[Music] my experience of doing business in
my experience of doing business in
my experience of doing business in Africa has been about working with
Africa has been about working with
Africa has been about working with amazing women
it’s about sisterhood it’s about sharing
it’s about sisterhood it’s about sharing and caring it’s about lifting each other
and caring it’s about lifting each other
and caring it’s about lifting each other up when things are not going well it’s
up when things are not going well it’s
up when things are not going well it’s about who won’t – that humanity for
about who won’t – that humanity for
about who won’t – that humanity for others it’s that almost that you’re
others it’s that almost that you’re
others it’s that almost that you’re feeling that we get i think it’s magical
so a lot of people will say well it’s
so a lot of people will say well it’s not unique to Africa but it’s Africa
not unique to Africa but it’s Africa
not unique to Africa but it’s Africa that we’re talking about and I think the
that we’re talking about and I think the
that we’re talking about and I think the elements of it that are very much about
elements of it that are very much about
elements of it that are very much about Africa women on this continent have been
Africa women on this continent have been
Africa women on this continent have been gathering to do business since time
gathering to do business since time
gathering to do business since time we’ve been getting together to share
we’ve been getting together to share
we’ve been getting together to share ideas and we’ve almost been hustling to
ideas and we’ve almost been hustling to
ideas and we’ve almost been hustling to make sure that we’re looking after our
make sure that we’re looking after our
make sure that we’re looking after our children and me making ends meet these
children and me making ends meet these
children and me making ends meet these days women are meeting and gathering
days women are meeting and gathering
days women are meeting and gathering with a new intent to do business we’re
with a new intent to do business we’re
with a new intent to do business we’re no longer happy to start small
no longer happy to start small
no longer happy to start small businesses and have our businesses stay
businesses and have our businesses stay
businesses and have our businesses stay small we really want to make sure that
small we really want to make sure that
small we really want to make sure that we make an impact on this continent that
we make an impact on this continent that
we make an impact on this continent that is ours – so I attend a monthly women’s
is ours – so I attend a monthly women’s
is ours – so I attend a monthly women’s meeting I’m very honored to be included
meeting I’m very honored to be included
meeting I’m very honored to be included in this gathering of business women
in this gathering of business women
in this gathering of business women these are businesswomen that are turning
these are businesswomen that are turning
these are businesswomen that are turning over multi-million rands Priya some of
over multi-million rands Priya some of
over multi-million rands Priya some of them I’m turning over multi-million
them I’m turning over multi-million
them I’m turning over multi-million dollar worth of businesses they gather
dollar worth of businesses they gather
dollar worth of businesses they gather with an intent to support each other
with an intent to support each other
with an intent to support each other so these meetings I actually put
so these meetings I actually put
so these meetings I actually put together under the slogan moving further
together under the slogan moving further
together under the slogan moving further together the meeting starts with the
together the meeting starts with the
together the meeting starts with the women sharing around the table they talk
women sharing around the table they talk
women sharing around the table they talk about business personal as well as
about business personal as well as
about business personal as well as family it’s a holistic approach to
family it’s a holistic approach to
family it’s a holistic approach to looking at you and how you run your
looking at you and how you run your
looking at you and how you run your business
business
business the women share their successes and
the women share their successes and
the women share their successes and their challenges and we look at new
their challenges and we look at new
their challenges and we look at new opportunities at one of these meetings I
opportunities at one of these meetings I
opportunities at one of these meetings I did my share and as part of my share I
did my share and as part of my share I
did my share and as part of my share I also talked about a business opportunity
also talked about a business opportunity
also talked about a business opportunity that had happened me and two other women
that had happened me and two other women
that had happened me and two other women business owners had come together and we
business owners had come together and we
business owners had come together and we started a business so we hadn’t just
started a business so we hadn’t just
started a business so we hadn’t just talked about starting the business we’d
talked about starting the business we’d
talked about starting the business we’d actually done the strategy we’d done the
actually done the strategy we’d done the
actually done the strategy we’d done the inevitable what’s up groups to actually
inevitable what’s up groups to actually
inevitable what’s up groups to actually make sure that we’re talking on a
make sure that we’re talking on a
make sure that we’re talking on a regular basis and whit’s registered the
regular basis and whit’s registered the
