Welcome to Business Innovators Magazine…Please introduce yourself and a brief thumbnail sketch of your background.
CB: My name is Clementine Bihiga, I am a motivational speaker, published author and founder of the Clarette Refugee Fund. I’m originally from Rwanda and my family, and I came to the United States in 1999 as war refugees after living in refugee camps and slums for 5 years. I attended schools in the USA and was bullied and later on lost a child but I have chosen to live life like as overcomer instead of a victim! I have had the awesome opportunity of another chance in life and have dedicated to using my personal and professional experiences to motivate and inspire others to be resilient, hopeful and make a positive impact in the world!
BI: What would you say is the area in business that you are most passionate about and why?
CB: I’m most passionate about being a professional speaker who can motivate others to be their best selves and give back to society no matter what they think their setbacks are. I challenge people to turn their disadvantages into advantages by looking at their difficult situations as ways to help them grow and touch people’s lives in positive ways. I’m passionate about this because I believe my difficult past has given me a different perspective on life. I have been successful in turning the most tragic experiences and setbacks in life into positive and rewarding experiences. I have used these strategies to excel in school, personal relationships as well as in my professional career.
BI: How are you different than your competitors?
CB: I’m different because my message is timeless and unique. At my age, 30, I have been through and seen things many will not be able to see, fortunately for them, but I’m able to share them with humor, creativity, and inspiration so audiences can relate and move into action to change their lives. I connect with all types of audiences!
BI: Please tell me about any recent business accomplishments that you are most proud of and why?
CB: I had one of my readers tell me that after reading my book, Happily Broken: Discovering Happiness Through Pain and Suffering”, she decided to stop making excuses and start her own business as a pre-school owner…something she has been putting off for over 10 yrs!
I had a journalist who was a war captive and torture victim start writing again, after 8 years of him not being able to write due to trauma, etc. His first story was on me! Here is the link to the story: http://worcestermag.com/2015/06/18/happily-broken-a-womans-story-of-surviving-the-rwandan-genocide/34472
After giving a talk at a college and formally introducing the Clarette Refugee Fund, I motivated college students to start a campus-wide movement to make an impact to donate supplies to a remote refugee school in Kenya. This movement will spill over into other colleges and will reach many colleges around the nation.
BI: What Leadership qualities in Leaders do you most admire and why?
CB: I admire empathy and selflessness in leaders. These qualities allow leaders to engage effectively with their reports and helps them be the best they can rather than looking at themselves and their own interest. I believe in the servant leadership model which enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world.
BI: What has been a key element of your success?
CB: Resilience, being positive and knowing that I’m a Masterpiece!
BI: What are some of the business projects that you are currently working on that you are excited about and why?
CB: The Clarette Refugee Fund because it is going to make a positive impact in the lives of those that are many times forgotten. It will also allow people to make an impact in the world.
BI: What are 1 or 2 things you would like to say to a prospective client who stumbles across this interview?
CB: If you are looking for an energetic, motivational speaker to with an electrifying talk that entertains, motivates and inspires your audience to live purposefully and be resilient whether in their business or personal goals, don’t look any further. Let’s talk!
BI: To wrap this up, what are you most excited about in the upcoming months in your business?
CB: Connecting with more colleges to be part of the Clarette Refugee Fund movement.
For more information: http://www.ClementineBihiga.com
