Rasheed Amod is a serial entrepreneur who has accomplished much success in his very varied business journey. His business interests have ranged from running a traditional convenience store, to building brands and to large scale construction projects Amod explains that he was driven to achieve by his father who was his role model in life and who had died while he was still at school. Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Rasheed Amod Rasheed Amod is a serial entrepreneur who has accomplished much success in his very varied business journey. His business interests have ranged from running a traditional convenience store, to building brands and to large scale construction projects Amod explains that he was driven to achieve by his father who was his role model in life and who had died while he was still at school. I am a positive minded person, it is the way that you face challenges that matters RASHEED AMOD is a serial entrepreneur who has accomplished much success in his very varied business journey. His business interests have ranged from running a traditional convenience store, to building brands and to large scale construction projects. Amod explains that he was driven to achieve by his father who was his role model in life and who had died while he was still at school. "My dad was my hero; in his day he was in the top 100 Indian businessmen in South Africa. Although I came from a wealthy background, I wanted to achieve business success for myself. My dad had inspired me to take on challenges and to be independent," explains Amod. Consequently, Amod has always had a vision in mind and has been single minded in his approach. "I am firm in my decision making and I have a strong business mind." From an early age, Amod earned money pushing wheelbarrows at the Etna Lane market in Durban, earning 50 cents on a Friday afternoon and 60 cents on Saturdays. This money he said, took him a long way. After Amod completed his schooling he studied accounting. His first job was as a bookkeeper for Peerless Cycles in Durban. He moved to a different firm when offered a better salary. From there Amod saw an opportunity to further his career in a hardware and supply chain selling lighting and cables (Natal Cables, Malbak and Durity Alpha). Within six months he was appointed manager of the group, which afforded him much business acumen. With this experience Amod ventured out on his own and opened a convenience supermarket in Dalton Road, Durban. He says. "I worked long hours; opening the shop at 4.30 am in the morning and closing at 7.30 pm. During that time, I got married, which was very tough on my wife, who has always been my pillar of strength. However, we were blessed to have five children who are all academics and have qualified in various professions including dentistry, medicine, law and accounting." The next stage of his journey saw him opening his own Cut, Make and Trim (CMT) enterprise. Here he supplied knitwear to chain stores such as Woolworths and Edcon. When political changes made for a volatile marketplace, Amod sold his business to join Pierre Cardin as the group financial manager. Amod says, "I became the first non-white director to hold the keys for the building." While working for Pierre Cardin, Amod travelled extensively and made contact with many international business role players. This interaction resulted in him entering the construction business through a joint venture at a later stage in his life. A further career opening allowed him to join one of the five largest advertising and marketing companies in the world, where he acquired much experience in brand building for companies such as BMW, Continental Tyres, Steers and Audi. He retired from there as financial director in the African Chapter. As a sub-contractor he was responsible for the piling at all except two stadiums built in South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This resulted in his participation in other major contracts, including the Sasol gas pipeline form Durban to Germiston, the Gautrain tunnel between Rosebank and Sandton and an international project in Ghana. He worked closely with companies such as Murray & Roberts, WBHO and Group Five. Amod believes that he has been provided with many good opportunities, which have allowed him to succeed. He says that now that his children are all educated and independent, he does not need to work as hard and is semi-retired. However, Amod takes great pride in managing his son's Fareed 24 hour dentistry practice. He also spends time in community upliftment projects from which he derives much satisfaction. He explains, "I work where I see that I can add value and am respected." When possible, he enjoys playing squash with his wife, which he says keeps them both fit.

