Up Home Up Jasmeena Shiba JASMEENA SHIBA is a director at Royal Tyres, which is a leading tyre fitment centre and part of the Bestdrive franchise. Royal Tyres is a family run business that was started by Jasmeena’ s grandfather in 1939 and celebrates its 83rd anniversary in 2022. The company is South Africa’s oldest tyre dealer. Jasmeena was born in the heart of the Indian casbah in Victoria Street, Durban and later moved to Reservoir Hills. She studied Business Administration through ML Sultan Technikon, which led to her being exposed to many industries over the years where she also garnered international experience. Jasmeena lived in London, United Kingdom for 13 years between 1998 and 2011 where she worked as an IT Analyst for investment banks (Alexander Forbes, Deutsche Borse Bank), Media (Sky News), and Health Care (NHSU). Jasmeena joined the family business in 2011 as the first female director at Royal Tyres, which is predominantly male-orientated. This, together with Jasmeena’ s international business administration experience, has brought a new dimension to the business. She says, “Being the first female director in the history of the business is a difference in itself. I have added some female qualities to the business and always look at the female aspect. “Consequently, Jasmeena has been able to contribute to the business and the client experience, from a female perspective, bringing into the equation what a female client would like to experience when having her vehicle fitted with tyres, and has made these types of changes. Jasmeena has also implemented company policies and processes to assist staff in working efficiently and effectively. Her goal being to build a strong workforce and create an inclusive company culture. MOTIVATED AND ACCOUNTABLE For Jasmeena, her motivation comes from knowing the responsibilities she has as a director and employer. This motivation includes the responsibility she has for the livelihood of all the employees relying and depending on her. Her motivation extends to the responsibility she has for the sustainability and success of the business. “Being accountable for the business and its people, keeps me motivated and on track,” she commented. Her inspiration has been her father and mother who, she says, have gone through so many challenges with the business over the years. They have been her mentors and inspired her and her fellow directors. Jasmeena says, “They have definitely inspired us to take the business to the next level, they guide us if they see us making a wrong decision that could cost us.” Her father, who is CEO, is still actively involved in the business, to provide direction. Jasmeena commented, “We don’t do expensive school fees so to speak – we go to my dad who says, ‘no don’t do that or yes do that. So that has been a huge help.” TEAMWORK OVERCOMES CHALLENGES For Jasmeena, the most obvious challenges are being in the motor industry as a female in management. Despite this, she is well supported by the team and management board. Recent challenges, faced by Royal Tyres, as with many businesses, was Covid, and in Durban it was the floods, looting and protesting which broke many Durban businesses who could not recover their losses. “We worked with these challenges collectively as a team and a business. These were not challenges that I personally faced alone, we faced them as a team and this is how we overcame the challenges,” explains Jasmeena. “There were tough decisions that had to be made to survive, and our priority was our staff and the family’s dependent on them. For us working as a team, trusting our team, and constantly adapting to the changing environment, is how we overcame these challenges,” she said. “My future goals are simple but important,” says Jasmeena, “to be healthy, to be happy, support my team, support my staff, and strive to always do my best in all my endeavours.” VALUES ARE IMPORTANT In advising young women who are entering the business world, Jasmeena cautions, “Don’t lose yourself to prove yourself. Stay true to yourself and your values which are so important. Don’t get lost trying to make your mark or make a difference in a space that is not aligned with who you really are. Be humble and always trust your gut when it comes to a big decision. And be consistent, consistency delivers results.” Jasmeena has been married for 21 years and has three children. The boys are aged 16 and 12 and her daughter is 9, which, she says, means life is pretty busy. To stay balanced, she likes to keep fit and active as this allows her time to recalibrate. As a family they stay active by doing bike rides and going to the gym. CONSISTENCY IS KEY Jasmeena concludes by saying: “Sometimes when we start off, we cannot see the finish line. But don’t give up, keep going and the key is to be consistent. You won’t see the results immediately, but just keep going and be consistent as it’s a long-term thing, the results will come.”

