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EDITION 15 | MAY/JUN 2021

Boss Babes

Six

Founder on being an ambassador for women

+ 07 creative ways to make boss move with your winter jackets

coping strategies while job hunting

Women in

manufacturing one gives

hair care the other stilettos

Meet

business woman

NTHABELENG KHAWE

CONTENTS YOUR MONEY + BUSINESS & HEALTH

04 EDITOR'S NOTE Self motivation is truly a resource that we all need. Being a business woman one needs to always be ready even when the odds are stacked.

10 6 STRATEGIES WHILE JOB HUNTING One of the most stressful parts of life is job hunting. here we give you strategies to keep sane while doing this.

16 7 HEALTH HABITS FOR WOMEN If we do not eat well and exercise our bodies give up on us. Now imagine the added stress of running a business, these are your hacks.

POISITIVELY IMPACTING HER INDUSTRY

ON THE COVER

NTHABELENG KHAWE BOLDLY BUILDING HER BUSINESS

ENTREPRENEURS VITAL 22 FEMALE FOR OUR CONTINENT'S ECONOMY Melissa Mbazo-Ekpenyong looks at the challenges that female entrepreneurs still face despite being vital for the continent's economy.

AUTHENTICALLY NEW MAGAZINE INFLUENCING WOMEN CONTRIBUTOR Kovini Moodley opens up her platform Boss Babes of South Africa to more women. The ambassador programme allows women to represent the brand.

From coping with job hunting stress to how to prep for interviews, all the hacks will come from Tracey Dube who joins the team as a contributor.

24 GIVING A VOICE TO AUTISM AND SPEECH THERAPY

Speech therapist, Jwalane Tshepe delves into the issues children with Autism Disorder face in their daily lives and some intervention.

30 BENEFITS FOR CSI FOR SMALL COMPANIES

Here we look at some to the advantages of giving back to our communities as small business and the level of recognition it bring for your firm. WWW.IGNITEDWOMANMAG.COM

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Issue 15 03

JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 15

SELF MOTIVATING DESPITE THE ODDS We are often called to impact the world in more impactful and purpose filled ways. Yet you have to be a totally special human being to wake up each morning with motivation to be the impact maker you have chosen yourself to be. I know that sometimes I wake up feeling depleted and absolutely not ready to be an impact maker. I have also learnt that self motivation is a very vital part of our daily lives. Each human needs to develop an internal reservoir of motivation to draw from when there is no external inspiration or stimulation. How sad would it be for each one of us to start something great and stop due to lack of motivation. Here is to making each day a good day for self motivation. by drawing from where the power is, inside.

THIS MONTH'S EDITOR'S FAVES

Love, Kamo

Nthabeleng Khawe Mathapelo Pitse Kovini Moodley

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We are an emerging leading voice for women in business and a resource for our readers with strategic business content and insightful profiles on industry leaders!

Founder & editor Kamogelo Seekoei

Content Lead Basetsana Makhalemele writer tshego ramoupi graphic designer Basetsana makhalemele tumelo mosue

Contributors Tracey Dube Dr Nkomile Setlaba Dikonelo mile edith mjuluki mpho mabote

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Careers

Coping strategies while seeking employment

By Tracey Dube

recent study in South Africa has revealed how unemployment has significantly impaired mental wellbeing. An estimated two million people lost their jobs following the nationwide lockdown due to Covid19, bringing the number of unemployed South Africans to over 7 million.

Reflect on your strengths and passions Job hunting may be an excellent time to reflect on your strengths, talents, and passions. Ask yourself: What are you good at? What would you really like to do? What can you create with your hands with the potential to monetize?

Job losses have negatively impacted individuals' mental and psychological wellbeing, with many job seekers feeling anxious and uncertain about the future.

Focusing on your strengths and passions may lead you to something new. It may be a new career or business idea. Stats reveal that while the nationwide lockdown left many South Africans jobless, some people could launch successful businesses. So, don't be afraid to explore different interests or pivot into something completely new.

It's completely normal to experience a range of emotions during the job hunting process. Add Covid-19 to the picture, and it becomes even more challenging to stay positive. However, working through your feelings and applying coping strategies will help you achieve a state of mental equilibrium.

