Asanda Gcoyi: Talent on its own will never be enough
[bctt tweet=”Many people are talented in something but don’t invest time in becoming the best – Asanda Gcoyi” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s time again for you to meet one of the people that make the SLA website run smoothly. We’re talking about our contributor family who SLAY with their writing. Asanda Gcoyi is a talent hunter, she’s the CEO of CB Talent, an empowerment hub dedicated to all things talent development. Through her passion, Asanda works with entrepreneurs and highly successful people in order to help them take their success to a higher level. We’re all lucky that she shares some of this wisdom in the articles she writes for SLA. A certified master coach, Asanda Gcoyi is the boss of turning talent into something more powerful. What defines talent to you? I think it is ones’ ability to showcase what you can contribute in any given context. Talent has to be pegged to passion for it to be meaningful. Further, talent requires hard work to be of any use. Many people out there are talented in something. Quite a few take joy in just being talented in whatever they may be talented in; yet they do not invest the time required to become the best at what they are talented in. As such, talent on its own will never be enough. Think of any successful footballer and imagine their work schedules. You will find hours and hours of hard work behind that success; not only god-given talent. [bctt tweet=”You will find hours of hard work behind success; not only god-given talent @Coachasanda” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What goes into starting a talent development firm? It is one of those businesses that stem purely out of passion. You must understand people, and what motivates them and be able to ascertain how this all fits into the overall business imperatives. Luckily, you don’t need much in terms of start-up capital, so bootstrapping does the trick for the first six months or so. Tell us about being the Chairperson of the Ethics Portfolio Committee (EPC) at Coaches and Mentors South Africa (COMENSA). How did you find yourself in this role? When I returned from Beijing, China in December 2014, I was actively looking for ways to reintegrate myself into the South African business landscape having been away for over four years. As a qualified coach with a keen interest in understanding the professional from a South African point of view, I thought the best thing to do would be to find opportunities to get involved. Luckily for me around mid 2015, the committee had an opening, I applied and I was invited to join. Less than a year into it (around 6 months), I was asked to take over as chairperson. It was an excellent opportunity for me to develop professionally in the important area of ethics and conduct of the profession. I really enjoy working as part of the ethics portfolio and I am often challenged out of my comfort zone, which is very important for me. If it is not a challenge, I lose interest. You studied in China’s Peking University; can you share more about your experiences as an African woman in China? Peking University and Tshingua University are the top two universities in China so you can imagine the competition! I had no doubt in my ability to get admitted because they too take into account your GMAT scores for business school studies. As the only and first African woman at a Chinese top institution, it was both an honour and a testing time for me. There was still a ‘curiosity’ on Africa and Africans so in a way I was representing more than just my race and gender but the entire continent! I have never been one to be meek so my time at Peking was characterised by involvement both in academia and the social space. I was voted into the class committee a month into the studies and I was responsible for the events portfolio. That tells you a lot about my ability to be me irrespective of where I plant myself. [bctt tweet=”Asanda Gcoyi’s experiences in China gave her the background to be a multicultural specialist” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What four skills would you say is needed for someone to be a multicultural specialist? To be a multicultural specialist, I would say one needs; Advanced self-awareness; Exposure to diverse environments is key; Actual experience working in cross cultural environments and Areputation (track record) of successful multicultural engagements. How is your understanding of the East and West behind your “developing the leader in you, to impact business” idea? The East and the West are so different in many respects and understanding these differences is key in this day and age. Taking these two and infusing local perspectives (read African) is what I believe can set one apart in business, and professionally. For the longest time, we were concerned about the ways of the West and didn’t pay much attention to the east until China became the powerhouse it is today. I think that to really be a global citizen/leader, you can’t not understand these two within your local context. Are there any particular things you look out for in finding people to support? I look for a can-do positive attitude. What will be your New Year resolutions? I have three New Year resolutions Take CB Talent to the next phase —accelerate growth! To be kinder to self. Grow spiritually! We want to know your stories! Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Lebogang Chaka: I’m where I am today because I’m not afraid to dream
[bctt tweet=”Lebogang Chaka lives and breathes the values of being an African and is leaving a brilliant legacy” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Lebogang Chaka considers herself a multi-potentialite. She is a dreamer, a speaker and MC who has committed to travelling the world talking on pertinent African issues related to the continent. A firm believer in the notion that Africans need to tell their own stories, Lebogang believes that she was born to use her “voice” through her work and talks to become a “guardian” of the African continent. She is the founder of a consulting firm that offers management consulting services such as transformation, change management, organisational design, outsourcing and restructuring programmes including facilitation and coaching services. Lebogang Chaka has experience working with top-tier consulting firms such as Deloitte, KPMG and Accenture, with international experience in Dubai. She also currently serves as the Chairperson of the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute Alumni Forum as well as the advisory