A SERIAL BUSINESSMAN Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Shaaz Moosa A SERIAL BUSINESSMAN Shaaz Moosa is the CEO of Supahot Geysers and MS Group Holdings. His business career has, he says, been motivated by his family who have all operated successful business enterprises. Straight after finishing matric, and with their support, Shaaz started his own business journey in the insurance industry. He explained that this experience taught him a lot about communicating with people, about how money works as well as the finance industry. He quickly decided to become an independent insurance broker and applied for his license. By the age of 19 he had multiple contracts. However, Shaaz commented that he realised that the insurance industry did not offer the long-term business growth, which would enable him to reach his own goals. Consequently, he started dabbling in a variety of businesses including the property market. In 2006 Shaaz’s father unexpectedly passed away and his entire world changed. Shaaz was now required to be the leader in his family and take care of everyone. He then started looking for other business opportunities and got involved with the Scooters’ pizza brand, opening up Halaal stores. He explained, “Over three years, we opened up multiple stores and I soon realised that this is very hard work. I found that it was better for me to open up these stores and sell them off. Whilst doing that I was dabbling in buying one-bedroom apartments, as at that time the avenue to credit was quite easy.” As the values of properties was going up, when Shaaz sold these properties off, he was able to build an asset base. “I realised unintentionally, that I’d become a serial businessman and in being a serial businessman a very close, dear friend of mine, who's just passed, invited me to go on and do a mini-MBA with him, which we completed in just over a year.” The course, he said, was fun because due to his practical business experience he understood what everyone was talking about, and he was also able to enhance himself. Shaaz mentioned that he has always had good teams and support structures. His mom as well as his family, and ‘phenomenal’ friends are always willing to assist. He explained, “It's not about finance. It's about hearing you, guiding you, motivating you, and being able to learn from people and what they've done over the years. I think that experience is the basis for the success of who I am today.” In commenting on his motivation to succeed Shaaz said, “I strongly believe that if you do the right things, the Almighty opens up the doors for you. If you assist the community, your people, family, etc, then the Almighty will give you more. That is the advice that I give to every young person today. Don't wait until you have money to give, give from what you have, and the Almighty is going to give you more. And if you're doing right, with the right moral compass, the Almighty will certainly make sure that he gives you that responsibility.” He added, “You have to give back into your communities. You have to give back to your family, whether it's in time or money. You have to include people and by doing that, success is automatic. We must understand that success is not just measured in finances, there's no point in having lots of money if you're not a person that one can sit and talk to.” “And the rule that I would advise to anybody who wants to start to do anything, is just to give 5% more. Because that 5% more is what allows you to be better than the rest. I use an analogy of boiling water, and it's a 5% rule. I'm in the geyser business, so I can be more technical about it. Boiling water boils at 100°C. At 100° C what that can do is limitless. You can create power, and from that power you can create electricity, steam trains, etc. Motion can be created by 100°C of boiling water. At 95°C what can you do? Have a cup of tea and that's all. That 5% extra is what creates and unlocks the multitude of other things that you can do, and to achieve you’ve just got to persevere.” In addition to the 5% rule, Shaaz said that if you look at the top 100 companies in the world and the CEOs and founders of all of them, they have this quality of starting early. “When I say starting early, I'm talking about, the 4:00 am rule. One should start work early and that allows you to work hard.” Shaaz’s career has not been without challenges, which in his early days included a lack of credit facilities due to his young age. This challenge forced him to be more creative and to look at out-of-the-box solutions. One solution was to develop business partnerships, and Shaaz now has multiple partners in a range of businesses. In commenting on his leadership style, he said that he prefers working with inclusion and communication rather than in an authoritative style. “I'm surrounded by a phenomenal team, and I prefer having the buy in and understanding from our key staff. We set up our plan and our mission for what we're wanting to achieve. Including our staff in this process has led to the success of our business. You do get certain people who just take themselves as an employee and don't see the greater vision, but they fall off the wayside.” Shaaz started the Supahot geyser journey in 2018 and the company has now become the third geyser manufacturer in the country. He explained that their success is due to keeping their expenses low and to the relationships that they have built. Initially the company experienced challenges from their competitors who had the bigger nationals tied up. They started off selling geysers to independent hardware stores while growing their brand, and from there, the nationals started approaching them to sell their products which has been very successful. To relax Shaaz enjoys time at home with his family. “I think with my busy schedule and busy timelines, I find joy in my family. I enjoy spending time with my family. I've got a wonderful spouse who's very supportive of me, and I've actually grown quite a bit because of her support.” “I have also achieved much because of the support, the blessings, and prayers of my mum. I try as much as possible to just be there for her.” In conclusion, The motto I live by is to do good, speak well and listen to people.

