Mayor: Cllr PMS Ngubane KZN Top Business Subscribe uMzinyathi District Municipality The uMzinyathi District Municipality is in the northern central area of KwaZulu-Natal. The district lies between the main N3 corridor from Durban to Gauteng and the coastal corridor, running along the east coast Substantial Agricultural Activity The uMzinyathi District Municipality is in the northern central area of KwaZulu-Natal. The district lies between the main N3 corridor from Durban to Gauteng and the coastal corridor, running along the east coast. uMzinyathi consists of the local municipalities of Endumeni, Msinga, Nquthu and Umvoti. In conjunction with its north western neighbour, Amajuba District Municipality, uMzinyathi is branded as the ‘Custodian of the Battlefields’ region of the Zulu Kingdom. The battlefields form a vital role in the spatial economy of the province from a tourism perspective. Other tourist sites include private game reserves and one 18 000 ha proclaimed conservation area. There are two natural heritage sites: Fugitives Drift and Hlathikulu at Wasbank. Most of the industry in the area is associated with agriculture or handwork (carpets, beadwork) by trained artisans. The municipal area has extensive grasslands in the north, supporting the primary agricultural sector based on cattle ranching for beef, small scale sheep and mixed farming and maize cultivation. In the southern areas substantial forestry is prevalent. Sugar cane and smaller scale fruit farming such as avocado and kiwi fruit cultivation also occur. The area has high potential for growth in agricultural crop production (maize, soybean and sugar cane). Endumeni Municipality is a key administrative, education and economic centre for northern KwaZuluNatal. Endumeni, with the smallest population, but the largest economy of the district, comprises the towns of Dundee, Glencoe and Wasbank as well as several farms. Dundee is the administrative seat of Umzinyathi and can be viewed as a strong regional centre. This municipality is unique; its population is predominantly urbanised or based on commercial farms and unlike the other local municipalities there is no tribal authority land. Endumeni’s diversified economy includes commercial cattle farming, dairy production, and tourism. Dundee and Glencoe form part of the Coal Rim of KwaZulu-Natal, that have over the past decade been negatively affected by a substantial decline in the coal mining sector, which previously formed the economic base of the areas. The Umvoti Municipality comprises urban areas, commercial agricultural areas, and tribal authority areas, all of which exhibit typical characteristics associated with these settlement types. The main town is Greytown, which is the agricultural centre of the district and contributes substantially to the economic viability of the region. Nquthu Municipality is located along the north eastern boundary of the district, with expansive rural settlements being one of the major features. Nquthu Town is a small urban area that has established itself as the primary commercial, administrative, and service centre for the municipality. Msinga Municipality is largely located in deep gorges of the Tugela and Buffalo Rivers, isolated from the immediate surrounding municipal areas. The population dynamics result in a growing rural area and a declining urban area in Msinga, contrary to other areas in the country. Although the area has its challenges, there are historic sites, beautiful scenery, and interesting topography in some parts, suitable for cultural and eco-tourism. CONTACT DETAILS Physical Address: 39 Victoria Street, 1st Floor, Princess Magogo Building, Dundee, 3000 Postal Address: P.O. Box 1965, Dundee, 3000 Tel: +27 (0)34 219 1500 Website: www.umzinyathi.gov.za Back

< Back Yogas Nair Next Yogas joined Independent Media 18 years ago as a freelance journalist with the Post newspaper. In 2014, after 13 years in the industry, she was appointed as the editor of the Post newspaper YOGAS NAIR describe herself as a small girl from Tongaat living a big dream. She is the KwaZulu-Natal regional executive editor for the Independent Media Group, and editor of The Mercury newspaper. Yogas serves as the group public advocate for the group's internal ombudsman office. She is also the chair of the board of the Mercury Hibberdene Children's Home. Hard work and determination and a bucket list full of goals have shaped her career and enabled her to fulfil her dream of becoming an editor of a major newspaper. "You set your goals and you go after them," explained Yogas. She grew up in Tongaat in what she describes as a sugarcane farming community away from the bright lights of Durban, the big city. Yogas is proud to say that she still lives in Tongaat. She says, "I was a big dreamer in my younger days. Growing up as an Indian child, you are meant to live out your parents' dreams." Her father wanted her to study for a profession and become a lawyer or teacher. Although it meant that she would have to work and pay for her own studies, Yogas followed her dream and studied journalism at the ML Sultan Technikon. "It was tough, I had to take taxis and trains from Tongaat to Durban daily, but I persevered, and I did it. Each individual is unique Yogas joined Independent Media 18 years ago as a freelance journalist with the Post newspaper. In 2014, after 13 years in the industry, she was appointed as the editor of the Post newspaper. This was a ground-breaking event for women in journalism, as she was the first female editor in the 60-year history of the publication. She broke further ground for women when she became the second female editor of The Mercury in November 2016. The Mercury, KwaZulu-Natal's leading morning news-paper, reaches 250 000 people a day. Yogas ensures that 168-year-old publication is relevant and viable in a rapidly changing world, which she says is accomplished with a dynamic team of staff. According to Yogas, the executive chairman of the Independent Media Group, Doctor Iqbal Surve, believes in gender empowerment and has given his support to achieve this goal in their industry. Women do not need to have a different approach to