It is never too late to pick up a good habit

It is all about guts and a drive to be self-sufficient and empowered.

This is the story of Ngwane from & Services (Pty), a projects and technical services company specialising in the mining sector.

With more than 20 years in the mining environment, Ayanda used her experience and BTech degree in Extractive Metallurgy to start her business three years ago.

This disciplined businesswoman with a keen interest in extraordinary science projects like Nasa’s quest to investigate Mars is one of 20 female entrepreneurs chosen by Seriti to undergo a holistic development programme aiming at empowering woman entrepreneurs in the eMalahleni/Middelburg area, called the Women in Mining programme.

This programme was launched in May 2022 and is being run by Collective Value Creation (CVC) over 18 months and emphasises Seriti’s focus on women empowerment.

Ayanda’s goal is to use her coal logistics management experience gained in working for a major in the coal mining sector, to assist SME and junior coal producers that sell their products, and become reliable and compliant trading partners.

Growing up on the KZN South Coast where she attended boarding school from a very young age, she later united with her parents and became a Durbanite.

She got her first taste of the mining industry in Randburg as a process technician for Mintek, a company specialising in minerals processing and metallurgical engineering products and services.

Being a keen reader of business-related books such as Stephen Covey’s “Seven habits of highly effective people” she believes it to further support her in the current training.

In order to keep fit and to be able to assist when needed, Ayanda is taking up swimming lessons, conquering her fear and leaving her feeling more empowered.

While studying, she joined a commercial laboratory in the eMalahleni area with a focus on coal and this is where her path met up with those of the now-known company Seriti Power.

The Women in Mining programme endeavours to skill these beneficiaries and help develop their companies to grow, increasing their competitiveness and ability to attract further business.

Ayanda says the training assists her in concentrating on being clear on her intent that which leads her to achieve her business goals.

“The training helps me to manage my current clients more professionally by being more structured and focussed and to clarify changes. It is a major eye-opener when you come to the realisation that you have to change your focus from climbing the career ladder in a company to the responsibility and skills needed as a business owner. The training allows us to better strategise on how we want to grow, create opportunities, build our brands and utilise our networking opportunities.”

As with many young businesses, she is also facing major challenges such as having access to the skills of reliable professional experts without having to employ those skills in a start-up business that has limited financial resources.

These include IT services and financial management.

She further hopes to benefit from the programme by “boosting my confidence to find ways to pursue my own success, and to contribute towards the betterment of the mining industry through the clients I service.”

She also believes the training enables her to avoid the pitfalls of business by paying attention to small details.

CVC’s Project Manager on the programme, Orla Ollewagen comments on the value of the programme so far: “The blended approach of training workshops coupled with practical coaching and mentorship support has proven hugely valuable, notwithstanding the support the ladies have received from each other. I am excited to quantify the growth in each of the ladies as well as their businesses as a result of this approach.”

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