POLOKWANE – Being an entrepreneur in today’s economy is a daunting task that most people are not up for. However, Reabetswe Molapo is clearly cut from a different cloth.
Molapo is a young woman that hails from Polokwane and has always had big dreams for her life.
She is the founding director of Yung Heirz, a movement which aims to empower and motivate young people. Her vision is to inspire young people and do her part in making a tangible difference, not only in the province, but in other parts of the country as well. She is also a motivational speaker and a leadership trainer.
“My biggest inspiration is God. I look at His creation and how meticulous He is and how structured He is. He didn’t just create things for the sake of creating them, everything has a role and purpose and this purpose is what keeps me going. I have numerous people I also look up to, some of which I know on a personal level and who have contributed to my outlook on life and my vision. Internationally, names such as John Maxwell and Myles Munroe are people I’ve looked up to for a long time and have also had the privilege of meeting,” she says.
Being a young businesswoman, Molapo explains that there will always be adversities she has to face and overcome.
“I believe the industry is highly male dominated because some of the greatest names are mostly men. As a young lady you will face disappointment and people will look down on you because of your gender and sometimes your race, but to stoop low and spread your legs to get a contract or a shot at the top is a big no go. It’s one of those careers that requires one to know why you are there and establish within yourself what will keep you there. It’s quite tough and requires one to take risks.”
Molapo has quite a few accolades behind her name. She was selected last year as one of the top 12 participants of the Small Enterprise Development Agency’s (SEDA) Basic Entrepreneurial Skills Development Programme for Entrepreneurship. She also received an award from the Business Women’s Association of South Africa (BWASA) in the Limpopo Region for Social Entrepreneurship.
Through it all she still remains a down to earth woman who says she loves cooking for her family and reading books. She describes her personal style as simple but elegant.
“I believe in African beauty and in embracing my natural qualities. In short I would say my style is simple, classic and elegant. My current favourite item is my black flat pumps with gold studs, it’s a high-end brand that I got at a retail shop worth R300, but when I got to the till I paid R20 so those are my ‘blessing shoes’,” she concludes.
