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< Back Heather Flack Flair Accounting, founded by Heather Flack, has been in business for 21 years. What makes it special is its different approach to accounting. Instead of just focusing on numbers and reports, Flair Accounting prioritises building strong relationships with its clients. This means they really care about understanding what their clients need and helping them feel more confident about their finances. For example, rather than just crunching numbers, they might take the time to explain financial concepts in a simple way, empowering clients to make better financial decisions. Overall, Flair Accounting’s focus on personal connections sets it apart in the accounting world. Heather Flack The BLOG Read all about it READ MORE

The Nic Carroll 2021 Collection Claudette Sigamoney Entrepreneur and Founder of of CiaLeeTeez (Pty) Ltd and Impilwenhle I just embrace life and live each day and take it as an opportunity to make things right, to empower others with my own life’s journey Claudette Sigamoney

Up Home Up Lenore Goss-Matjie LENORE GOSS-MATJIE describes herself as an entrepreneur. Being a qualified image consultant and fashion stylist, she is the founder and CEO of “Styled by Le’Nore”. Lenore has diversified her business to supply medical products into Africa at large. She says, “I have diversified my product range to the extent that I also supply furniture, baking equipment and anything to do with the fashion industry – I am supplying clothes as well.” Lenore has recently been appointed as the vice chairperson of Women in Business at Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She says, “I am very humbled and honoured and want to make an impact and do the very most that I can to empower women.” Lenore is a former educator as well as a professional Latin American and ballroom dancer. While she no longer competes, Lenore is involved in adjudicating competitions and in training. Her business Styled by Le’Nore came about as a result of her having her own dancing studio. 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. Speaking of her business, Lenore says, “For me, the greatest achievement in my business is styling a client from head to toe and seeing them transformed. People underestimate the value and power of looking good and feeling good, and they really don’t value styling. You could have all the fashion pieces on your body but how you put them together is important. I always say I could take a black paper bag and put it on you and make it look fabulous. But the greatest reward for me is seeing a happy confident client.” Lenore says that she has been motivated to achieve by success by her three children and her husband. She has a debilitating muscular skeletal chronic medical condition, called Fibromyalgia (which to date has no cure but can be managed). “While I was in hospital, I had one of my children ask me, ‘mom are you going to die?’. From that day forward I vowed that pain or no pain I would make an effort. Every morning I would get up, I would style my hair, I would put on makeup and on the days that I was able to wear heels, I would. I had been told by my surgeons that I was not allowed to wear heels. But I dislocate anyway so I may as well dislocate in style!” “They were the main motivating force in me getting up, picking myself up, getting the therapy that I needed to get back on my feet to get stronger. They are my everything and in everything that I do, I first and foremost want them to be proud.” JUST PERSEVERING Speaking of her current business challenges, Lenore says that these relate especially to her new venture into Africa and that the number one challenge is finance. She said, “Finance was always going to be challenge and then finding the correct partners and suppliers to collaborate with. People promise you the world but until contracts are signed, and finance exchanged …that is quite difficult now. However, I seem to be on the correct path, so I am just persevering.” Another challenge that Lenore finds is that in her experience some women don’t support each other. She commented, “We speak of women empowerment and uplifting each other – it’s good to talk the talk but you need to walk the walk. I find that my male counterparts have been there to support me. I just wish that we as women could truly support each other. Don’t be afraid if you see a woman coming up – be excited for them – pat them on the back and spread the news because something is in line for you as well and I want to thank those few women who do support myself and other women.” The advice that Lenore would give to other women following in her path is to be persistent. She added, “Be confident even when you don’t feel confident. Don’t be scared to change, don’t be scared to diversify. You think that you don’t know something until you try it and that is why life is a learning experience.” NEVER STOP LEARNING Lenore added that we never stop learning so we should take up new challenges. Even if we don’t achieve what you want to, the learning experience is what you take from the situation. Importantly, she says that people should persevere – and just keep pushing and have confidence. If it’s not meant for you, the door will not open. if it’s meant for you, the door will open – you will just have to work hard at it.” The goals that Lenore has set for herself are firstly that she wants to be happy which is critical to her. “You have to be happy in what you do, you cannot be miserable, because if there is no love there is no passion that goes with it. You can be the most successful person and be miserable.” Secondly, Lenore would love to succeed and make a name for herself in Africa at large. She added that when people hear of Styled by Le’Nore or Lenore they must know that they are getting excellent service. “They are getting quality and I would just like this business to grow and to touch people’s lives even more.” Speaking of balance Lenore says, “I am a busybody – I am always doing something, but I love sitting with my husband and the kids around the table and just swapping stores – them telling me about what they have done during the day and making jokes. I love to laugh, it’s the best medicine.” In conclusion, Lenore says that we should always strive to be a blessing to others, to uplift others, and to make others feel good about themselves. “You will be surprised as to how all that comes back to you in multitude.”