regular basis and whit’s registered the business so I talked about the business
business so I talked about the business
business so I talked about the business opportunity the opportunity actually
opportunity the opportunity actually
opportunity the opportunity actually came out of being in matchmaking
came out of being in matchmaking
came out of being in matchmaking meetings with corporates and we’d heard
meetings with corporates and we’d heard
meetings with corporates and we’d heard the corporates on one side talk about
the corporates on one side talk about
the corporates on one side talk about the challenges they had about meeting
the challenges they had about meeting
the challenges they had about meeting business owners and we had the women
business owners and we had the women
business owners and we had the women business owners on the other side
business owners on the other side
business owners on the other side talking about the challenges they had
talking about the challenges they had
talking about the challenges they had and we decided there’s a business
and we decided there’s a business
and we decided there’s a business opportunity in this so we put together a
opportunity in this so we put together a
opportunity in this so we put together a business anyway I shared this with the
business anyway I shared this with the
business anyway I shared this with the group and the meeting went on a few
group and the meeting went on a few
group and the meeting went on a few weeks later I was in my office
weeks later I was in my office
weeks later I was in my office juggling meetings and reports as we do
juggling meetings and reports as we do
juggling meetings and reports as we do and my phone rang I answered the phone
and my phone rang I answered the phone
and my phone rang I answered the phone it was from one of the ladies from from
it was from one of the ladies from from
it was from one of the ladies from from the group she hadn’t called me before
the group she hadn’t called me before
the group she hadn’t called me before even though we knew each other from the
even though we knew each other from the
even though we knew each other from the group and we’d met in the group I’d
group and we’d met in the group I’d
group and we’d met in the group I’d never received a call from her before
never received a call from her before
never received a call from her before so we talked once the pleasantries were
so we talked once the pleasantries were
so we talked once the pleasantries were done she told me that she had some money
done she told me that she had some money
done she told me that she had some money to invest in our business
to invest in our business
to invest in our business I was actually quite emotional and
I was actually quite emotional and
I was actually quite emotional and surprised this was really about
surprised this was really about
surprised this was really about sisterhood not only about somebody
sisterhood not only about somebody
sisterhood not only about somebody listening to you and saying this is a
listening to you and saying this is a
listening to you and saying this is a great idea but she then said okay here’s
great idea but she then said okay here’s
great idea but she then said okay here’s some funding this is a really great idea
some funding this is a really great idea
some funding this is a really great idea move ahead with it for me that’s part of
move ahead with it for me that’s part of
move ahead with it for me that’s part of the narrative of the sisterhood that we
the narrative of the sisterhood that we
the narrative of the sisterhood that we had in Africa we’re not just saying I
had in Africa we’re not just saying I
had in Africa we’re not just saying I support you but we do the physical
support you but we do the physical
support you but we do the physical support that often goes with it
support that often goes with it
support that often goes with it so after the paperwork was drawn and the
so after the paperwork was drawn and the
so after the paperwork was drawn and the money was then deposited into the
money was then deposited into the
money was then deposited into the account we decided that we would employ
account we decided that we would employ
account we decided that we would employ a woman business owner an IT expert to
a woman business owner an IT expert to
a woman business owner an IT expert to actually develop the app so therefore
actually develop the app so therefore
actually develop the app so therefore almost completing the circle of
almost completing the circle of
almost completing the circle of sisterhood in business and I don’t think
sisterhood in business and I don’t think
sisterhood in business and I don’t think this story is rare I think there’s a lot
this story is rare I think there’s a lot
this story is rare I think there’s a lot of this happening and I’m seeing it more
of this happening and I’m seeing it more
of this happening and I’m seeing it more and more that women we’re not just
and more that women we’re not just
and more that women we’re not just getting together anymore to just talk
getting together anymore to just talk
getting together anymore to just talk and be nice but we’re actually talking
and be nice but we’re actually talking
and be nice but we’re actually talking business I can give you quite a few more
business I can give you quite a few more
business I can give you quite a few more examples of the sisterhood get that
examples of the sisterhood get that
examples of the sisterhood get that happening around us so we talked about
happening around us so we talked about
happening around us so we talked about women gathering I also sit on the board
women gathering I also sit on the board
women gathering I also sit on the board of an organization that trains on
of an organization that trains on