< Back Kristina Wallengren

The Nic Carroll 2021 Collection Tracy Harker Founder of Funky Pants As long as we are having a fun lifestyle with lots of memories and being happy as a family, that’s all we really want Tracy Harker

< Back This is a Title 03 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. You can create as many collections as you need. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own, or import content from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, videos and more. You can also collect and store information from your site visitors using input elements like custom forms and fields. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Preview your site to check that all your elements are displaying content from the right collection fields. Previous Next

< Back Tarryn Tait

Up Home Up Dr Lungile Mhlongo DR LUNGILE MHLONGO (commonly known as Dr Lu) holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) as well a diploma in aesthetic medicine. She opened a general practice servicing the community of Stanger in 2017. She then went on to establish Numa Medical Aesthetics, a skincare and cosmetic practice using the most up-to-date technologies which operates in uMhlanga Ridge. Dr Lu also has a weekly slot on Gagasi FM that is all about health and wellness. DRIVEN SOLELY BY PASSION On her expanding business offering Dr Lu says, “We basically concentrate on non-surgical cosmetic medicine to help people feel good, look good and present themselves better. I have also recently launched my own skin care products –Numa Skin.” “My business is driven solely by passion and personal experience. Growing up I didn’t have any skin problems and when I turned 24-25, I started having severe acne. This badly dented my self-esteem and confidence; I felt like people made skin contact before they could hear what I was going to say. This is where my passion for non-surgical cosmetic medicine was born. I found a solution that I thought I should extend to other people and that is how I started. I’m passionate about my work because I understand what the customer wants and how they feel about their skin. It’s not just the physical treatments but we also tap into the emotional and psychological side of our clients.” BE THE CHANGE Speaking of what motivates her, Dr Lu says that she has a lot of things that push her ‘like a step ladder’. She said that getting into medicine was motivated by her father, who was very ill and only a few people could help him to become better. One day her father had an attack and as the doctor that was able to help him was away on holiday, this led to her father’s demise. “I was so angry at the doctor, until I realised that he is human, he needs to go on holiday and refresh himself. So, I thought let me be the change I want to see to help counter the shortage of doctors. So that’s how I started the journey.” Dr Lu comes from a very disadvantaged background. Her dad passed away when she was in Grade 11 and her mother passed away when she was in first year university. This meant that she had no one supporting her while at medical school. “So, I started doing modelling jobs, doing people’s hair to make money to survive. That is how the entrepreneurial spirit was born,” said Dr Lu. “When I offer a service, I get money for it, then I can survive.” THE BEST THING Dr Lu has continued to invest back into her business, which has allowed her various initiatives to grow. She added, “I have found my passion. When I talk about my job I just want to smile because the smiles that I see from my clients, are the best thing ever. I wake up in the morning and they make me want to do what I do.” Dr Lu commented that we cry a lot about the government and the unemployment rate being so high. She said, “I’ve got myself into a position of not being angry with the government. Growing my business enables me to hire as many people as I possibly can, to try and bridge that gap. When launching my skin care brand, we built a warehouse where we manufacture these products thus creating employment for the unemployed. Others are involved in the distribution and logistics of the products.” Numa Aesthetics now has three branches. Dr Lu has recently opened a new branch in Hyde Park, Johannesburg with a fourth branch opening at the end of November. “I’m hoping to open as many branches as I possibly can, firstly to help with the distribution, offer the best service to my clients and most importantly, to help employ as many young people as we possibly can,” says Dr Lu. Numa Aesthetics has registered a foundation called Angels are made at Numa. Dr Lu explains, “We go to high schools, mostly the townships and rural areas, and find girls that are struggling with pigmentation and acne. Dr Lu added that unsafe products are being sold online that are not safe for the skin. “But these kids order these things and use these products and end up damaging their skin, so we teach about skin health. We sit down with them and help them with our products and treatments. I also mentor them to present themselves better.” BE AUTHENTIC The most important advice that Dr Lu offers is to be authentic. She explains, “It is very hard to run a business if you are not passionate about what you are doing. Find something that you are passionate about and focus on it instead of focusing on what is happening around you. I have found something that I am passionate about and even on the coldest days of business, I go back to why do I do what I do, and I wake up and try again. We live in a world of social media, where everyone is succeeding in what they do, people are not going to post their failures. Focus on what you are doing, so you can achieve what you are called to do and fulfil your purpose.” Dr Lu says that she tries to balance her life as far as she can. “I am a mother to a seven-year[1]old, so I am very busy at home. I am a very family orientated person, and I’m lucky to be blessed with family and friends that believe in what I do and support and push me even when I feel like giving up at some point.”

