Our WCW today, Mildred Opendi is a Christian lady that hails from Tororo District in Eastern Uganda. She is very passionate about Adventure, Entrepreneurship and Photography – all aspects that attracted us to interview her and pick her mind to inspire and motivate fellow young people.

Ms Opendi currently lives and studies (Masters in Project Management) in the USA while running a store in Uganda (Milz Collection) that is located at Ntinda Business Village, Store B05.

In our interview with her, she disclosed that she started her business in 2018 as a “side hustle” when she was working with a Telecommunications Company at the time.

“I was doing finance related work which I didn’t enjoy even if I did study Economics for my undergrad at Makerere University. I found the work monotonous and boring, the hours were also long yet there was a lot of pressure. So I started my business as an exit strategy.” Ms Opendi recalled.

She had consequently promised herself that should the business ever start earning her the equivalent of her salary, she would quit and fortunately for her, the day came.

“I also used to get a number of compliments about my dress code and co-workers always asking me where I had bought some of the items. So I think I can say my dislike for my job and the opportunity to make some extra money motivated me to start my business.” She further recalled, on what motivated her to set up the business.
She says, rather satisfyingly, that her business has let her enjoy a lot of flexibility. Being able to work from anywhere enabled her to travel a bit and explore without inconvenience because her “office” was literally in her phone.

“My business was also able to cover my travel expenses as well as my daily upkeep.
Through my business, I have also been able to meet some very interesting people that later became my friends. I appreciate that.
I am fascinated by style and my business helps me keep up with the latest fashion trends as I always want to bring the latest outfits at the most affordable prices to my clients.” She says.

Her biggest challenge in operation, she says is running her store remotely given the difference in the time zones. Ms Opendi has been in the US since January 2020. She credits modern social media tools for helping her monitor her business.

“Social media automation and hiring a full time store attendant have helped a great deal as she (the attendant) also corresponds with my clients through the social media pages; ensuring items are delivered on time and that they get timely responses. All I do now is monitor during convenient hours.” She adds.
On advice to Pulsers hoping to make ends meet, Milz – as she is fondly known, rubbishes the Corporate Field and says it’s overrated.

“Find something you are good at, something you do effortlessly yet many struggle with. Find something you would spend hours doing even if you weren’t being paid (for me it was online shopping/window shopping). Then finally find something that helps you solve an existing challenge (for me, most of us at work like nice things but we didn’t have the time to move up and down looking for them, also, international online shopping knowledge is very limited so my business was centred about bringing these items to clients at their offices or homes with ease) Your successful business idea lies at the intersection of those 3 things.” She advises.

Milz is also a traveler, she says traveling is something very close to her heart and that contrary to public opinion, she does not travel because she is doing that well financially but “when you really want something, you find a way yet if you don’t want it bad enough, you find excuses.”

“These adventures are all very achievable. I strongly believe that we grow through our experiences because when you can see colour, you can’t be comfortable with black and white ever again.” Opendi says.

In 2019, she says that she substituted and opted for traveling instead of doing other things that people do for fun, such as clubbing, throwing fancy birthdays, and impulsive shopping.

Milz and her friends had a bucket list and each month, they would draw up an elaborate budget and visit place by place. The bill would be split among themselves.

“Not once did I use a tours and travel company because that would be additional unnecessary expenses. I actually once compiled a list of must go places via my pinned tweet and I attached all contacts of these places so anyone can engage them, negotiate where necessary and then visit them without tour companies. By now, I think I can comfortably say I have been to over 70 destinations both in East Africa and in the USA now.” Milz said, and what a feat!

Ms Opendi is on Instagram and Twitter @the_milz_ , Mildred Opendi on Facebook (https://linktr.ee/the_milz) and her business socials are @Milz_Collection on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (https://linktr.ee/Milz_Collection). Load an MTN Gaaga bundle today off the MyMTN App on Google Play Store and the App Store to engage with Milz and her business.