"I believe that I am innovative and not deterred from experimentation with new or unconventional ideas." He added that his success has also been driven,  by the good fortune to have inspirational role models as leaders in most cases." Subscribe Home KZN Leaders Up Up Charles Henzi "I believe that I am innovative and not deterred from experimentation with new or unconventional ideas." He added that his success has also been driven, by the good fortune to have inspirational role models as leaders in most cases." We must recognise each individual as unique in terms of their potential and make a contribution to their personal growth CHARLES HENZI is a seasoned human resources practitioner having worked in several senior roles, within diverse sectors, and including high profile global enterprises. He is motivated by the need to create, "A world of work which provides purpose and inspiration for all, namely, highly engaged people taking self-inspired action ... for Results!" Upon finishing school, Henzi entered the then University of Natal to study for a degree in geology, based on his interest in the natural sciences. He commented, "Two vacation jobs comprising working in the field as a prospecting assistant and underground in a gold mine convinced me that a fulltime career in this field was not for me. But, as I had gained some exposure to the human resource section on the mine, I decided that this was the field for me. On graduation, I was privileged to be appointed as graduate trainee with Unilever which, I believe set me up for a career in human resources." Henzi says that his career has been driven by his self-belief and his own energy to succeed. "I believe that I am innovative and not deterred from experimentation with new or unconventional ideas." He added that his success has also been driven, by the good fortune to have inspirational role models as leaders in most cases." However, Henzi's self-belief and energy paid off and early on in his career he was afforded the opportunity to set up and lead the human resource function within a top organisation. Although he felt that he not remotely ready for this responsibility, it was for him one of the highlights of his working career. This responsibility was also accompanied by new challenges. Although he assumed this, and later other management roles, when at relatively young age, he had to convince older peers to follow bestpractice. Henzi said that his strengths in this regard were really wanting to understand the details of business processes and his role in contributing to successful outcomes. Henzi says that from a human capital best practice perspective it is essential to regard employees as assets, not commodities. As such, over the years, he has worked within a broad diversity of enterprises; facilitating the implementation of employee performance and reward interventions. The latter part of his career has taken him into providing human resource services with an emphasis on employee performance and reward. He then became a member of the DRG Outsourcing team as Service Line Leader: Employee Investment. DRG Outsourcing is a leading human capital advisory service provider where he has had the opportunity to develop new approaches. Operating in a global capacity, this responsibility has a focus in the field of enterprise leadership. This activity has also provided him with a broad selection of case studies from which to draw on in facilitating practical, effective leadership interventions. In reflecting on his own leadership style, Henzi says that he prefers to collaborate with others. "I enjoy creating a working environment that enables people to grow their skills set, confidence and capacity to take on greater responsibilities." However, Henzi noted that he finds it challenging to work with people who place their personal agendas above their leadership responsibilities to stakeholders. Speaking of the future, Henzi says, "I am 70 years old and hope to continue adding value to enterprises through facilitating the implementation of human capital best-practice, especially in the area of leadership. There is a possibility of relocating to the United Kingdom or Europe and, through networks there, to make myself useful in those environments." Henzi has made a significant contribution to the education of children from disadvantaged communities, in an involvement with a Durban NGO spanning some 40 years. In his free time, Henzi prefers to be close to nature outside of the corporate environment and has over the years, spent time on safari or hiking, often in rather wild and remote areas.

