diWrectorApril 2021 Issue 01 RATO PELA FROM UUGAgNanDdAa, 20-YEAR OLD TO THE WORLD ENTREPRENEUR LERATO DESIGNS MEET 21-YEAR OLD LUXURY LEATHER TRIPLE-THREAT HANDBAGS CHRISTINE AMONGIN SNE VILAKZI CAREER WOMEN TURNED VUKAWANELE, HER SIDE HUSTLE, INTO A ASSISTANT AUDIT FULLTIME AGENCY MANAGER LETHUKUTHULA FREE ebook MATHEBULA & LEGAL ADVISOR LERATO Guide to your Value Proposition MATEBESI PLUS Natural hair HOW to @STYLEHAIRVEN - Deal with career frustration - Create a winning CM covers type4girl. Strategy MANSA RICHARDSON W ON HER ENTREPRENEURIAL CALLING AND BUILDIING 4 BUSINESSES ONLINE Director Woman | Tomorrow's women, today
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diWrectorApril 2021 RATO PELA 53 Issue 01 20-YEAR OLD 51 FROM UUGAgNanDdAa, ENTREPRENEUR LERATO DESIGNS TO THE WORLD LUXURY LEATHER HANDBAGS MEET 21-YEAR OLD TRIPLE-THREAT CHRISTINE AMONGIN SNE VILAKZI 23 CAREER WOMEN TURNED VUKAWANELE, ASSISTANT AUDIT HER SIDE HUSTLE, INTO A MANAGER LETHUKUTHULA 45FULLTIME AGENCY MATHEBULA & LEGAL ADVISOR LERATO FREE ebook 41 MATEBESI 49Guide to your Value Proposition HOW to - Deal with career frustration PLUS Natural hair - Create a winning CM @STYLEHAIRVEN 11 Strategy covers type4girl. MANSA 63 RICHARDSON 26 ON HER ENTREPRENEURIAL CALLING AND BUILDIING 4 BUSINESSES ONLINE W Director Woman | Tomorrow's women, today
directorWoman CONTENTS Issue 01, April 2021 what's inside April 2021 6 ED type4girl. Director Woman Editor's Note 59 YOUR HAIR Why satin is a great 7 SPOTLIGHT buy for naturals Charlon Muntsoane, Divine 63 COVER GIRL Ogunmakin Adedoyin, 51 Emporium @stylehairven Lerato Morapela, Rato Pela 66 ENTREPRENEUR Beth & Tracey October, 15 FOUNDATION Different Flowers The Natalis Foundation 19 TEEN BIZ Siyavuya Bandezi, Liyana Beauty 23 WOMAN&CAREER Lerato Matebesi, Legal Advisor 37 Lethukuthula Mathebula, Ass. Audit Manager 35 BLOG TO FOLLOW Thandile Mpompo, @healthythandi
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06 directorWoman EDITOR'S NOTE Issue 01, April 2021 [...] girls of colour A lthough it spectacular views of are just as smart, the life you deserve just as capable and wasn't always and are building. just as powerful. Director Thank you so much for taking in what Follow us on the socials! Woman, this we’ve spent months magazine has been putting together and perfecting. a passionate concept since before type4girl This issue and every was launched. The other that will come journey to this issue after it is reaffirmation that has been truly girls of colour are rewarding. To have just as smart, just as capable and just as met and had the powerful. Here honour of engaging we’re introducing you to tomorrow’s with the smart executive leaders women who have and decision makers, to women made it a reality who (will) sit in feels like finding places where the proverbial pot important of gold at the end of conversations are a highly pigmented held, to policy rainbow in the dead makers and social of winter. Myself disruptors. Women and type4girl the who will occupy media would like to leadership, power and wealth. This is thank all the officially Director amazing Director Women who graced this issue with their stories – you ladies are so special! Woman Digital And to you, our Magazine – treasured reader, I hope you Tomorrow’s women, today. best,remember always, that you can Mabseset,kane Masekaneachieve the
07 directorWoman SPOTLIGHT Issue 01, April 2021 Charlon Muntsoane Founder, Divine Emporium C harlon Muntsoane is a 26-year old qualified Chemical Engineer and entrepreneur. The young creative founded her businesses, Divine Emporium – a hair salon and Divine Events in 2018. Divine Emporium was fuelled and driven by Charlon’s “passion for creativity.” For any start-up business that relies on word of mouth as the main marketing strategy to generate leads, quality delivery and customer service are an indisputable priority. “Over the years, I've built a reputable brand by ensuring that my clients are serviced to their satisfaction,” she shares.
