Wonder working women of the South
The CHRONICLE spoke to four prominent women to better understand how they balance their lives
IN commemoration of Women’s Month, the Comaro CHRONICLE visited businesswomen in the south, to experience a day in their lives and to establish what brought them to where they are today. The CHRONICLE spoke to four prominent women to better understand how they balance being a businesswoman, a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, a lover, a giver, a provider and a comforter, among their many other duties.
Tanya Dimas: owner of Sinzinani Spa, at Thaba Eco Hotel
Tanya grew up in Johannesburg South and opened Sinzinani Spa in 2007. Tanya is extremely passionate about female empowerment and started Sinzinani with the purpose of empowering women and has since expanded, due to demand. Tanya emphasised that she strives to make a difference in the South and focuses her decisions around her family.
Tanya and Toni Mackrell both opened the spa on March 1, 2007, at Rietvlei Zoo farm. Since then Tanya has expanded and opened the spa at Thaba.
We asked her what her plans were for the coming year and this was her reply: “From a business point of view I understand more of what people require from a spa treatment and I understand the wellness of a person.
”Location is key. Quality of customer service is important and the quality of treatment is vital. I have fine-tuned my understanding of business and will be reassessing my goals in 2017.
”From a personal perspective, I will be letting my guard down, because, as a businesswoman, I tend to become a bit numb and now I will allow myself to be more influenced by my gut.”
The 42-year-old told the CHRONICLE that she hates opening her post and ironing, and does not appreciate arrogance.
”Tanya spoke of how the opening of the spa helped her to send nine women to study international therapy (one of them is still working with her) and 33 to study spa therapy.
With two children, Tanya confirmed that her superpower has to be her wisdom, and the things that make her tick are teenagers, people who don’t blow their noses and people who drag their feet.
We got up close and personal with Tanya:
My must have beauty essential…sun block.
What people don’t know about me…I love conspiracy theories, I wanted to be a game ranger and I love waitressing.
I spend most money on…education.
My favourite restaurant is…Gino’s Restaurant in Robertsham. I met my husband there.
My spare time is spent…watching soccer and sports with my family, running and doing Crossfit training.
In my handbag I have…my make-up bag, lipgloss, purse, a pink book with diary information that I need, hand cream, business cards and sun block.
What is your secret talent? I can calm people down and connect with people.
What were you like as a child? I was a free-spirited tomboy and my daughter is a carbon copy of me.
What are you most afraid of? Being lonely. Friendships end, people die, children grow up, relationships change and, to me, being lonely can kill a person more than a disease.
Amanda Buck: owner of Sorbet in Meyersdal, New Redruth and Glenvista
Fifty-five-year-old Amanda Buck eats, sleeps, dreams and breathes Sorbet and loves it! Amanda opened the first ever Sorbet store in Alberton, starting with Meyersdal, on September 3, 2013. She then went on to open the Sorbet salon in New Redruth on October 31, 2013, and the Glenvista branch on May 1, 2016.
Amanda confirmed that she has been the most satisfied in her life since she opened the Sorbet doors, as Sorbet has since become a lifestyle and her love for interaction with people makes her happy.
There are certain things she hates, though: “I hate cooking and any domestic work, but I do it and when I do it, I do it with passion.”
The straight-forward, hard worker considers the leopard to be her spirit animal.
We got up close and personal with Amanda:
My must have fashion piece…a black dress.
My must have beauty essential…red lipstick.
One of my favourite quotes…”If you get tired learn to rest, don’t quit.”
Strange habit…every morning I start my day at Wimpy, in New Redruth, with Wimpy coffee.
What people don’t know about me…I love colouring and colouring books and I have to watch the news every night.
In my handbag I have…two purses (one for daily use and another which is not for daily use), make-up bag, perfume, asthma pump, tissues, hand sanitizer, strawberry Beechies and hand cream.
What is your secret talent? I am a good negotiator.
What were you like as a child? I was an introvert and was a bit cheeky in the sense that I would stand up for someone who wouldn’t stand up for themselves.
How do you like to work out…I hike, walk or gym.
Dr Anjana Bhana: practicing aesthesis in Brackenhurst
Practicing aesthesis for seven years, Dr Anjana Bhana attended Brackenhurst Primary, Glenview Primary, Bracken High School and thereafter graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Anjana said she enjoys the aspect of teaching and training other doctors. The 35-year-old hopes to start a teaching academy for aesthetics in the near future.