business than men to be successful, says Yogas. She believes that her confidence and ability to lead has allowed her to be successful in business. "I think that each individual is unique in their own stead, whether you are male or female, so it is about what drives you, and to just be you, to be your original self, irrespective of whether you are male or female." She credits Dr Surve for being a great help on the way to getting to where she is. She says he has taken an interest in her career and believes in her ability as a leader. "When someone believes in you, it grows your confidence and motivates you and that has made me grow in leaps and bounds over the years." He has provided her with constant mentorship, which helped her to meet challenges to climb the ladder of success, quickly and relatively effortlessly. Yogas is happy with what she has achieved thus far and believes that in terms of work accomplishments that she has ticked the right boxes. "I have lived my dream of becoming a journalist and writing a number of headline stories and now I live my dream of being an editor. Journalism is what makes me thrive." Something that she enjoys doing in her role now is mentorship. She says, "I understand how difficult it is for someone coming straight from university or a community newspaper to get into mainstream, I think I have a role to play in mentoring and developing young journalists. That will be my focal point in coming months." Work-life balance Achieving a work-life balance is something Yogas admits that she is 'quite hopeless at' as she has a very demanding career in an unpredictable industry. "I try to strike a balance and try be fair on everybody, to be a good wife, mother and employee all at the same time, but I sometimes fail in an area." However, her children are growing up and are becoming more independent, which has lessened the demands on her time. In addition, her husband, Pat, and her two children, Kimeshan (20) and Mayuri (17), serve as a great inspiration for Yogas. She says, "They are my daily inspiration to live my best life and be the best that I can be. I think that having the support of your family helps you grow personally and professionally. They allow me to be who I am and do what I need to do without expectation, and I consider them a great blessing in my life." Never doubt yourself Although Yogas had big dreams as a child, there have been times when she has doubted herself. If she could give advice to her younger self at this moment, it would be, "Never doubt yourself, you can achieve. You learn along the way that you have to push yourself through the crowd, you have to get to the front, you have to believe in yourself." Now that she can live her dream, she would also tell her younger self, as she has told her children, to: "dare to dream". "Sometimes success does not come quickly, but if you persist and believe in yourself, you will eventually succeed. Dreams do come true," she concluded. Previous Next

< Back Nikita Pillay Next NIKITA PILLAY attributes her success to a powerful cocktail of positive peer pressure, perseverance and a lucky break. She grew up in a large, loud and happy family, with three sisters and a brother, but there was no chance of a tertiary education after school NIKITA PILLAY attributes her success to a powerful cocktail of positive peer pressure, perseverance and a lucky break. She grew up in a large, loud and happy family, with three sisters and a brother, but there was no chance of a tertiary education after school. Determined to get a good education - and to live up to the achievements of her two older siblings - she knew she had to study part-time to get ahead. Nikita recognises that both men and women need perseverance and resilience to earn their success, but also points out that in some ways, woman may have an added advantage. "Yes, women are sometimes seen as weaker than men, but they are often stronger than they realise. Also, women are often at an advantage when it comes to emotional intelligence and soft skills - and these are certainly factors that have helped me." After several years of paying her dues in general administration jobs, Nikita got her first human resources (HR) job 15 years ago, doing payroll for a major fast food company. And at last, she'd found her niche. Committed to her career growth, she continued her studies and worked her way up to HR manager for the company, before joining DRG Outsourcing. Part of the leadership team As head of Legal and Compliance at DRG Outsourcing, Nikita is part of the leadership team, for DRG Outsourcing, DRG Siyaya and BusinessFit. She assists client companies in aligning their HR strategies with their business strategies. It's a multi-faceted role, and no two days are the same, with a variety for responsibilities from assisting companies to develop policies and procedures, to remuneration strategies and chairing Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) hearings, to consulting on wage negotiations. The company believes that all its staff are all leaders. "We are part of a team and we each have specialised skills. We just feed into each other and on projects each person is able to fill in those gaps, according to clients' needs," says Nikita. She's also involved in the training and mentoring of young emerging entrepreneurs. This is a role that's particularly close to her heart as she knows how the input and mentorship of experienced colleagues has contributed to her own growth. Nikita highlights the role that David White, CEO of DRG Outsourcing, has played in her career. "Over the last seven years David has continually challenged me and exposed me to new opportunities. He's encouraged me and motivated me to always look for new opportunities. In short, he's always believed in me and supported me - and this has helped me grow in confidence and inspired me to strive to become a more rounded HR professional and a leader in our organisation." A vital part of life Asked about her work-life balance, Nikita just laughed. Underplaying her hard work and dedication, she points that when you love what you do, your work is a vital part of your life - not separate from life