[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] centuries ago in the mountain village of
centuries ago in the mountain village of
centuries ago in the mountain village of Benin a young women ascended the throne
Benin a young women ascended the throne
Benin a young women ascended the throne after a father died on the battlefield
after a father died on the battlefield
after a father died on the battlefield she was strong brave and intelligent
she was strong brave and intelligent
she was strong brave and intelligent battle after battle she led a people to
battle after battle she led a people to
battle after battle she led a people to victory Queen Ava was a charismatic
victory Queen Ava was a charismatic
victory Queen Ava was a charismatic women she was respected by a warriors
women she was respected by a warriors
women she was respected by a warriors for restraint and loved by people for a
for restraint and loved by people for a
for restraint and loved by people for a great sense of humanity during her reign
great sense of humanity during her reign
great sense of humanity during her reign she did something no other King has done
she did something no other King has done
she did something no other King has done before she managed to bring back a long
before she managed to bring back a long
before she managed to bring back a long lasting peace in the region forever
lasting peace in the region forever
lasting peace in the region forever she had three sons and she made all of
she had three sons and she made all of
she had three sons and she made all of them promise that they would give her
them promise that they would give her
them promise that they would give her name Yaiba to the first daughter so that
name Yaiba to the first daughter so that
name Yaiba to the first daughter so that like her they would never forget that
like her they would never forget that
like her they would never forget that they were born to accomplish their own
they were born to accomplish their own
they were born to accomplish their own destiny and since then the tradition
destiny and since then the tradition
destiny and since then the tradition continues my father you told me this
continues my father you told me this
continues my father you told me this story so many times when I was a child
story so many times when I was a child
story so many times when I was a child that it still resonates in me in a very
that it still resonates in me in a very
that it still resonates in me in a very special way imagine for the little child
special way imagine for the little child
special way imagine for the little child I was I had received something more
I was I had received something more
I was I had received something more powerful than a dream the belief that I
powerful than a dream the belief that I
powerful than a dream the belief that I could achieve anything I put my heart
could achieve anything I put my heart
could achieve anything I put my heart into so fashion has always been my
into so fashion has always been my
into so fashion has always been my passion as far as I can remember I
passion as far as I can remember I
passion as far as I can remember I actually opened the first fashion
actually opened the first fashion
actually opened the first fashion magazine when I was 5 and since then my
magazine when I was 5 and since then my
magazine when I was 5 and since then my interest never stopped growing and at
interest never stopped growing and at
interest never stopped growing and at the age of 14 it was obvious I would
the age of 14 it was obvious I would
the age of 14 it was obvious I would create my own fashion and luxury brand
create my own fashion and luxury brand
create my own fashion and luxury brand but you know how it is gradually and
but you know how it is gradually and
but you know how it is gradually and slowly I lost track of all this magic in
slowly I lost track of all this magic in
slowly I lost track of all this magic in me I mean all this dream because every
me I mean all this dream because every
me I mean all this dream because every adults around me would made it clear
adults around me would made it clear
adults around me would made it clear life was not a playground
life was not a playground
life was not a playground and we had to take
and we had to take
and we had to take really seriously so I focused on getting
really seriously so I focused on getting
really seriously so I focused on getting the best education possible I graduated
the best education possible I graduated
the best education possible I graduated from the best Business School of Belgium
from the best Business School of Belgium
from the best Business School of Belgium I started a career as a financial
I started a career as a financial
I started a career as a financial auditor then moved management consulting
auditor then moved management consulting
auditor then moved management consulting then to marketing consulting I have
then to marketing consulting I have
then to marketing consulting I have during more than 10 years I had built a
during more than 10 years I had built a
during more than 10 years I had built a career I could be really proud of but I
career I could be really proud of but I
career I could be really proud of but I don’t know deep inside I felt incomplete
don’t know deep inside I felt incomplete
don’t know deep inside I felt incomplete and unsatisfied and I couldn’t do it
and unsatisfied and I couldn’t do it
and unsatisfied and I couldn’t do it anymore it happened that day a day like
