Page 45 - KZN Top Business Woman 2025 - eBook

Linah Marijeni

Director at Tyson Properties Richards Bay Working alongside her husband, Regis, has added a I’ve even been to the Maldives and Sicily through the
personal layer to her professional life. “I have worked company rewards programme.”
with my husband for eight years. Of course, it has
inah Marijeni is a dedicated professional, a FUTURE GOALS AND VISION
L wife, and a proud mother of three boys. She been difficult balancing our personal life and work,”
she admits. “But through experience, we’ve managed
serves as a realtor and is one of the directors Linah encourages anyone entering the field to embrace
to find balance. We do have our moments, of course its challenges and rewards. “Real estate is worth every
of Tyson Properties Richards Bay, where she and her
people fight, but we do balance each other, and we
team specialise in the selling and leasing of both penny and it’s rewarding,” she advises. “Focus, hard
are successful.” work, resilience, persistence, and passion are the key
residential and commercial properties.
ingredients for success.”
Linah’s career in real estate began in 2010. “My real LEADERSHIP AND WORK ETHIC
Regulatory compliance has also tightened. With
estate journey started with another agency,” she Linah believes in leading by example and maintaining
Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA)
recalls. “After receiving a call from the principal asking strong professional values. “Luckily, I’m not a lazy
and Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FIC Act) in full
me to join his team, my quickest response was, ‘I would person,” she laughs. “I lead by example. When I’m with
force, doing things right matters more than ever. Linah
like to ask my husband first and I’ll get back to you’.” my employees, I roll up my sleeves and show them how
things should be done.” commented, “Tyson Properties has implemented the
JOINING A TRUSTED BRAND systems, controls, and training to ensure we uphold
She emphasises that realtors need empathy, passion, every legal and ethical standard.”
Linah’s decision to join Tyson Properties in 2017 was
and attention to detail especially as real estate is
influenced by the company’s strong reputation and Looking ahead, Linah aims to make a lasting impact
about people. “Maintaining high levels of integrity and
values. However, her decision to join Tyson wasn’t made through development and youth empowerment. She
confidentiality define who we are,” she says. “My biggest
lightly. We evaluated different franchises and even spoke explains, “I want to recruit and develop youth, as they
strength is that I’m trustworthy. When I’m handling
to other agencies,” said Linah. “But Tyson Properties personal information, I manage it with confidentiality, are the future of real estate.”
kept coming to mind. The fact that it is a trusted brand,
especially in sensitive matters like divorce. I make sure I She added, “My future goals are to become a successful
and I was able to relate myself to that, made it an easy deal with both parties well.” developer for residential properties, especially for low-
choice,” she explains. and medium-income earners.” Her vision includes
The real estate industry has faced significant headwinds
Transitioning into Tyson’s was a pivotal shift from her in recent years. “Our market has been volatile due to building quality residential estates in Richards Bay. “A
previous agency and was not without its challenges, rising interest rates and inflation, leaving people with good residential estate should have schools nearby,
but Linah embraced the opportunity with courage low disposable incomes,” Linah notes. “The economy parks, and shops. It should have most of the amenities
and faith. “Coming from a different work environment, has remained depressed with no meaningful growth. close by,” she commented.”
it felt like a career shift and hence challenging as well. However, the current drop in interest rates has had a COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Nevertheless, fate was stubborn. With the support of positive impact on the market.”
my family, my real estate journey has been successful.” Balancing work and personal life remain a priority for
Linah and her team have played a key role in expanding Linah. “I’ve set up efficient organisational systems,
Becoming a realtor built on Linah’s goals as her early the Tyson Properties’ brand across the Zululand region. and I practise effective delegation,” she says which
dream was clear and ambitious: “My biggest dream back “We successfully introduced the Tyson Properties brand help ensure time out. “During my spare time, I spend
then was to be the most trusted and successful agent in in Zululand and developed it into one of the leading real time in my kitchen cooking and baking, and I also
South Africa.” estate brands,” she shares. love gardening.”

Throughout her journey, Linah has drawn inspiration Their hard work has not gone unnoticed. “Our company Linah’s story is one of determination, faith, and passion
from those closest to her. “My family has been the biggest has won Tyson Properties Top Office in KwaZulu-Natal which are a reflection of a woman who has not only
driving force,” she says with pride. “Not forgetting to Award three times,” she says proudly. “Personally, I have built a successful career but also inspired those
mention Chris Tyson, our group chief executive officer. won the prestigious Chairman’s Award and have been around her through integrity, balance, and unwavering
He’s been my biggest cheerleader and mentor.” a Double Diamond Achiever for the past five years. commitment to excellence.

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