Page 51 - KZN Top Business Woman 2025 - eBook

Tracey McLennan

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of have the tools to do it through training and legislation. be more than you expect, but also many highs. Knowing
BConsult and Rightside Media My goal is to make a difference, even if it’s small.” your purpose keeps you going. It’s a marathon, not a
sprint.”
Tracey is inspired by innovation and by people who
racey McLennan is the founder and chief build success from humble beginnings. “I’m inspired She has thoughtful advice for women. “We face
T executive officer of BConsult and Rightside by visionaries, by people who start in a garage and additional challenges and blessings like maternity
Media. She is a passionate advocate for grow a business that provides employment,” she says. and family responsibilities. They have an impact, both
education that transforms both people and organisations. “Employment impacts far more than one person. good and difficult. But every woman I know who took
BConsult is an accredited skills development company The statistics say one job impacts ten people, but time off for her children came back stronger and more
that provides learnerships and qualifications to employed generationally it’s even more significant.” determined. Know why you want to do it, because it will
and unemployed people. be both more challenging and more rewarding than
Her leadership philosophy centres on respect and you expect.”
Right Side Media complements this by creating the innovation. “I try to make an impact through how I
content for training, specialising in animation, both 2D and conduct myself and how I treat people,” she says. “Respect Her business goals are ambitious yet deeply human. “I
3D, as well as whiteboard animation and digital formats is at the heart of how we work with learners, clients, and would love for learning to become as fun and addictive
for inductions and standard operating procedures. “We staff. We encourage innovation, always asking, how do as social media,” says Tracey. “Imagine people learning
take traditional training content and make it engaging,” we do this differently, how do we make it better, and how because it’s enjoyable and immersive, not because they
says Tracey. “The idea is to make learning accessible, fun, do we make a difference?” have to. I want training to be innovative, accessible, and
and effective.” engaging. People should not have to travel far to learn.
THE ROAD AHEAD There is so much information out there, but I want to
Tracey’s journey began in sales, an environment help people find what is right for them, what truly gives
that would later shape her understanding of human For Tracey, her biggest success is her team. “I am so proud them the skills to move forward.”
motivation and learning. She recalls, “I used to sell of my staff,” she says warmly. “They’ve grown with me.
consumer products into chain stores, and to get the Sometimes they weren’t sure where we were going, BUILDING THE FUTURE
products moving, I would spend time training the but we’ve been through a lot together, including Covid. Tracey’s approach to life is grounded in balance and
salespeople. That was my ‘aha’ moment. I realised that They’ve developed tremendously. If everything ended gratitude. She says, “When I started working, balance
training could be impactful and actually get results.” tomorrow, I would look at them and know that they are
better than when they started. We all are.” wasn’t even part of the vocabulary. We just worked. But
When Tracey left corporate to start her own training now I have learned from the younger generation that
company, the path was not immediately smooth. “It Running a training business comes with significant it matters. For me, I find balance in nature. It sounds
wasn’t easy at first because companies didn’t really want challenges. “Our industry is very compliance-driven. We like a cliché, but it works. Whether it’s the sea or a walk
to spend on training,” she explains. “But once I found the have to meet the requirements of the various legislations outdoors, it clears your mind.”
angle through Black Economic Empowerment and tax and then integrate everything for our clients and learners. Her family keeps her grounded. “They balance me, they
concessions, it became cost effective.” We answer to many people, and that can be challenging.”
tell me when I am right and when I am wrong,” she says
The human side brings its own complexity. “We work fondly. “I also love reading and learning from others,
THE POWER OF TRAINING
with people, each with their own challenges,” Tracey journalling, and meditating, even if not as much as I
Tracey speaks passionately about the transformative says. “Especially when working with people with should. Balance looks different for everyone. You have
nature of training. “Training changes lives,” she says. “It disabilities, everyone has different needs. Getting all to find what works for you.”
can change a company and can create social impact. the compliance boxes ticked, meeting deadlines, and
There is so much good that comes out of it when it’s making sure the learners achieve their qualifications can As she reflects on her journey, Tracey’s gratitude is
done correctly.” be tough, but it is worth it.” clear. “I love the idea of community over competition,”
she says. “Collaboration is how we will thrive in the
Her initial dream was simple. “At first, my dream was just When asked what advice she would give to aspiring future. The world is changing fast, and it can be
to survive,” she laughs. “There wasn’t a big vision at the entrepreneurs, Tracey draws on experience. “Find your daunting with all the talk about AI and the unknowns
time. But as I saw the impact of what we were doing, why,” she says, echoing Simon Sinek. “Once you know ahead. But if we collaborate and support each
my dream evolved. I want to reduce unemployment. We your why, you can overcome the challenges. There will other, we will adapt. That is how we move forward.”

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