On South Africa is a website that links consumers to suppliers across twelve categories, with a dedicated website for each category. "For example," says Sarah, "if you were planning a function, you could go onto the OnSA Celebrate site and find everything you need - caterers, photographers, florists, venuesSarah WhitakerOn South Africa is a website that links consumers to suppliers across twelve categories, with a dedicated website for each category. "For example," says Sarah, "if you were planning a function, you could go onto the OnSA Celebrate site and find everything you need - caterers, photographers, florists, venuesAs an art teacher looking for art supplies, Sarah Whitaker did what we all do - she asked Google. But she didn't get the answers she was looking for. "Between the big stationery stores and paid ads, I just couldn't find the small, specialised suppliers I wanted," she said. Happily, her network of art teachers filled the gap and she discovered a rich resource of small businesses that had exactly what she needed - but couldn't find online. This was the inspiration for On South Africa (OnSA). Sarah realised that there was a host of small businesses offering products and services of real value - but unable to reach their target market. "I realised that being found online could make a huge difference in their sustainability and profitability, but most of them simply didn't have the resources and digital skills to make it happen." So, she set about creating a structure to help them do just that - without the high costs that usually accompany building a strong online presence. Easy access to specialist small businesses On South Africa is a website that links consumers to suppliers across twelve categories, with a dedicated website for each category. "For example," says Sarah, "if you were planning a function, you could go onto the OnSA Celebrate site and find everything you need - caterers, photographers, florists, venues." The OnSA categories include home, start-ups, social, "kidlets" and more. "Visitors get to search by province, they find suppliers relevant to them, and the small businesses have the chance to connect with customers in their local area." For Sarah, one of the key issues is that when visitors click on a business, they go to a profile page and get to go behind the scenes and find out about the people running the businesses. "With small businesses, relationships are important, and site visitors can connect with people they relate to." Sarah has also chosen not to allow any invasive or aggressive ads. There are no distracting pop-ups and no spam or click-bait on her sites. "It's just links to the websites of companies who can help you. You find out about the businesses who can give you what you need, and the people who run them. And we help them showcase their small businesses to people who are looking for their services, in their area." Women bring warmth to business Setting up On South Africa and its network of 12 websites, "so far", in 2017 was a major undertaking for a solo entrepreneur, and Sarah gives huge credit to her husband and friends and family who helped and supported her, "and brought me a constant stream of coffee". "I've been surrounded by strong, independent women my whole life, particularly my mother and my sister, and they've been a huge inspiration to me. And my family and friends have been an enormous support to me as I've grown my business." "I believe that women bring a warmth, and a more nurturing approach to business, and this can bring a different dimension to how we run our businesses. It's not that we need to behave differently than men in order to succeed," Sarah points out, "but often we just do." Sarah admits she's not good at work-life balance. Married to her childhood sweetheart, and with three beautiful daughters, her family is central to her life and her happiness. "I'm ADD*, but when I'm immersed in a project I can really focus on it, sometimes almost obsessively. I still sometimes pull all-nighters to get things done." So she's grateful for the help she gets from friends and family - and she's aiming to get the balance right soon. A strong believer that you can achieve anything if you believe in yourself, Sarah wishes she'd realised this when she was younger - because she would have taken on bigger challenges sooner! Big Dreams "I want to make a positive difference and empower and uplift as many small businesses as possible, and this is only the beginning," says Sarah. "Yes, I'm proud of what I'm doing - and that I'm helping other entrepreneurs while supporting various charities too. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself what I've achieved, because there's so much I want to do." Highly creative, Sarah not only does all the web design herself, she's is also a well-established glass artist with impressive credentials, including a 100 metre original artwork (yes, one hundred metres!) on the façade of the Bridge City shopping centre in KwaMashu, incorporating drawings by children in the KwaMashu area. On her LinkedIn profile, Sarah describes herself as the founder of On South Africa and creator of big dreams. Happily, her big dreams are also helping fulfil the dreams of other South African entrepreneurs. 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. Back

LENORE GOSS-MATJIE, the founder and CEO of "Styled by Le'Nore", is a qualified image consultant, fashion stylist, an etiquette and protocol consultant as well as a motivational speakerLenore Goss MatjieLENORE GOSS-MATJIE, the founder and CEO of "Styled by Le'Nore", is a qualified image consultant, fashion stylist, an etiquette and protocol consultant as well as a motivational speakerLENORE GOSS-MATJIE, the founder and CEO of "Styled by Le'Nore", is a qualified image consultant, fashion stylist, an etiquette and protocol consultant as well as a motivational speaker. The beginnings of her journey were as a professional and qualified dancer, dance coach and adjudicator from the age of 18, and a dance academy owner. Lenore was involved in grooming, styling, and makeup for all her dancers. She was responsible for putting together stage dance productions where the styling and image of the theme had to be communicated to the audience. In addition, Lenore travelled to United States with dance groups. Lenore's and her husband Neville's dance academy was one of the most successful in KwaZulu-Natal. Through this academy, the husband and wife team travelled extensively throughout KwaZulu- Natal and neighbouring countries doing outreach programmes in rural communities, working very closely with the youth. In 2005, explained Lenore, "I unfortunately had an accident while 29 weeks pregnant with my second child. This was a life changing event, which forced me to leave teaching as well as dancing." A new normal Lenore had developed a debilitating muscular skeletal chronic medical condition, called Fibro-myalgia (which to date has no cure but can be managed). "As a result, the next few years saw me undergoing many surgeries, as well as treatments, being in and out of a wheelchair and using crutches... trying to learn how to cope and adapt to my "new normal" way of living." "But I am a fighter, a warrior and although I lost many years through being trapped in a vicious cycle of surgeries, treatments, constant pain and depression, my unwavering belief and trust in God and the unconditional love, support and motivation from my family, saw me emerge victorious against the odds... Breaking Barriers." In further reflecting on what inspires her, Lenore explains that as a woman living with Fibromyalgia, she approaches and looks at life in a more grateful and thoughtful way. "I must truthfully say that I draw inspiration from everyone. I realise that as human beings we all face our own challenges. Conversing with people, as well as observing how they get through their challenges and odds, inspires me immensely. The privilege that I have of being a mom to three amazing children who are so loving and selfless and whom are my biggest supporters, always inspires me. Having a loving husband and wonderful father to our children, also gives me much inspiration." Lenore added that uMama Winnie Mandela is an inspiration for her. "An incredible, brave and selfless human being, who continued to emerge victorious against all the odds." Grooming and styling business Lenore's background in dance and her experiences as a qualified school teacher resulted in her developing a keen interest in growing her passion for grooming and styling into a business. Her vision was to service clients and help them in the space of beauty and glamour. Lenore's focus is on the growth of individuals and corporates, by consulting on the art of building self-esteem through a positive approach to fashion. As a former educator, her goal is to encourage young people to liberate themselves through the power of knowledge and education. She is passionate about the development of young people through programmes aimed at the girl child. In assessing the approaches of men and women in business, Lenore says that the reality is that the corporate and business environment is dominated by males. However, she added that male domination does not determine a woman's destiny or success. As such one of her aims is to inspire women to be advocates for change and trailblazers in their respective industries. "Only you have the power through resilience, focus and determination to succeed. In defining the word 'success' one finds that it is different for each person. Being a CEO of a company or a top executive in corporate may be success for one person. However, being the CEO of your household and your destiny is also success to another person. Don't base and measure your success on another person's success." To date Lenore is happy with what she has achieved but knows that there is so much more that she wants to do and will do. "Learning and growing as an individual is never-ending. I am in it for the long-haul and I want to learn and grow. I am determined to develop my own shoes and accessories line and to engage with more collaborations with various brands in the effort to empower women and youth." Believe in yourself Achieving a work-life balance is not an easy task for Lenore. "Although I work mostly from home, it is sometimes challenging to ensure that I give my all to both my family and my clients, without burning out. What I always do though, and unapologetically so, is to ensure that my children, their needs, and their special events, take priority." If Lenore could advise her younger self she would say, not to view situations as failures, but rather as learning experiences. "It is what you do with those learning experiences that is critical." Most importantly she advises, "Believe in yourself, you are braver than you think, more talented than you know and capable of more than you can imagine." (Roy T. Bennett). 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. Back

The KZN Top Business Awards, sponsored by Standard Bank and Women of Africa Group, recognize excellence across various economic sectors in KwaZulu-Natal. The 2026 entry cycle is currently open, with winners set to be announced on 16 July 2026 KZN Top Business Awards The 2026 KZN Top Business Awards. A Celebration of Excellence The trophies have been awarded, and the 2026 KZN Top Business Awards at the Durban ICC have officially concluded. While nominations are closed and the gala is over, the celebration of our regional corporate achievement continues. We believe that success breeds success, and the incredible milestones shared this year will inspire and drive local investment across KwaZulu Natal long after the event. Relive the excitement, discover the leaders who took home the top honours, and catch up on everything you might have missed. 2026 Official Results Discover who led the way this year. From industry innovators to our KZN Top Business Personality, Ishmael Samji from Tropic Plastics, explore the complete list of outstanding businesses and leaders shaping our economy. [View the 2026 Winners and Results ] Success Stories and Business Blogs Read more about the journeys of our finalists and winners. Explore our latest editorial pieces, interviews, and features on the positive business stories that make KZN thrive. [Read the Latest Blogs ] Watch the Highlights Experience the energy of the night. Visit our YouTube channel to watch the event highlights, exclusive winner interviews, and behind the scenes moments from the gala. [Watch on YouTube ] Looking Ahead to Next Year The momentum never stops. As we celebrate the champions from this year, we are already laying the groundwork for the 2027 KZN Top Business Awards. Stay tuned for announcements, because the next great success story could be yours. WHY ENTER? • There are no costs to enter. • Winning or being nominated for awards serves to strengthen your position against your competitors. • Successful businesses like to work with other successful businesses. • Recognition at an awards ceremony gives a morale boost to your company’s employees and gives them a focus for their purpose at work. • Greater brand awareness is created through the highly valuable publicity before the event, through print, email and social media as well as on the night of the awards ceremony. • Awards help build brand loyalty as customers are keen to support with businesses who are perceived to be doing well. And you’ll inspire others to follow your lead. • The winners will be presented with a framed certificate and a trophy CATEGORIES Standard Bank Client of the year – SME Category Less than R100M turn over per annum, bank with Standard Bank Standard Bank Client of the year – Larger Enterprise More than R100 million turn over per annum, bank with Standard Bank Manufacturing Sector Broadly defined as the physical or chemical transformation of materials or compounds into new products. Transport/Logistics Sector Transport as an economic sector refers to activities concerned with land transport, railway transport, water transport, and transport via pipelines, air transport, and activities of travel agencies, post and telecommunications, courier activities, as well as storage and warehousing activities. Franchising Sector A business that is owned by one or more people