itself. "Yes, there are stresses that come with this job, because our decisions impact on people's lives. And it's important to deliver for our clients. We go the extra mile in helping customers have long term relationships with DRG. But my job is also something that gives me great satisfaction, and I look forward to coming to work every day." Looking back on her career, Nikita is justifiably proud of her achievements but doesn't see herself as anywhere close to the finish line. "I'm happy - thus far! But there's a lot more I want to do." Never one to rest on her laurels, Nikita continues to study and has just achieved international recognition as a Personal Development Analysis (PDA) analyst - making her one of only 5600 worldwide. "I also have initiatives planned, and new services that are in development to give clients more value-add for their businesses. And happily, this means growth for DRG as well." Even bad decisions bring value It's easy to focus on the good, but Nikita acknow-ledges that she's made some bad decisions along the way too. "If I could offer my younger self some advice, it would be don't be so hard on yourself. Even bad decisions are stepping-stones to growth, so there's no point in agonising over mistakes. Life is never completely plain sailing, and the little hurdles that trip you up are part of your journey. Face your challenges and you'll be fine in the end - they'll make you stronger and more appreciative of your achievements later on." Previous Next

Andrew Barnes Next Previous Andrew Barnes is the owner of Barnes Properties Andrew Barnes, the owner of Barnes Properties, specialises in residential and retail property development in and around the Pietermaritzburg area in KwaZulu-Natal. Andrew was schooled in Pietermaritzburg and initially followed in his parents’ footsteps into conservation. His first job, at 18 years old, involved running an anti-poaching unit, but Andrew quickly realised that his passion lay elsewhere. “Animals don’t speak back, and I enjoy working with people,” he reflected. This marked the beginning of his journey into the property industry, a field he entered “by absolute default” over 30 years ago. His early mentors played a crucial role in his development, particularly his parents, who were government employees. One of his first employees was his mother, a situation that added some pressure to his early career. “If I didn’t pay her salary, she’d probably kick me out!” he quipped. SPORT AS A FOUNDATION Andrew’s passion for sport has influenced his business approach. Over the years, he has participated in numerous events, including half a dozen Duzi canoe races, nonstop Duzis, the Comrades Marathon, mountain bike races, and has climbed some of the highest mountains in the world. “Things that I’ve learned from sport are probably some of the greatest lessons that I’ve learned outside of the business world,” he said. “Things like tenacity and making a plan; because to a large degree, as with sport, the business environment requires absolute zest and a need to come out on top. That doesn’t mean you need to get one over anybody else. It means that you’ve got to work with people.” This belief extends to his leadership style. Andrew emphasises the importance of leading by example and fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated. “You’ve got to constantly look for a balance between big decisions and careful thought,” he noted. His approach recognises that people are motivated by a variety of factors, and that as a leader, you must be willing to take risks, make difficult decisions, and remain humble in the process. “Working hard and being prepared to do anything that you ask people to do creates a strong foundation for trust and respect,” he explained. NAVIGATING CHALLENGES Andrew’s involvement in the community extends beyond property. When his children started school, he became involved in education, initially serving on the board of Cowan House, a local independent school, and later the regional committee of South Africa’s Independent Schools’ Association. A challenge Andrew faced was during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The first confirmed case of the virus in South Africa was linked to Hilton, a neighbouring town, and the infected individual’s children attended Cowan House. This situation placed Andrew at the centre of a crisis that required action. “Engaging with various ministers, the community, and the media was probably one of the most trying times in my life,” he recalled. “I think I navigated the crisis well for my community of people. A lot of my upbringing has been one of engaging with people and sorting out problems off the front foot, and that’s what I’ve tried to do constantly.” Andrew’s believes that success is not just about personal achievements but about contributing positively to society. “My why is that I think that you owe it to society and to yourself to be the very best at whatever you do every minute of the day,” he explained. “I deliver on my mandate, for all those people that I work with.” His approach to business and life is shaped by a genuine love for people. “I believe that I have the ability to deal with a plethora of people from different backgrounds, from captains of industry to bricklayers and plasterers, who need to be heard and understood,” he said. “The best advice I’ve ever received is to face things head on... And in life, you need to love people for where they are at and laugh. I think that’s incredibly important. These three things have helped keep me real, kept me grounded and enabled me to work with different people constantly.” A CRITICAL SKILL Andrew’s leadership style is also characterised by his emphasis on listening. He believes that truly hearing what others are saying, as well as what they are not saying, is a critical skill. “The ability to listen is probably the greatest, most undervalued skill,” he emphasized. “It’s something I’ve learned and I don’t always get right, but I work at it every day.” In the challenging environment of first-generation property development in South Africa, Andrew has faced significant obstacles, particularly when competing with