Mano SinghAs Wealth Head for Standard Bank Group in KwaZulu-Natal, Mano Singh is accountable for four business units that contribute over R600 million to the provincial revenueAs Wealth Head for Standard Bank Group in KwaZulu-Natal, Mano Singh is accountable for four business units that contribute over R600 million to the provincial revenue. "When I started out, the corporate culture was steeped in race," she recalls. "And I had to work hard to get permission to even participate, where you were consciously and deliberately side-lined even if you were the best candidate. I quickly learned that if I were to grow and succeed in that environment, formal education was key to validating me as a person firstly, while also keeping my mind focused on the future. Education gave me the confidence that I could take on new challenges as they arose. It also allowed me to quickly walk away from any situation that questioned my self-worth." Looking to beacons of hope Mano has always been inspired by the people who were beacons of hope. "There were so many people who were simply born in the wrong era and forced into serving when they really should have been leading." Her father was a big influence on her life, and she learnt from a young age that education was vital. "He taught me that education was the golden key to unlocking any door, and as long as I kept my mind active and learning, that would be the gift that would give me the hope and courage I'd need on my journey in the workspace." But education alone was not enough. He also taught her the value of humility and respect for all, and that when it came to integrity there was no room for compromise. Her mother was also a driving force in her life, bringing another dimension. "My mother was bold, audacious and confident and she made sure I learned that I should never give up, no matter the circumstances." Mano is also very grateful for the support she gets from her husband, and he too has helped define her character. "I'm blessed to be married to a wonderful man who inspires me to remain patient and calm, even when storms are brewing, and he has inspired me to take the lead and fulfil my life's ambition." Declaring work-life balance to be a myth, Mano admits that her journey has not always been easy. "I've had to juggle, trying to balance family and work responsibilities. I've also studied almost continually my whole life while climbing the ladder. I've relocated to further my career and often been pushed out of my comfort zone." Her willingness to take on challenges has been part of her growth, but it hasn't fostered balance. Women should invest in their networks Taking a somewhat controversial stand, she says that women have much to learn from men. "I'm not saying we need to do business in the same way as men," she says. "But leadership can be lonely, and I admire the tenacity with which men form networks that create a structure to carry them through their journey. This helps them maximise their success. As women we're not that good at investing in our networks. But this takes time, and there's no doubt we have greater demands on our time." Being driven and a perfectionist, Mano still looks to the future. "I have so much I still want to achieve," she says, "and I still have a lot to contribute. On a daily basis I see people struggling to navigate their life journey and career path, struggling to make decisions about the way forward, and the trade-offs they may need to make to achieve the success they want." Mano wants to make a contribution here and mentions that altruism gives one purpose in life. And as she relishes the opportunity to mentor a new generation of leaders, she thinks back on her early career. Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Mano is succinct: Be assertive. It's not always easy to stand up for your rights, but don't walk away from challenging situations. Never sacrifice your personal principles; be true to yourself and you will earn respect. Mano points out that when she was starting out, society schooled people to be submissive to partisan bosses. "But had I been more assertive, particularly when I felt that I was deliberately overlooked for senior positions, my journey would have been catalysed in different conditions." Knowledge and education are self-empowering "When I started, I was hungry to learn about leadership and strategy, and I read voraciously. I would buy a leadership book every single month when I was paid. Later on, while I was doing my MBA, I realised that everything I was searching for was encapsulated in my MBA syllabus. I just wish someone had taken me aside early on and pointed me in the right direction - it might have made a big difference in my choices and the trajectory of my career." She acknowledges that each adversity she faced prepared her for her personal journey, and takes pride in never compromising her principles and the respect she has earned in the industry. "And when times were tough, I studied harder. My father's voice in my head kept reminding me that the reward of knowledge and education is self-empowering." Be assertive. It's not always easy to stand up for your rights, but don't walk away from challenging situations

Cheryl Govender

CHERYL GOVENDER is the founder and owner of The Cake House in Pietermaritzburg. She is a qualified chef and professional cake artist. The Cake House has become a leading provider of designer cakes including engineered life-size cakes. Cheryl's exceptional cakes, each a masterpiece, have been featured in magazines and on television, and The Cake House is recognised as a leader in new age sugarcraft.