By reflecting on your passions, you may also find that you have a creative side that can help you express your emotions through writing, drawing, painting, or even moulding clay.

Use your time wisely Use this time to upskill yourself via affordable or free courses. Taking the time to build job skills will make you more marketable and increase your chances of attracting new job opportunities. Apart from upskilling, you can keep your brain stimulated and expand your knowledge by reading a book and articles or listen to podcasts that nourish your brain. You may also find valuable content to help you improve your interview skills, ensuring readiness when the opportunity arises. Recognise the possibilities As hard as it may be, try to focus on what's positive and possible. A Harvard study found that people who concentrate on the problem are limited from exploring other possibilities. To explore other options, it's essential to create a growth mindset. A growth mindset starts by acknowledging reality and your feelings. By doing this, you recognise the effects of unemployment in your life. However, you begin to think from a place of abundance and limitless opportunities. When you believe there are opportunities available for you, it builds your self-confidence and influences your ability to stay motivated and find resilience during the job searching process.

Follow a daily routine Following a routine is a great way to stay productive. It will help you balance job searching and managing your physical and mental wellbeing. Try to incorporate physical exercise into your daily routine. Exercise isn't only good for your health, but it helps boost your mood. When your mood is improved, it will help keep your mind away from temporary emotional fixes like alcohol and drugs, as these can worsen your mental state and increase your risk of developing anxiety and depression. Create a support network It's natural to react to hard times by isolating. However, this tendency only exacerbates feelings of depression and anxiety. You must surround yourself with people who will help you keep your head high and maintain optimism during the job hunting process. These people will not only send you vacancies to apply for, but they will mention your name in a room full of opportunities. Talk to someone When you talk about your issues, you realise that you're not alone. There are millions of people in the country in the same state of affairs. Talking to people also helps you realise many others have experienced the same problem but have since found employment. It enables you to weather these challenging circumstances and stay motivated to persevere with your job search. Tracey Dube is a certified transformational life coach and founder of Positive Minds Africa.

Fashion

Look

like the boss

that you are If you want to portray yourself as an elegant and confident person, you can through fashion! Get your statement jackets this winter and make your grand entrance.

Get you statement pieces for

WINTER

What better way to make your boss babe moves this winter than through a gorgeous jacket or coat. Pull off that autumn winter look with these stylish coats.

Food

Soul food for the cold weather Creamy coconut beef and pumpkin curry Let the crockpot do all the work with this slow-cooker Indian beef and pumpkin curry. Serve with rice for a super-easy dinner. Ingredients 1 tbsp peanut oil 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger 80g (1/3 cup) rogan josh curry paste 1.5kg beef chuck steak, cut into 4cm pieces 400g can chopped tomatoes 250ml (1 cup) Massel vegetable liquid stock 1 sprig fresh curry leaves, plus extra, to serve 600g peeled, deseeded pumpkin, cut into 3cm pieces 1 tbsp Coles Cornflour 270ml can coconut cream Steamed rice, to serve

Speedy mince and haloumi one-pot On the table in 25 minutes, the super easy and cheesy one pot is loaded with beef mince, pasta sauce, haloumi and spinach, and will be your new favourite family dinner.

Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 500g lean beef mince 1 leek, white ration only, sliced 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 teaspoon dried oregano 350g jar roasted vegetables stirthrough pasta sauce 400g can cherry tomatoes in juice 100g baby spinach 225g packet haloumi cheese, cut into 1cm-thick slices 1/2 cup grated Mozzarella Cheese Block (500g) Open basil leaves, to help Crusty bread, to assist

Source: taste.com.au

Health Hacks

HEALTH HABITS THAT EVERY BUSINESS WOMEN NEEDS TO KNOW

Women are no longer less than men. In fact, they are equally giving a tough competition with their business mindset and remarkable marketing strategies. If you are one of them, then you definitely know the perks of being a business woman! In order to stay efficient, it is important for you to not get overwhelmed with the long business meetings and tiring group calls. For that, you need to take care of yourself in all the possible ways. This is why we are here with our amazing set of instructions. Have a look at the following points and improve your health. First and foremost surround yourself with positive people and have a great laugh with them!

