If there’s one thing that I can say is that momentum is everything. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, just get up and start doing something. Meshika David < Back Meshika David Director CMM Group of Companies Meshika David is a director at the CMM Group of Companies which operates a network of franchises. Meshika’s initial background was in the corporate environment, but she decided to join her husband in the CMM Group. After developing a passion for the industry, she helped facilitate the growth of their company from one franchise to a network of 12 franchises, these being primarily Debonairs, Steers and Fishaways brands with Famous Brands. Over the span of a decade, Meshika has faced an array of challenges and celebrated numerous triumphs. Reflecting on her journey, she says that many aspects have contributed to their success. However, Meshika says, “I think the most important thing for me was to learn to embrace failure as much as I embrace success.” She commented that we should not be afraid of failure, as if we allow ourselves to become apprehensive about future growth due to past setbacks, we can never move forward. “When I started acknowledging the fact that you have to be able to embrace those failures in order to grow, it led to greater success and expansion of the business.” Meshika’s greatest cheerleader in her entrepreneurial journey is her husband, “Sometimes I think he thinks I can walk on water, which I can’t,” she jokes. Meshika recounts that she has never felt hemmed in by a glass ceiling, growing up in a supportive household, with a father who always believed in her ability to achieve anything. That both of the prominent male figures in Meshika’s life have held an unwavering belief in her capabilities has played an instrumental role in her accomplishments. “Their belief in me is what propelled me to actually believe in things that I didn’t think I could have achieved initially.” The past few years have presented a series of challenges for the CMM Group of Companies. The global Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 necessitated the temporary closure of their fast-food franchises and a whole set of challenges to be faced. Meshika commented, “It brought a whole set of new rules, a whole set of new trading conditions. We had to learn very fast. You had to be agile, you had to learn how to adapt very fast and you had to learn how to respond to the market.” While they managed to successfully meet these demands and changing consumer habits, their challenges were not over. In 2021 the civil unrest, resulted in the loss of seven stores. Overcoming this setback was a daunting task that tested her on multiple levels – emotionally, physically, and financially. “We watched the destruction on camera. And you spent over 10 years building these businesses and in a couple of hours you watch them being torn apart, which was very devastating for us, to be completely honest,” said Meshika. “I think navigating through that was the greatest challenge I personally have faced in business. I think the psychological scars will always be there.” The province’s recovery process was long and arduous, but Meshika and her husband realised they needed to forge on if they wanted to rebuild their livelihood. Meshika explained, “If there’s one thing that I can say is that momentum is everything. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, just get up and start doing something, because if you’re going to keep yourself in that space of devastation, you’re not going to move forward.” In addition, Meshika commented that their ability to forgive and their sense of patriotism played a huge part in their ability to move forward again. Demonstrating resilience and determination the team re-established two businesses within one month of the devastation and just two months later all seven businesses were up and running. Despite the numerous challenges they have encountered, the CMM Group of Companies has won numerous awards over the years. This year they have won the prestigious KZN Top Business Franchising Sector Award, along with the national Sorbet Franchise Partner of the Year Award. Their unwavering commitment to excellence remained evident where, despite the devastation faced during the 2021 looting, their Debonairs’ franchise received the Franchise of the Year regional award, and their Sorbet franchise received the KZN Salon of the Year award. This recognition said Meshika is, “Testament to putting your hand to the wheel and getting back, because you don’t have to compromise on excellence, even in the rebuilding.” Meshika’s future goals are to continue to expand their network of franchises. They recently opened a new store which was their first township development. They have another seven developments in the pipeline. Meshika is highly passionate about economic development and thinks that we need to now change the narrative. The goal is to actively contribute to economic development and inspire the private sector to play a more significant role in uplifting the economy. In advising young women, Meshika emphasizes the importance of authenticity. She explains, “The first thing that you should do every single day is strive to be the highest authentic version of yourself. You don’t have to be anybody else and that’s something that I strive to do every single day.” Meshika finds her work-life balance by making time for nature, reading, and nurturing family relationships. You’re not going to win at business, or anything else for that matter, if you’re not winning at life,” she says. She lives by a motto from her late father, “Knowledge is power, silence is golden, and wisdom endures. Learn the necessary skills to succeed, don’t speak unless it is to improve the silence and the wisdom that comes with experience allows you to excel.” Meshika’s involvement in KZN Top Business Women is a source of immense pride and honour. She envisions using this platform to champion community economic development and encourage the private sector to actively participate in elevating the economy. Her goal is to inspire change and shift the narrative toward a more prosperous and vibrant South Africa.

