Successful entrepreneur gives back
I honestly cannot say that I have become the person I am today, without knowing cancer. It’s allowed me to become a pillar and use my journey as a businesswoman.
SUE Moodley (38) is married to Sugan. They have two children, a son of 10 and a seven-year-old daughter, and they live in Bassonia.
Seventeen years ago Sue started Pluminco Trade, a building, plumbing and sanitation wholesale company she founded with her father. Today the business is a multi-million rand company. Sue has multiple properties across the country which sees her commute between her Johannesburg and Durban offices.
Now, this successful entrepreneur has decided to give back. A way for her to share her knowledge and path to success with others, was to enter the Mrs Commonwealth 2017 pageant, where she won the Business Award and was crowned as the first princess and the Ambassador of Mrs Commonwealth South Africa 2017/2018. The pageant supports Pink Drive, a NGO which raises awareness about breast cancer.
After very humble beginnings, her journey to become a businesswoman was not one that accidentally landed in her lap.
“I was born in KwaZulu-Natal and was brought to Johannesburg at a very young age in a time when my parents were struggling during the apartheid era. Many Indian households were barely putting food on the table let alone given the opportunity to open a business. It was here my dad, who is also my business partner and mentor, took on a job in the industry sector that I am currently in. Pluminco Trade Services deals with building and construction sectors, mining and agriculture sectors as well.
“When I graduated from high school, money was scarce so university was something that I had to forget for a while. I knew early on, if I wanted to further my education I was going to fund myself. I took on a reception job just after high school at a diamond cutting firm in downtown Johannesburg. It was here while answering telephones that I mastered the art of people skills. Knowing people is knowing business I say. I slowly moved up to sales which brought out the competitive side in me, namely the drive to get that sale. But I also knew that I was working for a boss and nothing was ever going to come from it. I earned a lot of commission back then and together with my dad I decided to open a business. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the business would take off like it did.
“In 2009 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and was called to rest at age 51, and because of this, I decided I wanted to support an association which supports breast cancer awareness.
“I entered the Mrs Commonwealth South Africa purely because cancer has made such an impact in my life. I want to educate and motivate people by using my business and my education behind this disease. I honestly cannot say that I have become the person I am today, without knowing cancer. It’s allowed me to become a pillar and use my journey as a businesswoman. It’s not been easy, but I’ve come this far and I plan on using my success in business to become a community leader – a driven woman. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”
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