SET YOUR ROUTINE 1

STAY MOTIVATED 5

Exercise is important for everyone! You have to spend a lot of time sitting on a chair and staring at the screen. This calls for a tight exercise schedule so that you can remain fit and active.

HAVE A HEALTHY DIET 6

KNOW YOUR GOALS 3

It is natural for business women to have second thoughts regarding their professional lives. This usually happens when you have a lot in your plate and you get confused while picking up the right option. In order to counter this situation, set a target and stick to it.

Just because you had a bad day at work doesn’t mean that everything is over. Dedication is the key to success. If you lack the motivation to progress further, then listen to your favorite tracks and sing along with the singer or talk to a friend.

This is something you should never forget. A healthy diet corresponds to a healthy mind which ultimately results in a productive day. Consult your trainer or a nutritionist regarding this matter.

TAKE SUPPLEMENTS 7

Taking supplements along with a nutritious diet can keep you healthy and functional. However, supplements can only have a positive impact if you are strictly following a healthy diet plan.

Article by Louise Harris, taken from www.smallbizdaily.com

Bring out the little girl residing in you! Being a businesswoman doesn’t mean that you have to bid farewell to your outdoor hobbies. In fact, the younger you feel, the better your performance will be at work.

The first thing you should do is set your routine. Plan out the activities you have to carry in a day and keep a record of them in a virtual diary. This helps in regulating your brain and keeps you relaxed throughout the day.

EXERCISE DAILY

INDULGE IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Trailblazer

BOLDLY BUILDING

Her empire

It has taken accountant and business woman Nthabeleng Khawe, just over a decade to build a business that she is extremely proud of. Not only has she dedicated he time, knowledge and skills to developing and growing her business from the ground up but she has also put in twice the effort to ensure that her brand speaks of her work ethic. By Kamogelo Seekoei

his boss babe, mother and wife, who hails from Brandfort in the Free State, is the Chief Executive Officer of Fezi Auditors and Consultants. This is an audit firm that has its roots firmly in the Free State province, but has expanded its footprint to other provinces throughout the years.

Business pedigree Her experience of over two decades spans from the financial sector to services, manufacturing, construction, engineering, government institutions and parastatals. Her areas of expertise include IT post implementation reviews, application control reviews, operational audits, compliance audits, finance audits, value for money audits, audit turnaround, AFS compilations, risk management, insurance, governance and

special investigations. She has also served on various boards such as the Free State Black Business Council, the Financial Fiscal Commission, the Free State Gambling and Racing Board and the Free State Development Corporation. She has chaired many Audit Committees and has held several executive positions in various portfolios like the Association for the Advancement of Black Chartered Accountants in South Africa and the Black Management Forum. Not every business sees the milestone that is 10 years and Nthabeleng’s success is something to take a leaf from. “The firm has grown phenomenally over the 10 years. I went from being founder, CEO and ultimately a board member,” she says. She transitioned into business after completing her articles with the audit firm KPMG and working for the firm for two years. She felt adequately skilled and

there was no hesitation to start a small business. Nthabeleng says all the positions she has occupied in life have been to better the lives of black women and to push them to the front. “I undertook the positions with the belief that I can benefit most from an integrative approach.

Black empowerment Nthabeleng is definitely accomplished and proud of her accolades yet prefers to rather advocate for reading and mastery rather than flaunting her achievements. It is this belief and her passion for black empowerment that drove her to establish the Mzansi Graduates platform. “I started a platform called Mzansi graduates, to make educational look cool and help support our graduates to reach their goals,” she says.

When asked why it was important to empower women in business, she said: “Patriarchal tendencies and barriers exists in the business world and as women, especially black women in business, we must fight together and empower each other to defeat those barriers”.

Sound advice Failure is a true measure of success. Failing and learning to stand up after failing is part of being successful. So rising above the odds determines your success. No stumbling blocks = no success. Embrace and learn from your failures.

Failure is part of life, if you do not fail you do not learn, if you do not learn, you do not change.