Changing the world with one act of kindness at a timeSholain Perumal < Back Sholain Perumal CEO: The Gold Bar, Sensational Hair Salon, Designer Prints, Specialised Accounting, Ballito Seafood Sholain Perumal is a CEO by trade and philanthropist by heart. Her journey began with The Gold Bar, a gold recycling company, known as a company with a heart. With five stores across the country, the company purchases unwanted gold jewellery from the public and recycles it into gold bars that reinvigorate the economy. Sholain owns two hair salons which are located in Umhlanga Rocks on Chartwell Drive and in Cornubia Mall. Under the banner of “Sensational Hair, Nails, and Beauty,” these salons are your ‘ultimate happy place’. The salons offer hair, nails and beauty treatments under one roof and aim to make you feel at home. “It’s just a place to destress and get away from the stresses of the world,” said Sholain. Her entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t stop there. Designer Prints, a graphic design and print company based in Mount Edgecombe, and Specialized Accounting, an accounting and taxation company, highlight her versatility as an entrepreneur. Sholain’s passion for diversification led her to launch Ballito Seafoods in Odyssey Mall. However, her proudest creation is The Now You Can Foundation which supports a variety of initiatives, from providing grocery hampers, to motivational talks in schools, and care packs for abused women and children. With determination Sholain’s journey to success began with humble roots. After matriculating without the funds to pursue further education, she started working as a cashier in a supermarket. Sholain ensured that every job she had was a steppingstone that would eventually bring her to this point in her career. “It’s been a long, tough road to be where I am,” said Sholain. “But with determination and a never give up attitude, hard work and persistence. I finally achieved where I want to be. I just never gave up on my dreams and I wanted to make sure I achieved what I set out to achieve.” Being a woman in the male-dominated industry of gold recycling presented Sholain with many challenges. “I felt like I had to prove myself, and that’s exactly what I did,” she reflects. “I turned the negativity directed at me as a woman, into building blocks, creating a solid foundation for my businesses and personal growth.” Running multiple businesses has its unique set of challenges, from managing cash flow to handling staff issues. The journey has been punctuated by external hurdles like riots, floods, and the global pandemic. Sholain’s invaluable lesson is that one is not born with all the answers; adaptation and constant learning are essential to survival. “In order to survive, you have to continuously be learning and adapting to the new circumstances and the new challenges thrown at you every single day. And you have to work through it,” she says. Much of her motivation has come from the fact that she is a strong supporter of women’s equality and empowerment. In addition, says Sholain, ‘I’ve always been somewhat rebellious growing up in the sense that I wanted to prove that I could do what people said I couldn’t, and I wanted to break societal norms. I’ve come from a humble background and an Indian community. We had set rules and I was determined to break those norms, and that’s exactly what I did.” Inspired by mentors However, said Sholain she has been very blessed to have mentors along the way that have guided her. As such she has been able to use her passion for empowerment and change to motivate herself and push through despite all the challenges she faced. Wayne Duncan, her previous employer, played a pivotal role in Sholain’s journey. He saw potential in her and often pushed her beyond her limits. “He made me cry more than once,” Sholain chuckles. “But every lesson he taught me is still instilled in me. It’s those life lessons that continue to guide my teaching and influence my mentorship of others.” She added that her parents have been an instrumental part of who she is. The values that they instilled in her as she was growing up have pushed her to where she is and enabled her to conduct business the way she does. “I have to give them credit for the woman that I am today, without them, I probably might not be here,” she said. Her goals for the future are to build an empire and leave a legacy of empowerment. So basically, says Sholain, she wants to create more leaders. Through her businesses people are offered employment and an opportunity to learn from her, to study, and to grow within the organisation. Sholain believes that she can change the world with one act of kindness at a time. That, she says, will just snowball into an effect where everybody’s making one small difference in the world and that combined together will make a bigger change. Anything is achievable In advising young women, Sholain has simple but powerful words: “Don’t overthink it. You’ll never have all your ducks in a row.” She adds, “The biggest step is the first step you take and that’s making the decision to start and after that everything flows. But you may not get it right the first time.” She emphasizes that, “Failure is not the end but an opportunity to begin anew.” With determination and focus, anything is achievable. Despite her hectic life, Sholain recognises the importance of balance and the need to disconnect from the demands of her businesses. She loves travel and a yearly international trip serves as her much needed “me time” making all the hard work throughout the year worthwhile. Sholain’s involvement in the KZN Top Business Women is a source of pride for her. It not only provides exposure for her businesses but also aligns with her mission of women supporting each other. The initiative offers a platform for like-minded women to connect, share experiences, and motivate one another to overcome challenges and reach new heights.

