Q 1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: The name of my business is AHRO Scientific Publishing Ltd. We are in publication of academic books and journals. As at now we have five journals under our portfolio.
Q 2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I am a Ghanaian born Scientist who has specialised in molecule virology and infectious diseases. During my scientific career which started in 1998, I worked in a number of scientific establishments. In 2008, I formed a NGO: Africa Health Research Organization which has being playing positive role in global affairs. I am much interested in disseminating scientific knowledge, I have written about 8 scientific books. One major achievement was when America society of microbiology gave me a fellowship in scientific teaching. I am also the editor in chief of Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. In addition, based on the structure of AHRO Scientific Publishing Ltd, I am also editor in chief of all the other 5 journals published by the company. I am also the CEO & Chief Scientific Officer of Dr Yaro Laboratory, an institution that deals in drug discovery, general laboratory work and clinical research.
Q 3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)?
Ans: How did the idea for your business come about? The idea of the business venture came to me after completing my first book. All along i have passion for scientific knowledge. When i say passion, i am really passionate. I remember my town people use to call me ‘mad man of the books’ because i was always after books. When i formed Africa Health Research Organization, my main goal was to help disseminate scientific knowledge so i started Annals of Tropical Medicine & Public Health. Along the line, we had some issues with our publisher as we wanted to go full open access. I therefore decided to come up with a company that would integrate a hybrid publication model so the formation of AHRO Scientific Publishing Ltd.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: From my experience, the three advice i can give to budding entrepreneurs are develop the habit of hard work, be very patient, look for opportunities, and always try to build your network
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans:Tolerance, eye for opportunities, hardwork, and a team player
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: Averagely in a day i work about 18 hours a day
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: First, I am a believer so i always attribute to my success to god. Secondly the influence of my mother. When i was young she once challenged me to become a good scientist so when i was face with the most difficult of my life, it was that challenge that made me focused because i didn’t want to disappoint my mum. You know she is the best woman in my life!! Then my dad who was fully supportive of my education, and finally, i believe my trait of hard work.
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: To be sincere with you, i have never undertaken any marketing activities. In the past i thought that when we do good work, our work would sell itself but i believe i was wrong that is why i now engaged the services of Jasmine Sandler to oversee our marketing strategies. I think if we had engaged a marketing team earlier, we would have reached far. But all the same, better late than never at all.
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: The first capital came from my saving. I was then working about 20 hours a day to save enough because i had a dream of playing positive role in global health. So when i receive my monthly salary, i normally saved about 2/5 so when i had saved enough i started Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health under Africa Health Research Organization.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Hard Work and Strategic Thinking
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: My vision is in 5-10 years, our publications would among the leading academic publications in the world. I just want to stand for medical sciences so by the stated period, i see myself become a global leader in infectious diseases research. I have therefore started a process of establishing an academic institution: AHRO Institute of Health Science & Research which would provide comprehensive training for health workers and students who want to acquire skills in tropical medicine as part of their project work.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: GSK, Bentham Publishing, British Medical Journal And The America Journal Of Microbiology
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: My employees have really played a part in reaching where we are today. At the beginning it was very difficult as funds were scares but they continue working hard. Sometime it is not easy working with me because i push myself very hard and i expect my employee to push them hard. They have really done great!
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: I am the type who stick to an idea to the very end. before i craft any idea, i do a lot of research on it. The moment i put the idea on paper, man i do go it so i stick to it no matter the sacrifices.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: As a scientist growing in Africa, i saw the impact of diseases on my people so the dream of making a change is what motivates me.
Q 16. What are your ideals?
Ans: To be a good scientist and academician to present and future generation.
Q 17. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: I normally generates ideas while sitting in a dark room reflecting on a particular subject. Nobody should derive anything from this: i am not into any kind of cult, i just like darkness!
Q 18. How do you define success?
Ans: To me success is when you sit back and smile a bit because your hardwork has led to an acceptable result.
Q 19. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Customers especially academic customers are very demanding. To build my customer base, i try to be very tolerant and patient.
Q 20. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Knowing that i have influence to make changes
Q 21. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: When customer after we had heated debate then later send me a message stating: ‘ thank you, you really assisted me’
Q 22. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: In my organization we have developed culture of tolerance and respect. In the academic world, you need these 2 very essentially
Q 23. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur:
Ans: I am really honored to be doing what i am doing
Q 24. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: I don’t know what i would have done differently. All the steps was preparing me for who i am today.
Q 25. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: Yes, a lot. As i am always on the move and sometimes the kids would call and say ‘ Dad we ,miss you’
Q 26. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: My greatest fear is the fear of failure because everybody do not want to associate with a failure. I have seen how i was treated because people thought i had failed. I manage my fear by working extremely hard.
Q 27. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: Where There Are Opportunities
Q 28. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: I believe the formula for success is hardwork and praying to god. I do not believe of any short cut to success. I tried some short cuts and failed terribly. Maybe god didn’t wanted me to be student of shortcut.
Q 29. If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans: I am a student of religion. If i am to talk to any person from history it would have been the prophet of Islam. I have read his biography over and over. He always amazes me
Q 30. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: When i was a child, my mother once challenged me to become a good scientist. I believe that was my greatest inspiration because in the midst of the immense hardship i was facing, it was that challenge that kept me going. Many people encountered 10% of what i encountered but failed in life. I am therefore grateful that i had something to hold onto. That was the challenge of my mum!!
Q 31. What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?):
Ans: The book that inspired me most is the Holy Quran
Q 32. What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Ans: My biggest mistake was when in 1993 i decided to stop education to pursue my soccer dream. For one year, i was making name in soccer but whenever i was alone i felt so sad that i had left education.
Q 33. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: My hobbies are reading, traveling to explore nature, meditation and watching sports.
Q 34. What makes you happy?
Ans: SEEING OTHERS HAPPY
Q 35. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans:I sacrificed so much in my life to where i am. It has not been easy. I think the most difficult sacrifice was when i decided to stop playing football although i was encouraged because of my talent. I was so focus on my education so decided to stop playing football. I might have been a top super star!!
Company Detail:
Company : AHRO Scientific Publishing Ltd
Contact : Abubakar Yaro
Address : 272 Bath Street
City : Glasgow
State : Scotland
Zip : G2 4JR
Country : United Kingdom
Phone : +44 7425885437
Email : editor@atmph.org