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Entrepreneurship

Female Entrepreneurs

Are crucial to the continent’s economic growth yet they face overwhelming challenges

ccording to the World Bank, Africa is the only region in the world with more female than male entrepreneurs. One in four African women start or manage a business, many of them in the informal sector. And as women typically use most of their earnings to support, educate and empower their families and wider communities, more than twice as much as men, the success or failure of these female-owned businesses has an enormous ripple effect. Yet many African women are faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges in their businesses, ranging from discrimination that stems from the apartheid era to the inherent patriarchy of the African culture. This entrenched system of social inequality results in an economic disparity that makes it extremely difficult to succeed. The situation has been exacerbated by COVID-19, which has been especially devastating to womenowned businesses. Access to Finance The financing gap for African women is estimated by the African

By Melissa Mbazo-Ekpenyong

Development Bank to be $42bn. Even under normal circumstances, those women who do manage to get a business off the ground struggle to obtain funding to expand. African women often lack access to traditional collateral, and their businesses are not necessarily welldocumented. This makes it very difficult for them to satisfy the legal and regulatory requirements for a loan from financial institutions. Many opt out of even attempting to do so as they perceive the odds to be stacked against them. Ironically, given the difficulties they are faced with, women are more likely than men to follow through on their repayments. To combat these circumstances, they need advice, technical assistance and solutions such as longer-term loans, low-interest rates, repayment grace periods and alternative collateral options, for example, business assets instead of land. And in times of crisis, extra support is needed in the form of grants or loans with favourable conditions.

Access to Technology For small businesses, it’s critical to be able to easily receive and make payments and access credit at the click of a button. In Ghana, for example, Ecobank and MTN have very successfully rolled out a digital micro-lending service. These kinds of digital platforms enable both customers and businesses to follow lockdown protocols, and with the added benefits of increased productivity and lower costs, their use has grown exponentially. However, the gender gap arises here too. African women are about 45% less likely to be online than men and they need assistance with both access and training. Access to Mentoring and Resources Partnerships with businesses that can mentor female entrepreneurs and provide access to funding, business services and other resources can be extremely successful.

Melissa Mbazo-Ekpenyong is the current Deputy Director of the Anzisha Prize programme. Get full article on www.ignitedwomanmag.com

Impact Maker

Giving a voice to Autism Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Early identification and intervention By Jwalane Tshepe

utism Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term for a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect three areas, namely communication; relationships or interaction and behaviour and or play. There is no known cause for autism. The symptoms may range from mild to severe, hence the term “spectrum”. One person may display a different set of symptoms from another one with the same condition. For instance, one person with autism may be gifted in mathematics and/or music while socially impaired but another one may have fluent communication while having difficulties to learn new things.

Jwalane Martha Tshepe is a SpeechLanguage Therapist and Audiologist at the Department of Education and private sector. She is passionate about children with special needs in the rural areas where there is scarcity of resources and lack of access to information.

Autism may co-occur with other conditions such as intellectual disorders, learning disabilities and sensory disorders but it may also occur on its own. It is crucial for parents to get their children evaluated by a team of specialists as early as possible. Autism can be diagnosed at the age of 3 or even earlier by the paediatrician. The team of specialists includes pediatrician, occupational therapist, speech therapist and audiologist, psychologist, dietician, etc. Treatment options will depend on the type and severity of autism that the child displays. It may consist of medication, speech therapy, occupational therapy, diet and lifestyle modification. The most important thing to remember is that it requires teamwork to deal with autism, not each member working in silos. All team members, including parents/family members as primary caregivers and the child must be involved in the process of assessment and decision-making so that they can be informed. The first step would be to check the child’s Road To Health clinic booklet and ask the healthcare professionals questions if you are concerned about your child’s development as well as to take note of any behavior that may seem unusual at home.