how you have connect with people, will ultimately determine your successDr Parushinee Naidoo < Back Dr Parushinee Naidoo Founder of Skin Solutions Aesthetic Clinic Dr Parushinee Naidoo is the founder of Skin Solutions Aesthetic Clinic which has practices in Umhlanga and Ballito. Skin Solutions is renowned for bringing internationally acclaimed medical grade treatments to the shores of KwaZulu-Natal. They have introduced and found ways to combine African botanicals with the highest quality in medical aesthetics. In 2020, Parushinee developed her own skin care brand that combines African pharmaceuticals and botanicals with medical grade ingredients, focusing specifically on South African skin. Parushinee also considers her clinics a hub of education and skin solutions as they offer mentorship programmes and education for doctors and therapists. The aim is to not only upscale their skill but improve the overall level of service in South Africa when it comes to the skin care industry. Passion for connecting Commenting on her journey, Parushinee says that founding Skin Solutions is based on her teenage years and being a young adult. She explained, “I struggled with debilitating acne growing up and I never felt comfortable in my own skin. I always had a passion for connecting with people and for helping people live their fullest lives. I think that studying medicine was marrying those two passions together.” Although she added that becoming a mother is what made her take that step to opening her first Skin Solutions clinic. “I felt that I could not be encouraging my children to follow their dreams if I was not living my truth in following my own,” she explained. Parushinee says that she takes inspiration from everywhere – including her kids, her mom, and from the girls that are a part of her clinic. “Everybody has something to share that can help you elevate yourself. I find that every day someone will inspire you in some way.” Over the years, Parushinee’s journey has not been without both personal and professional challenges. She explained that from a professional point of view, being a young brown female in an industry where she was definitely the minority was extremely challenging. Parushinee struggled to figure out how she was going to make her mark in the aesthetic industry. However, she said, “It all came down to embracing what made me unique. I focused on finding ways to make myself relatable to my community and my patients.” In addition, Parushinee focuses on providing quality service and the safest and most effective treatments. She strives to keep herself and her business authentic and real. From a personal point of view, Parushinee says the challenges she has had are the same as every woman out there. For her, that’s how to juggle all the roles of being a mom, an entrepreneur, a wife, a sister, and a mentor – something she is still working on. In order to meet these challenges Parushinee focuses on her time management skills, completing one task at a time and giving it 100%, which has helped her. She added that she has also learned to delegate, which not only empowers the people around her, but makes time for the things that she can truly impact on. Goal Driven Parushinee says that she is very goal driven, and the recently opening of her clinic in Ballito has been exciting and positive. She added that the reception that that clinic has received has made her consider opening more clinics in the future. “We have a massive following on social media and a lot of our followers are not in KZN so there are thoughts of going bigger or nationally with regards to our education platforms.” Parushinee would like to offer more mentorship programmes to grow her brand and to elevate the quality of the industry. In guiding young people. she would say that there is no success without passion. “If you love what you do and you do it well, the rewards will just follow.” The other thing she recommends is to see the value of connecting with people, of building relationships and not just with people that you think can help you, but also with people that you are influencing and who you inspire. Parushinee added, ‘Irrespective of what industry you are in, how you have connected with people and how you make them feel will ultimately determine your success.” In addition, she stressed the importance of embracing technology within your industry to stay ahead of the curve and actually make an impact. Skin Solutions is proud to have achieved just that – combining African roots with international grade equipment and technologies to bring South African patients the best quality skin care. Social Development Skin Solutions is not only a local based skin care range, but they use the proceeds of the skin care range to partake in multiple social development projects. One of these, is that they participate in monthly drives to collect sanitary towels from their clients. In addition, a portion of proceeds from the Skin Solutions’ skin care range is used to purchase pads every month, all of which are distributed to different schools over the term. “I think that if you can get young girls to attend school on a regular basis, it will vastly impact the level of education,” said Parushinee. “On a regular basis, we are very involved in the breast cancer awareness campaign, and we also support smaller initiatives in communities that are trying to uplift women and children.” “I take the mentorship programmes very seriously,” commented Parushinee. “Because I feel if you are able to pay it forward in some way, you are elevating the whole community in which we are actually doing business.” Parushinee said she was extremely surprised to be nominated as a KZN Top Business Women 2023 and humbled and honoured to know the work that she is doing is being recognised. “I really want to use the platform that this has created for me to build on the initiatives that I am doing personally, like the woman empowerment and mentorship. It’s so amazing.”

Partner Engagement Services Promote your brand through KZN Top Business. Through our partner programmes we provide a platform to market products and/or services. THE TEAM Hello. Chief Executive Officer Grant Adlam Phone +27 0832628529 Mail grant@kzntopbusiness.com Business Development Angela Alderton Phone +27 662065654 Mail Angela@kzntopbusiness.com Chief Digital Strategist & Operations Lead Maryke Dickinson Phone +27 828777906 Mail maryke@kzntopbusiness.com Multimedia Field Journalist Dylan Naidoo Phone +27 71 126 5075 Mail Dylan@BusinessSense.co.za Editor-in-Chief Gayle Adlam Phone +27 836530465 Mail gayle@kzntopbusiness.com Art and Creative Director Kerri Adlam Phone +29 832284789 Mail Kez@kzntopbusiness.com Support Specialist Tracy Engelbrecht Phone +27 84 902 5357 Mail Tracy@BusinessSense.co.za Multimedia Field Journalist Chelsea Brand Phone +27 760919547 Mail Chelsea@BusinesSense.co.za