who provide products or services under the branding and rules stipulated by a parent company. Family-Owned/Managed Businesses Open to businesses where the majority ownership/management remains within a family (or multi-family) structure, and where more than one generation contributes to the success of the business. Businesses entering this award will need to specify the current family members leading the business and their roles Judges will want to know why you’re a stand-out family business and how being a family business has helped you to succeed. Agricultural and Agro-Processing Sector Incorporates establishments and activities that are primarily engaged in farming activities, but also includes establishments focusing on commercial hunting and game propagation and forestry, logging and fishing. The beneficiation of primary materials and intermediate goods from agricultural, fisheries and forestry-based sectors is included. Business, Financial and Educational Sector This sector includes insurance and pension funding; legal; accounting; education and general business activities. Community Upliftment and Improvement This award is open to businesses or social enterprises that have made a significant positive impact on the community and region they operate in. This could include: charitable efforts, or developing your local community. The motivation should be to make KZN a better place to live and work. Renewable Efficiency – Green initiatives This category includes renewable energy, low-carbon transport, energy-efficient buildings, clean technologies, improved waste management, improved freshwater provision, etc. Employee Wellness This award is for businesses that go the extra mile to engage their staff members and what difference this makes to the business. This may be through in-house training, flexible working, personal development, workplace wellbeing activity and teambuilding. Partnership The winning project will reflect the importance of teamwork and effective inter-agency collaboration. KZN Top Brand The top homegrown brand in KwaZulu-Natal is awarded based only on the results of a public poll. In 2026 these results will be managed through an online voting system. Business Leader of the Year The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Leader’s award is an honorary award given to a businessperson who has demonstrated exemplary business achievement, industry influence and is a true inspiration to others. Top Business Woman An honorary award given to a businesswoman who has demonstrated exemplary business achievement, industry influence and is a true inspiration to others. (Presented by Women of Africa Group) (No entry form is required) JUDGING CRITERIA • The company or organisation must have an office in KZN • The individual judging criteria differs for each category as specified in the award description. • Awards shall be made to such of the entrants who, in the opinion of each panel of judges, are most worthy of the Awards offered, judged against the stated criteria description in each category. • The emphasis is on the overall quality of the entry: the merits of the claims in the entry submitted. All entrants must complete part one and part two of the entry form. • Email entries will be accepted ( gayle@mweb.co.za ) or online entries. JUDGING PROCESS • Entries for the Standard Bank KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio category awards will be reviewed and scored by the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business editorial board. • Finalists will be selected based on the evidence submitted in their entry and on any additional information that the judging panel may receive. • There will usually be three finalists but at the discretion of the judges this number may be reduced or increased. • Winners within each category will be selected from the finalists by the judges. • If, in the panel of judges' opinion, none of the applications in a category is of sufficient merit, the organisers reserve the right not to make the award. • In the event of a draw in the number of points awarded the prize winners will be selected by means of a judge’s vote. • Brand award is awarded by public voting only • No discussion or correspondence will be entered into regarding the decision of the panel of judges. • All entry information and scores will be kept in strict confidence. • The right to revise these rules is reserved. For further information contact gayle@mweb.co.za Tel 0312671977 or 0836530465 JUDGING CRITERIA CATEGORIES FAQ FAQs KZN Top Business Awards KZN Top Business List : FAQs What are the KZN Top Business Awards? The KZN Top Business Awards is an annual event that recognise individuals, companies and organisations that are not only excelling but integrating responsible business practice into their mainstream operations. These practices result in a positive impact in the marketplace, environment, community, and workplace, creating a better life for all in KwaZulu-Natal. In addition, the KZN Top Business Awards offers an excellent opportunity for leading businesspeople to meet, be inspired and showcase their achievements to their peers. What are the benefits of submitting entries? Being nominated, shortlisted and winning one of the KZN Top Business awards is a real acknowledgement that your business is a true success and contributing something meaningful to the KZN economy. Winning or being nominated for awards serves to strengthen your position against your competitors. Successful businesses like to work with other successful businesses. Recognition at an awards ceremony gives a morale boost to your company’s employees and gives them a focus for their purpose at work. Awards help build brand loyalty as customers are keen to support with businesses who are perceived to be doing well. And you’ll inspire others to follow your lead. What do the entrants receive? Greater brand awareness is created through the highly valuable publicity before and after the event, through print, email and social media as well as on the night of the awards ceremony. The winners will be presented with a trophy What are the award categories? 1. Manufacturing Sector Broadly defined as the physical or chemical transformation of materials or compounds into new products. 2. Transport/Logistics Sector Refers to activities concerned with land transport, railway transport, water transport, and transport via pipelines, air transport, and activities of travel agencies, post and telecommunications, courier activities, as well as storage and warehousing activities. 3. Franchising Sector A business that is owned by one or more people who provide products or services under the branding and rules stipulated by a parent company. 4. Family-Owned/Managed Businesses Open to businesses where the majority ownership/management remains within a family (or multi-family) structure, and where more than one generation contributes to the success of the business. 5. Agricultural and Agro-Processing Sector Incorporates establishments and activities that are primarily engaged in farming activities, but also includes establishments focusing on commercial hunting and game propagation and forestry, logging and fishing. The beneficiation of primary materials and intermediate goods from agricultural, fisheries and forestry-based sectors is included. 