Placing a child with ASD in a school setting When considering a school there are varying issues that must be considered: 1.Bear in mind that it is not only the child’s education that is important, but how that school’s environment will affect the child emotionally on a day to day basis;

2.The ethos and curriculum of the school must be able to accommodate and be sympathetic to a child with ASD; 3.Be wary of schools that have too many children in each class. A good ratio for a child with ASD is 6-8. 4.Ensure that there are open channels of communication between the parents and teachers and that the staff are willing to listen to the parent’s thoughts; 5.Ensure that there are open channels of communication between the parents and teachers and that the staff are willing to listen to the parent’s thoughts; 6.Be sure that the school can and will modify your child’s educational plan to accommodate the problems that can occur as a result of the Triad of Impairments; 7.Study the school policy as regards discipline for inappropriate behaviour; 8.Establish whether the classrooms are open plan, as this can cause great distraction for the child. It is preferable for children with ASD to have independent work stations with all their belongings close by; 9.Be wary of a school where they have an overriding concern of treating all the children in the same way; this will not facilitate flexibility for your child’s needs;

The symptoms include: No babbling and turn taking at 6-12 months; No functional speech at 12+ months (e.g. “mama”, “daddy”, “teddy”, etc.); No functional use of objects/toys; Excessive meltdowns Little or no eye contact; No real fear of danger; Poor learning skills or resistance to normal teaching methods; Unusual responses to noises, lights, smells etc, e.g. covering of ears, eyes, dislike to being touched; Crying or laughing for no apparent reason; Self-injurious behaviour, e.g. head banging, scratching, biting, etc.

Game Changer

AUTHENTICALLY AND POSITIVELY INFLUENCING WOMEN By Basetsana Makhalemele

“Be Authentic, always.” This is the motto that Boss Babes of South Africa founder and influencer, Kovini Moodley, chose for this impactful organisation and she is surely living up to those words. Growing up in a little town south of Durban in KZN and as a young change maker had always felt a deep desire to impact and contribute to causes larger than herself. "We are often called upon to impact the world in a greater, more purposeful manner

"We are often called upon to impact the world in a greater, more purposeful manner than we could have ever imagined".

than we could have ever imagined, especially during extraordinary lifechanging times," she says. This is part of the reason that Kovini, a Chartered Accounted by profession, established the women’s empowerment platform Boss Babes of South Africa. She explains that of the establishment of Boss Babes of SA came after she and those closely to her encountered disempowering experiences by other women.

“There is immense bravery in speaking out and speaking your truth.”

This led to her turning her pain into power and creating a platform for all women to feel included, valued and appreciated. “There is immense bravery in speaking out and speaking your truth in a way that creates awareness and power. Women, especially women of colour, need to be reminded of their self-worth and not be diminished by the worthless opinions of others,” she says. Kovini affirms that there is immense bravery in speaking out and speaking your truth in a way that creates awareness and power. “Women, especially women of colour, need to be reminded of their selfworth and not be diminished by the worthless opinions of others,” she states.

Who’s a boss babe?

Boss Babes of South Africa is the perfect story of turning pain into power and power into inspiration from their already more than 20 000 strong sisterhood, a community support base that is growing daily. Women of colour face numerous challenges and barriers such as micro-aggressions and tone policing on a daily basis and the time has come to break the stereotypes and dismantle the preconceived notions that support these systems.” In a world that needs inspiration, Boss Babes of South Africa is the lighthouse that never dims, she asserts.

Ambassador search The organisation is now on the lookout for trailblazers, worldchangers and change makers who align with their vision and mission.

“Women of colour face numerous challenges and barriers.”

The establishment of Boss Babes of South Africa was a natural progression for her and allows her to inspire whilst breaking barriers and stereotypes that exist in the world.

Through the organisation she celebrates powerful, authentic and multifaceted women and embrace diversity, inclusion and the notion that women can excel at anything that they choose to put their minds to. According to Kovini their community is filled with brilliant minds such as doctors, lawyers, pilots, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and a host of specialists across a host of diverse industries, who are committed and obsessed with empowering and inspiring other women.

The term “influence” is measured by the impact that a person is capable of making, not the number of followers that one possesses. They are looking for genuinely, innately inspirational women to contribute to our positively powerful movement by skill sharing and collaboration initiatives. If you’re passionate about women upliftment and empowerment, be sure to apply by sending them a motivation via Boss Babes of SA’s Instagram account (@bossbabesofsouthafrica) via DM or send an email to connect@bossbabesofsouthafrica.co.za with a profile picture and your contact details to the PR and social media teams. Be part of the powerfully authentic sisterhood for multifaceted women by registering on www.bossbabesofsouthafrica.co.za

A GEM IN THE CITY OF ROSES

Advertorial

The new Premier Splendid Inn Bloemfontein is a gem right in the heart of the city. The newly renovated hotel with its modern architecture and refreshing interior décor offers a tranquil energy smack in the middle of the buzzing Zastron Street. The hotel is conveniently located in close proximity to Free State Government Departments; the SARS office is directly opposite the hotel, sports stadiums, renowned schools, as well as historical and cultural landmarks such as the National Museum, the University of Free State and the Supreme Court of Appeal. Also a short 10 km drive from Bloemfontein Airport and the Waterfront Mimosa Mall is approximately 1km from the hotel.