anymore it happened that day a day like
anymore it happened that day a day like every other day I was at the office in
every other day I was at the office in
every other day I was at the office in this huge white modern open space I was
this huge white modern open space I was
this huge white modern open space I was sitting there looking at my laptop there
sitting there looking at my laptop there
sitting there looking at my laptop there were a lot of consultants around me they
were a lot of consultants around me they
were a lot of consultants around me they were working phoning discussing running
were working phoning discussing running
were working phoning discussing running like let their life depended on it and I
like let their life depended on it and I
like let their life depended on it and I was there silent looking at my laptop
was there silent looking at my laptop
was there silent looking at my laptop and this excel sheet I need to finish
and this excel sheet I need to finish
and this excel sheet I need to finish and I suddenly asked myself is this
and I suddenly asked myself is this
and I suddenly asked myself is this going to be my life I mean forever
going to be my life I mean forever
going to be my life I mean forever a life with no purpose no passion and
a life with no purpose no passion and
a life with no purpose no passion and suddenly I heard this voice inside of me
suddenly I heard this voice inside of me
suddenly I heard this voice inside of me my creative voice it told me you BAM
my creative voice it told me you BAM
my creative voice it told me you BAM have you forgotten about our dream and I
have you forgotten about our dream and I
have you forgotten about our dream and I didn’t think twice I quit everything to
didn’t think twice I quit everything to
didn’t think twice I quit everything to pursue my dream so I wanted to have my
pursue my dream so I wanted to have my
pursue my dream so I wanted to have my own fashion brand that was a dream all I
own fashion brand that was a dream all I
own fashion brand that was a dream all I needed was an idea and I had one I was
needed was an idea and I had one I was
needed was an idea and I had one I was obsessed with one I wanted to create the
obsessed with one I wanted to create the
obsessed with one I wanted to create the most elegant chic business bag ever seen
most elegant chic business bag ever seen
most elegant chic business bag ever seen for women and actually the more I was
for women and actually the more I was
for women and actually the more I was thinking about it
thinking about it
thinking about it because it was so difficult to find a
because it was so difficult to find a
because it was so difficult to find a bag where you could put your laptop your
bag where you could put your laptop your
bag where you could put your laptop your document and stay elegant and shake but
document and stay elegant and shake but
document and stay elegant and shake but what makes it even more exciting was the
what makes it even more exciting was the
what makes it even more exciting was the fact that I
fact that I
fact that I would create my own brand a brand where
would create my own brand a brand where
would create my own brand a brand where I could put all the values embedded in
I could put all the values embedded in
I could put all the values embedded in my name and share them to inspire women
my name and share them to inspire women
my name and share them to inspire women that today we can achieve anything and
that today we can achieve anything and
that today we can achieve anything and there are no limits to what we can do
there are no limits to what we can do
there are no limits to what we can do but don’t you think launching this brand
but don’t you think launching this brand
but don’t you think launching this brand was easy it was so difficult I mean
was easy it was so difficult I mean
was easy it was so difficult I mean extremely challenging but all these
extremely challenging but all these
extremely challenging but all these challenges taught me three lessons that
challenges taught me three lessons that
challenges taught me three lessons that I’d like to share with all of you the
I’d like to share with all of you the
I’d like to share with all of you the first lesson is about fear
first lesson is about fear
first lesson is about fear imagine when I started this project I
imagine when I started this project I
imagine when I started this project I knew nothing about designer leather
knew nothing about designer leather
knew nothing about designer leather manufacturer craftsmanship I never
manufacturer craftsmanship I never
manufacturer craftsmanship I never attended a fashion design school I
attended a fashion design school I
attended a fashion design school I didn’t I didn’t even worked in this
didn’t I didn’t even worked in this
didn’t I didn’t even worked in this industry I had no contacts no network I
industry I had no contacts no network I
industry I had no contacts no network I was starting from scratch and worse I
was starting from scratch and worse I
was starting from scratch and worse I was scared to death
was scared to death
was scared to death I mean scared to fail what if I started
I mean scared to fail what if I started
I mean scared to fail what if I started it was my dream but but if in reality I
it was my dream but but if in reality I
it was my dream but but if in reality I was not able to do it and what if
was not able to do it and what if
was not able to do it and what if everyone would see that I was a total