Grant Adlam Chief Executive Office

There are no templates in this business, you find your own way with your own brandCarol Ofori < Back Carol Ofori Media Personality, podcaster, author, co-founder of www.ratingsforschools Carol Ofori’s easily recognisable voice resonates with warmth and influence. Whether on her daily show on East Coast Radio, her talk show for first time parents, Raising Babies on SABC 2, or the thought-provoking discussions on her Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has made an impact on the African media landscape. “ “I’ve won the International Sovas (Society of Voice Arts and Sciences) Award for my voice work, which is literally the Oscars of the voice world,” says Carol. Her latest media adventure is playing a lead character in a Disney+ series called Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, a beautiful African animated show available on Disney+ streaming worldwide. Unsurprisingly for Carol, her role showcases that girls can do anything they set their mind to – she plays Mkhuzi, a racing car driver. “It’s still wild to think that I’m a Disney character,” she says. Beyond broadcasting, Carol is a published author having written a series of six children’s books called “The African Adventures of Sena and Katlego” that have garnered international attention and available at all leading book shops and online. She is also an acclaimed master of ceremonies and recently ventured into comedy. “I think I’m an all-round cool chick. I’ve done so many incredible things that I think I don’t celebrate enough!” she commented with a smile. A pan-African narrative Married to an incredible Ghanaian man, Carol’s family is a beautiful blend of South African and Ghanaian cultures. “I wanted books that would depict Africa for my kids, and they just didn’t exist. So, I decided I was going to write them.” The African Adventures of Sena and his magical teddy bear Katlego are a six-book series that takes readers across Ghana, South Africa, Chad, Eswatini, Egypt, and Uganda. This pan-African union underscored the importance of providing their children with stories that span the continent. “I dreamed of something for my kids, and now these books are all over the world. And I’m proud. And like wow, is this really you?” After completing a BA in journalism, Carol began her career as an intern reporter at 947 and Talk Radio 702, focusing on news and then moving into magazine journalism. Carol also holds a Honours degree from VEGA university majoring in Brand Management and her journey in the media showcases her adaptability and commitment. “There are no templates in this business. You know, we’re freelancers – you find your own way with your own brand at your own time. I’m inspired by just wanting to succeed,” she reflects. Carol’s entrepreneurial spirit led to her co-founding an education information portal for parents with her husband. Their aim was to revolutionise the interaction between schools and parents and address a tangible need. www.RatingsForSchools.co.za helps one locate a school based on your budget, curriculum, special needs and more. “We had just moved to a new city and we needed a portal to find schools and it didn’t exist. So, we created it - www.ratingsforschools.co.za ,” Carol states, emphasizing her ability to identify gaps in the market and create innovative solutions. “I definitely see ratingsforschools.co.za being a household name, it’s got such an exciting future. I cannot wait for where it’s going. And it’s something that we are both so proud of.” Navigating challenges Reflecting on her childhood, Carol commented that attending St Catherine’s convent, an hour and a half away from her home in Soweto, meant long days. This was a challenge as she and her sister would get home late when most of the kids living nearby were forming friendships in the afternoons, and doing homework we would have to find the strength after the long bus trip home to do homework. And her parents weren’t always able to support her at school events and sports days. “I’m running, and I’m coming first, and I look into the crowd, and my parents are not there because they can’t get off work,” she recalls. As she puts it, “Challenges must never be the obstacle. They are the road and the path to greatness. I think that’s what propelled me to always want to work harder.” Carol’s work ethic and goal orientation was shaped by her mother’s relentless efforts to provide the best for their family. “I’ve done all these wonderful things. But I don’t come from a rich background. My mom worked very hard to put us through school. Much as I love my dad, I have to really give the credit where the credit is due and it, you know, it was my mom’s doing,” Carol shares candidly. Focused vision In giving advice, Carol is adamant you need a clear vision for the future. “I see a great future for ratingsforschools.co.za . I see a great future for me in the broadcasting and media space, and I see more books. “The most important advice I can give you is to always know your picture of where you’re going. Sometimes you’ll share your story with people who won’t see your vision. Take the advice, take the feedback, take the criticism, but don’t let it cloud your vision.” “Remember what you want and stay focused on where you are going,” she advises. “If I had listened to people telling me not to dream of publishing six books, these books would never have happened.” Carol has two small children so finding time to relax is rare. However, she does enjoy being pampered and loves eating out and trying different foods. I like nice things – shopping – I’m a typical girl. I’ll relax in all those spaces I’ve just mentioned – and enjoy a glass of red wine!” “Being part of KZN Top Business Women is important as the platform highlights women doing amazing things,” says Carol. “I think we get so clogged up in our roles and it is important other women get to see us celebrated as it encourages them to keep surging forward. Seeing different women from different walks of life, religions and schools of thought – encourages other women to take up the baton and run in their lane in their journey of life”.