board for Africa Future Dialogue. Still, Lebogang is a small town girl from Mafikeng with a love for her continent and dreams of being Dr Chaka. Take us through your day I like to start off the day with a gym session to prepare me for the day and all that it comes with. Given all my passion and commitments, my days vary. I am a management consultant by trade, which sees me sitting in board rooms with C-Suite executives or leaders in the public sector. As a consultant, I understand the problems of an organisation and provide practical solutions to their various problems. My demands as a Phd student require that I come home, switch off and give my studies my full attention. My various volunteer activities —which includes sitting on boards, require me to review concept documents, set up meetings and respond to proposals. As a speaker and coach, I ensure that I prepare for my sessions with my various commitments. What I love about my day is that it is seldom the same. Time management is key and learning how to say ‘no’ has been my greatest lesson to make it through the day. And yes, I manage to cook and spend time with my loved one. I love a home cooked meal. One needs to protect their core, some things cannot be compromised. I love being present at home and not let all my passions be a source of guilt. How do you push through your worst times? After burning out after 3 years in management consulting and nearly passing away, I took sabbatical for a month. During that time, I met people from different walks of life. This was my greatest low and afterwards, I learnt the art of taking care of myself physically by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I was incomplete without my spirituality, I reconnected with God’s word and I now I draw strength from feeding my soul with the word of God. Through my worst times, I remind myself of how I overcame all the doctors had said. I remind myself of how far God has brought me. I push because I know that the light at the end of the tunnel is worth the wait, because I know that my success will inspire others. My doctoral studies have been the most challenging studies I have had to date but I stay grounded in the word. I maintain a healthy lifestyle to ensure the stress that comes with the studies is minimised to ensure that I can live a live that is filled with joy. [bctt tweet=”Lebogang Chaka learnt the art of taking care of herself after a burn out and nearly passing away” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What keeps you awake at night? The renewal of our continent. We cannot be the “dark continent”, I need to play my part. I constantly ask myself; What more can I do to ensure that I can build a continent that my children will be proud of? What are your success habits? The one thing that I admire about myself is my ability to dream like a child and to not have boundaries. My dreams are always larger than life, my dreams usually scare me but I always boldly talk about them. I got to where I am today because I am not afraid to dream and I am not afraid to work hard for my dreams. Above all, God’s grace is forever with me. I also believe that a life well lived is a life that does not mirror the vision of others but rather is based on one’s own journey. My measure of success is how well I have lived my life according to what I believe I am called to do. This is as opposed to what society believes I should do. Lastly, I was raised by parents who had an incredible vision for us as their children; to be more and to serve others. What is your meaning of greatness? Do you believe you have at some point achieved greatness? Greatness to me means being the best version of you. It means being able to achieve peace about what you were called to be, understanding your purpose. After experiencing a corporate burnout, I reflected on my life and realized that I had given all my talents to the corporate world. At that very point, I began to search for my purpose. Today, it is very clear how I can use my talents to serve and make a difference in the lives of many. My career as a speaker is birthed from me understanding my calling. Can you tell us about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about that, and what you did instead of giving up?’ This year with my PhD studies at the beginning of the year, I was struggling with my studies. I have never struggled with any of my previous studies as such, this was indeed a humbling experience. There was a time in class in February
Seipati Masango: Passion that transcends into business
[bctt tweet=”@seipatimasango a.k.a Miss Gates shares her passion and beauty secrets here” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Seipati Masango is a 29 year old lady from South Africa currently working in the construction industry. Seipati also owns and manages a beauty product line company called Organic Touch by Miss Gates. Informally known as Miss Gates, Seipati Masango is very loud, crazy “in a good way”, enthusiastic and optimistic. Her passions are not limited to business as she is also politically active and passionate about social development through her work as an African National Congress (ANC) volunteer. What are you most passionate about? I am passionate about people and what they have to offer. Also, I am passionate about beauty and how we as a nation are different and from different cultures. I think that we do not focus on how rich in inner and outer beauty we are as a country. We tend to shy away and do not appreciate the features we have as people, because we care about the ones we are complimented on. What inspired you to start your skin care brand Organic Touch By Miss Gates? This is so funny because, growing up I have always been very inquisitive about everything. Years later, I started using different products especially when seasons changed, because my skin texture would change too. I tried different methods in order to get it soft and smooth again, (using Colgate toothpaste for pimples, egg yolk for texture etc). I used to mix different products to make my own hair mousse to repair my hairline, and loved to use coconut oil on my face as a moisturiser and body. In August, I decided to post on social media the difference these methods made to my skin. I ended up receiving a great response and messages in my inbox for orders. [bctt tweet=”@seipatimasango registered a company before finally finding her passion in making beauty products” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Then two lady friends of mine Nonkululeko and Mzikazi asked why I was sitting on a gold mine and doing nothing about it. They