CONFERENCE FACILITIES Premier Splendid Inn Bloemfontein offers a magnificent boutique conference experience for organisers looking for something new. The sound proofed conference room is equipped with the latest audio visual equipment incorporating screens, roving and lapel microphones, flexible lighting solutions for any set up and poster holders. Delegates can also enjoy dining in an enclosed rooftop area, whilst there are convenient pause and pre-assembly areas available.

RESTAURANT The Fountains restaurant has a tempting menu with a variety of dishes available including Durban-style lamb curry, vegetarian, chicken or beef gourmet burgers, Macufe-mix grill and pasta dishes. Halaal meals are also offered. The open plan kitchen behind the buffet area creates a vibrant atmosphere for customers. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner (a la carte & buffet style dining).

ROOMS The hotel has 88 rooms that include 20 double rooms, 50 twin, 13 king, 3 executive and 2 disabled bedrooms in a comfortable, contemporary and spacious setting.

Business Bits

Benefits By Food Focus

he question of the impact of corporate social responsibility for small businesses is one that many startup owners have. How can one contribute or even give back when the business is not yet sustainable? Food Focus business hub unpacks this for us.

What is Corporate Social Responsibility? It’s important to make the distinction between CSR and charity.

As a consumer, stakeholder, or employee, all your decisions and emotions are driven by your personal beliefs. It shouldn’t be surprising that many people care a lot about things like the environment, their community, and other people.

Archie B. Carroll, Emeritus Professor of Management at the University of Georgia, distilled the CSR concept into a simple diagram called Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility. The diagram was part of a research paper on the subject that Carroll published in 1991. It’s a popular diagram that has been referenced since its publication in 1996.

That’s why more and more businesses are launching initiatives to be more socially responsible. Their customers, employees, stakeholders all demand it. This is the idea behind corporate social responsibility (CSR). While CSR is typically considered a practice for large international businesses, many small and medium businesses (SMBs) are also starting to practice social responsibility and reap the benefits. We’ll look at CSR, in general, to start within this post, going over examples, benefits, and disadvantages of CSR.

While philanthropy is a form of CSR, there are many others as well that are more focused on business practices themselves.

It is broken into the following sections: Philanthropic Responsibilities (Be a good corporate citizen / Required by Society) Ethical Responsibilities (Do what is just and fair / Expected by Society) Legal Responsibilities (Obey Laws and Regulations / Required by Society) Economic responsibilities (Be Profitable / Required by Society)

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to the accountability that a business must have to the people and community that it affects.

Social responsibility would fall mostly under the highest level (philanthropic or “discretionary” responsibility), which refers to social responsibility. The pyramid dictates that once the foundational responsibilities have been met, CSR should be the next priority. CSR might be a little vague still for you. While there’s no formal definition, here’s a general definition of what corporate social responsibility is: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to the accountability that a business must have to the people and community that it affects. This includes social aspects, but also environmental and economic impacts. CSR initiatives improve society in some way. In almost every country, CSR is voluntary, meaning that it goes beyond legal requirements. However, CSR can affect economic performance, as customers and stakeholders care about it.

Benefits of CSR include: Higher sales and margins Higher employee morale Higher employee loyalty Less employee turnover Higher employee productivity Improved public image Improved competitive advantage Disadvantages include: CSR can lead to more scrutiny CSR can be costly It can lead to lower product quality or productivity It may fail in the long-run Additional press coverage may be negative

That’s why ISO 26000 (social responsibility) was created. To give a minimum set of social guidelines that socially conscious companies should meet. This certification gives businesses concrete goals to work towards.