< Back Masha Padayachi Chief Executive Officer of FT Engineering Masha Padayachi is the chief executive officer of FT Engineering, a company that has shaped the telecommunications landscape for three decades. “We do telecommunication work for MTN, Cell C, Vodacom, and ATC, which is an American based company and we are also into construction,” she explains with pride. Her success is rooted in determination, resilience, and a steadfast belief that women can achieve anything they set their minds to. “I started from very humble beginnings,” says Masha. “I married into a very humble family,” she adds, acknowledging that she never had the luxury of financial advantage or a straightforward path. Instead, she was inspired by the powerful example of her mother and mother-in-law, who were the sole providers for their families. “They encouraged us in pursuing our goals and taught us that nothing is impossible. By looking at what they did, I knew that women could do it.” A BUSINESS WITH HEART Masha’s journey into entrepreneurship was driven by her biggest dream which was to give her children the opportunity that she was not allowed or did not have. And she added her motivation was, ‘to serve the community and help the poor’. She recalls the early days of FT Engineering clearly. “The business was established in 1995. I started with just three staff members and myself, and I ran it from my living room.” Without tertiary education in engineering or telecommunications, she forged ahead through determination, on the job learning and a strong partnership at home. “It was all self-taught and with the help of my wonderful husband, I managed to persevere and get to where I am today.” Today FT Engineering stands as a respected player in South Africa’s telecommunications and construction sectors. What began in Masha’s living room has One of the achievements Masha treasures most is the empowerment of women within her workforce. “Of that staff, I empowered many women, and I now have them holding high positions in our local offices and in the rural areas.” This transformation within her business reflects a core principle of her leadership: opportunity must be accessible to those whom society often overlooks.Masha has long been an advocate for giving people the chance to gain experience rather than excluding them for not having it. “You go out for interviews and the first question you are asked is: ‘What is your experience?’. If everybody closes the door on you because you had no experience, when are you going to get that experience? I gave many people the chance to get that experience at FT Engineering.” Many of those early employees have now grown into respected professionals. “There are a few who have their own business now. I feel very good that I empowered these people.” She describes the workplace she has built as a community. “We are a family at FT Engineering, more than the staff and employer.” With pride Masha adds, “My oldest staff member has been with us for 28 years.” WEATHERING STORMS Success did not come without challenges. “In the beginning, obviously it was finance, but I managed to overcome that.” As one of the few women in her field, Masha faced scrutiny on sites where her knowledge and authority were dismissed. “Going out to sites, I was not acknowledged and I could hear comments, but that did not intimidate me at all. In fact, that made me more determined to make it work.” The Covid pandemic tested her leadership further. “During Covid, I really concentrated on my staff and managed to stretch my budget so that I could keep them.” Support programmes such as Covid loans helped her maintain salaries. She remains proud that most of her team stayed intact through those difficult years Reaching the 30-year company milestone was a moment of fulfilment for Masha. She hosted a celebration that recognised every person who helped build FT Engineering. “I invited all my clients, my suppliers, and most importantly, all my staff to show them my appreciation. Because without them, there is no FT Engineering.” Some staff members experienced luxury hospitality for the first time. “They did not know what it is like to go and sit in a hotel. And that gave me so much satisfaction.” LIVING WITH PURPOSE Masha’s work does not end at the company gates. Community upliftment and faith-based service are essential parts of her life. “I belong to a women empowerment group where we help the poor in our community. I also belong to a Hindu organisation where I help to deliver food hampers.” Charity work brings her peace. “I find doing this service very relaxing, and I get fulfilment out of it.” As she looks to the future, Masha hopes to embrace a slower pace. “I would love to spend time with my grandchildren now.” She lists with joy the ages of the young ones who brighten her life. “I have a two-year old, a six-week-old, and I have a son who has a twenty year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.” She says that she would also like to do some travelling to Seychelles or Maldives with her ‘lovely husband’. “The beaches would be ideal. Somewhere to relax where there is not too much activity and where I know I can just chill.” Masha’s message to young women is firm and inspiring. “Never underestimate your ability. You must set your goals and work towards them. And remember, nothing comes for free. Everything is hard work. And you must get up, dress up, and go get it.” Masha concludes by crediting her strength to the women who raised her. “Looking at them working so hard has shown me that women can do it. They were my role models. I am sure they are somewhere up there looking at me and very proud of me." Previous Next

< Back EY (Ernst & Young) KwaZulu-Natal Vinesh Moodley is a senior professional based in South Africa, currently serving as the EY (Ernst & Young) KwaZulu-Natal Regional Managing Partner and previously as a Director in Advisory Services. Based in Durban, he is part of the EY South Africa leadership team. EY (Ernst & Young) KwaZulu-Natal The BLOG Read all about it READ MORE