Page 179 - KZN Top Business LEADERS-eBook

AMANDA SWANA

manda Swana is the managing director at qualifications, in the consulting environment they ment that makes her the proudest was paying the
Powerpoint Lifestyles, a human resource are the ones that are engaging with clients. What first batch of salaries to her employees. “I was so
consulting agency, based in Umhlanga becomes paramount is their confidence to service grateful because there were people who believed
ARidge, Durban. these clients.” in my vision even though I had nothing to back it
up. The 25th is still the most beautiful day for me, it
Amanda completed high school at Durban Academy In order to motivate her employees Amanda validates why I started the business. I’ve always said
High School, then moved onto the University of advocates for them to find their own voices. “If we’re my responsibility is to make sure that my employees
KwaZulu-Natal to study for a psychology degree. After sitting in a business or a brainstorming meeting, I‘d are paid on time and to try to make this business
completing a master’s degree in industrial psychology, like to know what the officer thinks, what is their sustainable, which is personal for me.”
Amanda branched off into the world of work voice in this situation? What is their perspective?”
commencing her internship and human resources While Amanda considered that there might be a risk REMAIN AUTHENTIC
role at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute to empowering her staff in that they might open up
(SASRI). There, Amanda said, she was mentored by their own consulting firms, she has found that the The best advice Amanda has received has been from
her manager who made a huge impact on who she opposite is true. “I’ve found that the employees’ sense her mother, who when she started the business, said:
has become and how she handles herself in the world of loyalty is not because you pay them well or that “Try to not lose yourself. Try to allow yourself to remain
of work. authentic. In any room that you find yourself in, don’t
they could make more money out of the business. let money or people change who you are.”
Following a two-year stint at SASRI as an human The sense of loyalty develops when your employees
resources officer, Amanda moved into the consulting are empowered and they feel emotionally and Amanda says her biggest challenge has been to
field. As she had studied industrial psychology, psychologically safe.” remind herself that although she is ambitious,
Amanda initially had no intention of being in business Amanda is very family orientated, and her mother she sometimes needs to slow down and remind
in a human resources capacity. She explained, “The and siblings, mean ‘the world to her’. Consequently, herself that she is doing the best that she can in
speciality found root and I realised that I enjoyed she looks to find a team that thrives on family this moment. In order to stay inspired and on track,
organisational development and strategic human support and that are also looking to empower their Amanda reads a range of different books on business,
resources as opposed to the operational requirements own family. “I like to think I’m committed to my leadership and motivation, including Christian books
of a business. I eventually took that leap of faith, work because of how much weight it bears on other as these provide ‘a well to draw from’ when mentors
registered the business and committed myself to a people,” she added. or colleagues are not around.
new path.”
Amanda also finds her siblings, and especially her
EFFECTIVE SERVICES
WILLPOWER AND SELF-MOTIVATION mother, a huge source of inspiration. “My mother is a
Further to ensuring that her employees are calm person who raised four children on her own and
As establishing a business requires a lot of structure empowered, Amanda strives to partner with their I admire her strength and resilience,” she explained.
and adherence to legislation, her first year of business clients to provide effective services. “Although
was characterised by unlearning some habits and our clients are looking for human resource In the next five years, Amanda would like to extend
overcoming uncertainties. her service offering to include more training and
solutions, we genuinely want to understand their
“I had to be more independent. I had to rely on my business strategy and objectives. If you ask us to development. While the company’s biggest target
own internal voices because when you branch into appoint a civil engineer, for example, we can go market is small and medium enterprises she would
business, willpower and self-motivation is critical,” into the market and get you the most qualified like to expand her market position. Another area of
Amanda explained. and experienced civil engineer who is good on interest is in the provision of career development
paper. But we are human beings, so we’ve always counselling for government schools in KwaZulu-Natal.
In addition, Amanda had to work on the purpose advocated for strategic human relations. The
of her business and discovered that she genuinely screening process goes beyond the administrative In closing Amanda said, “It doesn’t matter what
wanted to change the lives of her employees, while process, in addition we look at the applicant’s business or profession you find yourself in, or
meeting the demands of her business. personality and emotional intelligence, explore and whatever you do in life because purpose goes
understand the candidate’s value systems beyond beyond your business or profession. Whatever you
“Empowering and mentoring employees so that the qualification and work experience.” do, you must do with intention. Because when you
they become better people and better leaders are intentional, you get much more joy, and you are
has been the business strategy that I have In reviewing her achievements, Amanda would say able to handle any pressures or adversaries because
adopted. Although, the employees have skills and that from a professional point of view, the accomplish- you know why you’re doing something.”
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