everyone would see that I was a total
everyone would see that I was a total fraud and worse
fraud and worse
fraud and worse I was about to spend all my savings into
I was about to spend all my savings into
I was about to spend all my savings into something I had no idea it would work
something I had no idea it would work
something I had no idea it would work because it was impossible on paper and
because it was impossible on paper and
because it was impossible on paper and all people cared about me when they were
all people cared about me when they were
all people cared about me when they were looking at me I could see that they were
looking at me I could see that they were
looking at me I could see that they were scared for me that I was hide a part of
scared for me that I was hide a part of
scared for me that I was hide a part of my mind
my mind
my mind or doing the biggest mistake of my life
or doing the biggest mistake of my life
or doing the biggest mistake of my life but you know what I let go with fear I
knew that I had to try so I grabbed a
knew that I had to try so I grabbed a pen and I started drawing drawing and
pen and I started drawing drawing and
pen and I started drawing drawing and slowly I found my own signature and
slowly I found my own signature and
slowly I found my own signature and style so led me to realize that beyond
style so led me to realize that beyond
style so led me to realize that beyond your of real fears your biggest fear
your of real fears your biggest fear
your of real fears your biggest fear lies your true potential the second
lies your true potential the second
lies your true potential the second lesson I would like to share with you is
lesson I would like to share with you is
lesson I would like to share with you is about perseverance they always say that
about perseverance they always say that
about perseverance they always say that things never worked a card according to
things never worked a card according to
things never worked a card according to your initial plan it’s absolutely true
your initial plan it’s absolutely true
your initial plan it’s absolutely true nothing absolutely nothing worked like
nothing absolutely nothing worked like
nothing absolutely nothing worked like it was supposed to let me give you a few
it was supposed to let me give you a few
it was supposed to let me give you a few example just about making the bags the
example just about making the bags the
example just about making the bags the leather bags I worked with three
leather bags I worked with three
leather bags I worked with three different designers none of them came
different designers none of them came
different designers none of them came with a nice solutions then I worked with
with a nice solutions then I worked with
with a nice solutions then I worked with five different manufacturers all of them
five different manufacturers all of them
five different manufacturers all of them cheated me the first did
yeah my heart almost broke so the second
yeah my heart almost broke so the second one took my money the third one was an
one took my money the third one was an
one took my money the third one was an old guy everyone told me yeah but this
old guy everyone told me yeah but this
old guy everyone told me yeah but this guy is so talented he’s a bit crazy but
guy is so talented he’s a bit crazy but
guy is so talented he’s a bit crazy but you have to go for it so I went for it
you have to go for it so I went for it
you have to go for it so I went for it but he called me that just to tell me I
but he called me that just to tell me I
but he called me that just to tell me I tried but I am bored the first one
tried but I am bored the first one
tried but I am bored the first one disappeared somewhere in Morocco so it
disappeared somewhere in Morocco so it
disappeared somewhere in Morocco so it was not working in Belgium so I decided
was not working in Belgium so I decided
was not working in Belgium so I decided I would go to Italy I managed to find a
I would go to Italy I managed to find a
I would go to Italy I managed to find a manufacturer we actually did the leather
manufacturer we actually did the leather
manufacturer we actually did the leather bags but you know what happened the day
bags but you know what happened the day
bags but you know what happened the day I was about to show my first samples to
I was about to show my first samples to
I was about to show my first samples to my future customers I was desperate they
my future customers I was desperate they
my future customers I was desperate they called me to say we will not produce
called me to say we will not produce
called me to say we will not produce your collection we found more
your collection we found more
your collection we found more interesting customers so I had to smile
interesting customers so I had to smile
interesting customers so I had to smile that day but deep inside I was broken
but I decided to continue I refused to
but I decided to continue I refused to quit I kept going and telling myself
quit I kept going and telling myself
quit I kept going and telling myself this is really what I want to do and I
this is really what I want to do and I
this is really what I want to do and I will always find ways and today I
will always find ways and today I
will always find ways and today I realized that all these failures and
realized that all these failures and
realized that all these failures and obstacles were necessary you need to be
obstacles were necessary you need to be
