This can definitely be said of Doreen Katzen, a well-known property broker of Vered Estates based in Dunkeld West, who has epitomised courage throughout her life and dedicates her time to making a difference.
Katzen has fulfilled many roles during her lifetime, including being a businesswoman, mother, friend, wife and councillor, and has supported a rich tapestry of others for more than 40 years.
Like iron, courage must be forged under challenging circumstances, something which Katzen can attest to. Despite the fact that she is always impeccably dressed, Katzen describes her early years as unsophisticated, having grown up in a small town on the West Rand.
“If I could go back 30 years to a younger version of myself, I would tell myself to embrace people who are different to me and realise my own strengths, instead of seeing other people as authority figures,” said Katzen who somehow manages to put more hours into a day than most people half her age.
“To me, this is one of the reasons why it is important to honour our women, both in the past and present, drawing attention to our own power, making our path easier in the process through their strong convictions and fearlessness to stand up for their beliefs to right the wrongs.
“We can all learn from each other and our different strengths.”
Although Katzen acknowledges the importance of women across the board, she feels strongly about the concept of a ‘Women’s 12 months’ – an ideal in which we all honour each other’s humanity throughout the year.
This value is based on her father’s emphasis on integrity and furthering oneself through education; two principles which have motivated a satisfying life of hard work, sincerity, honesty and care, giving of her best and continuously challenging boundaries to achieve her potential.
“Life may not always be simple, but if you work hard at both your professional and private life, you are bound to be successful, developing a certain strength which not only helps to accomplish goals and to deal with challenges, but it also gives the reward of finding the opportunity to pay it forward and make a difference in the lives of others along the way.”
Details: 011 341 1300.
