SHOWING UP IS WINNING

Our world turned upside down 24 hours before Niyo Fest was set to kick off. Without warning, the venue provider cancelled our event. People were already on planes, flying in from across the globe. The team was faced with an impossible choice: cancel the event we'd poured our hearts into for months, or scramble to find a new venue and restructure the entire program under crushing pressure.

At that moment, giving up seemed like the easiest option. The weight of expectations from speakers, attendees, and sponsors felt overwhelming. But as we looked at each other, we knew cancelling wasn't an option. We had made a promise – not just to our attendees, but to ourselves and the wider community. Niyo Fest wasn't just an event; it was a statement about the power of diversity in tech, about creating spaces where women could thrive and innovate.

So, we chose to show up. We chose to fight.

What followed was a whirlwind of phone calls, favors, and frantic planning. Friends of Niyo stepped up in ways we could never have imagined. People offered their connections and their time and like us showed up. In those frenzied hours, we witnessed the true power of community but we were also able to distinguish between those that are truly going to stand by us; we knew who our friends were without any doubts.

By some miracle – and through the sheer determination of our team and supporters – we secured a new venue. We rewrote the program, notified attendees, and somehow, against all odds, Niyo Fest happened.

Was it perfect? Far from it. But it was real, raw, and powerful.

Like Vusi Thembekwayo said while admonishing us

"Success was the conversation and calibre of guests in attendance and the sheer determination to show up and nothing else". By that metric we succeeded BIG TIME!

The energy in that hastily arranged space was electric. People who attended didn't just show up; they showed up with enthusiasm, understanding, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.

This experience taught us a crucial lesson: showing up is winning.

It's easy to succeed when everything goes according to plan. The true test of character – and often the source of the most meaningful victories – comes when you're faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

So, how do we apply this lesson in our daily lives and our communities?

1. Embrace imperfection: Don't let the pursuit of perfection paralyse you. Sometimes, done is better than perfect.

2. Lean on your community: Build genuine relationships before you need them. When a crisis hits, you'll be amazed at how people step up.

3. Be transparent: We were honest with our attendees about the situation. This transparency built trust and understanding.

Our Founder and CEO Oyinkansola Adebayo spoke to the community on video; watch the video here

4. Stay flexible: Have a plan, but be ready to throw it out the window and adapt when necessary.

5. Focus on your 'why': In our darkest moment, remembering why we started Niyo Fest kept us going.

Let your purpose be your North Star.

6. Celebrate small wins: In times of crisis, acknowledge and celebrate every small victory. It keeps morale high and momentum going.

Life is full of unexpected challenges. Startups fail, funding falls through, and technology doesn't work as planned.

But those who succeed are often not the ones with the perfect plan – they're the ones who show up, day after day, regardless of the obstacles.

Showing up means being present, even when it's uncomfortable. It means pushing through the fear of failure, the weight of expectations, and the uncertainty of the unknown. It means believing in your vision so deeply that you're willing to fight for it, even when the odds seem stacked against you.

The story of Niyo Fest is more than just an event that almost didn't happen. It's a testament to the power of community, resilience, and unwavering commitment to a vision. It's a reminder that in the tech world, and life, our greatest triumphs often come from our biggest challenges.

So, to every entrepreneur, every woman in tech, every innovator out there: show up. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Because showing up, in itself, is a victory. And who knows? Your act of showing up might just change the world.

Note:

Thank you to everyone who showed up and supported: