Page 24 - KZN Top Business Women 2022 Powed by DRG & BusinessFit SA

Lenore says that she has been motivated to The advice that Lenore would give to other
REGIONAL DIRECTOR KZN, achieve by success by her three children and women following in her path is to be persistent.
LENORE GOSS-MATJIE, FOUNDER AND CEO
OF “STYLED BY LE’NORE” her husband. She has a debilitating muscular She added, “Be confident even when you don’t
EVEREST STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS.
skeletal chronic medical condition, called feel confident. Don’t be scared to change, don’t
Fibromyalgia (which to date has no cure but can be scared to diversify. You think that you don’t
ENORE GOSS-MATJIE describes herself as
an entrepreneur. Being a qualified image be managed). “While I was in hospital, I had know something until you try it and that is why
consultant and fashion stylist, she is the one of my children ask me, ‘mom are you going life is a learning experience.”
Lfounder and CEO of “Styled by Le’Nore”. to die?’. From that day forward I vowed that NEVER STOP LEARNING
Lenore has diversified her business to supply pain or no pain I would make an effort. Every
morning I would get up, I would style my hair,
medical products into Africa at large. Lenore added that we never stop learning so
I would put on makeup and on the days that I we should take up new challenges. Even if we
She says, “I have diversified my product range was able to wear heels, I would. I had been told don’t achieve what you want to, the learning
to the extent that I also supply furniture, by my surgeons that I was not allowed to wear experience is what you take from the situation.
baking equipment and anything to do with heels. But I dislocate anyway so I may as well
the fashion industry – I am supplying clothes dislocate in style!” Importantly, she says that people should
as well.” persevere – and just keep pushing and have
“They were the main motivating force in me confidence. If it’s not meant for you, the door
Lenore has recently been appointed as the vice getting up, picking myself up, getting the will not open. if it’s meant for you, the door will
chairperson of Women in Business at Durban therapy that I needed to get back on my feet open – you will just have to work hard at it.”
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She says, to get stronger. They are my everything and in
“I am very humbled and honoured and want to everything that I do, I first and foremost want The goals that Lenore has set for herself are
make an impact and do the very most that I can them to be proud.” firstly that she wants to be happy which is
to empower women.” JUST PERSEVERING critical to her. “You have to be happy in what
you do, you cannot be miserable, because if
Lenore is a former educator as well as a Speaking of her current business challenges, there is no love there is no passion that goes
professional Latin American and ballroom Lenore says that these relate especially to her with it. You can be the most successful person
dancer. While she no longer competes, Lenore new venture into Africa and that the number and be miserable.”
is involved in adjudicating competitions and in one challenge is finance. She said, “Finance
training. Her business Styled by Le’Nore came was always going to be challenge and then Secondly, Lenore would love to succeed and
about as a result of her having her own dancing finding the correct partners and suppliers make a name for herself in Africa at large.
studio. Lenore was involved in grooming, to collaborate with. People promise you the She added that when people hear of Styled by
styling, and makeup for all her dancers. She world but until contracts are signed, and Le’Nore or Lenore they must know that they
was responsible for putting together stage finance exchanged …that is quite difficult now. are getting excellent service. “They are getting
dance productions where the styling and However, I seem to be on the correct path, so I quality and I would just like this business to
image of the theme had to be communicated am just persevering.” grow and to touch people’s lives even more.”
to the audience.
Another challenge that Lenore finds is that in Speaking of balance Lenore says, “I am a
Speaking of her business, Lenore says, “For her experience some women don’t support busybody – I am always doing something, but
me, the greatest achievement in my business each other. She commented, “We speak of I love sitting with my husband and the kids
is styling a client from head to toe and seeing women empowerment and uplifting each other around the table and just swapping stores –
them transformed. People underestimate the – it’s good to talk the talk but you need to walk them telling me about what they have done
value and power of looking good and feeling the walk. I find that my male counterparts have during the day and making jokes. I love to
good, and they really don’t value styling. You been there to support me. I just wish that we as laugh, it’s the best medicine.”
could have all the fashion pieces on your body women could truly support each other. Don’t be
but how you put them together is important. I afraid if you see a woman coming up – be excited In conclusion, Lenore says that we should
always say I could take a black paper bag and for them – pat them on the back and spread the always strive to be a blessing to others, to uplift
put it on you and make it look fabulous. But news because something is in line for you as others, and to make others feel good about
the greatest reward for me is seeing a happy well and I want to thank those few women who themselves. “You will be surprised as to how all
confident client.” do support myself and other women.” that comes back to you in multitude.”

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