LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Flawless Events, an award-winning market-leader transforming Ethiopia’s events industry
Yoadan Tilahun is the founder and CEO of Flawless Events in Ethiopia, a company specializing in conceptualizing, organizing, and executing corporate and government events. Yoadan is a seasoned entrepreneur and award-winning business leader who has transformed Ethiopia's events industry. She founded the business in Ethiopia in 2008, turning her passion that was ignited in 2004 in Washington, DC into a successful business on the continent. Flawless Events employs 14 staff with the majority of young women. Yoadan has an MBA in International Business, is fluent in three languages, is married to a supportive husband, and is raising three sons.
Lioness Weekender spoke to the award-winning Yoadan Tilahun about her vision for her business and her entrepreneurial success story to date.
What does your company do?
Flawless Events designs and delivers events of excellence for its corporate and government clients inviting them to be relaxed guests at their own events. We provide event management services for international conferences and special corporate events. Our services are delivered with impeccable detail and care to meet our clients’ needs, and are distinguished by our advisory services. We are based in Ethiopia but we serve the whole African continent.
What inspired you to start your company?
It all started with the desire to make more money while living in the US. With a group of friends, we decided to organize events for the African community as a way of earning additional income. This side hustle ignited a passion I did not know I had. After spending a few years doing events as a side gig, my family and I decided to move back to Ethiopia, home was calling. The timing was perfect as the events industry was still young and I was able to establish Flawless Events as the go-to company for international events looking to host their meetings/conferences in Ethiopia. Focusing on customer service, learning from the global trends and refusing to compromise on quality set us apart in the market and made Flawless Events the clear leader, as it continues to set the standard of events delivery. Flawless started with 1-2 events a year and now averages over 100 events annually, hosting events with heads of states, business leaders, and innovators.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Focusing on the objective of the event, we mix the art of events with the precision required to deliver a flawless event. We advise, fight for our clients, and have the skills of turning our clients' visions into a real experience - helping them translate their vision to reality. Flawless does not compromise on quality, is resourceful, able to build relationships across borders, and leads with passion.
Tell us a little about your team
Our team is mainly made up of women who have proven themselves to be more agile, flexible, resourceful, creative, and unstoppable, while paying attention to every detail that will lead to the bigger vision of each event. The team loves coming up with crazy ideas while they drive themselves crazy as I hold them accountable to deliver on the wild ideas. They have infectious energy as they dream up ways of delivering on our promise and never tire of getting their hands dirty to get the work done. The team eats, laughs, and cries together - Flawless is a family.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I never dreamt of owning a company nor managing a team. I discovered that I love organizing events, the skills required to bring various players under one roof to play to the same tune - it's like being a conductor with an orchestra. Though I have my MBA, running my business was not in my plans - I just wanted to earn a stable income by being hired. The story of Flawless is that of a passion turned into a business that is profitable. I have learned and continue to learn that running a business is different than the business's operations. The skills required to run a business, and to be a true CEO are not the same as the actual doing of the work. I focus on the work, the work of organizing events to the best of my ability, learning from my mistakes and correcting them, and others started to notice along the way. I learned that hard work inspires others - many have entered the events industry because of me and that is humbling. I never set out to be a role model, I just set out to do the best I can and never taking an obstacle personally - I push through daily with the conviction that if we really believe we can do it, then we can. Nothing infuriates me more than "it's not possible". I strongly believe in building relationships for success - I am fiercely loyal to my supply chain - as a service company, we are not much without them. We respect them as much as our clients. Our success is their success and vice versa.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I believe the brand of Flawless has surpassed my abilities. I am eager for a capable person to take it to the next level. I don't want the company to retire along with me. I would love for the company to outlive me and grow to its full potential.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Setting standards - knowing that others look at Flawless to figure out what's the latest trend. While it can be frustrating to watch others copy our work, there is part of me that smiles and says "ha, now everyone is doing the same" - it pushes us to come up with the next trend. I love that we keep competing with ourselves and don't try to be like anyone else. We take inspiration from the global playground and make it uniquely African. Also - I love smashing the perception that this can't be done in Africa. I get a unique high when we pull off an amazing event on the continent - by Africans for Africans. We have amazing talent and we get to showcase it one event at a time.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just do it - really just get started. You will always be your own biggest critic - I guarantee you, it will be just fine. Just do it.
To find out more about Yoadan’s work or her business, send an email to: Yoadan@flawlessevents.net or visit the company’s website and social media platforms:
