Avid sociopreneur paves the way for women empowerment

Roscher, who works out of her office in Boksburg, owns and manages two businesses: PR Worx, a communications firm based in Boksburg, and the online magazine, Models and Pageantry SA (MPSAmag).

PR Worx has won the best PR company in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, South Africa and Africa. According to Roscher, the company’s out-of-the-box ideas generate extensive media coverage, stakeholder exposure, and tangible results that receive both local and internationally awards.

MPSAmag is a pioneering monthly digital magazine reflecting a passion for fashion, beauty, fitness and all things modelling and pageantry related.

In partnership with her daughter Shannon, Roscher also runs an NPO called DeskBags, a product specifically produced to help alleviate the need for 3.1 million school desks in South Africa.

A DeskBag is a hybrid satchel that acts as a fully functional school bag that folds open into a portable desk.

Aside from being made from 100 percent recyclable billboard materials, DeskBags are school bags that provide a portable desk solution for learners to use at school and at home.

Through corporate sponsorships, DeskBags are donated to needy schools free of charge.

“I am very passionate about this initiative, as I believe that education is the vaccine to poverty and crime,” said Roscher.

The Advertiser was fortunate to interview this phenomenal and dynamic woman, who is married to a sheep farmer named Neil. Her son Ashley works as their farm manager.

* What are your hobbies and what do you do in your free time?

Part of being successful for me means finding the time to enjoy the pleasures in life. This is why I love living on a farm as it provides a peaceful surrounding, open spaces to walk around on and just an opportunity to take things a bit easier. I also enjoy a round of golf every now and then; my husband and I have a friendly rivalry going, which I am happy to report I am winning at.

* How did your entrepreneurial career start?

Prior to starting up PR Worx almost 14 years ago, I was head of South African Airways’ worldwide public relations function and the airline’s spokesperson for six years. While I enjoyed the challenges of the job, I found that I was travelling quite a bit and considering that my children were still young at the time, I knew I needed to make a change so that I could be around for them more. This is why I started PR Worx in 2001.

* How do you manage all your priorities without neglecting one of them?

I make sure that I prioritise my to-do-list and then stick to that list. Being distracted doesn’t get you through your list and if you get the tough stuff done first, you’ll find more time for the items you prefer doing. My team is also exceptional. With strong professionals behind me and my pedantic approach to attention to detail, things don’t fall through the cracks.

* How do you find balance between your personal life and work?

I make sure that I find time to relax. I truly believe that you need to find a balance between social and work life, so that you can succeed in both. In order to perform in the boardroom, you need to have a clear mind which means you need to be well rested. I am a good delegator and surround myself with the best team in the business to help me achieve wonderful results for our clients.

* What advice do you have for working women struggling to balance their social lives and work?

Priorities will change your life. Set your goals and decide how and why you want to achieve them – then prioritise. This way you will ensure that you get the items done that you want to achieve and you can move forward from there. Remember that everything in life is about balance, so your work and social life should be no different. In order to be in a great frame of mind to achieve success, you also need to find time to relax and rest up.

* What advice do you have for upcoming female entrepreneurs?

Firstly, if you’re working from home in the beginning, set your alarm clock as if you were working for someone else. Set your starting time and stick to it. Dress up and do your makeup as if you’re going into an office or seeing clients. Working in your pajamas or tracksuit will create the mindset that you don’t need to work very hard or that you don’t take your business seriously.

Secondly, don’t expect to work an eight-hour day when you first start up a business. Hard work, long hours and a 365-day commitment is required to get your business off the ground. You can start cutting back after year three.

Thirdly, keep your expenses as low as possible and make sure that you always have at least three to six months operating expenses in the bank in case the lean months hit.

Fourthly, positive mindset attracts positive results. If you believe you can, you can.

* A message of hope

I sincerely believe that whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve. This message, linked to personal branding, is one that I share at conferences and events on a regular basis. Further, my staff and family will tell you that I am always motivating them and that I’m their biggest cheerleader. A happy workforce is more engaged, creative and more focused, in turn this increases the overall productivity of a company.

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