both know I am passionate about beauty. From that point, I started researching about organic homemade beauty products because I did not want to use any chemically affiliated products. And the rest is history. I must say, it was draining and time consuming at first. I was cash strapped too ,but it all turned out well. Months prior, I had registered a company not knowing what to do, but I finally found my passion. Tell me about your work as a clothing brand ambassador for plus size women? I never thought I would be a plus size model. I had actually never heard of big women being models, but the world changes. We see an evolution where plus size clothing ranges find space in the fashion industry. [bctt tweet=”I never thought I would be a plus size model – Seipati Masango” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I was approached by Pinky Mokgoasane owner of Street Chic, who asked me if I would be interested in being a model for her plus size range. She told me that I would look ravishing in “vintage-inspired wear”, so I gave it a try. Street Chic’s Pinky Clothing Range has attracted so many plus size women who love dressing up. Street Chic’s clients always say to the owner, “if Seipati can rock it so can we”. I don’t regret making the decision to model for Pinky. It has changed me, many woman send me messages telling me how I have inspired them to appreciate their weight. I always say that dressing up for your body type and size will make you feel good and confident. What is the main thing you think women should celebrate about themselves? Mainly, it’s their inner beauty as it is one of the most attractive characters in a woman. Being confident about yourself and loving the person that you are, will easily show on the outside. I have always been a big girl. Growing up, people would tell me how fat I was compared to the last time they saw me, and that would really hurt. I had to grow tough skin towards cyber bullies and negative people. I used to try these yoyo diets and go to the gym just to go back to the woman I was, it never worked. [bctt tweet=”Women across the world should adore their curves, love and squeeze them. Yaaas @seipatimasango!” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] This year, I had a health hazard that required that I make healthier choices because my cholesterol was too high. I made the decision to eat healthier and lose a few kilos, not because of a bully but for a conscious decision I made for my life. I lost 15 kg and now I wear size 40 and happily love my curves, and body. Women across the world should adore their curves, love and squeeze them. They should look in the mirror and just say, “I am beautiful”! They should wear that swimsuit without fear. Stretch marks and cellulite are there but they do not define who you are, or what you have become. Just be you and love yourself. Do you think that there is immense pressure for women in South Africa to look and behave in a certain way? How can we change the social pressures on women? A South Africa “radio personality” recently bashed Noma Khumalo, winner of SA Idols 2016, saying Noma is not idol material because of her weight and that the entertainment industry will not accept her. I was furious —and still am, that we live in such a hypocritical society that refuses to accept how different we are. South Africa is a country rich in heritage and history, and we need to become ourselves. We do not need to conform to mainstream norms and social perceptions of how one should behave or look. We should appreciate what everyone brings to society. Also, we need to understand that women are nurturers and caregivers and they should
Monalisa Molefe: Buy into a business that you can connect your passion to
[bctt tweet=”@Lisa_Molefe bought a 17 year old business rather than start her own from scratch” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] In an era where the media has ramped up the encouragement directed towards the young entrepreneurs, one millennial, Monalisa Molefe, found herself in largely uncharted territory when she made the decision to buy a business. In September 2016, Monalisa took the plunge and assumed ownership of an already existing business, Art Form Factory. At 26, she is now the youngest, black, female owner of a framing business in South Africa. Having previously worked in the luxury branding space, Monalisa had no prior knowledge on the complexities of the art framing world. What she did have was the foresight to spot and seize a good opportunity when it presented itself. Monalisa Molefe had a passion for luxury branding which she envisioned bringing to the art framing world. She had a zeal and dedication, rare for many women her age. Lucky for her, Monalisa also has the support of a mother who has always encouraged her to dream big. Monalisa’s mother taught her to realize that once she decides to take a chance on something, she had better be prepared to go all in and not consider failure an option. To find out exactly what drives this phenomenal young woman, SLA contributor, Uloma Ogba, caught up with Monalisa on a Sunday. This interview took place while Monalisa was present at her factory and in between business strategy sessions. Prior to buying the Artform Factory you had a successful career in Marketing and had worked for some top luxury brands in SA. What motivated you to trade in your cushy, secure job to buy a business and take over its operations? I’ve always known I would be an entrepreneur. As I took on my career path I realized I had a lot to learn. So, instead of graduating and rushing into opening my own business, I took the route of gaining knowledge of the business world and the operations of large firms by working for them. The knowledge one picks up from that is something that a textbook cannot teach. At the time I was introduced to Artform Factory in early 2016, I was working for a luxury brand. My move wasn’t so much because I was frustrated at work, it was more about the fact that I believe that opportunities are timed It’s not everyday that you hear a story of someone like myself who was offered the chance to buy a business. The framing factory has been running for the past 17 years and it was previously owned by a Polish lady who started in the interior industry helping people frame for their houses and offices. [bctt tweet=”Monalisa Molefe had no prior knowledge on the complexities of the framing world” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] The previous owner and my mother had a mutual friend who brought the opportunity to my mother’s attention. My mother, who already