Shamla is an experienced lawyer who has been in practice for 22 years. Her practice provides a wide range of legal services, with a team to back up the firm's various divisions, with its focus being commercial and civil litigationShamla PatherShamla is an experienced lawyer who has been in practice for 22 years. Her practice provides a wide range of legal services, with a team to back up the firm's various divisions, with its focus being commercial and civil litigationSHAMLA PATHER is an attorney, and the sole owner of her practice, Shamla Pather Attorneys, which is based in Umhlanga Rocks. Shamla is an experienced lawyer who has been in practice for 22 years. Her practice provides a wide range of legal services, with a team to back up the firm's various divisions, with its focus being commercial and civil litigation. Shamla also has experience with family law, a sphere which she specialises in, this work is on a referred based, where she is solicited for her niche expertise. Shamla practices all over the country and also has a variety of international clients. Shamla's upbringing and family life was simple and humble, and this set the tone for her to want to succeed. Whist she has done well as an attorney, her humility and simplicity are obvious traits she possesses. She has not forgotten her days of living in Chatsworth, where she grew up as the youngest of four children. With three older brothers she learnt to play rugby and soccer at a young age and became a football fanatic. Her dad, a manufacturing jeweller was a weekly wage earner, Shamla found that he was still paying off her brother's university fees, although he had been seven years ahead of her, when she completed matric. This was a turning point in her life as she knew that to succeed, hard work and commitment was required. An amazing woman Shamla attributes her success and hard work to her late mum. She is emphatic that her mother remains the most amazing individual she has encountered. Her mum passed away during Shamla's final year at university, which was very traumatic. Her father's death followed just four years later, whilst she assumed the role of mum at home. She says, "Every accolade, every milestone achieved, I dedicate to my mother. She still inspires me to be the best that I can be." Shamla adds that her mother was not formally educated but she taught her values and doing things the right way irrespective of fear or incrimination. The attitude that athletes have inspires Shamla daily. She was an athlete at school and an athlete's focus gives Shamla strength and exhilaration. "Anything can be achieved with hard work, determination, and dedication". The start of any problem is like a race and you must focus on what the last 50 metres will bring. If you have done your preparation and you are confident, natural endurance will take over and you will succeed. Uplifting others In evaluating what she has accomplished so far, Shamla says that she is content but looks at achieving more in the social environment. Having come from a disadvantaged background, she is a champion of women's and children's rights. It is a most rewarding feeling when you have made a difference in someone's life. Shamla does not believe women should approach business differently to men and she suggests that women adapt to their environment. "Gone are the days that this is a man's world. It is definitely your world, whatever your gender. With the number of opportunities that women have, instead of competing against men, you should just get out there and do what you do. There is no reason to be in their shadow, there is no reason to complain. Being a woman should not be looked upon as a handicap but rather a compliment. When I went for my first interview for articles of clerkship, I was offered a secretarial position with more salary, as I was told that I looked the part of a secretary, more than that of a lawyer. I was not deterred." And now Shamla confidently says that she has won many matters against that firm. Shamla is the patron of several organisations and she makes it her duty to assist where she can. She contributes to the upliftment of the society by doing pro bono work, team building, and fund-raising. She is happy to get her hands dirty and says to have accomplished something for your community means you are leaving behind a legacy. Shamla achieves a healthy work-life balance and she credits her husband for this. "Despite him being a busy medical doctor, he is helpful and stands by my side, allowing me to do the things that need to be done." He is her biggest admirer and has encouraged Shamla to break boundaries and not to be afraid. That's rare and she appreciates his unselfish commitment. Family time is family time She has a good support system but thinks that her background of becoming a mum at an early age to her siblings allows her to juggle work and home. Her family, including her daughter Jayde, has adapted to a schedule that works for everyone. Jayde is the light of Shamla's life and to date her biggest and best achievement. Jayde is adoring of her mother and equally proud of her. Jayde says, "Whatever needs to be done, mum makes a plan". If she had to go back to her younger self, Shamla would have told the person she was in her thirties: "Have another child. Children make life fun, keep you younger". Shamla and Dan are blessed to have Jayde, their only child and the reality that she goes away from home to university is a lonely thought. Shamla feels she was selfish to Jayde in not having another child, as the beauty and bonds of siblings is priceless. 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