08 directorWoman SPOTLIGHT Issue 01, April 2021 Charlon also attributes some of her success to her dedication to constantly improving her craft. “I take the time to educate myself about my industry and learn new skills everyday.” Buildingreal&meaningful connections goes a long in promoting brand sustainability and Charlon knows that. She’s had the pleasure of working with some well-known names “through building a solid network of individuals who recommend and spread the word about [my] services.” Charlon describes herself as a mother, perfectionist, creative and creator who is passionate about everything she does. She believes effort is everything and strives to deliver quality always. When you lead a life as demanding as that of a working entrepreneur, you will certainly need a hobby that grounds you and makes you happy. Outside of her professional and business life, Charlon is a travel enthusiast. “I always incorporate my travel experiences and inspiration into my decor and events management business.” DW
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11 directorWoman YOUR BIZ Issue 01, April 2021 How to create a content needs to have returns. winning Content Creating a winning CM strategy is Marketing vital if you want to build a Strategy successful CM function in your business or for your personal brand. A n effective Content Marketing In this article, we look at the (CM) strategy should clearly qualities of a good CM strategy and and practically define how the explore its basic elements. the content you’re generating or creating and pushing out is going to A good strategy should be: help you achieve your goals. The Well-researched and informed time and resources you invest in on relevant trends and current creating authentic and impactful business challenges
12 directorWoman YOUR BIZ Issue 01, April 2021 Data-driven and measurable strategy objective. Practical and relevant Actionable – you have to be able An example of a strategy objective to implement your strategy could be to increase the visibility of Director Woman Digimag in South Don’t fall into the trap of dumping Africa and Ghana. information in your CM strategy document just to add pages. Your Once you’ve figured your objective/s main priority should be putting and target audience out, do an audit together a strategy that will add of your current content strategy and value and serve as a road map for statistics. Look at factors like your CM success. engagement, type of content and how they perform, publishing STRATEGY OBJECTIVE consistency, follower count etc. The strategy objective answers the question of what your main objective TARGET AUDIENCE is. Think about what you’re looking For you to achieve any level of to achieve by investing in your impact with your content, you need content and package it into a solid to know who the best person to be stragey consuming your content is. Knowing this will help inform the platforms and content types you should lean into to achieve your objective. This is an example of a target the strategy objective. Here, you audience statement: break your main objective down into Director Woman is a business and bite-sized pieces that satisfy all the career lifestyle e-magazine for African qualities of a good strategy. These women. We target an audience of goals should answer the question of African women/women of colour why you are creating content. The between 16 and 40, who either own a content you create should business or work in corporate and are complement those goals. An example interested in learning about natural hair and/or seek informal business or career learning opportunities. BUSINESS GOALS Business goals are an extension of
13 directorWoman YOUR BIZ Issue 01, April 2021 of a business goal is to increase the kind of content you want to qualified lead generation. create – educational, entertaining, etc. IMMEDIATE GOALS Immediate goals drive and inform An example of an immediate goal is your content decisions. They to create content that encourages express what your goals are for dialogue or community engagement. your content and should thus also This goal can be measured by the be measureable. They also speak to improvement in content engagement for instance. CONTENT TYPES AND DISTRIBUTION Discuss the types of content (and frequency) you’ll be creating like blog articles, guides, longer length social media posts, videos, etc. You need to be careful not to take on too much, too fast. Creating content needs time so make sure you tent, sources of traffic, etc. consider what you can realistically deliver. As your business grows, you’ll progress into analysing other Also be clear about the platforms elements like competitor content you will publish or share your and how to establish an advantage. content to/on. Until then, focus on your strategy end goal. Always remember, there is MEASUREMENT no such thing as perfect content – This step is crucial to your strategy get what you can out there. Listen – how will you know you’re headed to your audience and use trends, down the right path with your insights and performance reports to content choices, creation and improve your strategy and content delivery? You need to accurately as you go. measure and document the progress and success of your CM efforts using metrics like views, signups, engagement rates, impressions, best performing con-
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15 directorWoman FOUNDATION Issue 01, April 2021 theNatalis Foundation Z inhle Mbatha (37) is a preacher and a nurse by profession. She is also one of the big hearts that founded The Natalis Foundation. Zinhle co-founded the organisation with the aim of contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of those less fortunate than she is. “Having been through times of severe lack in my own childhood, I wish to spare as many people as I can [from] the pain I endured.” “Sassy, classy and bad-assy” Beverley Mohlala (29), pictured below is the other gold-hearted half of the founding members. Beverley is a woman after God’s heart. She describes herself as a fun-loving woman who loves God and people and is passionate about helping others. “My heart is in charity [work] and growing up how I did, seeing how others were struggling and still struggle played a huge role in starting the organization. I have always wanted to do more and I feel with this foundation we will do just that.” The pair have the hope of transforming the foundation into an organisation that will contribute to the promotion of mental health. “Although it is still in its infancy, we hope that our foundation will eventually be able to provide not only simple physical comforts, but also counseling services to help [people] win the battles in their minds that keep them trapped in unhealthy cycles of survival.”
