Meet Pitch and Polish’s lady of the moment
MIDRAND – Midrand lady scooped the honours by winning the annual entrepreneurial competition Pitch and Polish.
Midrand’s Masego Mohajane was named the winner of the Johannesburg round of the Engen Pitch & Polish programme, an entrepreneurial workshop and competition, recently which was attended by about 370 entrepreneurs.
Mohajane grew up in a small rural township in the North West province.
She is a qualified clinical engineer who specialises in ensuring that medical technology in the healthcare sector works optimally in support of patient care. She also has 15 years experience in the medical engineering field.
As a young woman who grew up in an unserviced rural area, she has been affected by inequalities within the healthcare sector. It is through this that M-Squared Medical was established.
M-Squared is a medical engineering company that specialises in providing total solutions to healthcare professionals in underdeveloped communities, especially in the rural areas, with the use of high technology medical equipment The company has been operating for three years.
Even though ultrasound is their core business, the company also deals with sales, rental and maintenance of a wider range of diagnostic equipment and medical consumables.
The problem that M-Squared is solving, especially in the rural areas, is assisting health practitioners to make a thorough medical diagnosis using high-tech equipment that urban practitioners are using.
“I heard about the competition from our marketing copywriter, Sima Mzizi, of Riversands IHub. I applied and was shortlisted as a participant. There was a point where I thought I didn’t make it as the selection process took longer than anticipated but the day I received a call from Raizcorp, I was thrilled,” said Mohajane.
“Seeing the auditorium filled to capacity made me a bit unsettled because I had never pitched [to] a massive crowd. I didn’t know what to expect as it was my first time participating in a pitching competition,” said Mohajane.
Justin Cohen, the program director kicked off the workshop by educating and advising the attendees and participants on key lessons to be included in a perfect pitch, and they were:
- Tuning in – addressing your customers needs
- Be optimistic – continue trying even in times of rejection
- Presence – be ready to fight for your idea with immense energy and enthusiasm
- Identify your purpose – be a giver and serve people. Money focus must be minimal
- What’s your story – it must be a living story and must give life to the facts
- Market – who are you selling to?
“Pitch and polish was a great learning experience and one big lesson I learnt from the judging panel, was that as an entrepreneur I need to thoroughly know and understand my numbers,” Mohajane said in conclusion. She will proceed to round two of the competition.
The final of the 2017 annual entrepreneurial workshop and competition will be held on 30 November at The Venue, Melrose Arch.
The ENGEN Pitch & Polish programme continues to grow thanks to Engen Petroleum, Nedbank and Raizcorp along with Caxton Local Media.