KIRSTY FONZARI heads the marketing team for Expand a Sign International and Uzwelo Bags as well as ExpandaBrand USA and supports several Expand a Sign agencies globally in marketing. Kirsty's energy is never ending, and she will be opening a 360 turnkey agency called The Buro next year. There was a gap in the market to help Expand a Sign customers with various marketing disciplinesKirsty FonzariKIRSTY FONZARI heads the marketing team for Expand a Sign International and Uzwelo Bags as well as ExpandaBrand USA and supports several Expand a Sign agencies globally in marketing. Kirsty's energy is never ending, and she will be opening a 360 turnkey agency called The Buro next year. There was a gap in the market to help Expand a Sign customers with various marketing disciplinesKIRSTY FONZARI heads the marketing team for Expand a Sign International and Uzwelo Bags as well as ExpandaBrand USA and supports several Expand a Sign agencies globally in marketing. Kirsty's energy is never ending, and she will be opening a 360 turnkey agency called The Buro next year. There was a gap in the market to help Expand a Sign customers with various marketing disciplines. Kirsty has founded a networking group called brand Cult that has been successfully running for three years. "I think one of the biggest gifts in business is being able to share knowledge and encourage collaborative partnerships," she said. She also has a passion for coaching young women in business. "I want to share what I've achieved with others and to remind women that business models are changing. They need to be open minded and explore all avenues of creativity to follow their dreams and to continue to challenge the norm." Kirsty is all about understanding customers and their needs and believes if you focus on your intention and you are specific with your communication amazing things happen. She admits to climbing the corporate ladder quickly, working her way up from operations manager of various restaurant management groups to director of operations for a group of healthy restaurant's in the United Kingdom (UK). Kirsty has successfully opened over 40 bars and restaurants in the UK and won the London "Time Out Bar of the Year", as well as Best Concept and Best Design, before returning to South Africa. Learning from mistakes She attributes her success to two things: making mistakes - "You can only progress by making mistakes and learning from those mistakes," she laughs; and her work ethic. "I'm not afraid to work hard with my team, communicate the vision clearly and get stuck in and get my hands dirty - that's a big part of the reason I am where I am today." Kirsty's inspiration has been Anna Wintour, chief editor of Vogue in the US. "What I really love about her is that she says: Don't be apologetic about decisions that you make. Make your decisions and know they're the right decisions. Hold your head up high, and just go with it." That resonates with Kirsty who describes herself as a risktaker. "Rules are meant to be broken", she jokes, and then more seriously, "I'd rather be a leader, than someone who follows", something she believes is evident in her marketing plan for Expand a Sign. Kirsty is confident that women have a different approach than men do in achieving success in business. "Women are edgy and risk takers who know how to get a lot of things done in one go." Kirsty is driven to giving women wings. Owning her achievements, Kirsty is happy with what she's accomplished in business. "My whole life has been around business...I'm into achieving things, I'm really pleased with where I am today, but I'd be a fool to think I'm just going to stop here; there's so much more I want to achieve." Kirsty's insights into achieving a work-life balance are that there can be costs too, attached to success. "For me, it's one of the most difficult things to achieve - if it's about a project, everything about that project will consume me, and I learned a really difficult lesson where I had to slow down a bit... it's something I have to continuously work on, something I have to remind myself of. I also know from experience that when you're exhausted, you're no good to anybody, so it's important to have those times when you can just sit back and relax and take in the view." Kirsty's advice to her younger self, knowing that women put themselves under pressure to be perfect because of our inherently critical society, is: "Don't take other people's opinions on board...it's okay to make mistakes and don't sweat the small stuff. Just enjoy life, because tomorrow's going to be another day." An Incredible Journey Talking about her background, Kirsty admits that where she is today comes with a story around her use and abuse of alcohol and drugs while designing bars and restaurants in London. She talks of juggling two balls, 'the addict alcoholic' and 'the work person', until it all came crashing down around her. "My addiction could potentially have crippled me...there were a few occasions when I could have been dead today." "And so," she concludes, "my journey has been that I want to start adding value. I've been clean and sober for quite a few years now... I have the freedom to be myself; to carry a message of hope, courage and strength; to not be ashamed of who I am as a woman today. I have the freedom to talk to people openly about it...It's been an incredible journey and so, in order to be completely authentic, I need to be able to share my story, and so that's kind of where I am today." 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

< Back Sky Tents Isaac Mbatha turned Sky Tents into a successful tent manufacturing company after starting it in 2015 when it was struggling with debt. His journey shows how important qualities like resilience (the ability to keep going despite challenges) and innovation (coming up with new ideas) are for success. He focused not only on making great tents but also on helping others, whether that's his team or his customers, to ensure they received excellent service. This approach helped Sky Tents gain global recognition, meaning people around the world now know and trust the brand. Sky Tents The BLOG Read all about it READ MORE