16 directorWoman FOUNDATION Issue 01, April 2021 Being able to counsel women and For Beverley, being a families in need is very close to successful working single Zinhle’s heart. She considers it one mommy makes her of the very best things she can ever proud, and getting The do for someone else. “I am a strong Natalis Foundation to believer in being to others what I reach its full potential needed most in life,” she says. presents the ultimate win and cherry on the cake. Finally co-founding The Natalis Foundation is also one of both The Natalis Foundation women’s proudest achievements. has an active pad and “It has not been easy to [helping] toiletry drive as well as a others, especially with the uniform and stationery challenges that came with the drive. They are based in restrictions of the lockdown. But Midrand and Soweto if being able to impact lives positively you’d like to donate despite this has truly been a great items. You can find the reward,” Zinhle adds. foundation on social media- “I am a strong @TNFoundation20 on believer in Twitter and @the_natalis_foundation being to others _ on Instagram. You can what I needed also email them at most in life.” [email protected] or call 0762914684/0742325260 for enquiries. DW
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19 directorWoman TEEN BIZ Issue 01, April 2021 T eenpreneur Siyavuya Bandezi (16), affectionately referred to as just Siya, is the founder and CEO of Liyana Beauty, a company specialising in ethnic plant-based hair and skin care products. director W had the pleasure of interviewing the young entrepreneur. director W: Running a business at just 16 must be no easy feat. What is the hardest part about being so young with the responsibility of a whole Siyavuya Bandezi brand? Founder, Liyana Beauty Siya: Age stereotypes. The sustainability and credibility of your business is doubted based on your age. director W: What can you say to your peers who aspire to start their own director W: How did Liyana Beauty businesses? come about? Siya: If you have an idea that you are Siya: I love my natural hair in its passionate about and believe in, just default/factory state. I struggled to start. Don't allow other people's doubt find products with less chemicals that about your idea to bring you down were good enough for my hair, that’s because no one believes in you until how the idea first came to me. I you are successful. started mixing oils and DIY butters at home to nourish and maintain my director W: Tell us 3 interesting hair. Friends and fellow learners things people might not know about started noticing the difference in my you. hair and we started having these ‘hair conversations’. This is when I realised Siya: I love reading, I make hilarious that more people were moving from jokes in Afrikaans with an accent and chemical-based products to plant- my mom is fan and I don't believe in based products and indigenous oils. gender roles. DW
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23 directorWoman WOMAN&CAREER Issue 01, April 2021 LAWA CAreer in LAW L erato Matebesi is an Lerato admitted Attorney of Matebesi the High Court of South Africa. The 29-year old served her articles at one of the top law firms in the country. “I’ve had quite an exciting start to my career and it keeps getting better.” She currently works as a Legal Advisor in the Property division of the Shoprite Group of Companies. GETTING INTO LAW “I chose the law because at the centre of every institution the rule of law and order is required to better govern the relationships that exist between individuals and juristic parties. I believe that to be a powerful skill and knowledge base to acquire. I think of myself as an innate leader and the law in its nobility and construction seemed a fitting career to hone my inherent qualities.”
24 directorWoman WOMAN&CAREER Issue 01, April 2021 JOURNEY TO THE WIN \"[...] most “My journey has been a rocky imperatively, exude one filled with lots of tears of joy and heartache, stumbling blocks confidence\" and awesome moments of \"oh my word you did that!” But in a As a legal practitioner one nutshell, I completed my matric signs up to being a lifelong in 2009 with no intention of learner, so the everyday going to varsity the next year. adventure of not knowing what [Unfortunately] my parents were the day's task will entail has not having it. I mean what is a been thrilling.” gap year to black parents right? So essentially, my first year was TO FUTURE LEGAL MINDS a last minute scramble to get placed. I ended up at the “To succeed in this fraternity, University of the Western Cape you need to be passionate, in an attempt to be as far away have an incredible belief in from home as possible. I am the oneself and your capabilities last born of three siblings with and most imperatively, exude two older brothers and they are confidence. You also need to very over-protective so [I felt] I have thick skin because it is needed a break. I then not easy. However, it is also miraculously completed my BSc when the going gets tough that in Medical Biosciences, majoring you must not quit - cry in your in Medical Microbiology and corner if you must and then Human Physiology. After pull yourself together and keep graduating, I quickly realised moving forward. that that was not my calling and No one is going to hand you chose to start over again and did anything on a silver platter. my LLB degree.” The [best] way to the top lies in nurturing the connections you ON FULFILLMENT will make along the way. So do not burn bridges and leave a “Being able to find answers to lasting impression. Also, don't novel questions & constantly be hard on yourself, absorbing knowledge are two of experience is gained only over the most fulfilling aspects of my time.” DW job.
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MTHISISMANSA Content creator and entrepreneur
27 directorWoman COVER STORY Issue 01, April 2021 \"I have hope that I will succeed.\" H er smile can light up a room. Her multi- Instagram feeds? Carefully kept, clearly a smart woman. It was the bio that gave it away. You'll likely whisper “she’s brilliant” to yourself if you encountered her - the woman runs 4 business brands and makes it look like a dream. There’s something very gentle about Mansa (25) and it’s not just her voice, smile or online personality. It doesn’t take too much time to feel her warm and welcoming energy. We exchange a few emails about photographs Own it and belie themes and backgrounds before Man Richard the interview finally happens. Growing up Mansa “I had an okay childhood,” she starts. Little Mansa, a self- confessed nerd (glasses and all) grew up in a mostly typical middle-income family in Tema, a suburb in Accra, Ghana.
28 directorWoman COVER STORY Issue 01, April 2021 She goes on to tell us about how even though it wasn’t the most exciting time of her life and she didn’t always get what she wanted, she’s filled with gratitude for the little privileges of having her basic needs met and for the little things. Like the first 6 years of her life before her parents seperated and how she remembers helping her mother, a seamstress, with some of her work. “I’ve always been very handy,” she says confidently. eve in yourself. \"You can't tell me sa no. No is not an dson option for me.\" “I always wanted to do something. I would braid my dolls’ hair and sew cute clothes for them with my mom’s fabric.” It’s no surprise that Mansa is a Do It Yourself kind of girl. She confesses that she’d rather watch hours of YouTube tutorials than to accept that she can’t do something. “You can’t tell me no. No is not an option for me.” she adds. Lessons from dad For Mansa, there was a lesson to be learnt in her parents’ unfortunate separation - one that would prove life-changing for her.
29 directorWoman COVER STORY Issue 01, April 2021 “I thought my dad was harder on me because I was Flawless Faces a girl.” She doesn’t make a secret of how strict her by Mansa father was on her. That coupled with his growing Bareskinn absence from her life as she blossomed into a Peenkwish young woman forced her to grow up faster than she probably would have if he had been there for her more. “In hindsight, it has made me very independent,” she says. “My father didn’t always make life easy for me.” We can tell it’s hard for her to explain how she could feel like she didn’t experience father-daughter love like she should have, but that she’s grateful it worked out that way Mbecause it’s made her a better version of herself somehow. The lessons that she chose to learn from his parenting style aren’t a grey area. She attributes most of her drive to succeed and to be resourceful to him. The discomfort growing up and tough love she received from her father inspired her to become an entrepreneur. “My dad always said he wanted me to be self-made and to be great on my own and not to depend on anybody.” Mansa on Business She really is brilliant by the way - an inspiring modern day multi-passionate entrepreneur. Mansa runs 4 businesses in addition to managing her personal brand as a multi-platform content creator. “I’m a makeup artist by profession. I manage Flawless Faces by Mansa, a makeup company. I also manage Bareskinn – a skincare brand, a product photography and branding agency, and I co-founded a tshirt company called Peenkwish.” Mansa is passion-driven. “With Flawless Faces especially, it’s my passion for makeup that drives me.”
30 directorWoman COVER STORY Issue 01, April 2021 Mansa shares with us that she’s worked in corporate before and interned several times before accepting that entrepreneurship is what she’s “called to do.” Inspiring Mansa It takes a couple of seconds but a name finally comes to her – Mizwanneka (real name Nwanneka Nkumah), a highly successful hair seller based in Nigeria. Mansa tells the story of Mizwanneka as though it is her own. “She came from a small village before getting married and moving to Lagos, Nigeria where, with the help of her husband, she set up a hair selling business.” The inspirational story is a reminder for her that we must start somewhere. “I have hope that one day, I too will succeed and be an inspiration to the next young girl to be a better version of herself.”
31 directorWoman COVER STORY Issue 01, April 2021 Guide to Social Media There are many educational platforms that entrepreneurs use to market themselves and their brands and even more guides and ebooks on how to get social media right for your business. Mansa’s homeground for business is Instagram because, she explains, it allows her to market her products and services more effectively compared to other platforms. “If you really want to get it right, you must get your branding right. Branding is key.” she emphasises. She makes it especially clear, that it would be a mistake not to take your social media content and brand seriously. Whether it is product Mphotography or actual content, the primary aim should always be high quality and high impact. “If you have a brand or you’re looking to start a business, look at how you can add value to your customers experience and then tap into that and do your best to deliver [content that adds that value]. Remember, your [content/] pictures should sell your product before you do.” The Mansa Way Every entrepreneur has their own unwritten non-rules and principles that they follow. We’ve read our fair share of ‘it’s hard to take you seriously when you have many businesses that are all startups, you need to focus on one thing’ articles. There is also no shortage of social media ‘business experts’ that’ll tell you the same. But Mansa actually does understand that focus is vital.
32 directorWoman COVER STORY Issue 01, April 2021 She encourages aspiring \"Be careful in your entrepreneurs to do just that. approach because when “Take it one day at a time and don’t try to do too many things at it comes to once.” She shares that she started entrepreneurship, not all Flawless Faces almost three years things are as lucrative as before founding her next business, using that time to plan they may seem.\" well, save up and think about things thoroughly. “If you want to Love, Mansa start an additional business, [you’ll need to] be accountable,” The complexities of being a multi- she adds. passionate entrepreneur aren’t Mansa also offers an important nearly as complex as you’d think in piece of advice when it comes to Mansa’s world. This young woman getting into entrepreneurship has found a formula that works well with the expectation of a quick for her. If the world suddenly went buck. “Be careful in your dim and the red curtain pulled back and she found herself in the Mapproach because when it comes spotlight, this is what she’d want you to entrepreneurship, not all to know - things are as lucrative as they may seem. It’s very important to ‘Own it and believe in yourself. Just do your research before you go start, but don’t just do it for the all in.” She believes that once you start doing it only for the money, money. Your business needs to be an you’ll be quick to be demotivated inspiration to you - that is what will when things get tough, as they usually do in start-up always save you on the bad days.’ entrepreneurship. DW She is also no stranger to keeping business and pleasure separate. Keeping a diligent but separate record of all expenses and income is a concept she is well- acquainted with. “Keep records of everything you do and keep your finances separate as much as you possibly can,” she says in conclusion.
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35 directorWoman IG BLOGS TO FOLLOW Issue 01, April 2021 Thandile HOME MADE FIG JAM Mpompo (28), best known as types of dietary lifestyles under the sun. This has HealthyThandi on equipped me with invaluable experience in all things Instagram is a big food. It’s really all about finding what works for you. foodie at heart. Through my discovery phase I established that a “Food is my plant-based lifestyle [is the one] for me. On my creative outlet. I platforms I aim to provide information and inspire liveforfor those around me to take better care of themselves. experimenting However, the end goal is to make plant-based food with different common to all Southern Africans through education food products by on products in the market & quick and easy recipes.” producing DW new recipes and creating inspiring content. What sets me apart is that I have experimented with almost all plant-based food plant
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37 directorWoman WOMAN&CAREER Issue 01, April 2021 A CAreer ACCOin ACCouNTING L ethukuthula (26) who hails from Nelspruit in Mpu- malanga, is an Assistant Audit Manager for Deloitte UK. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic I’m doing my work remotely from South Africa. It sucks because I can’t travel and explore at the moment however the experience I am gaining is truly invaluable.” After 2 degrees, 2 board exams and 3 years of articles, Lethukuthula is officially eligible to register as a CA(SA). She describes herself as both a masterpiece and a work in progress. Getting into Accounting “From early on in primary school, my interests were Lethukuthula Mathebula more the commercial subjects as opposed to the sciences. My interest in the accounting profession grew in early high school
38 directorWoman WOMAN&CAREER Issue 01, April 2021 OUNTIas I would help my brother \"Don’t fall study for his board exams at victim to the time. The content of what imposter syndrome.\" he was studying was very intriguing for me and that’s WHAT IS THE MOST when I decided I would study FULFILLING THING ABOUT accounting.” YOUR CAREER? a BECOMING CA(SA) ‘There are a few things but I would have to say problem “I completed my solving. Being able to solve undergraduate degree different challenges that I and CTA (Certificate of encounter day by day is theory in Accountancy) at really fulfilling. No one day is the University of the the same and I love that! I Witwaterstrand in 2016 would also say the people I and 2017 respectfully. meet make the job that much I passed my first board more fulfilling. In my field exam (Initial Test of you can learn something new Competence) in March from every person you 2018. encounter and that is really In the same year (2018) I special to me.’ commenced my articles contract with Deloitte FOR ASPIRING CA(SA)S South Africa. In February 2020 I “Go for it! The field needs passed my second board more young black women. exam (Assessment of Don’t be discouraged by Professional Competence). failures along the way. Don’t I finally completed my fall victim to imposter articles in December syndrome, you are just as 2020.” capable as anyone to succeed.” DW
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Feeling There are many causes of career unhappy, demotivated stagnation, dissatisfaction or or frustrated with work? demotivation. Though different by It's probably not just you. definition and often experience, all three can describe a space or time in your career where it seems there is little to no room for promotion, growth or development. When you start feeling like you have no room to catch a breath, it becomes virtually impossible to maintain a keen interest in what you do. And once you’ve lost that interest, everything becomes a drag and you find you begin to withdraw and wallow in frustration.
41 directorWoman YOUR CAREER Issue 01, April 2021 How to deal If anything happens to upset that with career balance, it disrupts your ‘normal’. frustration Naturally, some professionals struggle to keep those lives separate And rekindle your career spark and toxic pressure and frustration at work could also mean a T he health of both your downward spiral for their personal personal and work life lives. It’s important to deal with any depends on a well-functioning problem from either side that YOU. If you’re happy at work and begins to spill over into your other happy at home, you’re probably spaces because it’s likely not just happier in person. another day-to-day challenge. Later in this article, we explore the different ways in which you can reignite the spark between you and
42 directorWoman YOUR CAREER Issue 01, April 2021 your career. But we start with the goals or the amazing things the recruiting officer and HR manager first step to dealing with these promised you when you came on board. Examples include the issues, identifying and potential to progress into a higher position, access to learning/training understanding the root problem. opportunities, room for a raise in the future, the possibility of IDENTIFY THE REAL PROBLEM affording a car or house or a better life, working in an environment that Establishing the problem is the first challenges you and presents new step to basic problem solving. You challenges regularly, and working need to acknowledge and in a company with values similar to understand WHY you feel stagnant, yours. Now, analyse whether your dissatisfied or demotivated with expectations have been met. It’s your work. likely that those expectations which An insightful way to figure the root have not been met are the cause of issue out is to start at the very your negative feelings towards your beginning of your current journey. job. When you took this job, what were your expectations? Whether these are your own personal hopes and Another avenue to explore for regret. A lot of people find it answers are the problem symptoms. difficult to settle into a new working This Is what we call the Look what environment with new colleagues, you made me do approach. Being this can make you feel out of place unhappy or undervalued at your job and dilute your creativity or can result in you being less discourage you from speaking up productive. Look closely for and sharing new ideas. All of which changes in your patterns and result in you being unhappy. attitude from the ‘happy times’ and when you started feeling demotivated. If for instance, you’re missing a lot more deadlines than you're used to, it could be because your workload is actually for 2 people or you’re being asked to work on things outside of your contracted expertise. Other workplace stressors are change in environment and career
43 directorWoman YOUR CAREER Issue 01, April 2021 Sometimes it’s as simple as being starting a business in that field on stuck in a career field you would the side. rather not be in. There is no shortage of people who take jobs The truth is not everyone wants or that pay the bills and worry about can afford to be out there CEOing ‘passion’ later and go on to build their own business after hours and successful and healthy work lives. on weekends. And unfortunately, Similarly, others simply can’t deal there is no magic wand anyone can with doing something they don’t wave to suddenly get you feeling enjoy and choose to set up a career like you again. However, there are in a different discipline or by some changes you can make to try starting and reignite your fire in the workplace. REIGNITE THE SPARK Now that you know why you’re unhappy, it’s time to take the initiative to make a change and make your job more satisfying. Speak out and seek help renew your interest or love for what Don’t suffer in silence, let your you do. You can, for example look manager know what you’re into public speaking engagements struggling with. She/he should be or informal teaching opportunities able to give you advice and help you and contributing for a blog or escalate your grievances. Also look online career website. into seeing someone like a career coach to help you find a way Keep better company forward. If the problem is affecting If your issues stem from a negative your home life, let your partner colleague, don't engage with them if know about it. They might not be you can or keep exchanges at a able to help you in the capacity that minimum. Try to find other peers at a manager will, but they might have work or online so you have people great ideas or suggestions and make in your circle who share your fire you feel better about it. for what you do. Share your knowledge/experience Find a happy place Talking about your job and why Do the things that relax and make you're a rockstar at it can help you happy as often as you can. DW
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Sne Vilakazi Founder & CEO, Vukawanele Integrated Marketing Solutions - www.vukawanele.co.za
46 directorWoman WOMAN&BUSINESS Issue 01, April 2021 I couldn’t have done it Keeping up with Marketing alone. No one can ever 10 years ago, digital marketing do it alone. was a fairly new concept. “Marketing as a field is very old B etween now and 10, 15 so digital became an area of years ago, would you be speciality that I decided to surprised at where you pursue. [But] because it (Marketing) was such a saturated are today? For Sne, it’s a definite field I knew that it would be yes. “I thought that my life difficult to cut through the would just be linear.” When she clutter.” Sne is familiar with how was in University, like most fast-paced and ever evolving people there she thought she digital marketing is. “If you’re would finish her Marketing and still doing the same thing that Communications degree, top it you were doing 2 years ago [and] off with a postgraduate doing it the same way, it means qualification, get a job and be you haven’t evolved and you are set for life. “I did not see myself not current. When digital running my own business, I marketing had just emerged, I wasn’t even thinking that way,” did a professional diploma in it. she shares. Sinenhlanhla (Sne) Two years later, the things I had Vilakzi is the founder and CEO learnt in class about algorithms, of Vukawanele, a specialised search engines [and] the internet digital marketing and strategic had already changed.” Businesses communications agency. in this environment must keep up or get left behind. “Vukawanele was founded in 2016 but we have had to adapt so much and offer services that we weren’t offering before. We leverage off the change. One of the beautiful things about digital marketing is that it [levels] the playing field because technology is technology. It is about you learning what is new and what is required.”