of an organization that trains on entrepreneurship the organization is a
entrepreneurship the organization is a
entrepreneurship the organization is a global organization I sit on the Africa
global organization I sit on the Africa
global organization I sit on the Africa board and they teach financial literacy
board and they teach financial literacy
board and they teach financial literacy and entrepreneurship and work readiness
and entrepreneurship and work readiness
and entrepreneurship and work readiness to youth actually teaching youth in work
to youth actually teaching youth in work
to youth actually teaching youth in work to look at the entrepreneurial ideas
to look at the entrepreneurial ideas
to look at the entrepreneurial ideas around them in the environments and
around them in the environments and
around them in the environments and putting them into projects and in a safe
putting them into projects and in a safe
putting them into projects and in a safe environment being able to develop those
environment being able to develop those
environment being able to develop those projects each year we have a Company of
projects each year we have a Company of
projects each year we have a Company of the Year awards for this and what we’re
the Year awards for this and what we’re
the Year awards for this and what we’re finding is that more and more girls are
finding is that more and more girls are
finding is that more and more girls are coming through in these teams in 2016 of
coming through in these teams in 2016 of
coming through in these teams in 2016 of all the teams that came through
all the teams that came through
all the teams that came through the 16 countries representing Africa 76%
the 16 countries representing Africa 76%
the 16 countries representing Africa 76% of the teams were girls and these girls
of the teams were girls and these girls
of the teams were girls and these girls are articulate they’re savvy they’re
are articulate they’re savvy they’re
are articulate they’re savvy they’re coming through with really smart ideas I
coming through with really smart ideas I
coming through with really smart ideas I think we need to know this as women
think we need to know this as women
think we need to know this as women entrepreneurs and as adults because
entrepreneurs and as adults because
entrepreneurs and as adults because these are the entrepreneurs that we’re
these are the entrepreneurs that we’re
these are the entrepreneurs that we’re going to be handing the baton over to
going to be handing the baton over to
going to be handing the baton over to and some of these projects are really
and some of these projects are really
and some of these projects are really amazing so one of the most memorable
amazing so one of the most memorable
amazing so one of the most memorable projects for me in 2016 was another girl
projects for me in 2016 was another girl
projects for me in 2016 was another girl team they’d actually come up with a tee
team they’d actually come up with a tee
team they’d actually come up with a tee that had been that they’d beautifully
that had been that they’d beautifully
that had been that they’d beautifully packaged and beautifully branded and the
packaged and beautifully branded and the
packaged and beautifully branded and the tee helps with menstruation pain when I
tee helps with menstruation pain when I
tee helps with menstruation pain when I asked the girls how they came up with
asked the girls how they came up with
asked the girls how they came up with this idea one of the girls said her
this idea one of the girls said her
this idea one of the girls said her grandmother had told her about this leaf
grandmother had told her about this leaf
grandmother had told her about this leaf that they used to pull out in the
that they used to pull out in the
that they used to pull out in the village where she lives crush it and
village where she lives crush it and
village where she lives crush it and then put hot water in and then they
then put hot water in and then they
then put hot water in and then they would drink it and it helped her
would drink it and it helped her
would drink it and it helped her administration pain that’s indigenous
administration pain that’s indigenous
administration pain that’s indigenous knowledge meeting entrepreneurship
knowledge meeting entrepreneurship
knowledge meeting entrepreneurship learning looking back a little bit I
learning looking back a little bit I
learning looking back a little bit I used to work at the CSIR and one of my
used to work at the CSIR and one of my
used to work at the CSIR and one of my favorite projects at the CSIR was when
favorite projects at the CSIR was when
favorite projects at the CSIR was when we worked on IKS knowledge indigenous
we worked on IKS knowledge indigenous
we worked on IKS knowledge indigenous indigenous knowledge systems the IKS
indigenous knowledge systems the IKS
indigenous knowledge systems the IKS practitioners were predominantly females
practitioners were predominantly females
practitioners were predominantly females I was amazed at how they came together
I was amazed at how they came together
I was amazed at how they came together they didn’t talk about who born – they
they didn’t talk about who born – they
they didn’t talk about who born – they practiced it in everything they did they
practiced it in everything they did they
practiced it in everything they did they were willingness to share their
were willingness to share their
were willingness to share their knowledge and actually allowed the
knowledge and actually allowed the
knowledge and actually allowed the Science Institute
Science Institute
Science Institute to take that knowledge and put it into
to take that knowledge and put it into
to take that knowledge and put it into modern-day science was amazing to me