This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. This is a Title 03 Anele Msweli < Back In 2017 Anele started the brand as passion project while she was living in China. The niche brand has developed into a full-time business with growing demand for its products. Anele and her three sisters were raised by their mother in Montclair, where she attended Mowat Park High. She then attended Rhodes University, where she completed a Bachelor of Earth Sciences degree. The name ‘Mare & Itis’ has its origins in Anele’s student days at Rhodes. She explains, ‘Mare’ is word students at Rhodes use to meaning a fun time. ‘Itis’ is used to describe that sleepy feeling one gets after eating a large meal; “magie vol, ogies toe”. I decided to put these two concepts together to create something that is quint essentially me. I love a good time and I love food.” After completing her degree, Anele volunteered for Greenpeace Africa. She says, ‘The most memorable part of this journey was on board the Rainbow Warrior: I learnt so much from sailing with an eclectic and multinational crew.” ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS In 2016 Anele moved to Harbin, one of the most northerly cities in China, which as it is situated near Siberia has long and freezing winters. The temperature can reach a very low -40 degrees centigrade. During this time, Anele was using Chinese products for her skin and hair care until she developed allergic reactions to these including her hair starting to fall out. In addition, Anele found it difficult to find suitable cleaning products especially as she was unable to read the labels on the products she was using. This is when, Anele explained, she decided to make her own cleaning products using all natural ingredients. The first product was the prototype for the popular Zesty Kitchen cleaner, which she made from vinegar and lemon. The small business grew from there with requests from friends to make additional products. Countless hours of research led her to a love for essential oils and natural products. Anele then moved to Wuqing, a small district in Tianjin, where she worked long hours as a Montessori English teacher and training coordinator. However, the demand for her products grew and she started selling them in a local market as well as online. ALL OR NOTHING In 2020 Anele’s visit to South Africa for a wedding – with one suitcase – coincided with outbreak of Covid which meant that she was unable to return to China. This also mean that she needed to focus on her fledgling business in order to earn an income. “The year 2020 will always remain a significant year for me and for the brand. It was all or nothing, and I have learnt so much about entrepreneurship and resilience,” explained Anele. The online business has now grown into a range of 45 products including essential oils, linen, and room sprays without alcohol as well as candles and diffusers. Mare & Itis Shoppe is inspired by everything natural. “The products are non-toxic, eco-conscious as well as cruelty-free. I use plant-based ingredients which are biodegradable.” In order to be sustainable all products are supplied in glass bottles, which are reused when returned to her. As a ‘garage’ business Anele is responsible for all aspects of the day to day running. She formulates and tests all products, does the packaging, runs accounts as well as handles all logistics and social media marketing. Apart from her online store, Anele has a number of instore stockists around the country. JUST DO YOUR BEST In speaking of who inspires her Anele says that she loves listening to podcasts including those by Oprah and interior decorator Karin Bohn. She added that she is inspired by her partner who is also an entrepreneur. Anele commented, “However it’s the day-to-day people that are trying to just make things work, the people who just do their best who inspire me the most.” A major challenge in her entrepreneurial journey is that she has not had any funding and has had to rely on her own resources. Other challenges included, “Surviving through Covid which was a major challenge especially as being a non-essential business I experienced shortages in packaging. The rand price and the economy are a constant challenge!” However, she believes that her success has been based on her perseverance as well as being consistent. “It’s important to keep up the same pace no matter what ’waves’ you face,” said Anele. FOLLOW THE DREAM Looking to the future, Anele has set huge goals for herself. As she is really proud of her products and would like to showcase them in the UAE, Anele has obtained an export/ import licence. However, in order to follow her dream, she would have to increase the production of her products substantially. Her advice to young people considering an entrepreneurial journey would be to ‘just start’. “You can learn as you go and figure things out. But you need to set goals for yourself. I am constantly pushing myself to achieve and set new goals at the beginning of each year and again every three months.” In her free time, Anele makes sure to keep both her brain and her hands busy. She enjoys listening to podcasts and reading and loves to sew, knit as well as spends time at the gym and enjoys a regular 5km walk on the Durban promenade every Sunday. Previous Next

The Nic Carroll 2021 Collection Samantha Watt Founder and Owner of Say Watt Struggles are a stepping stone to your next place. When you have gone through the struggle, the prize feels all the more sweeter Samantha Watt