larger, more established players. “There’s a lot of really deep pockets, and you are often on the outside looking in,” he admitted. “But the best way to combat that is to work hard, work honestly, and face challenges head-on.” Andrew works at keeping up his team’s morale by understanding that you need to be human because people don’t follow robots. “That means you need to be humble, caring, conscientious and genuine. If you apply those traits, the right people will follow you. And people will put themselves on the line for you.” Andrew is inspired by people who have built businesses from the ground up. “Anybody can buy an asset; not everybody can create one,” he stated. He holds a deep respect for simple, hardworking individuals who often must overcome significant life challenges. “You can learn an exceptional amount from simple people,” he says. Looking ahead, Andrew is optimistic about the future of business in Pietermaritzburg and the Midlands, which he believes has significant potential for growth, especially with the rise of the middle class over the past few decades. He sees opportunities for those willing to work hard and collaborate with others. “You’ve got to decide whether you’re a half-empty glass or half-full glass kind of person,” he said. “And I’d like to think that I’m the latter.” Andrew’s motto, “Pitch up at the start line and put your ears back,” captures his approach to life and business. He advocates giving your best effort in every situation, regardless of the competition. Previous Next

Up Home Up Natalie Keegan Natalie Keegan is an experienced public relations and communications professional with more than 25 years in the corporate space. In January 2021 Natalie redirected her career and says that she can now proudly say that she is a businesswoman. This move is has seen her partner with Everest Strategic Communications KwaZulu-Natal and BKT Logistics. A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT Natalie has a healthy reputation and contact base in the northern KwaZulu-Natal area which has enabled her to assist the founder and CEO of Everest Strategic Communications, Zama Luthuli, to be onboarded as a service provider at several corporates in the Richards Bay area. Everest Strategic Communications is 100% black woman owned PR and communications company for which Natalie consults as regional director KwaZulu-Natal. “Importantly,” says Natalie, “I would like to thank Zama for offering me the opportunity to partner with her in KwaZulu-Natal. It is a huge achievement to be able to quote and tender on jobs at these large corporates within our first six months of opening a branch in KwaZulu-Natal.” Throughout her career and now as an entrepreneur, Natalie’s community involvement has been and is to uplift and empower the youth and elderly. Natalie was a committee member and later voted in as the chairperson of Empangeni Child and Family Care for several years. “I decided I could do more and be involved in more projects in my personal capacity, which is what I have continued to do throughout Covid and currently. In the past I wanted to help as many families as I could, but I now focus on helping one needy family at a time.” Last December Natalie assisted a family with electricity in their home and for 2022 she has assisted with monthly groceries to support one family of six and she will continue to do so until they are in a better position financially. In addition, Natalie has been a board director of the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as Uthungulu Community Foundation for the past five years. FELT A CONNECTION Speaking of people who inspire her, Natalie says that Carina Smith-Allin (Mint PR), although she had never met her personally but followed on LinkedIn was someone whom she admired. “I felt a connection to her through what she shared in the public domain and when I was at my lowest, I reached out to her and asked her if she would be prepared to have a virtual meeting with me… She did and her perspective around the challenges I was facing put my journey back on track. It says a great deal about her willingness to engage with a stranger although we are in the same line of work. I continue to follow her and watch her grow in business.” Natalie’s mother passed away when she was seven and she was raised by her father and her “gogo” - Busisiwe Mthembu who she loved dearly. Natalie commented, “She taught me to love and be kind to people from all walks of life. She took care of me for many years, and I returned this love until she passed away in 2018.” Her sister, Sylvia Cozens, also played a role in raising Natalie after her mother passed away. “She has stood by me when I had my boys and through my challenges and is the person who constantly reminds me that I can be successful. I am that strong, capable woman and I will be successful.” PATIENCE AND RESILIENCE Natalie has been faced with daily challenges in her new world of business, but she says patience and resilience are what it has taken for her to move forward and get her foot in the door. She explains, “I fortunately did not burn any bridges over my 25-year career, and this has been my strength in 2022.” “I have strong relationships with business and industry leaders who have given me guidance and support which in turn has given me the confidence to stay strong, patient and believe in my capabilities to be successful in business. We all want to find that stability and pay cheque from the word go, but it doesn’t come that easy.” FUTURE GOALS Natalie’s goals are to champion the way women and business can transform the communications industry and society at large. She believes that she has a part to play in this process. “Influence is dynamic, so I believe it is imperative that I collaborate and partner with leaders within the PR and communication industry. I would like to be that person that gives other women the strength to believe that anything is possible if you keep trying. Giving up should never be considered.” In addition, Natalie intends to build and nurture current and future relationships with industry professionals that have made a success of their careers and businesses.