< Back Janice Chetty Owner of Dynamic Outlook and Founder of Billing for Doctors Janice Chetty has always been driven by a sense of purpose and a belief in the power of self-determination. “When I was six years old, I was playing Monopoly outside, throwing the money in the air, and saying, ‘I’m going to be my own boss,’” she laughs. “My dad still has that video. That dream never left me.” Today, Janice is the owner of Dynamic Outlook, a training and recruitment agency, and the founder of Billing for Doctors, a medical billing company. She also runs Miriam’s Mission, a non-profit organisation founded in memory of her grandmother, which focuses on empowering young people through skills development. Her journey has been shaped by a passion for helping others. “I have always believed that if you have a skill, you must share it,” Janice says. “I’m an accountant by trade and a qualified teacher. Those two qualifications have allowed me to merge my love for numbers with my love for teaching.” That passion led to the creation of her Futurepreneur programme, which equips children with basic business and entrepreneurship skills. “When I was studying my postgraduate teaching qualification, my research showed there was a major gap in practical skills for young people,” she explains. “If you teach a child entrepreneurship, they can start a business, hire others, and that creates employment. It helps grow the economy.” The programme caters to different age groups, teaching older students how to work with budgets and cash flow, while introducing younger learners to business concepts through interactive games. “I wanted it to be fun and engaging,” she adds. “It’s not just about teaching numbers. It’s about planting seeds of confidence and possibility.” FROM REDUNDANCY TO REINVENTION Janice’s entrepreneurial story began in 2021. When Covid hit, Janice was retrenched, which she saw as a new beginning. “I took my Provident Fund and unemployment money and started my recruitment agency from my bedroom. People told me I was crazy,” she admits. “But I told myself, I’m going to do this.” Armed with a notebook full of numbers, she began cold calling companies and sending emails. Within a year, Dynamic Outlook had grown into a respected name in logistics and manufacturing recruitment, winning over national clients. “When I first started calling big companies, I had to prove myself, I would say, give me one chance, let me place one person, and you’ll see what I can do. And it worked.” Her story caught the attention of the media. “In 2022, I appeared in the press for the first time,” she says proudly. “A public relations consultant promoted my journey, and soon after, I was invited to be a judge at the Women of Substance Awards. I couldn’t believe it, I thought I’d be nominated, not judging!”In November 2023, Janice graced the cover of Get It Umhlanga Ballito magazine. “That was another proud moment,” she says. “It showed me that people were recognising the hard work and purpose behind what I do.” A LIFE OF PURPOSE AND PERSEVERANCE For Janice, success is not measured by profit alone. “My purpose is to serve,” she says. “Even as a leader, I believe in serving my team. A good leader uplifts others.” Through Miriam’s Mission, she has used her business network to make a tangible difference in her community. “One of my clients manufactures school shoes, and I got them to donate hundreds of pairs to underprivileged schools,” she explains. “I would also go to schools in Phoenix to teach basic computer skills and get my clients to donate old computers and stationery.” Her personal brand, Lady of Purpose, was born out of this balance between business and giving back. She admits with a smile, “Before I got retrenched, I used to tell my colleagues, I’ll be a lady of leisure with a purpose. But after Covid, I realised life is about using what God has blessed you with to serve others." The journey has not been without challenges. “When you start a business from scratch, there will always be negativity around you,” Janice reflects. “But I learned that if you believe in yourself, you can prove people wrong.” Her persistence extends to her newest venture, Billing for Doctors, a medical billing company she founded last year. “It’s a different industry, and getting clients is harder. It took me a full year to sign my first client, but now I have six. The key is consistency and persistence.” Janice believes that if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will. She says firmly, “When you walk into a room, people can sense if you doubt yourself. Confidence opens doors.” As a woman in business, she acknowledges that gender biases still exist. “Sometimes men don’t take you seriously,” she notes. “But women work just as hard and achieve just as much. I’ve learned to stand firm and show that capability is not defined by gender.”Her advice to other women is simple. “Have a vision board,” she urges. “I’m big on manifestation. If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand. Consistency, vision, and belief will take you where you need to go.” FINDING BALANCE AND STRENGTH Despite managing multiple businesses and a non-profit, Janice prioritises balance and well-being. “Last year, I started an exercise journey,” she says. “I hired a personal trainer, joined a gym, and changed my lifestyle. Now I train four times a week and plan to enter the High Rocks Challenge next year.” Beyond the gym, she finds peace in nature. “The beach is my happy place,” she says. “Walking along the promenade clears my mind. That’s where I find my balance.” Through it all, Janice remains grounded. “Everything I do, business, teaching, community work, all ties back to one thing: purpose,” she says. “My journey has taught me that success is not just about what you achieve, but how you use those achievements to uplift others. Previous Next

