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EMPOWERING WOMEN THIS AUGUST
Hollywoodbets, through the Hollywood Foundation, has been prioritising the empowerment of women and affording them an opportunity to grow within the business sector.
THIS August, the Hollywood Foundation is proud to partner with starlet and philanthropist Nomzamo Mbatha’s Lighthouse Foundation, for the #EmpoweringHER campaign. This year, the selected businesses will be recognised through the Women in Business Awards, as part of the groundbreaking campaign. With the launch of the Hollywood Foundation and the implementation of its Enterprise and Supplier Development team, the campaign aims to touch the lives of even more businesses that are owned by women and break down barriers for them within the corporate space. “We are once again returning during Women’s Month to not only honour, but also to empower women in business.
Partnering with the Hollywood Foundation on this is so meaningful, as we had a successful run in 2021 with the #EmpoweringHER campaign. This year we are going bigger and aiming for absolutely nothing short of excellent,” said Mbatha. In August 2021, Hollywoodbets partnered with Nomzamo Mbatha and Carol Tshabalala for the #EmpoweringHER campaign. An investment of R1.5 million was made to shine a spotlight on female-owned small businesses in South Africa. The #EmpoweringHER campaign was able to invest in 21 female-owned businesses, and the finalists were announced in heartwarming webinars hosted by Mbatha and Tshabalala.
The owners of businesses, which ranged from salons and cleaning companies to farming and fast-food outlets, to name a few, were ecstatic to hear the good news that they were receiving much-needed support through the campaign. Both Mbatha and Tshabalala hosted a powerful webinar with the recipients, together with Hollywoodbets Head of Operations – Africa, Sandisiwe Bhengu and Hollywood Foundation Group Transformation Manager, Babongile Mkhize. The webinar afforded the recipients an opportunity to engage with these powerhouses and ask questions that will help them to succeed, both within their businesses and as women who are making their mark in the country.
Some of last year’s empowered women:
LESEGO MPSHE
Name of business: LeRaw Home & Craft “We specialise in manufacturing and home & craft.”
What were the challenges or needs of your business, prior to receiving the contribution from the #EmpoweringHER campaign? “We were looking for assistance with marketing and professional branding tools.”
What was contributed to the business through the #EmpoweringHER campaign? “We received equipment, such as stock and branding.”
Describe the growth of the business since receiving assistance from the #EmpoweringHER campaign.
“All of the equipment and tools helped prepare for the Intra-Africa Trade Fair and Kenya Exhibition. It also helped with day-to-day business needs, and I stopped struggling with internet access. I have seen benefits, as now, when there is a large sum of orders, production is quick. We now ‘qualify’ to mass produce and be small enterprise suppliers to Clicks, Shoprite and Mr Price. We can now have five to seven students in each class, as opposed to three to fi v e .”
What is your message to the Hollywood Foundation? “I would like to say thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for assisting us financially, it has really had a positive effect on our business.”
NANDIPHA MSEBENZI
Name of business: Alude Arts “We focus on handmade jewellery.”
What were the challenges or needs of your business, prior to receiving the contribution from the #EmpoweringHER campaign? “We applied for the funding to ensure the growth and success of our business. We were short of the materials that we needed to be able to scale the business to greater heights and make good profit margins.”
What was contributed to the business through the #EmpoweringHER campaign? “The funds were used for jewellery supplies, equipment and branding.”
Describe the growth of the business since receiving assistance from the #EmpoweringHER campaign. “The funding assisted me in scaling my business. Investment in social media marketing also helped to brand the business.”
What is your message to other female entrepreneurs who may be experiencing the same challenges? “Persistence and consistency will get you through the difficult times of running a business.”
What is your message to the Hollywood Foundation? “Thank you!”
TUMELO ZONDI
Name of business: Sprout Africa
“Sprout Africa is an agribusiness dedicated to promoting, capacitating and supporting rural smallholder farmers to obtain better access to efficient trading markets. We do this by collaborating with agricultural training centres that assist farmers to address produce-related challenges that hinder them from producing quality produce at optimal capacity, but we also run business training to assist farmers to manage their farms sustainably. We have partnered with organisations Seed2Shirt and Africa Women in Agriculture Association to deliver business training to farmers in Burkina Faso and Ghana.”
What were the challenges or needs of your business, prior to receiving the contribution from the #EmpoweringHER campaign? “We applied for funds to achieve an improvement of services, particularly the training materials we use, and also for improving our website.”
What was contributed to the business through the #EmpoweringHER campaign? “We were able to improve our current website and move towards improving the training curriculum.”
What is your message to other female entrepreneurs who may be experiencing the same challenges? “Do what you can with what you have until you have the capacity to do what is ideal for your business.”
What is your message to the Hollywood Foundation? “Amazing working with the team thus far! You have made the experience beautiful. I would love to see more opportunities for engagement for business support and advice for entrepreneurs.”