Up Home Up Reshma Maharaj RESHMA MAHARAJ is the founder of a group of companies. GR Extra Space offers low-cost affordable mobile solutions including log cabins, classrooms, offices as well as manufactures jungle gyms. Heartbeat Training Academy is fully accredited and offers health and safety training, including First Aid – Level 1,2 and 3, basic firefighting, risk assessment safety officer, and health and safety SHE Rep training. The third company that Reshma manages and operates, Enspired Women Magazine, is her passion. This platform inspires ordinary women and youth to become financially stable. Reshma explains, “On this platform, we educate, promote, inspire. We take women through different levels of mentorship and coaching where they use their skills to generate an income. Most of the time, this includes women that have been abused or women who have struggled through their journeys. We hope that by using their new skills, they can have some financial stability.” Currently, Reshma says that her greatest achievement has been having her business operations still open during the erratic business times of the Covid pandemic. Other achievements have been the many national, regional, and international awards that the group of companies has taken, which is a great achievement in their portfolio. Rehma commented, “It took years to build the brand, especially our core business and for us, this recognition shows business growth. We do create a lot of direct and indirect jobs through the different companies that we manage and operate.” “Another achievement was being the speaker at the World Women Conference, where I took a standing ovation for building the ordinary women and youth around you,” added Reshma. Reshma’s biggest inspiration she would say is her late dad. “I was always inspired by his business tenacity. He was always business minded. We sat and talked about shop. He was always encouraging us not to give up. He taught us how to swim through the recession periods over the years and one thing that stood out was that he reminded us that your workplace is not your comfort zone. You’ve got to give it that effort, you’ve got to work hard and make sure that you achieve your goals and be successful.” There are two brilliant women that Reshma is grateful to – her mentor, Vani Moodley and Fatima Sarigat from SmartXchange. “These women would drive you to see your capabilities, because sometimes you are so confined behind that desk, you don’t see beyond that space,” she commented. Reshma explained that Vani has taken her from a confined space and thrown her into the deep end. Without her mentorship and coaching, she does not think that she would have taken the manufacturing business to the lengths that she has taken it to. “I’m an entrepreneur, but sometimes you need that little push and guidance along the way,” said Reshma. The company started manufacturing storage unit and is now building and manufacturing mobile classrooms, site offices, container conversions, and clinics. Some of Reshma’s biggest challenges faced were during Covid and she said that her late dad’s words stuck with her. “He taught me how to swim through these challenges and for me it is not putting my signature on everything I need. I have to understand, is it a need or is it a want. Covid has taught us lots of lessons and I’m grateful for his advice. Now that I sit here, I’m ready to take the business to new levels.” One of Reshma’s future goals is to see her brand expand, especially on the Heartbeat and Enspired sides. She would love to see them reach a global level. With technology, she said, now everything is possible, and you can sit in your own space and be training and facilitating at an international level. In advising younger women, Reshma says that they need to love what they do. “They need to have confidence in themselves, they need to be passionate about what they are doing, and they need to understand that life is a journey, it’s not a competition. If you are going to think of life as a competition, you are going to focus on competition instead of the journey. Every day is a new step for you to start something new. Women need to be brave, bold and be confident and be passionate in what they are doing.” Reshma is a wife and has been married for 25 years. She is a mom of two, and has a 22-year-old daughter, who is completing her last module in civil engineering this year, and a fourteen-year-old son. To relax, Reshma loves cooking for her family, and just being with them, because as she says life has become so busy. “I enjoy weekends, cooking and dabbling with flavours. I enjoy those long calls to my sister or to my sisters-in-law, I’m very family orientated, so for me, I look forward to the weekends to relax with my family.” FINAL THOUGHTS “Life in the last two years, I think has been really challenging for every woman, for every business and family. Given the opportunity to see a new day is the biggest blessing that anybody can ask for in life. If you are given another chance in life, get up and try again. Here’s your chance to make it work again.”