obstacles were necessary you need to be first limited in order to become
first limited in order to become
first limited in order to become limitless and deeply challenged in order
limitless and deeply challenged in order
limitless and deeply challenged in order to realize your real potential and
to realize your real potential and
to realize your real potential and actually achieve the impossible the
actually achieve the impossible the
actually achieve the impossible the third lesson is about sharing or having
third lesson is about sharing or having
third lesson is about sharing or having and sharing a vision it came to my mind
and sharing a vision it came to my mind
and sharing a vision it came to my mind that
that
that maybe I was so focused on getting
maybe I was so focused on getting
maybe I was so focused on getting results that I had even forgotten about
results that I had even forgotten about
results that I had even forgotten about the real purpose of my project what I
the real purpose of my project what I
the real purpose of my project what I wanted was to create a brand where I
wanted was to create a brand where I
wanted was to create a brand where I could inspire people to have for myself
could inspire people to have for myself
could inspire people to have for myself a platform where I could express myself
a platform where I could express myself
a platform where I could express myself and I did change my mind and thing took
and I did change my mind and thing took
and I did change my mind and thing took things from a totally different
things from a totally different
things from a totally different perspective I realized that it was key
perspective I realized that it was key
perspective I realized that it was key for me to share with people my vision
for me to share with people my vision
for me to share with people my vision and my passion and when I did I realized
and my passion and when I did I realized
and my passion and when I did I realized that once they feel connected they will
that once they feel connected they will
that once they feel connected they will do anything to make things happen I
do anything to make things happen I
do anything to make things happen I managed to find a new manufacturer went
managed to find a new manufacturer went
managed to find a new manufacturer went back to Italy and this one sends me the
back to Italy and this one sends me the
back to Italy and this one sends me the best bike ever and I was really happy
best bike ever and I was really happy
best bike ever and I was really happy because I was lucky to have a great team
because I was lucky to have a great team
because I was lucky to have a great team of professionals who give a face to my
of professionals who give a face to my
of professionals who give a face to my brand I send the brand presentation to a
brand I send the brand presentation to a
brand I send the brand presentation to a director in one of the biggest
director in one of the biggest
director in one of the biggest International Fair in Paris I wanted to
International Fair in Paris I wanted to
International Fair in Paris I wanted to attend he called me to my big surprise
attend he called me to my big surprise
attend he called me to my big surprise to say I really want to help you achieve
to say I really want to help you achieve
to say I really want to help you achieve your dream so I what if you had only to
your dream so I what if you had only to
your dream so I what if you had only to connect to people when people feel
connect to people when people feel
connect to people when people feel connected to your vision and believe in
connected to your vision and believe in
connected to your vision and believe in you and your purpose they will join you
you and your purpose they will join you
you and your purpose they will join you in achieving the impossible
in achieving the impossible
in achieving the impossible so this journey was not only about me
so this journey was not only about me
so this journey was not only about me designing a bag it was about me finding
designing a bag it was about me finding
designing a bag it was about me finding myself along the way and designing my
myself along the way and designing my
myself along the way and designing my life I’m deeply convinced that we all
life I’m deeply convinced that we all
life I’m deeply convinced that we all have that thing made be an interest a
have that thing made be an interest a
have that thing made be an interest a passion a dream it’s your job to find
passion a dream it’s your job to find
passion a dream it’s your job to find out what it is and to do it I still have
out what it is and to do it I still have
out what it is and to do it I still have a lot of struggles and challenges but I
a lot of struggles and challenges but I
a lot of struggles and challenges but I feel in me the spirit of Queeny by
feel in me the spirit of Queeny by
feel in me the spirit of Queeny by saying
saying
saying the world is my kingdom I have the soul
the world is my kingdom I have the soul
the world is my kingdom I have the soul of a warrior the heart of a believer I
of a warrior the heart of a believer I
of a warrior the heart of a believer I am born to follow my destiny
am born to follow my destiny
am born to follow my destiny I open doors I am given and you who are
I open doors I am given and you who are
I open doors I am given and you who are you
you
you thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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