ONE ON ONE WITH BLESSING TAYENGWA

WHO is Blessing? Give us a summary on your background. Where you brought up in a Christian home?

I am that little girl from a poverty-stricken background with the dream to become all that God created me to be. I am a 35-year-old entrepreneur based in Johannesburg in South Africa. I am the founder and director of Destiny Kids Academy Preschool and Primary school, a wife, a mother, an educator, digital marketer, safety officer and a born-again believer who is so passionate about preaching the true gospel and winning souls for Christ.

I was born in a family of three and was raised singlehandedly by my mother who became a widow, after my father perished in a car accident. I was born and raised in Budiriro 1. I did my primary education at Budiriro 1 Primary School and my High School at Glen view 1 High School.

Of Destiny Kids Academy

DIRECTOR

FOUNDER &

I was brought up in a Christian home and we attended a Roman Catholic Church that was nearby. I remember attending some catechism classes.

When were you born again?

I think 26 years ago when I was attending the catholic church with my mother. After high school I then started attending a Pentecostal church where I also gave my life to Christ during altar calls.

Can you briefly tell us about your life before you started running the school.

I worked as a waitress when I first arrived in South Africa, and cashier until I decided to further my education to a higher-level qualification.

The entrepreneurship mind set was always in me, in my spare time I was selling homeware, perfumes, offering skills training courses and I joined a lot of network marketing companies. I always wanted to earn a decent living and be financially independent.

You run a Pre-school & Primary School, how did you start this business and what were the main challenges you faced? How did you overcome?

The business was founded with very limited resources. Having little savings and having secured a building to rent, I decided to start a Daycare business, something I had dreamed of doing for a long time. It was a bold and difficult decision because I had no other source of income to sustain the business except to turn to family and friends when a need arises.

I have always been passionate about children, and it has been my desire to provide quality education and to imprint Christian values on children. Investing in quality education can lead to greater success for children and benefit the family, community, and society. And these valuable skills can ensure that children are ready for a world where they can easily adapt and thrive.

As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

What were the main challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Any entrepreneur will tell you that starting a business is not easy, because it’s not every game plan that works. What you write down as a business plan is not what happens on the ground, and it can be frustrating when the business is not growing as planned.

Secondly, just like any other new business, financial challenges are usually dominant due to lack of continuous cash flow. I could see opportunities to grow the business but there was not enough capital to add value and standards to the business to create the brand I envisioned, and that people could appreciate.

Some friend and family did not support me and they discouraged me pointing out that I was wasting time and money instead I should get myself a good job in the government and secure a pay cheque every month.

The one thing that kept me going as I faced various challenges along the way was my faith in God, I believed that things would work out for my good. I realized that the enemy wanted me to doubt the Word of God and to stop believing. The day I stop believing is the day I lose, since faith is the baseline for the fulfilment of every vision.

Therefore, I kept holding on to the word of God even when I did not see positive results in the natural. I was convinced that scriptures can’t be broken and that the promise of God will come to pass even when circumstances looked impossible. The vision may seem impossible and lost, but God’s ability to establish, restore and bless is greater than the devil’s power to destroy. So, I held on to the promise that in all these things overwhelming victory would be mine despite the setbacks and failures.

You are not only a successful businesswoman, but you are a mother of 2 and a wife. How do you manage to balance all the three roles I manage to juggle my roles because of an empowered support system. The core of my home support system is my spouse. I am also blessed with a helper who handles all domestic chores, this gives me ample time to rest, and I have enough time with my family after a long day.

In business, I have learnt to delegate as I can’t do everything on my own. I have a leadership structure and people who are directly responsible for essential functions at the school. Even if I travel, I know that the business remains functional.

What made you choose to get into education business?

I have always loved working with children so I thought that I would make a great edu-prenuer. I also noticed how challenging it is for parents to find a safe and secure school for their children and so I decided to start one. As a Christian, who lives by Godly values I understand that I can make a difference in the community and take good care of children thereby serving my community faithfully, with all my heart as unto the Lord.

Can you give us details about your business. What does your company do?

Destiny Kids Academy is a private educational group that operates a preschool and a primary school under the name. The school’s valuefor-money pricing model is designed to offer a solution to parents aspiring to send their children to private educational institutions, offering a high-quality infrastructure, and a globally competitive curriculum, at the affordable fees.

