Entrepreneur Zodwa Mlangeni is the owner of Mementoes Trading in Ackerville – eMalahleni, where she was also born and bred.
A year ago, Zodwa was chosen as one of 20 businesswomen to undergo a holistic development programme aiming at empowering woman entrepreneurs in the eMalahleni/Middelburg area, sponsored by Seriti.
This programme is being run by Collective Value Creation (CVC).
Managing Director of CVC, Wybrand Ganzevoort, says the Women in Mining programme’s entrepreneurs are being skilled and their companies developed to grow, increasing their competitiveness and ability to attract further business.
Zodwa explains that at the start of the Women in Mining programme in May 2022, she expected to learn from industry experts to improve her business’ sales and marketing.
She was also looking forward to learning from the other remarkable women in mining who are doing great things in their respective industries, drawing strength from their wells and growing her own network.
Now that the training is entering its final weeks, Zodwa says her expectations were exceeded.
According to her, the marketing training had been a highlight and she is pleased to now be part of the LinkedIn platform and making new connections to increase the reach of her business.
“The programme is equipping me with new skills and knowledge to manoeuvre the daily challenges of running a business and the coaching sessions helped me to think outside the box.”
Mementoes Trading, a laundry service as well as general building maintenance in the mining industry, has 47 employees and celebrated its 10th anniversary in October last year.
Zodwa started this business while still employed by one of the major banks as a business account analyst.
She was inspired by her clients who were in business and making an impact. “I wanted to be an active participant in assisting the economy by creating sustainable jobs while building a sustainable business.”
Like many new businesses, she faced multiple difficulties such as gaining access to business opportunities and raising capital.
Some remain, especially opportunities for growth and expansion, as well as funding.
The Women in Mining programme fits in seamlessly with this young woman’s goal of self-development to sustainably grow her business.
She emphasises the importance of an inspired, motivated, and developed entrepreneur which in turn leads to great leadership, impacting the business directly.
Becoming an entrepreneur can be a daunting experience and most will tell you that they could not have done it without the love and support of family and friends.
Zodwa was raised by a single mother and confesses that “She is the reason I work this hard. I can never repay her for all her sacrifices, but I am at least trying to make life a little better for her since she is now a pensioner. My sisters are my pillars, they hold me together and my partner completes the support structure.” She says they are honest in their interactions with her about the business, which in turn assists her to be honest in her own introspections, as she makes decisions that affect the business.
Her advice to prospective entrepreneurs is to “put in the hard work, it pays off. All efforts, no matter how small, help to shape the business.”
Zodwa loves to travel, although she does not get to do this often.
She hopes to one day travel wide and far, as travelling opens one’s imagination.
“You get to meet different and inspiring people; learn how they do things and get to implement ideas in your own business to improve efficiencies.”
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