modern-day science was amazing to me
modern-day science was amazing to me what it taught me was that we had this
what it taught me was that we had this
what it taught me was that we had this amazing knowledge on this continent we
amazing knowledge on this continent we
amazing knowledge on this continent we could bring it into modern-day times and
could bring it into modern-day times and
could bring it into modern-day times and it provided the key to our prosperity
it provided the key to our prosperity
it provided the key to our prosperity and often we don’t realize how much it
and often we don’t realize how much it
and often we don’t realize how much it does that
does that
does that and all of us have been given some of
and all of us have been given some of
and all of us have been given some of these keys to knowledge often by parents
these keys to knowledge often by parents
these keys to knowledge often by parents my mother and grandmother were very
my mother and grandmother were very
my mother and grandmother were very entrepreneurial even from the way they
entrepreneurial even from the way they
entrepreneurial even from the way they taught us how to work in the kitchen and
taught us how to work in the kitchen and
taught us how to work in the kitchen and cook amazing meals or the way they
cook amazing meals or the way they
cook amazing meals or the way they helped us to make our homes places of
helped us to make our homes places of
helped us to make our homes places of absolute nurturing and of course the
absolute nurturing and of course the
absolute nurturing and of course the knowledge they passed on in how we
knowledge they passed on in how we
knowledge they passed on in how we raised our children is amazing and I
raised our children is amazing and I
raised our children is amazing and I think a lot of that information to
think a lot of that information to
think a lot of that information to knowledge we need to think about when
knowledge we need to think about when
knowledge we need to think about when we’re doing business a lot of it is
we’re doing business a lot of it is
we’re doing business a lot of it is solutions to today’s issues and today’s
solutions to today’s issues and today’s
solutions to today’s issues and today’s problems that we need to look at so I
problems that we need to look at so I
problems that we need to look at so I also am involved with an organization
also am involved with an organization
also am involved with an organization that identifies registers and certifies
that identifies registers and certifies
that identifies registers and certifies women owns businesses we help these
women owns businesses we help these
women owns businesses we help these women to meet the marketplace corporate
women to meet the marketplace corporate
women to meet the marketplace corporate members the idea of the meetings is not
members the idea of the meetings is not
members the idea of the meetings is not just to get together and talk but to
just to get together and talk but to
just to get together and talk but to actually make sure that these women can
actually make sure that these women can
actually make sure that these women can sell to the corporate the businesses
sell to the corporate the businesses
sell to the corporate the businesses that register with us a small medium and
that register with us a small medium and
that register with us a small medium and large they have opportunities to
large they have opportunities to
large they have opportunities to actually sit and have matchmaking
actually sit and have matchmaking
actually sit and have matchmaking meetings with the corporates so for
meetings with the corporates so for
meetings with the corporates so for those who certify their businesses and
those who certify their businesses and
those who certify their businesses and we’ve got currently got 55 companies
we’ve got currently got 55 companies
we’ve got currently got 55 companies that have certified their businesses
that have certified their businesses
that have certified their businesses from the database of 700 companies the
from the database of 700 companies the
from the database of 700 companies the 55 have an opportunity four times a year
55 have an opportunity four times a year
55 have an opportunity four times a year to have matchmaking sessions with the
to have matchmaking sessions with the
to have matchmaking sessions with the corporates in these matchmaking sessions
corporates in these matchmaking sessions
corporates in these matchmaking sessions they actually have an option an
they actually have an option an
they actually have an option an opportunity to not only sell their
opportunity to not only sell their
opportunity to not only sell their business to the corporates but more
business to the corporates but more
business to the corporates but more importantly to listen to the
importantly to listen to the
importantly to listen to the opportunities listen to the challenges
opportunities listen to the challenges
opportunities listen to the challenges that the corporates are having and that
that the corporates are having and that
that the corporates are having and that allows them to go away again and
allows them to go away again and
allows them to go away again and innovate
this has been very successful and we’ve
this has been very successful and we’ve learnt a lot from these so one of the
learnt a lot from these so one of the
learnt a lot from these so one of the things that’s been happening with this
things that’s been happening with this
things that’s been happening with this group of women is that they becoming a
group of women is that they becoming a
group of women is that they becoming a community they’re mentoring and coaching
community they’re mentoring and coaching