6. Education, Business and Financial Services sector This sector includes insurance and pension funding; legal; accounting; education and general business activities. 7. Community Upliftment and Improvement This award is open to businesses or social enterprises that have made a significant positive impact on the community and region they operate in. This could include: charitable efforts, or developing your local community. 8. Renewable Efficiency – Green initiatives This category includes renewable energy, low-carbon transport, energy-efficient buildings, clean technologies, improved waste management, improved freshwater provision, etc. 9. Employee Wellness This award is for businesses that go the extra mile to engage their staff members and what difference this makes to the business. This may be through in-house training, flexible working, personal development, workplace wellbeing activity and teambuilding. 10. Partnership The winning project will reflect the importance of teamwork and effective inter-agency collaboration. 11. KZN Top Brand: The top homegrown brand in KwaZulu-Natal is awarded based only on the results of a public poll. 12. Business Leader of the Year: The KZN Top Business Leader’s award is an honorary award given to a businessperson who has demonstrated exemplary business achievement, industry influence and is a true inspiration to others. 13 Top Business Woman The KZN Top Business Woman’s award is an honorary award given to a businesswoman who has demonstrated exemplary business achievement, industry influence and is a true inspiration to others. 14 Standard Bank Client of the year – SME Category Less than R100M turn over per annum, bank with Standard Bank 15 Standard Bank Client of the year – Larger Enterprise More than R100 million turn over per annum, bank with Standard Bank When do the awards open for nominations and entries? The awards open for nominations and entries on 1 March 2026 When do entries close? Category entries close at midnight on 12 June 2026 Top Brand entries close on 28 June 2026 Who is eligible to enter? To be eligible for a category award, the company or organisation must have an office in KZN Entrants need to demonstrate how their companies have embraced the principles of the King V Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa 2026. Factors such as stakeholder relations, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and quality of governance are all considered in the formal judging process. Is there a cost to enter or nominate the business? There is no cost involved to enter or nominate a business. Can I nominate our own business for the awards? Yes, you may How are businesses entered into KZN Top Business Awards? All entrants must fill out part one of the form online to activate your entry which is available on www. kzntopbusiness.com AND For categories One to Ten download and complete part two which must be emailed (or use Wetransfer) to gayle@mweb.co.za Top Brand entrants do not require an entry form. The KZN Leaders Award does not require an entry form How many categories can a business enter? Each business can enter a maximum of two categories as well as the top brand category Can finalists and winners from previous years enter? Yes, they may. Full entry forms are required to be submitted. How are the applications judged? Entries for the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio category awards are reviewed and scored by the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio editorial board. Finalists will be selected based on the evidence submitted in their entry and on any additional information that the judging panel may receive. Winners within each category will be selected from the finalists by the judges. The Brand award is awarded by public voting only The KZN Top Business Leader’s award is an honorary award How does voting work for the Top Brand category? Voting is online. All businesses are encouraged to get their staff, family friends and other stakeholders to vote for their top brand and is actively encouraged What are the key dates? 1 March 2026– Entries/ Nominations open 12 June 2026– General categories entries close 28 June 2026– Top Brand vote closes at 10 pm 16 July 2026 – Gala Awards’ Dinner Who can I contact for more information? Please contact Gayle Adlam at 0836530465 or gayle@mweb.co.za Can I invite friends, colleagues, family and/or staff to attend the final awards event? There will be a limited number of tickets allocated to each of the finalists. You will be able to watch the recorded proceedings online on the 18 July 2026

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 GovenderCHERYL 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 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. 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. Back

Melinda's major role is to drive the business forward and to ensure that standards and customer service continues to be fulfilled and exceeded. "We view ourselves as the experts in our field. We align ourselves with our clients' staffing needs, tailoring our services offerings to meet their diverse operational requirementsMelinda CooksonMelinda's major role is to drive the business forward and to ensure that standards and customer service continues to be fulfilled and exceeded. "We view ourselves as the experts in our field. We align ourselves with our clients' staffing needs, tailoring our services offerings to meet their diverse operational requirementsMELINDA COOKSON, the CEO of Futurelink, a national staffing solutions company, is unwaveringly passionate about the diverse industry she works in. In 1995, Melinda entered the staffing industry as a business development manager for a national staffing company. Five years later, armed with fantastic training and work experience, she took a huge leap of faith and started her own recruitment agency. "I started without any capital, however I was filled with loads of passion and tenacity to see this dream realised. I was fortunate to be given a small corner in a business friend's office to work from. I put my head down and worked very hard. All my planning took place at night and during the day I made sure that every productive minute was spent sitting in front of the right clients." Since those humble beginnings, Futurelink has grown to have a footprint in most of the major regions in South Africa. Experts in our field Melinda's major role is to drive the business forward and to ensure that standards and customer service continues to be fulfilled and exceeded. "We view ourselves as the experts in our field. We align ourselves with our clients' staffing needs, tailoring our services offerings to meet their diverse operational requirements." Futurelink places skilled people in various positions across a range of industries. "Our Flexible Staffing Division allows our clients to operate their businesses profitably through the peaks and troughs of their production cycles by allowing us to place bulk