Edward Ma Jr
My Business Training
Yusuf Aminu
Quick Facts
Yusuf Aminu is a resilient 34-year-old entrepreneur from Bauchi specializing in plaster design.
As the third of eleven children, Yusuf hawked street food at age four all while balancing his primary education before leaving school to fully support his family.
After gaining deep retail experience managing his mother’s egg supply business for motor parks and working in the local yam market, he developed a sharp eye for busy consumer hubs.
Now newly married and anticipating his first child, Yusuf serves as the primary financial pillar for his pregnant wife, elderly father, and younger siblings, driving him to establish his own independent cafe business.
Yusuf Aminu
Business Goals
Yusuf is hoping to launch a premium interior contracting company, Yusuf Modern POP Designs, providing expert panel casting, modern ceiling installations.
He will also sell essential hardware supplies, including molding frames, binding wires, sponge, and specialized nails.
Targeting architects, civil engineers, and property owners between ages 25 and 65, he emphasizes precise craftsmanship, fixed pricing, and reliable execution.
Yusuf intends to manage ten major residential and commercial renovation projects weekly.
Ultimately, he plans to use vibrant branding to build a welcoming, friendly environment and build stable customer trust, securing a leading market position in the market.
Yusuf Aminu
Business Obstacles
Yusuf does great decorative ceiling work, but because he doesn't have his own shop or bulk materials yet, he has to work under an employer.
This limits how much money he can take home to support his pregnant wife, parents, and younger siblings.
His biggest worry about branching out on his own is the struggle of finding new clients, getting them to trust his skills, and keeping them coming back.
On top of that, not having his own inventory makes it tough to secure big jobs during the busy November-to-January construction rush when everyone wants their projects finished.
Yusuf Aminu
Vulnerabilities
Yusuf is teaming up with Leadership Initiatives to launch his own independent business in a busy marketplace, starting with a weighing scale, raw POP cement, and molding supplies.
This partnership provides the startup funds he needs to rent a permanent shop with large windows to display his best ceiling designs.
To solve his biggest challenge, the partnership will also give him marketing tools and business guidance to help him attract clients, build local trust, and manage his money.
This support gives Yusuf the independence he needs to run a successful business and provide for his growing family.
My Business Proposal
Throughout the program, we worked closely with Yusuf Aminu to develop a clear understanding of their business goals. Though they have leveraged their skills and years of experience to create their business, they face obstacles hindering the expansion of their work.
Guided by their vision, we created a proposal detailing the marketing materials necessary to support the growth of their business. We devised a plan that would allow Yusuf Aminu to optimize their business through a new brand identity
Investments in a logo and marketing materials, such as signs and flyers, are vital for establishing a strong brand identity and expanding the customer base. These visual assets create a consistent and memorable image that builds trust and recognition among potential clients.
My Business Proposal Presentation
As part of the International Leadership and Business Internship, I collaborated with top development experts to strengthen my business partner’s brand.
At the conclusion of the program, my team presented our final proposal to a panel of judges from the Leadership Initiatives Grant Committee. This formal pitch allowed us to demonstrate our entrepreneurial skills, showcase our strategic plan, and advocate for meaningful change in our partner’s business.
Our team was awarded grant funding to support the implementation of our business partner’s plan, providing life-changing support that will expand operations, strengthen financial stability, and create new growth opportunities. Over the next year, this grant will help transform the future of their business and improve the quality of life for both the entrepreneur and their community.
Internship Highlights
- Business Partner Meeting
- Visit To The Embassy Of Egypt
- Professional Networking Panel
- Professional Mentorship
Our business development journey began with a one-on-one Zoom meeting with our partner, Yusuf Aminu, and our Nigerian project coordinator. This initial conversation laid the foundation for strong collaboration. It allowed us to better understand our partner's background, family, goals for the business, and the specific challenges they were facing.
Hearing directly from Yusuf Aminu provided the insight we needed to begin brainstorming practical, personalized solutions. Each morning, our team held focused discussions to refine our ideas, reflect on expert advice from the day before, and adjust our timeline to move our plans forward efficiently.
Throughout the process, on-staff project coordinators and business development experts offered guidance, helping us ask the right questions and turn our ideas into meaningful, actionable strategies.
I had the unique opportunity to visit the Embassy of Egypt, where I gained firsthand insight into the role of diplomacy in fostering strong relationships between Egypt and the United States.
The embassy serves as a center for international collaboration, partnering with countries and global organizations to address pressing issues such as poverty, gender inequality, and climate change. Through this visit, I learned how diplomats engage in meaningful dialogue and policy development to create sustainable, people-focused solutions.
Officials from the Embassy of Egypt shared how they collaborate with local communities to identify needs and implement programs that empower individuals and strengthen long-term development. This commitment to community-driven impact inspired my team and me as we worked to develop our own business proposal focused on creating lasting change.
During the career mentoring panel, I had the opportunity to learn from professionals with diverse experiences across higher education, athletics, business, and entrepreneurship. Andrii Marchak and Anthony Annan shared insights from their careers and experiences at Georgetown University, while Scott Rezendes discussed his professional journey and work with the Soccer Syndicate. Together, their different backgrounds provided valuable perspectives on navigating career opportunities, developing professional skills, and building meaningful relationships.
Throughout the panel, we were able to ask questions about networking, career planning, leadership, professional growth, and finding opportunities in competitive industries. The panelists discussed their own career paths, the decisions and experiences that shaped their professional development, and strategies for building strong networks and making lasting professional connections.
This experience broadened my understanding of the many different paths a successful career can take. Hearing directly from professionals across different fields encouraged me to think more intentionally about my own goals and reinforced the importance of communication, adaptability, networking, and taking advantage of opportunities throughout my education and future career.
Throughout the internship, our team had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in business and economic development from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
One of the highlights was a session with Carla Brooks, Business and Development Officer at the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.
My team also worked directly with a personal mentor. Our mentor provided us with career insights, project support, and feedback for our business ideas. The meetings we had throughout the week with our mentor provided critical insights from the initial business ideation phase through our project presentation.
With support from Ms. Brooks and other global leaders, including Eric Rosenstein, we refined our ideas, strengthened our strategy, and developed a powerful and polished pitch deck to present at the end of the week. Their guidance helped us take our business proposal to the next level, creating a plan designed not only to launch a venture, but to transform our business partner’s future.