Inspiring the next generation of women

DEVELOPING leadership skills, securing business success and promoting an image worthy of climbing the corporate ladder evolves through planning, personal branding and grasping the opportunities within the path, regardless of personal circumstances.

These were the key elements that emerged during Friday’s Businesswomen’s Association (BWA) Durban branch, Winning in the Workplace conference.

Now in its 15th year, the event prepares female school leavers for the world beyond school security, specifically equipping them with the knowledge to successfully tackle a professional career.

This year’s workshop focused on building future women leaders and saw 350 Grade 12 scholars and 30 teachers from 70 disadvantaged KwaZulu-Natal rural schools interact with key women entrepreneurs and leaders.

Project chair and Women of Africa Fuels and Oils CEO, Pria Hassan, said the initiative provided the next generation of businesswomen with the motivation, knowledge and skills to succeed in business.

“Never take for granted opportunities given to you, walk out of today’s session knowing you can be the generation that changes society’s issues including finding a cure for HIV/Aids, fighting corruption and ending violence against women and children,” she encouraged the future leaders.

Motivational speaker, John Ballum, warned patrons about the office blunders to avoid. These include upstaging a boss or team, buying the line that ‘this is just between you and me’, not coming clean about mistakes, misjudging the power of informal organisations like church groups and friendships outside the office and ‘squashing worms’, specifically believing there were small people not worthy of being treated with integrity.

Bloom Marketing MD Nox Luthuli urged delegates to develop their personal brand based on unique characteristics and abilities. That branding evolved in line with the person’s position in life, but that an individual’s real value was intrinsically linked to “brand me”.

“Aim high, but beware of only presenting ‘brand you’ in a way that benefits those dreams. Recognise the elements that sell you to the corporate world,” Luthuli said.

In concrete terms that meant thinking beyond being employed to creating employment that employs other young women. However, it also acknowledged success was not easy and grasping the second and third chances after failure.

“Whatever you are passionate about can become your career, but vitally, you must be driven by your passion to live your dream,” East Coast Radio personality and voice-over artist Lebo Masike said.

It was a message echoed by former Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini that South Africa should not be deprived of individuals’ talents. She had raised her life out of poverty; improved her life, attended university and travelled the world because of her sport.

“I achieved my goals, why can’t you?” she challenged the delegates.

Before the full-day workshop, the scholars wrote an essay, which was individually adjudicated and prizes awarded to assist the recipients with their tertiary education. This year’s topic considered the unsung heroes within the matriculants’ communities.

BWA chairperson. Farzanah Mall said as professional businesswomen, members recognised that many young women did not have the opportunity to learn to make informed career choices; manage their finances and be inspired by successful women.