By: Lungisa Somtombo
Female business owners got together to engage and connect with other successful businesswomen to help each other grow their businesses at the Women in Business Summit at Osner Hotel today.
Addressing the objectives of the summit Acting General Manager of Trade and Sector Development Xolelwa Majiza said the summit wants to establish a women in business forum, a forum that will look at the challenges female business owners face and promote their businesses.
“We also want to encourage networking within business owners as the summit is open to different kinds of businesses owners,” said Majiza.
Giving the welcoming address BCMM Portfolio Head for Economic Development and Agencies Councillor Mzwandile Vaaiboom said this event is aimed at encouraging women in business to fight poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Speaking on ‘thriving and surviving in life and business, no matter what they throw at you’ Afri Waste founder and CEO Phumeza Ceshemba said as everyone knows, women are going through a lot at home and in business therefore women need to let go of fear and trust the reason behind starting a business.
“You must ask yourself who am I? and remember where you come from. You must lower yourself and you will be lifted, and don’t forget the people who helped you on you way up,” she said.
Ceshemba expressed that the challenges she faced as a woman were that sponsors thought that she was being used as a front for her business. She added that as she is an African woman, they could not believe that she could start a waste company.
“I struggled trying to convince them that the business was mine. What helped me was that I was patient in my journey”
Under the topic challenges and struggles of being self employed, Businesswoman Andiswa Msi of AndsM said the challenge was not knowing the process of starting a business, she did not know who to talk to.
Msi further said the good thing about being self employed is that there is no limit, she tries everything she thinks of and she’s in control of her time and who she works with. She added that she is able to live her dream.Attendee and businesswoman Vuyelwa Hesewu of Mangemahle Trading said the summit was amazing and touching. She expressed that the speakers were common in one goal, that women have the power to make things happen and they are strong, especially when they work together.