had a lot on her plate at the time, then introduced me to company. For the Polish lady, selling her business wasn’t just about a monetary transaction. She wanted to make sure that the new owner would be the right fit for the business. She wanted someone who would take the business to greater heights. What she told me was that there is a gap in the market and no one was really owning it. If I came in and commanded the space, I would have plenty of opportunities. This was because a lot of corporates were looking to work with business that met certain criteria in terms ownership and service offering. After my initial meeting with her, I did my homework to ascertain the viability of the business. I wanted to some clarity on what to do with the business if I had to take over. Luckily, the business has had an impressive track record. This included owning exclusive rights to sell limited edition, official Brazil 2014 world cup soccer match balls in South Africa,. The previous owner also introduced the concept of the Mandela memorabilia which has been a major attraction for South Africans and people from all over the world. I have a background in brand building and management and I’ve spent the last couple of years submerging myself in the luxury industry. My plan is to take the business to the next level and to turn something as simple as framing into a luxury business. At the factory, we frame under two categories. One is wall décor such as mirrors and art pieces. We also frame sports memorabilia to basically preserve “the greatest moments in sports”. The way I see it, you could just go to the supermarket and buy ready-made frames or you could come to the Artform Factory and get a custom-made frame tailored to your specific style and preferences. That in itself is the essence of luxury to me. [bctt tweet=”Monalisa Molefe took the route of gaining knowledge of the business world by working for them ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What would be your advice to other women thinking of embarking on the same venture. Is there something you wish you had known before going in? The experience has definitely met, and even exceeded my expectations. First of all, I was very fortunate because I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My mother has had many businesses. Growing up, I had watched her open up and close down several businesses. So when it came to my current venture, I’ve used her as a guide in terms of what to do and what not to do. I am lucky to have had my mother who is a seasoned professional and entrepreneur to guide me. She has helped me ensure that the processes and the transaction were done professionally. My mother also advised me regarding any laws dealing with change of ownership in the business. She, as well as my mentors, have drilled into me the importance of business accounts. Business accounts are a good indicator of the success
Anelisa Kasper: I’m responsible for my own growth in my field
[bctt tweet=”@lisakaspero is a business analyst & passionate about growing start-ups as well as herself” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s time for you to meet one of the people that make the SLA website run smoothly. We’re talking about our contributors who selflessly share their writing with us. Anelisa Kasper is an IT consultant but she’s taught us about mentorship, handling conflict in start-ups and mastering the art of public speaking. Her area of expertise is business analysis and her focus is growth. Anelisa Kasper has dipped her toes in both the corporate and start-up worlds, and she aims to inspire young people in both worlds. Would you say you chose to be a business analyst or that the profession chose you? I was lucky enough to choose to become a business analyst. After I finished my honours degree, and having had extensive exposure to Information Systems, I was unsure which career path I wanted to pursue. When I graduated, there wasn’t as much information about the profession as there is now, so I wasn’t sure what the business analyst profession entailed. When I joined the company I currently work for, I made sure to express that I wanted to pursue business analysis as my career. Because I had just come out of university, the company was very supportive with my decision even though it was not in the technical part of IT. How do you plan to grow in your field? For me, growth will come from more experience. Over the years, I’ve seen how broad the business analysis profession is and have come to realise that you can’t get all that experience in one year (unless you’re exposed to different projects at a short space of time!) Since I started as a BA, I’ve wanted some sort of guideline on how to grow. I understood that the progression was from junior level, to intermediate, to senior, then principle level. All those levels have underlying skills that I need to work towards for my role. I do research on what skills one needs to have for all levels, and I usually set goals to achieve certain things according to that information each year. [bctt tweet=”For me, growth will come from more experience – Anelisa Kasper ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When I started as a junior almost 3 years ago, I can safely say I didn’t know much about my role. Fortunately, I was part of a major project and that gave me great exposure to what it means to be a business analyst in the field. After 2 years and a promotion later, I evaluated what I needed to improve on with my skills. I spoke to my line manager about getting more process analysis experience, a month later I was in a process analysis project. In the end, I’m responsible for my own growth in the BA field. It’s important to know your areas of growth, and what will make you more marketable if you want to stay in that field, or even move to a new one. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen gaps, spoken up, and received opportunities for immediate experience. Of course, I’ve also had cases where my company couldn’t accommodate the growth I needed at the time. In those cases, I’ve made a way for my own growth by looking for those experiences myself outside of my company. What advice will you give other women looking to be business analysts? Do your research and make sure that it’s what you want to do, as with any career. Because this field is part of the ICT industry, we need more women in the business analysis field. Most people study a degree in the IT space and become business analysts after graduating. I have also come across many people in the field who do not have an ICT background. So if you want to be a BA, do your research. Join forums that bring many people together to discuss everything business analysis. This opens up a world of information; engage in those forums and ask questions. How do you think being involved in other industries will grow your expertise? Which industries are you interested in? Why? It grows your experience. As a business analyst, you want to be able to get into any industry and work towards providing a solution that will make the business more sustainable. The BA field has its underlying principles that you can use in any industry, but within an industry, most companies face similar challenges. Working across industries and companies means I’ve been exposed to both structured and unstructured environments. The broad work experience has allowed me to gain experience in the telecommunications, electrical and canopy cleaning and banking industries and all those work differently, which makes the work fun. Some industries are more challenging than others, and it also depends on the scale of the company you’re doing BA work for. I choose consulting because I enjoy being on different projects. For example, 6 months consulting for one of SA’s top banks, then leaving to help a family business in the electrical and canopy cleaning industry. This allows me to be exposed to completely different people, processes and technologies/products. [bctt tweet=”It’s important to know your areas of growth, find where you’re lacking and speak up @lisakaspero” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What advice will you give to a start-up looking to develop long-term solutions? For start-ups looking to develop long-term solutions, it’s important to constantly be aware of trending technologies; as well as understanding them and how they will benefit your start-up. We live in a digitized world, where technology has taken over how we do things. For instance, at the tech incubator and accelerator I was part of, our entrepreneurs were able to use cutting edge technologies to assist them in the long-term. We helped them do research on these technologies so that they could better utilise them and in some instances, build start-ups around them. Tell us about your personal project portfolio. How have you
Kendibone Sapepa: Barbara McKenzie started off with me making garments for myself
[bctt tweet=”@Kendibone_S I wanted my brand @_BMcKenzie__ to be a brand with purpose ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Imagine starting out making clothes for yourself and then moving on to make a business out of it due to popular demand. That’s the story behind Barbara McKenzie, a clothing brand, styling service and consulting service based in Joburg. Barbar McKenzie is run by Kendibone Sapepa, a fashion enthusiast who wants to provide customers with classic fashion-forward clothing. You may have read some of her writing right here on SLA where Kendi schools us on different careers in fashion. Read on to find out how Kendibone Sapepa, a Marketing Management graduate is growing her brand and what she has to say about New Year resolutions for businesses. Tell us about your journey to starting Barbara McKenzie clothing. Barbara McKenzie started off with me making garments for myself. When people took an interest in what I was making, I decided to create a business out of it. You established Barbara McKenzie in 2013, how has your brand grown? Has it exceeded your exceptions? It has grown to become what I had wanted from its inception and much more! From just making clothes at home for fun, I’ve dressed admirable women and it continues to grow. [bctt tweet=”Kendibone Sapepa: Barbara McKenzie’s target market is women who emanate elegance & femininity” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You have a degree in Marketing Management, do you use what you’ve learned in university in running Barbara McKenzie? If so, how? Every single day. Brands need to be marketed, other wise, how would people know that Barbara McKenzie exists? Activities vary between advertising, collaborations, to anything you can think of, as well as the strategic side of it which the public sometimes does not see. 10% of your profits go towards helping a girl-child, can you tell us more about this initiative? It is a new initiative that I’ve just started. I often come across many stories about how girls cannot go to school and I’ve decided to do something about it. 10% of Barbara McKenzie profits will go to an organisation that helps young girls in need, or directly to these young girls. This of course does not exclude those who cannot afford school fees, and with FeesMustFall —we will help where we can. I wanted my brand to be a brand with purpose, so if people are buying clothes to look good, let them also feel good as well by knowing that when they buy from Barbara McKenzie, a young child is helped as well. Tell us about your consulting service, it sounds quite unique to bring clients on to be part of the design process. How did you come up with this idea? Have there been any particular difficulties implementing it? It is not really unique, as many designers offer this service to all clients. It was not really a matter of coming up with it, but rather clients who wanted a specific looking garments. Difficulties vary, from clients wanting garments that do not compliment my brand, to changing their designs half-way through production, but at the end of the day customers’ happiness matters most. What/who would you say captures the Barbara McKenzie style? The brand’s target market is women of all ages who are feminine and prefer classic style with a modern element in their clothing. Women who emanate effortless elegance and femininity. [bctt tweet=”Kendibone Sapepa went on a mini-mission to find out more fashion-related careers” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] From your articles on SLA, you seem passionate about different careers in fashion, how did this come about? A couple of months ago, a young lady in grade 10 came to me to somewhat “job-shadow” me as her school does on an annual basis. When we spoke I learned that her parents, like most, wanted her to follow a career in science. They thought a career in science ensures a comfortable and secure life, but as one can see today, this is not how it goes. I’ve seen many a picture of people with degrees, standing at robots asking for jobs. So I went on a mini-mission to find out more about these fashion related careers to better inform these young people about what they entail. I mean with employment in RSA at its worst, why not follow what you like anyway, and also encourage entrepreneurship? What will be your New Year resolutions for Barbara McKenzie? I’m not sure if a entity can have New Year Resolutions, but I personally don’t. One need not wait till January of each year to start doing something, one just starts. Why wait for the next year to start doing something, when you can do it sooner? [bctt tweet=”@Kendibone_S – One need not wait till January of each year to start doing something” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I’ve started the help-a-girl-child initiative at the end of this year, I don’t think waiting until the beginning of 2017 would be any better, just so I can say that I have a “New Year Resolution”. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Hilda Mavhunga: I had no idea that one could become a food technologist