< Back Victoria Ngwenya Next As head of Retail and Business Banking in KwaZulu-Natal, Victoria is responsible for overseeing operations across the personal and business banking segments including the bank's extensive branch network, ATMs, private banking suites and small and medium enterprises VICTORIA NGWENYA credits her father for his role in her success. "From an early age, my father instilled in me an appreciation of the value of a great education and a strong work ethic. I wouldn't be where I am today without having either of these and, of course, lots of luck." As head of Retail and Business Banking in KwaZulu-Natal, Victoria is responsible for overseeing operations across the personal and business banking segments including the bank's extensive branch network, ATMs, private banking suites and small and medium enterprises. It's been a journey, and she's had to work hard to earn her stripes in the corporate world, but she's had some impressive role models. "Admittedly, it's been a great help and source of inspiration to have phenomenal leadership in banking today." Changing the narrative "Financial services is a tough industry," she says, "and one that, in the past, marginalised a lot of black people, particularly women. But there's a wave of incredible executives, both women and men, that are deliberate about and committed to changing the narrative. I draw lot of inspiration and courage from these leaders for their resoluteness." "Our very own, Sim Tshabalala CEO of Standard Bank, is an absolute icon, and Funeka Montjane, our Chief Executive of Personal and Business Banking, is a remarkable visionary and leader. She started out in banking very young and has had a long impressive career." Victoria also singles out Raisibe Morathi, CFO of Nedbank. "Raisibe has played a critical role in my personal growth and in my career development. She's been very instrumental as a mentor and has taken a keen interest in me and selflessly guided me up the corporate ladder." Since joining Standard Bank, Victoria says she's also very fortunate to work with a very inspiring leader, Imraan Noorbhai. "He's taken a very hands-on approach to immerse me in the retail business. My previous experience is in corporate and investment banking, and retail banking is quite different - this is a people business and it is driven by volume. It's fantastic and a great privilege to work with Imraan who has a wealth of knowledge in this business." Invest in yourself and your career A firm believer in continually investing in yourself and your career, Victoria is inspired by phenomenal women. "Women have always been marginalised, and we need to work a lot harder to earn our place at the table than men do. That's the reality of the corporate journey. It has certainly changed somewhat over the last few years," she concedes, "but we still have to do ten times more than men to succeed. We need a stronger work ethic and more flexibility than men." There's still a lot to be done Victoria considers herself fortunate to work for an organisation that appreciates, supports and promotes talent, especially black female talent, but she points out that young male black talent is often sidelined as well. "The talent that young black women bring to the boardroom table is all too often undermined," says Victoria, "and corporate South Africa is missing out on what they have to offer. I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I've come a long way as a woman executive in banking. But the road remains hard and long, and there's a lot more that needs to be done; women are still under-represented at executive level in most corporates globally. We need to lift each other up and be deliberate about getting more women into executive seats. That's how we'll make the biggest change." When asked about work-life balance, Victoria shakes her head. "That's the biggest myth ever for a woman." But she also points out that she's extremely lucky to have a supportive partner whose also her biggest cheerleader and a very active and involved parent. "Without him, I wouldn't be able to work the long hours and do all the travelling my job requires of me." Victoria is also fortunate to have a great support structure in the form of family and friends who are always ready to step in when they're needed. "So no, I don't have a great work-life balance, but I prioritise. It's important for me to have time for myself, doing things that refuel me - be it gym or meditation. Equally important is time with my family and friends. And I also find time to plan how I want to give back to other young women. It can't just be about me; true success for me is about the power of the collective." Victoria points out that women tend to be very hard on themselves, and if she could give one piece of advice to her younger self it would be this: "Be kind to yourself. Spend more time discovering your purpose, your passions and what makes you happy. Own your interests and make time for them while you're young." Previous Next

Sometimes you will not be celebrated along the journey; people celebrate at the end, but that does not make your goal impossible < Back Nozuko Basson Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Affairs Tronox South Africa Nozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is based in northern KZN, entails making sure that the mining company honours its responsibility of creating value for its stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the workplace, and how she treats other people. Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the support from many people who have crossed her path. “I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor who helped me in building the capability to understand how media relations works.” From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident in what you are doing.” Having courage Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-Natal has been an amazing journey that has required her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas where she thought she would never be able to venture. She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision. This requires that we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal values, as well as the values of the organisation in which I work right now.” In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the “pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female, start rising in your career there are times when other females do everything in their power to pull you down. I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise. It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up and motivate each other.” The second challenge she has faced is working in the mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over that, working within the community, which is also a male led environment that still subscribes to traditional practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has come with its own difficulties. Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko. “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you bring your own, and that’s something that I have really started being vocal about.” Leaving behind a legacy In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or was working in that organisation, she made a positive difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an organisation that has the platform that will allow her to do so when the time is right. On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space. I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m on the right track.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you venture out, you understand that not everybody will be cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you because they may not know the power that they have within themselves.” Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”

As with any entrepreneur, your experiences build you and that’s the way to get to the top of your pyramid < Back Nozuko Basson Regional Manager for Communities and Corporate Affairs Tronox South Africa Nozuko Basson’s role at Tronox, which is based in northern KZN, entails making sure that the mining company honours its responsibility of creating value for its stakeholders, of which, communities take centre stage. The most significant event in Nozuko’s life is, she says, when she became a mother. “I had my daughter when I was fairly young and from the moment she arrived in this world, I knew that the game had changed. It’s an ambition of mine, that when my daughter is asked who your role model is, she mentions my name.” In ensuring that she is an inspiration to her daughter, Nozuko constantly evaluates how she behaves, how she practices professionalism in the workplace, and how she treats other people. Nozuko believes that she has got to where she is today through hard work, dedication, a lot of praying and the support from many people who have crossed her path. “I’m somebody who is focused on her religion. I’m a Christian and I’ve always believed that everything that I do is enabled by my faith. I started my career as a journalist, but I realised that was not the life that I wanted to live. I’m not a social and out-there type of person, so I moved into public relations. I was fortunate to work for an agency where I had an amazing mentor who helped me in building the capability to understand how media relations works.” From there, Nozuko moved onto one of South Africa’s largest medical insurance organisations, Discovery. Here, Nozuko said, she had mentors who helped guide her through her career. “I’ve been fortunate that I had other people lifting me, guiding me, and making sure that I stayed on the right track. My journey has been difficult; it’s always good to be reminded by those who are ahead of you how to remain positive and confident in what you are doing.” Having courage Nozuko says that her decision to move to KwaZulu-Natal has been an amazing journey that has required her to really stretch herself. This meant going into areas where she thought she would never be able to venture. She added, “Just having the courage to really push myself and push the boundaries for my team members so that we all work towards one single vision. This requires that we stay close to the cause and really live our own personal values, as well as the values of the organisation in which I work right now.” In commenting on the challenges that she has faced, Nozuko says that as a young female professional, the first challenge that she would like to focus on, is the “pull her down syndrome”. “When you, as a female, start rising in your career there are times when other females do everything in their power to pull you down. I have a strong view that if one of us rise, we all rise. It’s hard enough being a young female, let alone being black in the workplace; we need to hold each other up and motivate each other.” The second challenge she has faced is working in the mining industry, which is a male dominated sector. Over that, working within the community, which is also a male led environment that still subscribes to traditional practices has brought a great deal of learning, that has come with its own difficulties. Currently, the third challenge has been dealing with unconventional community issues, that pose a serious risk to Tronox’s public reputation. “This is where the company’s values, procedures and policies need to guide you to deal with the challenges in a manner that does not compromise your role or its reputation,” said Nozuko. “Lastly, I have often found myself feeling not quite welcome around the ‘table’, as if I am a token BEE candidate,” says Nozuko. “I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t wait for somebody to offer me a seat at the table. If there’s no seat for a female in the workplace or in this industry, you bring your own, and that’s something that I have really started being vocal about.” Leaving behind a legacy In the future, Nozuko wants to leave behind a legacy that says, “When Nozuko Basson was in that community or was working in that organisation, she made a positive difference.” In terms of her career, she sees herself growing from strength to strength. Right now, she is focused on her work in South Africa, but soon, she wants to share her knowledge and skills with the rest of the world. Nozuko added that she is fortunate to work for an organisation that has the platform that will allow her to do so when the time is right. On the personal side, Nozuko wants to travel the world. “I want to touch other lives in my own personal space. I want to live my best life and it’s something that I’m making a deliberate effort in doing and I know that I’m on the right track.” In advising others, she says, “It’s important not to be side-tracked by other people’s opinions. It’s important to remain true to yourself. It’s important that when you venture out, you understand that not everybody will be cheering for you, so learn to be your own cheerleader and as you’re cheering yourself, cheer those around you because they may not know the power that they have within themselves.” Nozuko believes one needs to put their heart into everything that they do. “I always say to people, if you’re not going to give it your all, rather don’t start. I believe in dazzling people. One of Tronox’s values speaks to doing the right work, the right way in every aspect of our business and that’s really what I subscribe to. I don’t take short cuts; it’s about doing something right all the time. It’s behaving in an ethical way and ensuring that everything I touch, doesn’t only represent organisational integrity, but also my own personal integrity.”

