Alex youth urged to walk in Baloyi’s shoes to success

If the youth of today want to succeed in whatever they do, they must learn to walk other people’s journeys of success.

This is the view of Theo Baloyi, a successful shoe businessman from Alexandra but now based in Centurion.

“Walking other people’s journeys is essentially having an invisible mentor who keeps unwittingly guiding you in the right direction. This is no different to a mentor, as they both do the same thing, guide you in your life journey,” Baloyi said in a telephonic interview with Alex News.

Baloyi, who was born in Soshanguve and matriculated in 2009 before moving to Alexandra, said he cut his teeth in business while living in the revered and iconic ‘mother of all townships’ by selling perfume door to door.

“This was my side hustle while studying accounting at Damelin College and later at Unisa [University of South Africa] and living with the family in 10th Avenue. I later moved out but the family still has the home there,” Baloyi said.

Baloyi owns a successful shoe manufacturing company which started in 2015 and specialises in the production of sneakers called Bathu Shoes. “I grew up with this love for Converse takkies and kept telling myself one day I must start takkies of my own, and this dream evolved into reality with the passage of time.”

He is currently a mentor to young and aspiring entrepreneurs through an initiative known as Nedbank YouthX.

“YouthX seeks to empower the youth with business and financial skills through structuring and facilitating virtual master classes on entrepreneurship, where we tell our varying entrepreneurial journeys in the hope that the youth may be inspired and live their dreams.

“A summit and awards [event] of the YouthX organisation are still in the planning stages where ambassadors such as me and others will come together with the youth who are registered for the master classes to motivate them even further.”