[bctt tweet=”@didi_mamushka is a food technologist making a career out of her love for food” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] For Hilda Mavhunga, “food is passion, food is love.” But Hilda lives her passion for food in a way that is different from what you’d expect. She is a food technologist. Say what now? Yep, food technologist! It’s one of those professions that few know but that are well integrated into our everyday lives. “Food is my life, food was my choice, food is my career, food is my love,” says Hilda Mavhunga. And you know that the food industry is the largest in the world, we all need to eat. Yet Hilda doesn’t limit herself to her job as a food technologist. She’s also a model and founder of Vision 30 and Soweto Award for Economic Development. The Soweto Award for Economic Development was started to change the fact that Sowetans feel neglected in South Africa. Why did you decide to study food technology I must admit, I had no idea that one could become a food technologist. Some people don’t realise what a major role in the development of food products we play in the global market. The plethora of disciplines in food industry is vast and fascinating. Common products that you purchase each day have been researched, designed and modified by a team of food industry professionals. As food technologists, we make sure that what you purchase is consistent in quality and most importantly, safe to eat. It draws from many disciplines in an attempt to better understand food processes and ultimately improve food products for general public. It applies food science principles for the selection, preservation, processing, packaging and use of safe food. Food technology disciplines include food chemistry, food process engineering, food microbiology, food preservation, food packaging, food safety, food technology, new product development and sensory analysis. I love using science and engineering skills to research and develop food products and to ensure the safety of food supply. Therefore, food technology was an option to quench the thirst of this kind of love. I decided to be a food technologist because there is nothing more amazing than the chemistry of food and its technology. Can you tell us a bit about your work and its contribution towards developing countries. The food industry is one of the largest on the planet. People will always have to eat. The primary objective of food science and technology is to provide crowded populations with the kind and quality of food they demand at all times of the year. Food processing techniques developed by food scientists ensure that the resources required to produce raw food materials, and ingredients for food manufacturing are used efficiently. [bctt tweet=”Hilda Mavhunga: I love using science and engineering skills to research and develop food products” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What is your favourite dish ? My favourite dish pap and mogodu. What do you think is special about the food science industry compared with other scientific industries? When working in the food industry, you aren’t limited to lab work or a desk job. There is something for everyone, whether it be in quality, Research & Development , sales, e-marketing, manufacturing, teaching or in government. The food science degree is inherently multidisciplinary, which opens up a myriad of opportunities.We use principles of chemistry, engineering, microbiology and other sciences to ensure food safety and agricultural productivity. We discover new food sources, analyses nutrition content and finds different ways to process, package and preserve food in an attempt to improve the quality of the food that we eat everyday. What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time, I do modelling sometimes. I also run two projects; Vision 30 and the Soweto Award for Economic Development. [bctt tweet=”Hilda Mavhunga: We Sowetans often we feel neglected & our aim is to change that” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Tell us about Soweto Award for Economic Development We Sowetans often we feel neglected and our aim as an organisation is to change that. How so? By recognising talent/challenges, good/bad service delivery around our location. We figure out ways we can empower and be catalysts to turn and improve our locations into a better place where everyone wants to be. We also want to improve our education system, decrease unemployment rate and have better health services. That’s our mission as Soweto Award for Economic Development. What kind of sickness have you lied about so you wouldn’t go to work? I’m so passionate and live my work that I don’t want to miss a second of it. I never lied about any sickness to miss work. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Susan Granger: My biggest passion and purpose is to empower African women
