are listening will be listening to the story and saying, Wow, I want to be just like her. You're going to be the role model that you always wanted to be.

Angie Waite 58:47

Yeah, yeah. Some people get to a point. There's a point I got

in 1998.

When my husband took off for three months, and then no animals at all, I'd taken some loan and given him because he said he wanted to do some business. And at that point, let me not lie to you or anybody because now I can talk about I contemplated suicide. Oh my goodness.

And now when I look back, my boy was only two.

But I remember talking to a gentleman who found me crying in the office.

A client a stranger to me.

Because I was wondering, is this man, why is he got two other children or what? And let me tell you, when I turned back and stopped thinking about to say the thoughts have never been the same again. Never, ever entertain a fact that you can end your life. Never Hmm, this is always an open door somewhere. All you do is actually turn around and look at it. And with all the courage that you

Unknown Speaker 1:00:12

Yeah, yes, there is nothing that there is nothing that is that bad that you need to in your life, right.

Angie Waite 1:00:22

So today, I tell you, I don't feel anything.

I don't see anyone.

And what I think I need to do, I get it done.

Malini Sarma 1:00:36

That's cool. You're badass Angie. Yeah. Troy, you

Angie Waite 1:00:41

just put God's in everything that you do.

And those those who thought would never open will fled opened right before your eyes.

Malini Sarma 1:00:54

Yes, you're absolutely right. Thank you, Angie, I really appreciate you coming on the show today and talking about your life. You've been truly inspirational.

Angie Waite 1:01:04

Thanks, Malini.

I'd say thank you for giving me this opportunity

to speak to a woman or to somebody who could be thinking that it is the end of the wilds when you think it's the end, actually does the beginning of another

page. Stand the stage?

Unknown Speaker 1:01:31

Yep, just turn the page. Thank you.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai