Words of wisdom from some of the women currently slaying the corporate world
JOBURG – Women in business share the stories of their journeys to success with other aspiring women.
The fountain of wisdom flowed clearly when a quartet of women from various sectors of industry shared the pain, suffering and success of their journeys to their current level where they are considered to be ‘slaying’ the corporate world.
This was at a seminar organised by haircare player in the industry, Sta-Sof-Fro, as part of its corporate social responsibility programme of empowering women through its Wear You upliftment sessions for women.
The sessions celebrate the #versastyle women, which forms what brand manager of Sta-Sof-Fro Lerato Selepe described as ‘a meeting of the minds of women from all walks of life’.
The seminar featured well-known faces and names in the world of successful women in Gauteng, such as MamakaShaka founder Nandi Dlepu, Celebrity Chef owner Nti Ramaboa, style therapist Kwena Baloyi and Cheri Yase Kasi founder Sunshine Shibambo.
More than 80 women were hosted and shared experiences, tips and insights from the respective speakers’ journeys in the corporate world.
Dlepu, who owns the MamakaShaka creative agency in the marketing and media space, urged women to develop a thick skin when they venture into the corporate world as they will not find it easy. “The first thing you will be confronted with when you begin slaying the corporate world is the notion that ‘who did she get [between the] sheets with’ to be where and what she is today. But I often tell my male colleagues in business that the ‘future of the corporate world is female’ and they must just get used to it.”
She explained that she had her own turbulent times when she established her company and said that was common with all people.
“I urge women to… be resilient against pressures from all spheres,” said the Port Elizabeth-born Johannesburger, whose company’s name, MamakaShaka means mother of Shaka) after her first name, Nandi. Nandi was King Shaka’s mother’s name.
Ramaboa, owner of Celebrity Chef, started off in the corporate world with a trendy clothing shop in Melrose Arch. However after a few years of dramatic success, it collapsed with a thud and she had to go with what she loves most, cooking – and it has paid off handsomely.
Baloyi said she talked her way up into forming Style Therapist, a clothing and make-up company after a stint as a journalist. She outlined her successes as a journalist who later became disillusioned and started Style Therapist.
Shibambo, who started an arts and entertainment company, also spoke about her ups and downs in establishing her company and urged women to persevere. “There will be trying times in the process which will test your mental strength and ability to take a knock. You need to be ready for all this,” said the former Radio Metro DJ.
Selepe said after the seminar, “We wanted women to leave here motivated, inspired and confident in their truth, and I believe that’s precisely what happened. They painted pictures of entrepreneurial journeys in the creative space and showed the profitability of passion.”
