Sisterhood blossoms as Youth Month wraps up

Terisa Hsu-Lee and Marie-Lou Okoko, are two dynamic women who lived parallel lives until fate brought them together through their shared passion for entrepreneurship.

Both had a burning desire to turn their innovative ideas into reality, and their chance encounter sparked a lasting connection.

As they began to share their experiences, challenges, and successes, they discovered a kindred spirit in each other.

Their mutual support and encouragement fuelled their individual pursuits, and soon they became an unstoppable force, lifting each other up and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

On June 28, Hsu-Lee and Okoko took their connection to the next level by co-hosting an informative dialogue with various organisations to mark an impactful conclusion to the Youth Month.

United by their entrepreneurial spirit and passion for empowerment, they brought together industry experts and young minds to discuss essential preparations for success in their respective career paths.

Through open discussions and insightful presentations, the attendees gained valuable knowledge on networking, financial lessons, looking stylish, resume building, and navigating the professional world among other topics.

“I am so excited about everything we went through. We had a very diverse panel and an audience of young people who are very much interested in advancing their careers and doing well in their respective fields,” said Okoko.

She runs The Phoenix Link Programme which is under the JJH Group, an expert management consulting company for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Okoko said as the founder and having to spend a lot of years in corporate, she wanted to give back to the community and the country as a whole without depending solely on the government.

“This event came from that dream. I identified youth between the ages of 18–35 so that we can support them effectively using my family and corporate experience.”

Okoko boasts 27 years of experience in financial services. She holds an MBA from Wits Business School and a B Com degree from the University of South Africa.

“We came together to create this work-readiness programme and with all the odds and everything that went against us, from lack of funding to lack of sponsorship, we still were determined to see the vision come to life,” said Hsu-Lee, a passionate philanthropist who runs Triple Eight Consultancy.

Related articles: Shaun Fuchs advocates for creating job creators this Youth Month

DearSA wants youth to have their say