The mother of a three-year-old daughter has a fear of moving fast at heights and has a superpower of being able to turn a bad situation around.
We got up close and personal with Anjana:
My must have fashion piece…a statement neckpiece.
My must have beauty essential…sunlock.
I spend most money on…my child.
My spare time is spent…with my family or reading magazines.
In my handbag I have…a phone charger, lipstick, 30 pens, sunblock, one weight lifting glove, my purse and business cards.
What is your secret talent? I am good at any video game.
What were you like as a child? I was a weird and nerdy child and was obsessed with planets at one stage.
What are you most afraid of…anything happening to my child.
What are you reading right now…The Green Mile by Stephen King, Hello Kitty’s Busy Week and Prime Journal.
Tamzin Vassanjee: attorney and Mrs South Africa finalist
This Mrs South Africa 2017 finalist and mother of two beautiful daughters, Mishka (17) and Sian (13), was born in Bella Bella, raised in the city of Johannesburg and lives in Eye of Africa. Tamzin owns her own practice (Vassanjee Attorneys).
Showing her interest lies more in brains than in beauty, the “small town girl at heart” specialises in company and property law, but her passion lies in criminal law and litigation.
While practicing law, Vassanjee was also able to nurture her love for design and form by studying project management. She has since established a project management and building company, Vassanjee Properties, and has been successfully operating it since 2005. The 44-year-old Mrs South Africa hopeful is focused on being receptive to growth, while setting a real example.
We asked Tamzin some questions and here’s what she said:
When have you been most satisfied in your life?
I believe that every phase of our lives ultimately has a memorable beauty, and satisfaction can be derived from that beauty, even through the painful times. So, in answering your question, I do not see any particular time as the most satisfying as I know that I have so much more to experience! My first and indeed second experiences of childbirth and breastfeeding do, however, stand out as a particularly satisfying time, being able to nourish my babies through me! It’s a wondrous thing, truly!
What things do you not like to do?
I don’t like typing out my own work in my office, as I am too slow and I lose patience with myself when my brain works faster than my fingers!
Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.
As a building contractor, the designing (with my genius architect, Piet Lategan) and ultimate building of our dream home in the Eye of Africa Golf Estate, holds great significance for me, as I experienced the entire process as a labour of love. This home was to house my precious family’s dreams , hopes and memories from hereon. So my brief to myself was to ensure that it would always represent a safe haven to my husband, daughters, mother and also the rest of our combined, extended family. I am especially proud of the fact that I was actively involved in every detail of its construction, decor and landscape. I believe that God is in the detail and therefore pay special attention to detail.
What’s your superpower, or what’s your spirit animal?
So I had to do the “spirit animal” quiz to answer this, as I had no idea that such a concept as spirit animals existed! The quiz results show that the llama is my spirit animal and notes: “Majestic, under-appreciated and likes ’80s fashion, a future style icon. Your time will come.” I took the Superpower test and it seems I have the Invisibility Superpower! I actually disagree, as I think, like all women out there, my superpower is the power to forgive and carry on loving regardless.
Discuss a specific accomplishment you’ve achieved in a previous position that indicates you will thrive in this position.
I was able to start up a legal department in my last position as Head of Legal in a corporate environment and am proud to say that it is thriving and strong today. For me, this is an indication that I can both initiate and sustain. And that’s a skill that is required in every field of life, whether business or personal.
Tell us about a time when things didn’t go the way you wanted – like a promotion you wanted and didn’t get, or a project that didn’t turn out how you had hoped.
When I was in the corporate world things too often did not go as I had ideally planned and I was often overlooked for promotions, etc. I was obviously disappointed, but always only allowed myself 24 hours of ”downtime” to feel sorry for myself before I pulled myself up from the boot strings! This is something my dad instilled in me and I am forever grateful to him for it. It’s a life skill I try to impart to my girls, too. Like a Phoenix from the ashes is our motto! Never allow anybody or any situation to cripple you into self-pity for too long!
After hearing the responses of these four phenomenal beings, one thing stood out: all four of these wonder working women felt the same way about getting older and all four have the same role models in life.
Their role models are not one specific person, but rather a composite of people who have impacted on their lives along the way. Be it their mother, sister or friend, each one has another strong woman behind them, supporting, encouraging and motivating them. Tanya, Amanda, Anjana and Tamzin all embrace getting older, as it comes with wisdom. These strong women are not afraid to be aging, but are rather content.
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