[bctt tweet=”Susan Granger: @nubianon101 has been inspired by my lavish taste for art and style” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Nubian Queen on 101 is a niche, quality and exclusive online boutique store, specialising in genuine leather handbags and accessories, all designed and made from the heart of Johannesburg, Gauteng in South Africa. The brand offers a range of contemporary genuine leather bags that bridges the gap between high street and luxury brands. The carefully selected crafted pieces are designed and created by founder and managing director Susan Granger. What is the story behind the name Nubian Queen on 101? Nubian Queen on 101 has been inspired by my lavish taste for art and style and the compelling desire to bring quality bags to everyone despite their social or economic status. Our brand designs are stylish, affordable, versatile and timeless and are not dictated by trends. Besides your frustration at not finding an affordable leather bag, what else informed your decision to create Nubian Queen on 101? I always wanted to make a difference in the community I live in and running a successful business has become my doorway to achieving this. One day, I would like to provide help and tangible assistance that will inspire other start-ups. I know how it feels to look for help, especially when it seems like no one is interested. What were the biggest teething problems you experienced starting out and what are some of the pressing issues you encounter presently? The truth is I am so grateful that I did not struggle at all when I started because I had done my research and planning before I launched the company. I recall on launch day a friend of mine asked me, “Is there anything you didn’t think about before today?” My answer was simply nope, because I had planned everything leading to the day. My pressing issues at the moment is securing funds for expansion. I have self-funded up to this point, but for me to get to the next stage of growth I need to buy my own factory equipment. [bctt tweet=”Susan Granger: Running a successful business has become my doorway to make a difference” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 80% of your workforce who make the bags are women. Was this an intentional decision on your part or a purely coincidental one? Before I started NQ, I always wanted to empower other women through jobs. So during one of my several visits to the factories I met a woman who fully understood my vision. When she mentioned 80% of the work staff were women —many of whom were breadwinners— I knew I found the place to call home until I could afford to own my own equipment. In an interview, you mentioned you didn’t have a team save for the outsourced factory staff. How have you been able to manage Nubian Queen on 101 without one? My family members have been my support centre. Most evenings are set aside to do admin work and then during the day I make sure orders were processed. My daughter, Nicola has been my greatest source of support. She is studying law, and during her free time, she covers for me. I’m very grateful to her and the help she’s given me. [bctt tweet=”Susan Granger didn’t struggle when she started @nubianon101 because she had done her research” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] How have you been able to ensure the craftsmanship remains consistent since quality control is a major struggle facing many entrepreneurs on the continent? This is the amazing thing about an exclusive brand that is locally made. Everything is very contained. Our quality control and craftsmanship are consistent because we do not make hundreds of bags at a time. That is our niche. Aside from setting up retail outlets across Africa, what else does the future hold for Nubian on 101? The long-term goal for Nubian Queen on 101 is to collaborate and extend into other branches of fashion, like shoes and clothing while establishing our boutique stores globally. My biggest passion and purpose is to empower African women through job creation. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Hanani Dube: Running a business is one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do
[bctt tweet=”Hanani Dube is a fusion of many things but all her experience has lead her to @FroSisterHanani” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Some may say that the natural hair and skincare market has been inundated but Hanani Dube would disagree. Hanani is fusing her degrees in food chemistry and business in her brand FroSister. You can easily tell by her range of hair butters in a variety of “flavours” such as vanilla ice-cream, avocado and sweet almond. In this interview with SLA contributor Dalphine, Hanani Dube shares what makes her FroSister stand out from the competition. Hanani please tell us briefly about who you are, I am sure people would love to know more about Frosister. It is quite difficult to describe myself as I am a fusion of so many things. I am an academic. I studied food chemistry for my first degree and business and HR for my second but I’m also a creative at heart. I managed to fuse together my love for business, food chemistry and natural hair by creating FroSister natural hair and skincare products. When I created the product range, natural hair products were difficult to find in stores and online . Any challenges you have encountered in ensuring your products’ success? There are so many, running a business is one of the most difficult things I have had to do. One of the main challenges is the actual start. People always have great ideas and a vision but when it comes to the action part, lots of people procrastinate and fear sets in. Overcoming fear is a challenge to most. Once you start, you will find that a way is always paved. How do you manage competing with established hair care brands and ensuring brand loyalty amongst your customers? I don’t think its competition, I believe that what I bring to the table is fresh. FroSister is targeted to a completely new target audience. My customers love their natural hair and want a higher quality product which works. Which countries and fashion retail stores have stocked up your brand? Our products can be found in the UK, Zimbabwe and the US. They can be found in independent retailers, wholesalers, as well as hair salons. 2017 will start with our launch in South Africa and Ghana. We also will be launching our FroSister Ambassador Program. [bctt tweet=”Hanani Dube is bringing something fresh to the table with her natural hair and skincare products” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Growing up, did you once imagine that you would take over the hair care industry and have your own brand retailing world over? It was something that I aspired to do. I remember when I was 10, I saw an advert of a skincare brand and it just clicked. I immediately told my mum that when I grow up, I want to own a company like this. However as I grew up, I totally forgot about the dream and went on to do food chemistry and nutritional science followed by my Masters in Business. Little did I know that all this would lead to the start of the brand FroSister. So you have to speak it into your life. Aspiring #MotherlandMoguls (like me) out there are dying to know how you balance your family and business life It is such a difficult task. You need to be highly organized with everything, planning a month and even a year ahead for the larger projects. You also need to have a supportive family who understand your goals. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. So who, or rather what motivates Hanani? My children motivate me. I want to show them that anyone can make their dreams a reality with hard work, preparation and dedication regardless of their gender age or where they come from. [bctt tweet=”Hanani Dube: You have to speak it into your life. You are more powerful that you know” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Any words of encouragement? If you have a dream, don’t allow anyone to tell you that you can’t. You are more powerful that you know. Faith, focus, determination, preparation and hard work are the ingredients. You also have to love what you do and believe in yourself. Always remember you are beautiful just the way you are. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