temps throughout these seasons." Futurelink enjoys a buoyant and well-staffed Industrial Relations (IR) Division wherein they have access to over 30 IR consultants as well as labour lawyers and attorneys around the country to assist clients with matters that may end up at the CCMA or Labour Court. Their Cleaning and Hygiene Division boasts well trained staff to ensure they keep their clients premises and factories spotlessly clean and hygienic. Futurelink's Payroll Division offers an efficient and accurate payroll service to their clients. "Futurelink's success to date has been based on service. As a business owner, I have made it my priority to ensure that exceptional staff are interacting with and supporting our clients. I remain passionate about the industry I operate in and my hands on approach to ensuring that my staff go over and beyond to ensure client satisfaction will remain an integral part of Futurelink's ethos." Inspired by ordinary people Melinda says that she is inspired by ordinary people who have faced adversity and have overcome challenges. These are the people we should be applauding. "Helping my clients, inspires and motivates me by offering workable and profitable solutions to sustain their businesses. For many of our clients, we have contributed to their success by placing good, productive people in their businesses. We have watched companies transition through all sorts of changes in the economy and are now running very successful and profitable businesses." Manage people upwards In addition, Melinda recognises that her company's success can be attributed to the great team with whom she has surrounded herself. "A business is only as good as the people it employs. Over time I have built an atmosphere of mutual respect amongst my staff, all of whom operate in an environment of integrity. I manage people upwards to make sure that they are doing their jobs properly and really encourage my staff to take ownership of their responsibilities, get involved and make the right decisions." A level of excellence Reflecting on the role of women, Melinda says that she does not believe that women should have a different approach to business to men. "I deal with a lot of men in business and I have never felt inferior or that they are treating me differently because I am a woman. I have always enjoyed a mutually respectful and professional relationship with my male clients. That said, make sure you deliver regardless of the gender of your client or customer." "We operate at a level of excellence that sets us apart in the marketplace. I am steadfast when it comes to following procedures and 'doing things properly', and nothing is too much trouble for our clients. The staffing industry is highly competitive, and you need to out-perform your competitors at every opportunity. We have done this time and time again. I am happy and grateful for what I have accomplished but there is still a lot I have to do." Uplifting others Melinda believes that it is essential for businesses to get involved and give back to communities. She was an active member of the Ukuthula Trust, which is an NPO based in Chesterville near Durban. She has also since formed the Futurelink Empowerment Trust which focuses on developing young people through educational support and career guidance. Melinda says that her family is a huge part of her life and in her leisure time she enjoys the outdoors and wildlife. "To my younger self I would say trust and enjoy your journey in this life. All the ups and downs, failures and successes, bad and good times. These all help to develop you, to teach you, to build great tenacity within you which will equip you for great things." she concluded. 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. Back

Her passion and determination is unmistakable. "So many people are wounded or completely broken; perhaps from physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or being dismissed as worthless or unimportant, often from as far back as childhoodAldine DallasHer passion and determination is unmistakable. "So many people are wounded or completely broken; perhaps from physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or being dismissed as worthless or unimportant, often from as far back as childhoodALDINE DALLAS is living her best life. Three months shy of 50, she has risen above adversity to achieve significant success, and is devoted to helping others transform their lives from the inside out, her motto: Turning hearts not heads. Her passion and determination is unmistakable. "So many people are wounded or completely broken; perhaps from physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or being dismissed as worthless or unimportant, often from as far back as childhood. They don't recognise their value and find it hard to have a positive view of themselves or their lives, bringing negativity into their personal and professional relationships. It's my vision to help these people heal their lives and build wholesome, happy and respectful connections. And it starts with building a healthy relationship with themselves." From the outside Aldine's life looked amazing. By the time she'd finished primary school she was a seasoned television performer, having danced on a show for eight years and starred in numerous commercials and had generated an income from modelling from the age of six. She was also an academic, head prefect and a top sports achiever. She studied public relations and found a great job in advertising straight out of college. Her career blossomed across operations and new business development and she landed her first directorship and shareholding at 28. "But I was an over-achiever and had never dealt with my childhood brokenness, and I had taken on too much too quickly." With life and work pressure escalating, depression set in. Her marriage ended after only two years and a downward spiral ensued. After 10 years and many poor judgement calls, she found herself stuck in a violent relationship and hit rock bottom. But she didn't give up. She walked away from her career, moved to Durban from Johannesburg and went into a rehabilitation facility to start the inward journey of healing, and began a new chapter of her life. The best you Aldine explains: "I finally built a healthy, nurturing relationship with myself. Through self-exploration, learning from counsellors and coaches and connecting with God, my transformation was dramatic. I realised I could make a difference and in 2008 my journey to help others began. My vision was to take what I'd learnt about brokenness; the importance of forgiveness and being accountable, to encourage people who are hurting to stand up with boldness and courage and step into healing and wholeness." One of her projects was a workshop for female inmates at Westville Prison. "I have a special passion for broken women, as I can identify easily with them." Aldine points out that there are many reasons that women end up in prison, but that childhood trauma, a lack of self-respect and unhealthy relationships like co-dependency are often a common thread. Aldine has run her digital marketing agency for many years