< Back Serena Jagadasan Next Growing up in Phoenix, Serena knew people mattered and she needed a career where she could help others. She decided she wanted something in the medical field and settled on radiography and chose to study in Pretoria and it was in patient care that she really excelled When Serena Jagadasan qualified as a radiographer, she never dreamed she'd become the managing director of a retailing group with a staff of a 1000 people. Growing up in Phoenix, Serena knew people mattered and she needed a career where she could help others. She decided she wanted something in the medical field and settled on radiography and chose to study in Pretoria and it was in patient care that she really excelled. She loved her work, and the knowledge that she could make a difference for her patients. However, it wasn't long before she returned to Durban, married Ravi Jagadasan, and began her retail journey. Although neither of them had any retail experience, Ravi had been approached by Spar to open a store in Phoenix, an opportunity they couldn't pass up, and together they set out to grow the business. Now managing director of Starwood Investments and the Star Retailers Group, Serena leads her 'dream team' of 60 managers and a staff of 1000 people across nine business units: seven world-class Spar and Superspar stores, a wholesale bakery and an accredited training academy. She credits her husband with introducing her to the retail world, and describes him as her business partner and mentor. "He really is an exemplary person and an inspiration. I strive to emulate him," she says. She describes her shift from radiography to retailing as simple. "It's all about people. People matter. In radiography, my strength was patient care. In retail, my strength is still caring for people. But now it's my staff and my customers that I care for." The power of emotional intelligence Describing herself as a highly emotional, Serena certainly doesn't see this as a negative. "Women do behave differently in business, because we are emotional beings. And if you have high emotional intelligence (EQ), this is a real attribute. Successful leaders need a high EQ to understand behaviour and motivation, and as an emotionally intelligent leader you can generate greater loyalty and commitment in your staff, and motivate them to give of their best." When Serena talks about her staff her commitment is clear. "I strongly believe that human capital is our most valuable asset and I focus on that. I'm passionate about the people. I care, I show I care, and that's why our business is successful." Apart from the obvious demands of her role as managing director of a successful business, Serena also manages her roles as wife and mother to three boys under the age of nine with assurance. She is confident she has a good balance between work and the rest of her life. "It takes a good deal of planning, time management and self-management, but it's important to get it right and I make it a priority." Serena's an early riser and keeps a regular schedule. She hits the gym first thing in the morning before heading to work. "I'm strict about office hours and work from 9am to 3pm, so I have plenty of time with my boys." She also puts aside time for her husband, and says that spending time together on shared interests makes it easier to maintain their close bond and keep the spark alive. "We both love ballroom dancing so we do that twice a week, and we play golf too." Find your purpose Asked what advice she'd give her younger self, Serena doesn't hesitate. "Find your purpose as soon as possible," she says. "To live a fulfilled, contented, happy life, you need a purpose. Develop a clear understanding of who you are, find your purpose and you can be the highest version of yourself." And Serena certainly knows herself and her purpose. She attributes much of her success to her willpower. "I have the courage to take on challenges, the self-belief to stay the course when things get tough, and a heart strong enough to accept constructive criticism. I have a positive attitude to life and to business, and I accept that even when things don't go my way, I can learn and grow from the experience." Empowerment through education Serena is grateful for her accomplishments, and is clearly enjoying her journey, but she still has two major goals she's determined to achieve: "Firstly, I have a big goal for 2020. I completed a postgraduate diploma in business management a couple of years ago, but now I want to take it further, and I'm embarking on an MBA next year. Secondly, I want to see our employees grow too. Most of our staff have no tertiary education but empowering people is central to their growth, and education is a key part of that empowerment. So it was a clear strategic intent to introduce our Raising the Bar training academy. It is my goal to see that each one of our employees achieves at least an NQF2 qualification, and our academy is a vital part of achieving that goal." Previous Next