Citylife Business

Aged 24 the young businesswoman is on her way to acquiring a doctorate at the University of Pretoria.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE BUSINESS Editor-In-Chief

The global pandemic Covid-19 created a havoc both socially and economically throughout the world when it broke out in 2020.

However like they say, during a time of social crisis, new opportunities also avail themselves especially for those with a propensity for turning a negative situation into something positive.

One of those is that created lasting opportunities for themselves and others is Elma Akob, who turned her gift from childhood –the art of public speaking into a successful business.

“The situation was bleak for everyone. The whole world was in isolation. But then I posted videos of me doing public speaking, and suddenly there was traction to them. Others asked me to assist them by coaching them public speaking. That is how Elevate Africa started –during Covid-19, and right now we are operational in 20 co0untries, giving public speaking lessons to individuals and corporates,” Ako0b told CITYLIFE BUSINESS in an interview on Thursday, June, 15, 2023. I found her together with two assistants manning a stand at the Youth Owned Brand Awards at the Sandton Convention Centre.

That business which started during Covid-19 has now grown to the extent that among her clients are high powered CEOs of companies, TV and radio presenters that she coaches in public speaking.

“Actually my Masters’ Degree in public speaking thesis was based on CEOs of companies and how the ability or lack of public speaking affects the bottom line and costs corporates a lot of money. In Africa we have so many innovators who come up with great products, but the problem is that they cannot articulate themselves well, and customers end up not trusting them,” she explained.

Akob said that she did not received any education in public speaking, but was born with the gift, and speaking eloquently and confidently comes naturally to her.

“Believe me, I might not be the most intelligent person in the room, l but because of the confidence I project when I speak, people have confidence i9n me,” said Akob who is currently a PHD student at the University of Pretoria.

Many people might not know this, but the chances is they know her voice a she is increasingly being used as a voice over artists in prominent campaigns. If you have travelled in Gauteng Train, you definitely have hear the clear voice that makes regular announcements. That is Akob. Originally from Cameroon, she has been living an studying in South Africa for the past 15 years.

“The point is Africans struggle to articulate themselves, and yet they are so talented. The fact is we need to learn to speak well, in our various accents, accents do not matter, what matters is to articulate well, and speak confidently.”

Well to claim that Akob is not cerebral is in fact a misrepresentation of facts as she holds three degrees  from the University of Pretoria ranging from communication to strategic management, and the PHD she is pursuing would be the fourth degree under her belt once she complete it.

And indeed I witnessed her public speaking abilities in action at the awards when she moderated an all-female business women panel titled Fearless and female, where she confidently commanded the stage and her presence was felt both on stage and among the awe struck audience of mainly young business people. The award giving part of these awards were preceded by a festival of youth owned (18-35) business for two days, (June 14-15) that ranged from insurance companies to those selling lifestyle products and services.

Akob’s talent for public speaking is indeed not going without being noticed for last year her company Elevate Africa won the Education Category of the Youth Owned Brand Awards.