I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Cedric Filet, the founder and CEO of Aldelia Ltd., a global workforce solutions company with a strong presence across continents. In this exclusive interview, conducted as part of my entrepreneurship course work at Lagos Business School, Cedric shared his inspiring entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he has faced, and the strategies that have contributed to Aldelia’s success. I believe every aspiring entrepreneurs would find valuable insights from Cedric’s entrepreneurial journey as we learn from his experiences, the company’s social impact and his advice for future business owners.
What Inspired you to start a business and the industry to invest in?
Cedric: My entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 30, driven by my passion for Africa and desire to create a positive impact on people. This inspired me in 2005 to start a manpower solution company, Aldelia Ltd, from my house in London. I recognized the potential to bridge the gap between local talent and many multinational companies. The company was focused to empower individuals with better job opportunities and improve their visibility and employability. The company has enabled over 50,000 people to find jobs, promoting financial inclusion.
What were the early mistakes made in your entrepreneur’s journey and share the valuable lessons learned to help aspiring entrepreneurs navigate their own journeys with confidence and determination?
Cedric: Truthfully, I made some mistakes which an aspiring entrepreneur should strive to avoid:
- Trusting the wrong people: Partnering with individuals who did not share my vision, passion and commitment to Aldelia values was one of my major mistakes. I overcame this challenge by becoming more cautious when choosing partners and collaborators, ensuring there is shared values and goals. Trusting the right person would help any aspiring entrepreneur to avoid major setbacks.
- Lack of focus in the beginning: Concentrating on too many things at once in the early stages of the business‘s development which created inefficiency in the operations. I later learned to prioritizing core business activities, which resulted in a more focused approach to growth.
- Rapid expansion and quest to grow fast created a strain in the company’s finance. We decided to adopt a more measured approach to business expansion to ensure a sustainable growth trajectory and for better results in the long run.
What Were Your Key Success Factors as a Young Entrepreneur?
Cedric: Firstly, learning from my Mistakes: Understanding that making mistakes is part of the entrepreneurial journey and learning from those mistakes is the difference between those who failed and those who succeeded. I chose to learn from my mistakes, and this has become a key success factor towards continuous improvement.
Secondly, Resilience, being able to bounce back from setbacks has played a significant role in my journey.
Also, my business expansion strategy involved targeting countries with psychological barriers to entry and provide high-quality services with regulatory compliances has become a major competitive advantage for Aldelia. This strategy has resulted in easy market access for clients, strong client relationships, a leadership position in the niche market, with a platform for addressing neighboring countries.
Where do you see Aldelia in 3 to 5 years?
Cedric: With over 150 internal employees across different countries, the company’ steady rise is poised towards a sustainable growth, with financial projections of $100 million by 2026. The company is currently investing heavily on cutting-edge technologies to optimize operations and reduce inefficiencies while strategically targeting into other emerging markets in Africa and South America to expand its services and create new growth opportunities.
What Social Impact is Aldelia making as a socially responsible organization?
Cedric: In Aldelia, we believe in Doing Well by Doing Good. As the group CEO, I have reaffirmed our commitment to social impact and inclusivity, as demonstrated by employing physically challenged staff in our Uganda office this year and a few other countries. This approach not only provides equal opportunities for all but also fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment. Aldelia actively recruits and empowers local talent, improving their visibility and employability, and contributing to regional economic development. The company’s workforce is composed of 55% women, showcasing its dedication to gender equality and empowering women to pursue successful careers in various sectors.
Aldelia’s social impact initiatives directly support several UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Gender Equality, and Decent Work and Economic Growth. By focusing on local talent development, Aldelia reduces the need for economic migration and promotes regional stability. Furthermore, the company’s commitment to transitioning workers from informal to formal work promotes financial inclusion and contributes to employees’ financial stability and well-being.
Aldelia is a company that thrives financially and actively contributes to creating a better world through our social impact initiatives.
Final word.
Cedric Filet’s entrepreneurial journey serves as a valuable blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs. His unwavering resilience, adaptability, and commitment to learning from mistakes have propelled his company to significant success. Through his leadership, the company has become a global leader in workforce solutions, championing social impact and inclusivity while fostering a diverse work environment. Cedric’s journey exemplifies the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and strategic decision-making in achieving long-term success and making a positive difference in the world.
Be the next successful entrepreneur whose story would inspire others by not giving up on your dream and be humble to learn from your own mistakes and the early mistakes of other successful serial entrepreneurs, like Cedric Filet.
REASON FOR THE COURSE THE NATURE OF HUMAN PERSON(1)