and is also a qualified life coach. "I help clients become their best selves, and my deep desire was to do this on a bigger scale." She launched her production company and developed, Over 40 and Fabulous, a reality TV show as a platform to help others nationally and potentially, even globally. "My vision for Over 40 and Fabulous is to neutralise gender, cultural and racial tension. Our commitment is to turn hearts, not heads. We have a team of experts to help our participants holistically to overcome issues that have held them back. We'll guide them into wholeness and help them establish a strong identity, and an authenticity in how they present themselves, so they can pursue healthy relationships. And if they're single we'll even help match them with potential partners, who will be coached as well. I want to uplift and change South Africa one person at a time!" Inspired by Oprah Winfrey and Steve Harvey, Aldine describes how they overcame poverty and childhood abuse and chose not to buy into negativity. "They rose above adversity and went on to become two of the most powerful people in the media world. They have given a voice to the broken and underprivileged, investing emotionally, spiritually and financially into the lives of others. My mission is to invest love and time, and whatever resources I can amass, into the lives of South Africans." Finding the balance Unconvinced by the concept of work-life balance, Aldine points out that work is an important part of life, not a separate entity. "You need to find a balance in your life, and for me that includes attending to my digital marketing clients, consulting with my lifecoaching mentees, working on the production of Over 40 and Fabulous, exercising, salsa dancing, writing books and relaxing with friends and family. Balance is important, but I don't compartmentalise my life, I prefer to take a holistic approach." She mentions her 2007 book. "I highlighted that if life is a rocket ship, then every engine has to be equally and consistently fuelled." Referring to areas such as finance, health and fitness, family and parenting, nutrition, emotions, personal character, spirituality, love, career, intellect and education, social, quality of life and life vision, she advises, "Focus energy in each of these areas and your rocket ship will soar to incredible heights!" Hang in there Asked what advice she'd give her younger self, Aldine is positive. "Well done on hanging in so magnificently. You got up each time you were knocked down and I am so incredibly proud of you. Never be ashamed of your past - there's way more to you than that, you are defined by who you have become. Be resilient and always remember that adversity doesn't have to hold you back, in fact it strengthens and propels you onward and upward." 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. Back

DR MAVIS NAIDOO is the principal of the KwaThintwa School for the Deaf, which is based in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal. The school takes in children with a hearing loss from the age of 3 to 20, from the poorest communities in rural areas all over KZNMavis NaidooDR MAVIS NAIDOO is the principal of the KwaThintwa School for the Deaf, which is based in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal. The school takes in children with a hearing loss from the age of 3 to 20, from the poorest communities in rural areas all over KZNDR MAVIS NAIDOO is the principal of the KwaThintwa School for the Deaf, which is based in Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal. The school takes in children with a hearing loss from the age of 3 to 20, from the poorest communities in rural areas all over KZN. KwaThintwa offers full boarding and follows the mainstream CAPS curriculum. The school was established by Archbishop Dennis Hurley. While he on a visit to Thintwa (meaning touched), he was touched on his cloak by an 11 year old boy. On questioning why the child was not at school, he discovered that there were limited opportunities for Deaf children. KwaThintwa was opened in February 1981 with 40 Deaf learners. Mavis reflected that Archbishop Hurley had been someone she always had a deep admiration for as he had stood up for social justice and actively campaigned against apartheid. She said, "I couldn't believe that he was the chairperson of the interview committee when I applied for the job." Subsequently, Archbishop Hurley became a mentor to her in her various management roles within the school. "When I applied for the position, I had no ambition other than the need to make a difference. There is never a day when I am not touched by working at the school, I often have goose bumps when I drive into the school grounds." She explained that she had a steep learning curve when she joined the school and went from a level one to a level three post in a very patriarchal school. She was a young Indian female who had no understanding of Zulu culture, no knowledge of Zulu language and no Sign Language. "I really believed that my appointment was the will of God and I trusted that his Grace would keep me," she says. The person in the principal's office Her experiences at KwaThintwa informed the content of her PHD dissertation, which was an auto ethnographic study entitled, "The Person in the Principal's Office". Mavis was awarded her PHD in 2013, which she completed studying part-time in two years and eight months. She explains that she had been inspired to study further by her mother who had studied continuously throughout her life and uncalculated in her a love for education. Mavis juggles many balls and plays a pivotal role in Deaf education. Over and above managing the 361 learners who are full time boarders and the 120 staff complement, she is the deputy president of Deaf Education Principals Association - South Africa (DEPASA) and has served as deputy president of South African National Association for Special Schools (SANASA). In addition, Mavis has been chancellor for the National Institute for the Deaf (NID) and has publications in international journals. Her passion for the school is apparent in the active fundraising campaigns that she has undertaken since most the learners are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds resulting in minimal payment of fees. Mavis has secured millions of rands in funding, which has resulted in the building of classrooms, a library as well as a road to the school among other much needed facilities. "South African businessmen are very generous, especially when they can see tangible results," she says. Running the school has required that Mavis acquire business skills and she is grateful for the support that she has received. "As a professional person, I was not prepared for a management role, however, my friend the late Hanu Singh, showed me the ropes and inspired me for the first five to six years on how to run the school as a business." A place of excellence Being goal orientated, Mavis sets the bar for herself, as well as the school, high, which she sees as a place of excellence. "I have a strong belief that the Deaf are not different to their hearing counterparts. They often suffer from