Anika Abel was born on the 9th of July, 1983 in Georgetown, Wortman Ville area. She is the second of three children who grew up in the city of Georgetown. She attended from Nursery School to College before becoming a mother of one. Her achievements over the years have been a blessing especially since she started off her adulthood journey with very limited resources.
Anika Abel is the proud owner of Nick’s Phonics Centre that was opened in 2015 and then in 2019 she opened another branch in Vreed en Hoop. She has been teaching children between the ages of 2 years old to 10 years old for over sixteen years in the private system. Her passion was fueled by the hunger she had for molding minds. This has created a pathway that allowed her to unlock her innovative skills to elevate literacy in Guyana.
She is currently studying the Association of Business Executives- Business Management at Nations University.
Besides teaching, she is currently an executive member of the Cacique Toastmasters Club. Being in fear of public speaking she joined the club to find her voice and perfect her leadership qualities. Anika Abel is also a volunteer of many groups such as the Women Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean.
Anika Abel independently hosted a Women Empowerment Workshop in 2016 that benefited many broken Guyanese women across Guyana. In 2018 she won first prize at the Business Plan Pitch Competition hosted by the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation in Guyana (UG).
She has appeared as a guest motivational speaker at many empowerment events inclusive of Brand Youth and mentored many groups in Georgetown. Outside of the work environment, she is a humble individual who is a lover of exotic food and traveling. She likes swimming and listening to music whenever she has the time to spare. She lives with no regrets and embraces every negative critic given to better herself. Her favourite quote is ‘Say I love you before its too late”.
Anika Abel continues to create avenues for children to foster a love of reading while improving their academics throughout Guyana.
Questions
How did you arrive at the idea for your business?
I arrive at the idea of doing business after I saw the need to elevate literacy in Guyana. Children were being asked to leave schools because of poor performances and I thought if schools were not able to help these children succeed, then who will?
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What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur? What is your greatest challenge being an entrepreneur? What has been your most satisfying moment in business? What piece of advice would you give to other young people who want to become entrepreneurs? How do you define success? Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My key driving force to become an entrepreneur was to find a solution for a need and of course evenly gain profit.
My greatest challenge being an entrepreneur is getting financial assistance whether it is a grant, loan or even sponsorship because I am a low profile person oftentimes persons do not know me hence they do not take me seriously.
My most satisfying moment in business is receiving report cards from my past and current pupils that reflected improved grades. It meant that my team and I were able to make a difference in a child’s life.
The piece of advice that I would give to other young people who want to become entrepreneurs is never stopping believing in yourself many will doubt you and your goals but if you stay focus nothing will stop you even when challenges arrive and they will.
Success is defined as the moment you realized you’ve made it with a big smile and breath of relief. And you can no reset your goals within unlimited boundaries.
My greatest inspiration was and still is Janika Williams; my daughter shows me that no matter the circumstances or environment, you can still be successful if you want to and she is just 12 years old. But I must also give acknowledgment to my spouse Osmond for always keeping me focus and be supportive of every venture I took.
