Michelle GregoryMICHELLE GREGORY is the co-founder of Wozani Berg Gasoline (WBG), a diversified logistics group, providing transport, fuel storage, distribution, and supply chain services nationally and in neighbouring countriesMICHELLE GREGORY is the co-founder of Wozani Berg Gasoline (WBG), a diversified logistics group, providing transport, fuel storage, distribution, and supply chain services nationally and in neighbouring countries. She is the systems director responsible for all procedures and systems including telecommunications, information technology, and software development. Michelle started off as a teacher before getting married and then worked in the computer industry for three years. Michelle and her husband James got an opportunity to move to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands where they ran a thriving trading store. When Engen invited tenders for a fuel depot, she and her husband made a joint bid. James had fuel industry training and experience and Michelle had accounting and IT experience. She says, "We were fortunate to be the right people at the right place at the right time" and their bid was successful. They opened a fuel depot in the tiny town of Creighton with a truck, two drivers and a clerk. Despite major setbacks, through perseverance, hard work and building good relationships, the business succeeded and expanded. WBG now boasts a modern infrastructure nationally with more than 200 employees. Michelle says, "To get here today has been a long process, 26 years of hard work, almost like the process of a river from start to end." Say what is relevant and produce results Good and bad life experiences have moulded her, making her a graduate of the University of Life. Michelle is inspired by men and women who have bounced back from hardship and hard times. "Resilient people are able to adapt to change, become stronger and become dynamic leaders in the business world." Michelle believes specific incidents don't make you, rather it is relationships and being able to change as life moulds you that matters. People are very important to her and so good relationships between them are necessary. She feels fortunate to have a support system of family and friends who have been with her all the way. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry meant Michelle had to learn the hard way to stand up for herself. Being the only woman around a table with men set in their ways requires bringing an art to negotiations. As Michelle likes to produce something tangible quickly and efficiently, she found it is better to say less, be clear and only say what was relevant to produce results. "Working in a man's world is tough for a woman," she says, "you have to learn to read men, and then you have to use the advantages for your benefit." Leave work behind Balancing work and family life have been important, but not a problem for Michelle. "I am very clear that when I leave the work premises, I leave work behind. It's my saving grace," she says. When Michelle and James started the business, they had three toddlers and Michelle's time had to be divided. She believes, "Being a mom is the most humbling and precious gift that a woman can have in life". Motherhood grounds her and gives her purpose. It gives her balance in the work and life scenario says Michelle. Be patient, humble, and bold If Michelle could give her younger self advice, she would say three things. Firstly "Be patient, slowly-slowly catch the monkey" as she had been impulsive and wanted to get things done very quickly. "Set your goals and know that you will get there eventually if you are resilient. Success does not happen overnight unless you win a jackpot." Secondly, she would tell herself to be humble. "Life throws curve balls at us, so enjoy the good times and be grateful for them, because they can be taken from you in an instant." She relates that there were times at WBG where they had to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get back in the saddle. "Being humble is about knowing you are never so good that nothing will go wrong." Lastly, she would say "Be bold". As a young mom she battled to express herself, "but years later I can sit around any boardroom table, rely on my gut feeling and with integrity say what I need to say." This is important, she thinks, as young people tend to hold back and not say what needs to be said. The best is yet to come Michelle is not content with what she has achieved and says that her best is yet to come. She has been privileged to be part of WBG and aims to leave it a sustainable, well-oiled machine that can function without her. She believes in giving back and through WBG assists schools, supports an orphanage and gets involved in social projects. Though modern technology, WBG offices are becoming green. Now she would like to start something on her own and says that it's never too late to start something new, she is ready for a challenge. Michelle has a passion for women in business and wants to create a business network run by women who own their own businesses. Michelle is poised to do so right now, but "Even baby eagles need a push to fly!" she concludes. It is better to say less, be clear and only say what is relevant to produce results

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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