47 directorWoman WOMAN&BUSINESS Issue 01, April 2021 The principle of company alone.\" Sne stresses that you're going to We’ve heard the saying ‘no man is an need people who are constantly island’ a couple of hundred times cheering you on, willing to go the and it rings true every time we do. extra mile just to see you succeed For Sne, the biggest challenge about and are able to connect you to the being an entrepreneur was the right people. To this day, she still feeling of being alone. “All of a sees value in mentors. “As it is, I still sudden those connections that I had have mentors. There are different made when I was still working in qualities in people that you can draw corporate - when you reach out in from and when you have more than those early days [of business] - those one person telling you something, it people disappeared. And that's when provides confirmation. When there you actually is that underlying thread, even realise that you though they might be speaking are on your own to different things, it gives and reality really you conviction when you apply kicks in.” Nobody the advice you are given.” wants to be alone, A proud CEO especially in Over the years, business. The Vukawanele has worked with well-known and est- goal, when faced ablished organisations like Brand South Africa and Sanral. “We were with a challenge identified as being able to provide a service for those companies in the like that, often very early stages of business.” Sne reveals that the agency started as a becomes finding side hustle and only became a fulltime agency in 2019. Today, like-minded Vukawanele employs a team of 5 and has gone on to work with more people within brand heavyweights. your industry and networking with a purpose. “For me, what made all the difference was I joined a business incubator, that's where I got business support and development. I was exposed to a network of people who became colleagues [and] a support structure. I got multiple mentors - one within the programme and others through personal relationships. That was the saving grace for me, I couldn't have done it alone. No one can ever do it
48 directorWoman WOMAN&BUSINESS Issue 01, April 2021 Vukawanele Integrated Marketing S To build a successful company For the aspiring entrepreneur “I believe in self-discipline very “You’d better be disciplined and much, nobody is coming to save you [prepared] to knock on doors.” Sne’s at any point. Having a strong work journey is only one of many stories ethic and a culture of excellence, that teach us that you’ll likely face which is what I try to instill in my disappoint and rejection and times team, is everything. I want people to when you’ll question and doubt look at Vukawanele and no matter yourself and the process. “You need how small we are, they must think to have conviction. You can’t be that we’re a big agency because they lukewarm when you go into look at the quality of our output, business.” Like she has before, she they look at our work ethic and further advises future CEOs to when they compare it to large and develop a solid support structure. international organisations and “You cannot do it alone because audiences, they are still able to still business is a lonely journey, it’s say ‘wow’ when they look at the level very lonely. It’s only overtime as you of our work. I always strive for grow that you [start to feel like you] excellence no matter who the client have camaraderie when you have a is. I also believe in being teachable. I team.” had to be in incubators and be mentored for a while, and even now. And before you take the leap, plan I had to absorb, learn and unlearn ahead. “I made sure that I had certain things, take criticism and try reserves before I left corporate. I had new things. [Finally] be surrounded two clients on a retainer which I by the right people, skilled people, knew [meant] I would have a buffer capable people that you can trust to for up to a year to pay my bills. Make run with your vision at their level of sure you have savings [and have] expertise. Acknowledge that people gauged the appetite for your offering are not like you and the reason why and then just do it. Really, just do it, you have them onboard is because you’ll be fine. It’s scary, but you’ll they come with something that you be fine eventually.” DW don’t have.” Sne Vilakazi, Fo
49 directorWoman YOUR BIZ Issue 01, April 2021 GUIDE TO YOUR VALUE PROPOSTION Finding your enterprise's Unique Value Proposition, made easy An ebook by Vivre Consulting If you’ve had any interest in owning a company or organisation, then you must’ve heard about what’s commonly referred to as a USP. So what is a USP or Unique Value Proposition? Guide To Your Value Proposition explains this perfectly. “[...] the Value Proposition is a holistic statement of how your offering will make your clients’ lives easier or better for having engaged with it.” The ebook sets out a series of relatable examples, important questions and practical activities to help you ensure that your clients keep you first in mind. By the end of the guide, you'll have a good idea of why your clients might not understand your Unique Value Proposition and know how to change that by associating a “good feeling” with your offering. Guide To Your Value Proposition aims to help lead you to an ideal place where your clients understand and know the value of your offering and actively seek your brand out when there is a purchase choice to be made. This guide is especially perfect for startup entities struggling to differentiate themselves from their competitors or express that value to clients and themselves. You can get your free copy of the ebook by visiting www.vivre.co.za. DW \"Emerging small businesses and NPOs looking to become industry giants within their niche must look towards establishing operational, functional and business strategies that showcase their UNIQUE value in order to support that growth. The first step towards doing this, naturally, is establishing their UNIQUE value, which we hope will be made simple with this guide.\" - Siyamtanda Mdingi Founder and CEO, Vivre Consulting
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