low self-esteem, as the hearing community often puts a ceiling on their potential. However, I believe that they can achieve as well if not better than typically hearing children. Deaf education is fast changing, and this rapid change inspires me to do more." Over the past eight years, the school has had a 100% matric pass rate including learners obtaining distinctions. The learners take South African Sign Language (SASL) as their Home Language and English First Additional Language (FAL). South Africa is the first country in the world to have Sign Language as a school subject. The schools 2018 Dux, Thabile Qondani, was placed second in South Africa for SASL Home Language and is the first Deaf individual to study law in KZN. Other learners have gone on to become chefs, teachers, and work in IT. A heart for the marginalised "I have proved that a marginalised child can achieve against all odds by creating an environment that is conducive for learning with committed staff. The children at KwaThintwa are living testaments to this. Mavis also reflected that she is very proud of the achievements of her two sons - who she says are successful role models that have a heart for the marginalised in South Africa. If she could give advice to her younger self, Mavis would say, "Some things can be left undone. I am an overachiever and I don't need to do everything at once." "I am very happy and content with what I have achieved. If I could turn back the clock, I would do this all again. KwaThintwa is the legacy that I leave behind," she concluded. 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. Back

Heartstrings, explains Paula, is essentially about uplifting communities, empowering people and connecting hearts. The definition of a 'heartstring' is a vein where blood flows from and returns to the heart, giving life; connecting people's hearts provides a two-way flow of life - those that offer blessing find that they are blessed in turnPaula StrydomHeartstrings, explains Paula, is essentially about uplifting communities, empowering people and connecting hearts. The definition of a 'heartstring' is a vein where blood flows from and returns to the heart, giving life; connecting people's hearts provides a two-way flow of life - those that offer blessing find that they are blessed in turnPAULA STRYDOM is the creative director who, with husband Mike, is the big heart behind Heartstrings Community Project. They seek to cultivate a spirit of belonging and community that they envisage will grow South Africa from strength to strength. Based in Crestholme, the initiatives include Heartstrings Trading Co, Calico Heart Clothing, and Livingstone Nursery where people come together to maintain and grow plants which are sold to fund some of Heartstrings' projects in Crestholme and surrounds. At Pilgrims Rest tea garden, tea and coffee are freely available for all, bringing people from all walks of life together. On Saturdays, cake is sold to cover costs and share the beautiful space with visitors. At the Heartstrings community kitchen, meals are prepared for people in need, including children attending the nearby creche and inner-city people who live on the margins of society - sex workers, addicts, homeless people and those living in shelters. After providing a meal, the Frontier Church ministry, led by Paula and Mike, spend time caring for their emotional needs, as there is often no one in their lives who will hug them and listen to their stories. A bridge between communities Heartstrings, explains Paula, is essentially about uplifting communities, empowering people and connecting hearts. The definition of a 'heartstring' is a vein where blood flows from and returns to the heart, giving life; connecting people's hearts provides a two-way flow of life - those that offer blessing find that they are blessed in turn. Paula's motivation behind the community project is to be a heartstring, in essence a bridge between communities where people feel they're outcast, either shunned or marginalised. Dreaming of building a hall, Paula points to a tent outside and laughs, "That will be a community hall if we can get funds, for people to come together. Sometimes, we just have to start and trust that it will happen; it's an opportunity for someone to put their hand to something and feel that they're doing something for this country, because that's what we're really passionate about." Paula explains that while Mike was working and they were doing well, they weren't drawn to fancy places, but rather to out of town locations. Moved by the difficult times they witnessed, Paula recounted saying, "you know, somebody should do something", which was the catalyst for answering voices from within that said, "Tag, you're it, do something!" And they did. After praying about it, they felt this calling getting stronger and their focus beginning to shift. They realised that while they were telling everyone, "live your best life and dream", they needed to be part of making those dreams possible. And so they started, with the insight that they should begin with what was at hand. They took stock and knew the time was right; they had a bowl of small change that they'd dropped coins into over time, and a gardener who needed change in his life so, with what amounted to exactly R1000 of small change and the commitment of a certain gardener, they took a leap of faith and began. Their inspiration was to 'take something that was rubbish' and from it create something that was beautiful and teach others how to do that too. After raiding dumpsters, and purchasing a few items that fitted their décor design, they went home to begin the process of recycling and repurposing. Paula perceives the overall value as far greater than that of the product itself, as it was symbolic of a changing life. From small beginnings seven years ago, they have many initiatives gaining momentum. Integrity, dignity and respect Paula describes their success as a result of combining their strengths. "I feel it's the respect of men and women working together hand in hand that actually leads to success." She feels they shouldn't worry about chasing success, but rather worry about what their influence is and what their calling is - if they're authentically themselves, and work within the framework of integrity, dignity and respect, at a level of excellence and hard work, success will follow. A work-life balance is integral to Paula's family life-style. "Each day is completely unique, it's quite like it is rest. One day we might be doing something administrative, the next something completely creative, so... we're playing at the same time as working. Our balance is in work hard and play hard; we do it all with the passion of our calling and that is our balance, it's how we've done this for seven years." I would tell my younger self to listen to your intuition... there's a voice inside you that wants to lead and guide you, get to know yourself well, be all that you love and that you're passionate about, and it'll grow and develop from there. Listen to the voice inside of you, and don't be scared to make mistakes. Try things; mistakes are only mistakes when you give up and you don't learn something from them. Every part of who I am today is because there was a young woman who wasn't afraid to try different things. Even if it seems so incredibly diverse, you never know what that's all going to accumulate into. When I look back at all the different things that we were involved in - I feel they are now coming into fruition. 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. Back