community they’re mentoring and coaching each other and more than that they’re
each other and more than that they’re
each other and more than that they’re actually buying from each other products
actually buying from each other products
actually buying from each other products and professional services so we’re
and professional services so we’re
and professional services so we’re having an inner circle of people that
having an inner circle of people that
having an inner circle of people that realize that they can work together and
realize that they can work together and
realize that they can work together and help each other to do well in business
help each other to do well in business
help each other to do well in business beyond this these women are
beyond this these women are
beyond this these women are collaborating naturally I have a number
collaborating naturally I have a number
collaborating naturally I have a number of examples of some of the collaboration
of examples of some of the collaboration
of examples of some of the collaboration that’s actually going on within the
that’s actually going on within the
that’s actually going on within the network and there’s too many of them to
network and there’s too many of them to
network and there’s too many of them to me to give you a lot of them so I just
me to give you a lot of them so I just
me to give you a lot of them so I just want to give you a sample of some of the
want to give you a sample of some of the
want to give you a sample of some of the collaboration that’s going on so for
collaboration that’s going on so for
collaboration that’s going on so for example we have a company that’s does
example we have a company that’s does
example we have a company that’s does strategy and processes
strategy and processes
strategy and processes that’s partnered with a legal firm and
that’s partnered with a legal firm and
that’s partnered with a legal firm and they actually do running workshops to
they actually do running workshops to
they actually do running workshops to help businesses to understand the new
help businesses to understand the new
help businesses to understand the new information Protection Act we’ve got
information Protection Act we’ve got
information Protection Act we’ve got another company that does facilities
another company that does facilities
another company that does facilities management a very large facilities
management a very large facilities
management a very large facilities management company that’s partnering
management company that’s partnering
management company that’s partnering with a company that does manufacturing
with a company that does manufacturing
with a company that does manufacturing of products cleaning products and
of products cleaning products and
of products cleaning products and they’ve realized that working together
they’ve realized that working together
they’ve realized that working together they can actually approach clients and
they can actually approach clients and
they can actually approach clients and be in a better position to negotiate
be in a better position to negotiate
be in a better position to negotiate larger contracts we’ve got two ladies
larger contracts we’ve got two ladies
larger contracts we’ve got two ladies that met at one of our matchmaking
that met at one of our matchmaking
that met at one of our matchmaking sessions both in service health services
sessions both in service health services
sessions both in service health services Perdition health services the next day
Perdition health services the next day
Perdition health services the next day they put together a proposal to supply
they put together a proposal to supply
they put together a proposal to supply health services to one of the clients
health services to one of the clients
health services to one of the clients it’s those opportunities where they get
it’s those opportunities where they get
it’s those opportunities where they get together and instead of seeing each
together and instead of seeing each
together and instead of seeing each other as competition they see that
other as competition they see that
other as competition they see that collaboration opens up new opportunities
collaboration opens up new opportunities
collaboration opens up new opportunities and new doors to move forward we have
and new doors to move forward we have
and new doors to move forward we have another two companies both in security
another two companies both in security
another two companies both in security management both in different cities
management both in different cities
management both in different cities doing very well and two cities they came
doing very well and two cities they came
doing very well and two cities they came together at the matchmaking session and
together at the matchmaking session and
together at the matchmaking session and decided that they would collaborate
decided that they would collaborate
decided that they would collaborate grow their businesses beyond the borders
so collaboration is working for all of
so collaboration is working for all of us but what these women are doing
us but what these women are doing
us but what these women are doing they’re also reducing risk they working
they’re also reducing risk they working
they’re also reducing risk they working together on their terms testing the
together on their terms testing the
together on their terms testing the market testing how they can actually
market testing how they can actually
market testing how they can actually work together and looking at new
work together and looking at new
work together and looking at new opportunities what we know for sure is
opportunities what we know for sure is
opportunities what we know for sure is that the corporates out there want to do
