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Little Black Book: A Toolkit for Working Women by Otegha Uwagba

August 19, 2018 Melanie Hawken
Otegha Uwagba

Otegha Uwagba

Little Black Book: A Toolkit For Working Women by Otegha Uwagba is the modern career and entrepreneurial guide every young creative woman needs, whether you’re just starting out or already have a few years of experience under your belt. Packed with fresh ideas and no-nonsense practical advice, this travel-sized handbook is guaranteed to become your go-to resource when it comes to building the creative career and business you want.

 

Written by writer and brand consultant, Otegha Uwagba, Little Black Book takes you through everything you need to build a successful self-made career and business. It offers a range of tips and advice from how to negotiate, to building a killer personal brand, via a crash course in networking like a pro, and tips for overcoming creative block. Plus it's full of indispensable advice on how to thrive as a freelancer, with an entire chapter dedicated to helping you master the tricky art of public speaking. With contributions from trailblazing creative women including acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Refinery29 co-founder Piera Gelardi, The Gentlewoman's Editor-in-Chief Penny Martin, and many more, Little Black Book is a curation of essential wisdom and hard-won career insights. Whether you’re a thinker, a maker, an artist or an aspirant entrepreneur, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your working life here.

Author quotes

The offices, studios and coffee shops where we spend the majority of our waking hours are constantly evolving, and with them the rulebook on how to build a successful and fulfilling creative career.
For the generation of fiercely ambitious and entrepreneurial women that I’m part of, navigating that ever-changing landscape throws up a bunch of complex questions - from little things like how to write a sensitive email, or use Instagram to your advantage; to the big, existential, career defining quandaries, like how to build the kind of personal brand that opens doors. 
If there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way it’s that we all have ideas - sometimes we just need a little help figuring out how to make them happen.

About the author

Otegha Uwagba is a writer, speaker, brand consultant, and the founder of Women Who, a London-based platform that connects and supports creative working women. A former ad(wo)man, she spent years working at some of London’s top ad agencies and cult youth brand Vice Media, and is a 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni (Media). She graduated with a degree in PPE from Oxford, and grew up in South London, where she still resides. She loves speaking at events and has done so for organisations including The Guardian, It’s Nice That, the London Design Festival, News International, and General Assembly. She is also an experienced moderator, and has hosted numerous events both independently and as part of Women Who.

www.oteghauwagba.com  www.womenwho.co


Why LoA loves it….

If you are a young woman creative looking to get out there in the world of entrepreneurship and build a business around your core creative skills, then this is a great read for you. It provides sensible advice, tips, practical guidelines that equip young women creatives with the basics needed as they embark on their independent working and business lives. An entertaining and highly practical read for the next generation of creative women entrepreneurs. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and ceo of Lionesses of Africa
In Essential Tags Books
← LIONESS LAUNCH: Mbali Masike, founder of NgiyiMbali Wines, launches exciting new wine brand in South AfricaLIONESS CoLAB: Mash T Design Studio X Karingana wa Karingana Textiles →

Tech FoundHER AFRICA CHALLENGE

MEET THE 10 FINALISTS — We look forward to announcing the winning women founders on 19 November 2025.


CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


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Award-winning furniture design…We are big fans of talented South African designer Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash. T Design Studio in Johannesburg, and these fabulous side tables are firm customer favouri Image of the Day / Quazi Design

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Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c Image of the Day / ‘57 Chocolate

Bean to bar luxury chocolate… Taste the difference with the finest chocolate lovingly produced by ‘57 Chocolate, the pioneer bean to bar chocolate manufacturer in Ghana, created by sisters Kimberle Image of the Day / Kebe Home

Handcrafted home decor …We are big fans of the work of Manuela Kamadjou, an interior architecture and design entrepreneur who transforms homes and spaces in Cameroon through her business, Kebe Home. Her new Echo V Image of the Day / Pichulik

Beautiful bracelets… Introducing The Aruba Bracelets by Katherine-Mary Pichulik, the founder and designer behind the Pichulik line of accessories. Pichulik is an ethical jewellery, accessories and womenswear atelie Image of the Day / Eva Sonaike

Vibrant textile design…This striking textile design by Eva Sonaike caught our eye this morning. Like the rest of the world, we love the African aesthetic which is increasingly finding its way into global interio Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

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