Standard Bank KZN Top Business KZN Top Business Awards The popular Standard Bank KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Awards are now in their sixteenth year of existence. As business plays a crucial role in the growth of Africa, Standard Bank has been the proud sponsor of this event for several years. ENTER NOMINATE CATEGORIES VOTE KZN TOP BRAND 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. • Email entries will be accepted ( gayle@mweb.co.za ) 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

Niresh Bechan, Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre's hospital manager, says "Even with the most careful planning, the road of life is unpredictable. The upside of unpredictability is that you may surpass any goals you set yourself." Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Niresh Bechan Niresh Bechan, Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre's hospital manager, says "Even with the most careful planning, the road of life is unpredictable. The upside of unpredictability is that you may surpass any goals you set yourself." It matters deeply to me that we do our very best always NIRESH BECHAN, Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre's hospital manager, says "Even with the most careful planning, the road of life is unpredictable. The upside of unpredictability is that you may surpass any goals you set yourself." Bechan, a chartered accountant who completed his BCom degree at University of Durban-Westville (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal), accepted a job as a management accountant for a hospital. His first job was working in a small, independent hospital, but after gaining some experience, he joined a major South African hospital group and moved into the corporate world. Bechan began to take an interest in the clinical side of the business and rapidly moved into general management within the group. When the Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre opened eleven years ago, Bechan was recruited as general manager. During his leadership, Bechan managed to revive this facility that was then on the brink of ceasing operations. A leader passionate about people and numbers, provided Bechan with the insight to swiftly turn this business around. The Lenmed Health Group became the majority shareholders of the hospital in 2017. As the head of the hospital, Bechan's responsibilities range from the pharmacy to facilities management, and from patient care to finance. According to Bechan, every day is unlike any other. "We are in the business of care; therefore, it matters deeply to me that we do our very best always." He relishes every challenge. The Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre is highly specialised with a top-notch clinical team across a range of specialties. The hospital's numerous accolades include being a paediatric and adult heart, stroke, and renal dialysis centre of excellence. "Many of our patients are critically ill, and this drives what we do, and how we do it. They could be suffering from anything from cardiac failure to a deep vein thrombosis, and our patients often need urgent, specialised care." Feeling blessed to be leading a world class facility and being part of the hospital's phenomenal growth, Bechan says that patient care, clinical governance and training are imperative to managing a successful facility. "Our doctors are handpicked, and our nursing staff is highly specialised. We have strict protocols to measure clinical outcomes. Our goal is for every patient to leave this hospital healed and satisfied." Management tracks each patient's satisfaction and quality of care, from their initial visit to the doctor, through the admission process right through to discharge from the hospital. Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre was voted as one of KZN's top five and SA's top 20 hospitals by Discovery Health patients for 'Best Patient Experience of Hospital Care' in the large hospital category. Running a hospital can be extremely stressful, but Bechan is calm and collected under pressure. "Our patients and their families are under enormous strain, and if we can help relieve their anxieties with compassion and care, with sophisticated technology that gives them the best chance of a positive clinical outcome, and with doctors and specialists with impeccable skills, that will go a long way to helping them deal with their personal circumstances," said Bechan. He attributes the success of the hospital to a strong team, and state of the art clinical facilities. When asked about his management philosophy, he replied that people need to be given the opportunity to grow and he has a keen interest in mentoring those who are committed to hospital management. In his free time, Bechan is a keen jogger. He also enjoys golf, which helps him clear his mind, strategise and network. He says that managing his time is a vital part of his approach, and he regularly spends a couple of hours meditating at his ashram on a Sunday evening, to revitalise, recharge and prepare for the week ahead. "Balance is key... Once you have that, life is such a pleasure!"