Most women would like to venture into business, but the usual stumbling block is start-up capital, how did you manage to start your business and what advice can you give to someone who is held back by finances.

You start with what you have. I started with only one month’s rental and a few assets, but the business must sustain itself though it wasn’t easy because at times there was not enough cash flow. I ended up doing some side hustles on the premises to bring in more income.

I would want to encourage any woman, young and old thinking of starting their business ventureSTART with what you have. Experts call this your minimum viable product. Start with the smallest and most practical version of your dream. The version that’s enough for you to start even tomorrow. You will never have all the resources you need to start in the beginning.

The process is a continuous journey of overcoming hurdles, one hurdle at a time. You will never know what you are made of by watching from the side lines. You must get in, get your hands dirty and just start! Though it is a challenging journey that will often leave you in tears when you reach a roadblock, it can be one of the most fulfilling journeys you can take, if only you START.

As a child of God, what are some of the challenges you come across when it comes to business?

When it comes to faith in the marketplace, it’s never easy. You will need courage because it’s not every game plan that works. You will find out that some regulators require exorbitant payment (bribe) in exchange for licenses. Sometimes I faced resistance from close friends and family, other times a well calculated plan failed, and I suffered losses from unforeseen circumstances.

No matter how many times I fall, I stand up and pursue. I keep fighting the good fight of faith as I am very confident that I will see the manifestation of the vision in God’s appointed time. Just as the word of God says in Habakkuk 2:3, that “though the vision delays, wait [patiently] for it, because it will certainly come; it will not delay.”

What are your tips for growing a business. Always Pray for your vision, you will need grace to sustain you in the marketplace. Research thoroughly and network with like-minded businesspeople. Invest in marketing your business. Selling is the most important thing needed for any business to thrive.

You should invest in yourself, attend business workshops, and get a qualification and knowledge around the business you’re planning to start up. It is also important to employ professionally qualified personal in the business as it ensures a lasting reputation within your organization.

There are many people aspiring to be successful in business. Tell us what it takes to be established?

For a great vision to come to fruition, it takes passion, resilience, sleepless nights, courage, perseverance, discipline, and persistence. No vision comes easily, every vision has its scars, battles, and struggles. Stay focused. You should never give up. Do Not Despise the Days of Small Beginnings. Keep pushing hard.

If others can do it, why should you not? Believe in the beauty of your dreams. Your dreams are valid it is not about your age or colour of your skin, go beyond the status quo, even if it’s never happened before in your family, make it happen. The world is waiting for you.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Any plans for your business?

Five years from now, the plan is that by the grace of God I will be able expand the business by opening more branches across Africa and investing into Real estate.

What is your definition of success

To me success is discovering your purpose and fulfilling it before you die. One can excel in the wrong assignment. It is only when you discover your purpose that you can make a difference in people’s lives. So, for me, the key to success is to fulfil God’s purpose for your life.

Where do you draw your inspiration?

I draw my inspiration from other female entrepreneurs who have cultivated their own amazing brands and are making great strides in the business sector. I am also inspired by women in leadership positions, who are taking up space in the corporate sector.

I have learnt that, if you are open and empathetic toward people and their stories, you can discover inspiration anywhere. There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish. You must believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.

Which bible Character do you identify with and why?

I identify myself with Nehemiah, because he also had a vision to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. But just like any other human being, he faced a lot of resistance on his way to rebuild the walls of the city. Despite the challenges, the opposition from Tobias and San Ballat, Nehemiah focused on the vision. He refused to be distracted, he kept on working through all kinds of warfare. From his story, I have learnt that you can go through all kinds of warfare and not everyone will understand your assignment, but you must never let that deter me. Stay focused and keep on walking towards your vision. If I have God’s grace, nothing can stop me, and the vision will certainly come to pass.

Anything you would like to share with the reader especially considering the difficult times we are living in now?

My word of advice to the readers is that, in these difficult and uncertain times, be rooted and grounded in the word of God. Those who are grounded in the word of God are solid and they shall prevail the test of times. Hold on to the word of God, live by the word, as Scriptures can’t be broken, you will indeed see every promise of God being fulfilled in your life as he who promised is faithful.