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 excelledSerena JagadasanGrowing 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 excelledWhen 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." 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. Back

Honey serves on the Drakensberg Boys Choir School board and until June 2019, she also served on the boards of Sekelo Oil Trading and Thebe Solar Energy Holdings. Honey is a member of the Durban Chemical Cluster Executive Committee and chairs the Skills and Transformation Desk. She is a member of the Gauteng Innovation Hub Management Company's Investment CommitteeHoney MamaboloHoney serves on the Drakensberg Boys Choir School board and until June 2019, she also served on the boards of Sekelo Oil Trading and Thebe Solar Energy Holdings. Honey is a member of the Durban Chemical Cluster Executive Committee and chairs the Skills and Transformation Desk. She is a member of the Gauteng Innovation Hub Management Company's Investment CommitteeHONEY MAMABOLO is the chief executive officer of Thebe Unico (Unico), an automotive and industrial chemical manufacturer and a 100% black owned subsidiary of Thebe Investment Corporation (TIC) with a 54-year history of manu-facturing quality chemicals for the automotive and other industries. Unico is a leading manufacturer and supplier of engine coolant and brake fluid for the Original Equipment Manufacturers and after market, including oil majors. Honey serves on the Drakensberg Boys Choir School board and until June 2019, she also served on the boards of Sekelo Oil Trading and Thebe Solar Energy Holdings. Honey is a member of the Durban Chemical Cluster Executive Committee and chairs the Skills and Transformation Desk. She is a member of the Gauteng Innovation Hub Management Company's Investment Committee. It takes a village Speaking of her life journey, Honey commented, "It takes a village to bring up a child - my journey started in Lebowakgomo, a township 55km outside Polokwane. My parents were passionate about education and made a lot of sacrifices to ensure that I got a good education. In addition, I was inspired along the way by teachers, both in primary and secondary school." "The greatest impact on my life was at university - where I will single out our Head of Chemical Engineering Professor Uys Grimsehl and the late Prof Tolmay - who were relentless in ensuring that we delivered excellent work." Consequently, the environment at the university ensured that she thrived. Honey qualified in 2000 as one of three first black female chemical engineers from the University of Pretoria. Diversity, agility and the ability to connect However, her early career was spent in the retail banking sector where she worked for seven years as business process engineer, business analyst and project manager. Following which, Honey served as a senior energy consultant and director of operations for Energy Solutions Africa, focusing mainly on energy policy design, implementation, transaction advisory, donor fund management, and market transformation. This background led to Honey's role as a development financier at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). She managed two renewable and energy efficiency funds with a combined fund value of R 1 billion and participated in corporate and project finance deals. Prior to being seconded to Unico as CEO, she served as senior manager corporate finance and business development at TIC. Honey believes that in today's complex business environment - diversity, agility and the ability to connect and leverage others to form long lasting and sustainable partnerships are key to one's success. She is passionate about education, people development, emerging markets, development finance and entrepreneurship. Her mantra is "Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard" and "Never look down on someone unless you are helping them up". Embrace Life with its Challenges When asked who or what inspires her, Honey said, "My mother, who came from humble beginnings and is a retired Educational Psychologist, who achieved a PhD in Early Childhood Development whilst on pension is my motivator and role model." Honey added, "I am Inspired by people who embrace life with its challenges and who are able to thrive in the face of adversity. People who against all odds rise to unimaginable heights." Reflecting on whether women have a different approach to business than men to get to be successful, honey is unequivocal in her answer. "Most definitely, there is power in diversity. Women have the ability to remain calm in the face of storms and are collaborative in nature and are able to pull people together. Women can achieve the 'impossible' when they believe in their ability to achieve the same goals as their male counterparts." She urges young women not to be afraid of new challenges and to realise their full potential. "I have learnt that challenges and failures are part of the journey to success. In every challenging situation, I always tell myself that this too shall pass." We Rise by Lifting Others Honey is happy with what she has accomplished in her life and she is grateful to God for bringing her this far. She reflects that her current leadership role brings her much satisfaction as she knows that she can have a positive impact on the lives of many people. "I am an industry leader responsible for the prosperity of our organisation, impacting many families through the provision of employment and mostly providing support to the industry through our products while contributing to the economy." However, she says that there is always more to be achieved. "I am at a stage of life where transformational and inspirational leadership is critical, and I am looking to develop more leaders and empower others through my influence, networks and example. I believe strongly that we rise by lifting others." A Welcome Respite Honey strives to ensure that she achieves a work-life balance. "Outside of work, I am an avid golfer and runner (road and trail). I also dabble in antique furniture remodelling and painting. I find that these activities provide me with a welcome respite from the pressure and stress that comes with the role. I also spend my spare time with my husband, teens and extended family just relaxing. I have a strong cheerleader in my husband and my helper of 15 years - without whom I would not be able to fulfil my executive role." If Honey could give advice to her younger self, she would say that it is necessary to embrace failure as an intricate part of success. In addition, says Honey, "To have more faith than fear and mostly to be compassionate and kinder to self." 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. Back