that the corporates out there want to do
that the corporates out there want to do business with companies that can take on
business with companies that can take on
business with companies that can take on larger and larger contracts and in most
larger and larger contracts and in most
larger and larger contracts and in most cases the women business owners tend to
cases the women business owners tend to
cases the women business owners tend to be either solopreneurs or SMEs what
be either solopreneurs or SMEs what
be either solopreneurs or SMEs what we’re finding is by linking in with the
we’re finding is by linking in with the
we’re finding is by linking in with the women who are doing well and creating
women who are doing well and creating
women who are doing well and creating much larger companies we can actually
much larger companies we can actually
much larger companies we can actually bring these companies together to form
bring these companies together to form
bring these companies together to form stronger partnerships so we know for
stronger partnerships so we know for
stronger partnerships so we know for certain that the global economy is worth
certain that the global economy is worth
certain that the global economy is worth about 86 trillion dollars of that 86
about 86 trillion dollars of that 86
about 86 trillion dollars of that 86 trillion dollars apparently women impact
trillion dollars apparently women impact
trillion dollars apparently women impact about 20 trillion dollars in spend yet
about 20 trillion dollars in spend yet
about 20 trillion dollars in spend yet we only get 1% of consumer purchasing
we only get 1% of consumer purchasing
we only get 1% of consumer purchasing from the large corporates and government
and it’s not because women are not
and it’s not because women are not creating businesses up to 39 percent of
creating businesses up to 39 percent of
creating businesses up to 39 percent of the world’s small businesses privately
the world’s small businesses privately
the world’s small businesses privately owned businesses a woman owned so we’re
owned businesses a woman owned so we’re
owned businesses a woman owned so we’re there we’re creating businesses we’re
there we’re creating businesses we’re
there we’re creating businesses we’re doing our best to scale our businesses
doing our best to scale our businesses
doing our best to scale our businesses but yet we’re not getting the larger and
but yet we’re not getting the larger and
but yet we’re not getting the larger and larger contracts so we talked about
larger contracts so we talked about
larger contracts so we talked about collaboration we’ve talked about
collaboration we’ve talked about
collaboration we’ve talked about sisterhood we’ve talked about how women
sisterhood we’ve talked about how women
sisterhood we’ve talked about how women are coming together to do more we want
are coming together to do more we want
are coming together to do more we want to make sure that women get together to
to make sure that women get together to
to make sure that women get together to get a larger slice of that cake that
get a larger slice of that cake that
get a larger slice of that cake that eighty six trillion dollar cake that’s
eighty six trillion dollar cake that’s
eighty six trillion dollar cake that’s out there we know for certain that it’s
out there we know for certain that it’s
out there we know for certain that it’s been shared by the male businesses and
been shared by the male businesses and
been shared by the male businesses and we get the crumbs and often we’re left
we get the crumbs and often we’re left
we get the crumbs and often we’re left to fight over the crumbs but what we
to fight over the crumbs but what we
to fight over the crumbs but what we need to do is to be more aware that
need to do is to be more aware that
need to do is to be more aware that there are opportunities out there where
there are opportunities out there where
there are opportunities out there where we can actually create new businesses
we can actually create new businesses
we can actually create new businesses I think women should be looking at the
I think women should be looking at the
I think women should be looking at the opportunities that we have on the whole
opportunities that we have on the whole
opportunities that we have on the whole continent and creating businesses that
continent and creating businesses that
continent and creating businesses that disrupt looking at the opportunities
disrupt looking at the opportunities
disrupt looking at the opportunities that we have we have so many problems on
that we have we have so many problems on
that we have we have so many problems on the continent and we can find some of
the continent and we can find some of
the continent and we can find some of the solutions to those problems so how
the solutions to those problems so how
the solutions to those problems so how do we do that we basically make sure
do we do that we basically make sure
do we do that we basically make sure that we use the magic in our sisterhood
that we use the magic in our sisterhood
that we use the magic in our sisterhood we keep collaborating we keep sharing
we keep collaborating we keep sharing
we keep collaborating we keep sharing ideas to make sure that we can all move
ideas to make sure that we can all move
ideas to make sure that we can all move forward together because I really
forward together because I really
forward together because I really believe that we owe it to the people and
believe that we owe it to the people and
believe that we owe it to the people and especially the young entrepreneurs that
especially the young entrepreneurs that
especially the young entrepreneurs that are coming up behind us thank you
”
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