Cheryl is inspired by successful bakeries and cake artists. She explains, "This is a tough industry and requires not only talent, but a business mind, people skills, market insight, tenacity, and continuous learning and growth."

One of her biggest inspirations is Buddy Valastro, an American baker who is the star of the reality television series 'Cake Boss'.

Be clear about what must be achieved

Cheryl believes she got to where she is now and reached her goals by being clear about what she needed to achieve and why she needed to achieve them. She says her career started when she was fourteen when she was handed down decorating tools that her sister no longer needed. "Although I was a real tomboy, beating the boys at their own games in the streets, I did girly stuff when I went home, like playing with cake decorating tools and my dolls," she laughed.

Cheryl learned about sugar art by reading books from the municipal library and often left the kitchen in a mess after experimenting. Her Consumer Studies teacher recognised Cheryl's talent; arranged for her to attend a cake decorating course, and gave her a toolset, which she treasures to this day.
This teacher, now a retired school principal, adopted Cheryl as a daughter, helped her to believe in herself, and became her mentor to this day.
Cheryl won a Consumer Studies Inter School Award in matric due to her passion for cake decorating, but at that time she considered it a hobby, not a career.

After a year at college, Cheryl married and became a mother. She joined the corporate world but kept on making decorated cakes as a hobby to supplement her income. When her son was two years old, Cheryl entered and won the Pietermaritzburg Royal Show sugarcraft competition. This led to her teaching sugarcraft on a part-time basis at the now FET College in Northdale, something she continued passionately for 25 years. This Cheryl said, was fulfilling: "empowering women has always been close to my heart".

Focus on one thing and do it well

Cheryl gained wide experience in the corporate world, including ten years in shipping and international travel, before she started her own export business. This business crashed during the worldwide financial crisis of 2008 and she "fell back on her hands", starting a food catering business that also provided cakes. Cheryl made a few designer cakes assuming there was little market for these due to the high prices, but word of her quality and expertise spread and orders increased.

A traumatic divorce, the demands of being involved in catering, wedding décor, training and making cakes at the same time, made her realise that she needed to streamline her activities. In 2012 she decided to focus on one thing only and do it well and opened The Cake House. Cheryl, a single mom had herself, her mother's assistance, two children, and a house. As she had lost her vehicle, Cheryl went everywhere in running shoes while carrying cake ingredients and other items in a backpack.

Nothing was handed to her; she had no money and could not get a bank loan. Cheryl understood the risks involved but her faith and trust in God helped her. She managed to buy all her industrial baking equipment from a helpful appliance store on a three-month cash basis. Her business remains debt-free to this day.

Business skills are unrelated to gender

In Cheryl's view, women and men need the same business approach, as the skills required for a successful business are unrelated to gender. "Tenacity, hard work, honesty, patience and endurance are equally required from men and women." She does, however, concede that women face more challenges. She has had to face abuse, being a mother, and a divorce.

Achieving a work-life balance boils down to discipline for Cheryl. "It is necessary to make time for your family and yourself, and also to rest, but not working can be scary for a business owner with much to do," she says. "I've had to learn to set boundaries, say no, and cut myself off from work when it's time to relax and unwind." Gardening, time with her family and puppies, and doing things outside of the business help create a balance.

Brand ambassador

Cheryl is happy with what she has accomplished thus far and readily give others credit. Without her mother, she could not have set up The Cake House. Without the help of her husband Alan, her family, and staff members, she would not have been able to grow the business. She feels honoured having recently being appointed a brand ambassador with royal status, for Rolkem Colours, one of the world's largest food colourant providers.

While Cheryl is satisfied with the place she has reached, she is not comfortable about remaining there. Cheryl dreams of making the province proud of The Cake House as a tourism attraction. With a growing support structure in place, she is prepared to take risks within her means and take the business to the next level.

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