Inspiring business woman
Chief operations executive of Hirsch’s Homestore, Margaret Hirsch, was the guest speaker at the first East Rand Women’s Wealth Summit, that was held at the Airport Grand Hotel, in Boksburg, recently.
Margaret kicked off proceedings by telling everyone to tell themselves: “I am awesome and I am powerful.”
She explained that if you have a clear vision of what you want in life and persevere at it, you can get it.
Her topic for the summit was “How to be an effective business woman”.
She told the audience that everything she had, she earned.
“If you work hard to earn something you really want, you will end up valuing it more,” she added.
Women’s Wealth contributed a percentage of the proceeds of the summit to Margaret’s ongoing “Girls with Dignity” project.
As BWASA’s Business Woman of the Year for 2012 (entrepreneur), Margaret took on the project when she learnt that post pubescent girls in underprivileged areas around the country (and throughout Africa) were not attending school for a week every month, when they had their periods.
“These girls are missing out on three months of their education every year, and it’s affecting their marks,” she said.
Hirsch’s Boksburg branch’s PRO, Brigitte Thysse, said: “This dignity project is an eye-opener.
“We go back to the schools after three months, to visit the girls, and it’s wonderful to see that their marks have improved dramatically.”
Margaret and Brigitte have their eyes set on a few schools in the Boksburg community for 2014.
“We encourage any businesswomen or corporates to accompany us and to get involved in assisting young girls in receiving the education they deserve,” said Margaret.
E-mail Brigitte at brigitte@hirschs.co.za for further info on the Boksburg community project.