Refilwe Mochoari: I never lost focus regardless of all the struggles I faced
[bctt tweet=”Failure is not the end. @RefilweMochoari dusted herself up and tried again with her business ventures. ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] My name is Refilwe Mochoari. I am a journalist and an entrepreneur from Bloemfontein, South Africa. I am the owner of Bo-Esi Media which publishes Contagious magazine, a corporate lifestyle magazine in Bloemfontein focusing on business, entrepreneurship, finance and real life stories with the aim to educate, inform and inspire. The road to Bo-Esi wasn’t easy as its success if built on the back of a failed business venture. I started out as a children’s party planner In June 2011, I was 24 years old and had just started business as a children’s party planner. I thought this was the best decision ever. At the back of my mind, I always knew that I was destined for greatness and the party planning business was only a starting point for me. When I started with this business, I was also employed so I did not feel the pressure of the start-up. I had a guaranteed monthly salary to rely on and I could still live the life that I wanted to live. Being a qualified journalist, I had experience working for different media companies. For a long time, I continued to be a full-time journalist and a party planner but everything changed in 2014 when I experienced bullying in the workplace. When I was diagnosed with depression because of the workplace bully, I had no choice but to resign. [bctt tweet=”Refilwe Mochoari – I had to start working extremely hard to make money, but it was not enough” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] This resignation was never planned I did not know that I would resign May 2014, it just happened on the spot with no proper thinking. When I left my job, I continued to run the party planning business but it was difficult because there was no longer a monthly salary to rely on. As a result, I was unable to maintain my lifestyle. During this time, I was running by business at a loss because competition was increasing. I was struggling to buy more equipment for the business but my resources were limited in an industry that was forever getting new trends. On top of that, I had just given birth to my second child who was in ICU for 5 weeks. I had some outstanding private hospital bills to take care of, so the struggle was real. I had to start working extremely hard to make money, but it was not enough. Eventually, I had to move out of my own home and back into my mother’s house. I also had to sell all my furniture, which was worth over R100,000 when I bought, it for less than R20,000. Regardless of all the struggles I faced, I never lost focus. I knew what I wanted so I continued to equip my knowledge on business through various entrepreneurship trainings. I continued to plan on how I would expand my business. Also, I wanted to make my student dream of starting a media company a reality. [bctt tweet=”Refilwe Mochoari’s failed venture made her more clever and knowledgeable on how to run a business” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Launching Bo-Esi and losing my party planning business I had always wanted to contribute positively to the media industry, especially in my province where I saw a niche for a powerful black-owned media company that will contribute positively to the community. However, I could not start my own media company when I was employed by one because that would be a conflict of interest. When I resigned and things were going wrong with my party planning business, I put to action my dream of starting a media company, Bo-Esi Media. At the beginning of 2015, I I started with Contagious Magazine as Bo-Esi’s first publication. Starting Contagious was very exciting and strenuous at the same time because I had no start-up funding whatsoever. I was rejected at all the doors that I knocked on for a business loan. But now more than ever, I was determined to start so I funded Bo-Esi with the money from my party planning business. After launch, the media business took up all my focus, money and time. This certainly led to the failure/closure of my party business. Eventually, I sold all the equipment I’d bought to improve that business. In the first year of running Bo-Esi Media, I managed to secure two large clients on the spot. Now, I was more clever and knowledgeable on how to run a business. So with only two clients, I was able to publish Contagious, pay salaries and promote my brand to potential new clients. It was thrilling to see how far I had come from with entrepreneurship and I continued to work hard regardless of all the challenges that come with running a magazine. [bctt tweet=”Refilwe Mochoari – 2016 is the year of breakthrough for Contagious magazine, it is now starting to grow” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I was more skilful than before I prayed, I believed and I worked. In addition to that, I ensured that I used each and every skill that I obtained from all my previous employers to make Bo-Esi Media a success. I worked on Contagious magazine for one full year before I could secure more clients. The first year of a magazine is the time where the brand had to prove itself, as many advertisers would simply say the magazine is still new for them to advertise in. 2016 is certainly the year of breakthrough for Contagious magazine. I finally started seeing the results of my perseverance. I went from having two clients to a database of over 20 regular clients. For the first time, the business is able to maintain itself and I know that 2017 is coming with even more prosperity. Contagious magazine is now starting to grow and I believe that this is the right time to allow the rest of the province to benefit from a magazine that aims