Our generation needs to do something for the next generation.Priya Govind < Back Priya Govind Chief Financial Officer, Sumitomo Rubber South Africa riya Govind is a chartered accountant and currently the chief financial officer (CFO) of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (“Sumitomo”), which manufactures Dunlop tyres and employs approximately 1 500 people. The manufacturing facility is located in Ladysmith which provides a significant source of income and stability to the town. The taste for business combined with an entrepreneurial spirit was instilled by Priya’s parents. She says that her career started informally, as a young girl, in her Dad’s pharmacy. After school and on Saturdays, Priya and her brothers, would often work in the pharmacy packing shelves, helping customers, calculating change and cashing up. Priya added, “I got to see first-hand both the joys and challenges of being a small business owner.” She was further motivated by her mother who ran her own successful import business. With this taste for business, Priya pursued a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Natal, which laid the groundwork for her career in finance. However, it was her subsequent entry into the auditing profession that catapulted her into a world of possibilities. In 2001, Priya began her professional journey at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a trainee accountant. Over the years, she worked her way up through the ranks, eventually achieving the position of associate director. After spending five years in the position of associate director, she began reevaluating her career goals and started looking at alternate career options. In 2016, Priya took a bold step by transitioning into the automotive sector. She joined Smiths Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Metair Investments Limited, as their financial/IT director. It was a significant career shift and not without its challenges. The manufacturing industry at the time, like many others, was predominantly male dominated, and Priya found herself as the only female member on the board. This did not deter her as she discovered that she brought a unique perspective to the environment, and saw the opportunity to make a difference. It was during this time that she decided to pursue an MBA with a focus on manufacturing, thus further enhancing her credentials in the sector. This decision opened more opportunities for her and, in 2021, she was appointed to the national executive committee of NAACAM, the industry body for the automotive component sector. In 2022, she was sought out for the role of CFO at Sumitomo. In her role as CFO at Sumitomo, Priya has made significant contributions. One of her key achievements has been redirecting the focus of management toward financial independence and sustainability. By simplifying complex financial concepts, rallying teams of people to work towards common goals and creating a clear path toward financial independence, she has been instrumental in transforming the company’s financial standing. a Priya looks to her children for inspiration and recognises that “our generation needs to do something for the next generation.” One way in which Priya intends to improve the world for the next generation is by promoting diversity and inclusion. “We’ve got to make sure that the world is big enough for all genders and that inspires me, not just to create pathways for women but to find ways of growing the ‘pie’ so that everyone can participate in it,” she says. One of the challenges Priya encountered in her career was the need to let go of her long-held dream and aspiration to become an audit partner. Priya had encountered the invisible glass ceiling. Whilst not explicitly stated, she sensed its presence and recognised the need to reframe her own view of the world and her purpose within it. Priya remained optimistic as she knew that these challenges could be converted into opportunities to look for new ways to advance one’s career, rather than accepting limitations. Priya explained, “Letting go of that dream was quite big, but when I did that, what it did was to open up other opportunities for me and the Smiths’ advertisement was emailed to me. I think the universe was responding to that ‘letting go’ which allowed me to create space for a new dream.” Looking ahead, Priya has a clear vision of her future. She aims to continue and develop within the automotive sector. Her long-term aspiration is to become a business owner in the sector, all whilst uplifting others and showing them what is possible. Priya’s goals are not limited to her own success; she envisions a future where more women can access opportunities in various industries and where gender is no longer a limitation. Priya looks to a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt for inspiration, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Priya added, “As long as you are dreaming, there is hope. So, don’t ever let go of your dreams. And if you do have to let go of your dreams, as I have along the way, re- dream and reimagine your future and then pursue it.” Maintaining a work-life balance is crucial for Priya’s well- being. She has a supportive spouse who takes on his fair share of domestic responsibilities. She values relaxation to manage the challenges of her professional life. This includes spending time with family and friends, enjoying spa treatments, and trying to do at least 10 minutes of guided meditation in the mornings. Priya explained, “I think when your day starts off on the right note, you know it limits the levels of stress that you will experience.” Priya said that she is looking forward to getting to know other KZN Top Business Women, and finding ways to support each other and learn. In the process she hopes to, “Spark new opportunities and pathways, collectively and individually, for the common purpose of building a better future for all.”

Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) This is a great place to add a tagline. I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

I just embrace life and live each day and take it as an opportunity to make things right, to empower others with my own life’s journey < Back Claudette Sigamoney Entrepreneur and Founder of of CiaLeeTeez (Pty) Ltd and Impilwenhle Claudette Sigamoney is a visionary entrepreneur and wears many hats as a business and community leader. As managing director of CiaLeeTeez (Pty) Ltd and Impilwenhle, she empowers and enhances the skills of both women and youth entrepreneurs. Claudette is the former vice president and former chairperson of SMME and entrepreneurial development of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Being the vice president of the Chamber has given me more exposure than I’ve ever had before and enabled me to be part of various platforms. This role has also empowered me to work with other businesses. I have learnt a lot of skills and have grown myself as an entrepreneur. I lead by example,” says Claudette. She added that being the SMME Forum chairperson of the Durban Chamber has given her an edge and that she is passionate about the growth of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). During her term, Claudette has set the tone in terms of development. As an ambassador and as a voice of SMMEs, she has mentored successful entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. Claudette is proud to have had hundreds of mentees come through her hands and who have been equipped with the necessary skills to take their businesses to another level. A business strategist In addition to the various business formations, Claudette has forged many relationships with stakeholders in business and government. She is a business strategist and influence maker who drives dialogues and business engagements between a range of stakeholders. Claudette has been very involved with round table conferences where she spends much of her time concentrating on marrying SMMEs with big corporates to promote procurement opportunities. Her leadership ability has also diversified into roles such as keynote speaker, public speaker and programme director on various business and government platforms. Claudette’s business CiaLeeTeez specialises in township talk and rural development, entrepreneur development, SMME development and growing small businesses. She is passionate about giving to the community through her business, Impilwenhle, which is a Seta accredited company that undertakes skills development and empowerment of unemployed youth and women. “We go out into the rural areas and identify the needs that are present in the municipalities. This includes skills that are needed such as sewing, upholstery, agriculture, and baking. In addition to skills development, Impilwenhle assists in growing businesses through developing the entrepreneurs. “In this case someone who is thirsty to take a calculated risk but doesn’t know how to do it,” explains Claudette. “We assist by helping with aspects such as registration on the various government platforms required to be a proper business.” “We also identify the needs for skills amongst individuals – a school leaver, a woman sitting at home, or a gogo taking care of her grandchildren. We teach the required skills over a 12-week Seta accredited programme. After completing the course, each participant receives an appropriate tool such as a sewing machine so that they may continue to use their craft. Through learning a skill, each woman is then able to take care of herself and provide for her family.” Further to her desire to give back, Claudette is a lay minister within the Anglican Church of South Africa. “That is my ministry and that is my way of giving back to the community,” she says. Opportunities for all Claudette has faced many challenges, both on the business front and personally. She says that being a woman in business always comes with challenges. However, says Claudette, “I didn’t want to be the first black women to find herself on a board, I wanted to open the doors to others.” She says that to make a success of a business you need to find the time to both work in and on a business. Consequently, Claudette uses every opportunity to network with other business owners. “I network to create strategies, find synergies and collaborate. There are opportunities for all of us,” she explains. Smile amidst the pain Her personal challenges were rather difficult. Claudette has been a single parent to three sons, two of whom suffered from muscular dystrophy, a disorder that only affects men. Clerrade and Tyronne were wheelchair bound at the ages of 13 and 10 respectively. Sadly, Tyronne was on life support for two years before he died in 2016. Her eldest son, Lyronne is an industrial engineer, married and living in Cape Town. Claudette became vice president at the encouragement of Tyronne who was in ICU at the time. He said that she should take up the position as ‘opportunities come once in your lifetime, take it with both hands and embrace it’. Her term of office was very difficult as she often had to show up at functions after a sleepless night of caring for her son and continue with her role even through the pain of losing him. Amidst this turmoil, Claudette saw the need to empower others and smile amidst the pain. “Everyone in business knows that I am always a cheerful person and always have a smile. Amidst all the struggles that I have had, I just embrace life and live each day and take it as an opportunity to make things right, to empower others with my own life’s journey. If I can do that for one person, I have done my fair share.” Claudette has formed the T25 Foundation to raise awareness about muscular dystrophy. In conclusion, Claudette says. “You need to empower yourself more than anything else – read, be part of business formations, be part of women’s organisations if you can. Celebrate your best life and just embrace it.”