One2Watch

Local

Stiletto maker ready to take over market 32

FOR THE LOVE OF SHOES By Basetsana Makhalemele

uxury footwear founder and CEO of J’Adore D’Amour, Mathapelo Pitse, has always had a keen eye for shoes and she is now doubling up her love for shoes to other women. Mathapelo lets us into her engrossing space and luxury brand.

IW: What would you say is your biggest career accomplishment so far? MP: It’s definitely taking that giant leap of launching my shoe brand! That’s the biggest accomplishment thus far. I still have to pinch myself because it wasn’t an easy journey and I have no regrets whatsoever.

Ignited Woman (IW): Please tell us a bit about yourself and where you are from? Mathapelo Pitse (MP): I was born in the East Rand, Boksburg, raised in Johannesburg and currently reside in Midrand.

IW: What challenges have you faced as a brand? How did you overcome those challenges? MP: Because of our consistency and growing numbers on social media, I’d say my biggest challenge is converting my followers to buyers. That has been quiet a tricky task.

IW: Can you tell us about the business venture you are involved in? MP: I am the Founder and CEO of a proudly South African luxury shoe brand J’ADORE D’AMOUR. We are a luxury women’s footwear brand for audacious, tenacious, feminine and unapologetically sophisticated women who consistently step in style while conquering the world in timeless and gorgeous stilettos. IW: We would love to hear about your journey into the footwear industry. What really inspired you to create your shoe brand? MP: Growing up, I used to collect shoes, and I remember at one point, I owned over 300 pairs of shoes and my mother convinced me to give them away. That’s when I decided to shift my passion for fashion into business and I haven’t looked back since. IW: Do you design with a specific type of woman in mind? MP: Because of my love for shoes, I’m looking to launch different shoe collections for each season that will cater for all women. We recently launched our Iconic Collection and were looking to expand to kitten heels, boots, and sneakers.

IW: How do you still manage to show up for yourself and your brand during these tough times of Covid-19? MP: Thank heavens for technology and social media. As an entrepreneur, one has to always think quick and sadly Covid-19 caught us at an unexpected time, I still have to make an executive decision to come up with different angles by making sure that we’re consistent throughout all our platforms. IW: Any advice on being a more sustainable designer? MP: Our brand supports all things green and environmentally friendly. For our upcoming collections, our approach is looking into using recyclable products into our designs to create awareness about our role as an environmentally sustainable shoe brand. IW: What's next for the brand? What expansion plans are you looking for the next 2 to 5 years? MP: We have a number of plans in the pipeline and unfortunately I can’t go into detail at the moment. However, it’s all about growth and creating timeless pieces for our clients.

Black Girl Magic

Changing the black hair magic game By Basetsana Makhalemele

Biotech entrepreneur, afro conscious feminist and activist, these are all the titles that can be used to describe the vivacious founder and owner of the K-squared Advanced Natural Hair Clinic, Kekeletso Khena.

he hair clinic, based in Krugerdorp, Gauteng is where Kekeletso expresses her creativity through hair care and showcases her knowledge of biotech and all its capabilities in hair treatment. She takes us through her journey in the bio sciences and hair industry. Innovating for job creation Kekelestso admits that she has always wanted to be part of solving the coun-

try’s problems of racial inequality, poverty, and joblessness, and stumbled upon a unique never been used protein source. "I thought here is an opportunity to use innovation and our green gold (or bio-diversity) to solve these challenges. We can create work for the hair technicians, income for the growers in rural areas and business ownership for franchise owners".

One of her brands Blk2, which indicates the amplification of all things black and is a celebration of blackness, black knowledge, black excellence and black pride, launched her into the hair care industry. "That is in the work that we do with ethnic hair (Afro care) and the social discourse on black beauty, neatness, and the corporate acceptability thereof,” she says.

Putting science into black hair care Her passion and hard work has placed her in positions to work with top scientists and university dermatology units to develop, test and commercialise the award winning Blk2™ (Black Squared™) system in the last eight years. Kekeletso established her company KSquared Advanced Natural Hair Clinic in 2014 as a research facility to test the efficacy of their products. "As we were quite committed to developing and commercialising a product that delivers results, we knew that to succeed, the product would have to be developed with the market it was intended for,” she asserts. But during the process they were shocked to discover that what they thought they knew and what they thought was what the market needed was completely wrong.