We all need to play our part in making positive social, environmental and economic changes by supporting local and ethical producers < Back Donna Barnard Business Owner and Founder of Greenheart Organics Pty Ltd and Organic Farmer, Member of PGSSA / Greenpeace Activist Donna Barnard has over a decade of business experience, which was gained through the start-up and running of Console Care, a home-based nursing agency. Currently, Donna has found herself in an entirely different arena with a growing passion for organic food and farming. In 2017, Donna embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and centred Greenheart Organics, which is a one stop organic food store, around a vision that started with the simple purpose of sourcing chemical and pesticide free food for her children, family, friends, and community. Fundamental to Greenheart Organics is sustainable living and food sovereignty, which is an ethos set in stone. She explains, “I have always believed that health is one’s greatest wealth and so the business has evolved around a natural journey to wellness. I went in search of organic food for my own personal preference and for my family’s wellbeing. The more I searched and the more I researched, the more I realised just how difficult it was to find bona fide organic and additive free food, and so for me the business was born out of necessity really.” A new role as a farmer The demand for organic food has grown steadily bringing Donna varied challenges from packing orders until the early hours of the morning, to building an ecommerce website. More recently, she has been arriving home covered in black jacks, boots caked in dirt, while attempting a new role as a farmer. One of Donna’s biggest challenges has been to source and maintain a consistent supply of organic produce. In addition, small scale farmers face many issues and despite their best efforts, yields are often low. In an effort to overcome supply challenges, Donna has recently taken on a small-scale farmstead. She adds, “I would now say that farming has become the greatest challenge of all, with worms at top of the list! I don’t think farming is something I was born to do, but it has been an incredibly fun learning experience and I can honestly say that I love what I do. At the end of the day, the challenges are so worth it when I know exactly where my food has come from, and I can say, I grew that!” Supporting local, reducing waste, and activating for change Greenheart Organics’ grass roots ethos is to support local, to reduce waste, and to gain momentum in the organic and wholefood movement. Currently, the company is enjoying much growth and has tripled their customer following over the last year. The present focus is on expanding their plant-based range of products and increasing their network of small-scale producers. “We source ethical products and suppliers with clean ingredients. No nasties are allowed, which means no GMOs (genetically modified organisms), no pesticides, no routine antibiotics or hormones, colourants, or artificial additives are allowed. Our strict criteria ensures that our suppliers source quality, raw ingredients and engage in sustainable practices. Farmers must also engage in ethical and humane treatment of animals.” In order to reduce waste, Greenheart Organics has introduced a deposit and re-use rebate system as well as certified compostable packaging for all of their fresh produce. This means that customers are rewarded when they return their empty, used, plastic waste to Greenheart Organics, which then gets refilled, reused, or recycled. For example, remember the milk bottle exchange system from way back then, well its back and its better! Fresh farm milk gets delivered in glass bottles, which just tastes better for a start. Customers then return their empty glass bottles from the previous week, and they receive a rebate for the return. Customers may also return boxes, crates and any empty plastic container bought from the Greenheart Organics’ store for a rebate on their account. “So,” says Donna, “We actually pay customers to return their waste to us! Customers are actively participating in this waste reduction drive, which has been a huge success. This is the first waste free initiative of its kind in KZN, which is very exciting for us!” “We also advocate organic and sustainable living by being active members of a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) South Africa, which inspires local supply chains and organic growing methods. Greenheart Organics is the first PGS group in KZN to introduce an organic assurance system into the KZN marketplace. The group is basically a network of organic farmers who monitor and mentor each other and this has really helped to overcome many farming and supply challenges. The group audits farms on a biannual basis to ensure that organic standards are being met and are well maintained. In addition, they aim to ensure for social justice in that fair labour practice and fair pricing are audit criterias. On a personal level, Donna has recently become a Greenpeace activist and aims to campaign against the growing food sovereignty crisis. She explains, “We all have the right to choose what food to eat, where it comes from and how it is grown. We are at a pivotal point in our fight against climate change and conscious consumerism is key. We all need to play our part in making positive social, environmental and economic changes by supporting local and ethical producers and engaging in sustainable living practices.” Follow your passion Donna’s motivation to pursue her vision has been provided by her family. “I wanted my children to grow up understanding the importance of clean nutrition and biodiversity conservation. My husband has always been my rock. He patiently picks up the pieces every time the going gets tough and reminds me to count my blessings and persevere.” In reflecting on the advice that she would give to young women with a vision, Donna said, “Follow your passion and do what you love. Inevitably the rest will follow.”