- they are the pre-authors of natural hair care - and when these products did not work for the South African hair types, with our different weather for example, we were forced to do a trial and error research process. "During that time, we came across the unique, never been used in cosmetics, protein X from an indigenous source (this patent pending human identical protein was then used to develop the Ethnic Hair Hydration Technology™ (EHHT™) which we developed in partnership with the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which forms the backbone of our product range," she says. Hair care education While the in the hair industry, Kekeletso found the importance of educating women about the potential benefits of using her products due to the lack of women not having enough knowledge about the process used for

"We were forced to revise our formulations and business strategy from a salon to a hair clinic to cater for the unsolved hair and scalp challenges that your normal salon has no solutions for," she says. What is highly different about them from other hair products is that they are a hair and scalp science-based facility that uses state-of-the-art diagnostic processes, which they combine with nature derived hair and scalp care products and high-tech equipment to treat and manage hair and scalp challenges.

hair products. "There is a massive proliferation of “natural” hair products in the market, many have not been dermatology tested for safety of efficacy and we are seeing a number of hair loss/lesions problem as a result of using unsafe untested products," she says.

They also offer other standard hair salon services like protective styles, braids and special event styling.

"Don’t get me wrong - yes we want products by us for us to flood the market so we can take over the black hair care market, but they must be safe and properly tested or we’ll all lose credibility, resulting in non-black cosmetic manufactures forever owning this market".

According to Kekeletso in formulating their products they discovered that their first generation product was made using a concept based on American hair challenges

Challenges faced Entrepreneurship has its highs and lows and since the journey of Ksquared Advanced Natural Hair Clinic started being able to prove

that the bio-economy can create jobs and a business that is profitable but kind to the environment and equitable has been their highlight. According to Kekeletso raising capital in a corrupt innovation and entrepreneur support system has been one of the challenges she has encountered as an entrepreneur. "Government is trying to fund and support entrepreneurs, but the noncaring public service employees are failing entrepreneurs and the country," she says. She says there is nothing that really prepares one for the hardship of building a business. “Market research, raising funds, balance sheet, pretty branding – honestly, none of those prepare you for the hard work it takes to build a business. The desire to be of service is what will sustain you when there is no money coming in and you want to give up,” she . Kekeletso advices that one should not start a business for money, but start it to solve a problem and the money will follow you," she adds. Future plans "Our global growth strategy is based on being able to roll out a 4IR digital strategy which we cannot disclose yet," she says.

Sound Advice "There is no formula. Start small, start where you are, care enough to see the pain”.

THE ART of interior design

Black Owned

Jozi's finest interior designers HERE ARE FOUR BLACK OWNED INTERIOR DESIGNERS TO KNOW

Ditau Interiors Founder: Nthabiseng Taukobong Based in the City of Gold – Johannesburg, South Africa, Ditau Interiors is one of the top leading Interior Design companies in the industry creating effortless interiors of laid back sophistication for Residential and Leisure projects throughout the country, continent and around the world. Email: contact@nthabitaukobong.com Location: Johannesburg TSK Interior Founders: Thuso Koboyatau and Thato Setati TSK Interiors is a 100% black owned company based in Johannesburg. TSK Interiors places massive significance in the economic empowerment of previously disadvantaged individuals, and maintains our credentials in the advancement of these interests. Email; Info@tskinteriors.co.za Location: Bryanston

Ipapatse Interiors Founder: Lebo Zondi We are a black-female owned interior décor company, trading since 2009, and believe our experience and dedication to working together with our clients, telling their story through quality design deserves a pat on the back. Email: lebo@ipapatse.co.za Location: Kosmosdal, Centurion Donald Nxumalo Interiors Founder: Donald Nxumalo Donald Nxumalo Interior Desings focuses on designing bespoke residential and corporate spaces, both modern and traditional, personalized to each client. Email: info@donaldnxumalo.com Location: Kramerville, Sandton

Inspiration

Recreate yourself if you must. But don't stop pursuing your dreams! 40