Page 38 - KZN Top Business Women 2022 Powed by DRG & BusinessFit SA

medicine was motivated by her father, who Numa Aesthetics now has three branches.
DR LUNGILE MHLONGO, was very ill and only a few people could help Dr Lu has recently opened a new branch in
NUMA MEDICAL AESTHETICS him to become better. One day her father had Hyde Park, Johannesburg with a fourth branch
an attack and as the doctor that was able to opening at the end of November. “I’m hoping to
help him was away on holiday, this led to her open as many branches as I possibly can, firstly
R LUNGILE MHLONGO (commonly father’s demise. to help with the distribution, offer the best
known as Dr Lu) holds a Bachelor of service to my clients and most importantly,
Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB “I was so angry at the doctor, until I realised to help employ as many young people as we
DChB) as well a diploma in aesthetic that he is human, he needs to go on holiday possibly can,” says Dr Lu.
medicine. She opened a general practice and refresh himself. So, I thought let me be
servicing the community of Stanger in 2017. the change I want to see to help counter the Numa Aesthetics has registered a foundation
shortage of doctors. So that’s how I started called Angels are made at Numa. Dr Lu
She then went on to establish Numa Medical the journey.” explains, “We go to high schools, mostly the
Aesthetics, a skincare and cosmetic practice townships and rural areas, and find girls that
using the most up-to-date technologies which Dr Lu comes from a very disadvantaged are struggling with pigmentation and acne.
operates in uMhlanga Ridge. Dr Lu also has a background. Her dad passed away when Dr Lu added that unsafe products are being
weekly slot on Gagasi FM that is all about health she was in Grade 11 and her mother passed sold online that are not safe for the skin. “But
and wellness. away when she was in first year university. these kids order these things and use these
This meant that she had no one supporting products and end up damaging their skin, so
DRIVEN SOLELY BY PASSION her while at medical school. “So, I started we teach about skin health. We sit down with

On her expanding business offering Dr Lu says, doing modelling jobs, doing people’s hair them and help them with our products and
“We basically concentrate on non-surgical to make money to survive. That is how the treatments. I also mentor them to present
cosmetic medicine to help people feel good, entrepreneurial spirit was born,” said Dr Lu. themselves better.”
look good and present themselves better. I “When I offer a service, I get money for it, then BE AUTHENTIC
have also recently launched my own skin care I can survive.”
products –Numa Skin.” THE BEST THING The most important advice that Dr Lu offers is
“My business is driven solely by passion and Dr Lu has continued to invest back into her to be authentic. She explains, “It is very hard to
personal experience. Growing up I didn’t have business, which has allowed her various run a business if you are not passionate about
what you are doing. Find something that you
any skin problems and when I turned 24-25, I initiatives to grow. She added, “I have found
started having severe acne. This badly dented my passion. When I talk about my job I just are passionate about and focus on it instead
my self-esteem and confidence; I felt like want to smile because the smiles that I see of focusing on what is happening around you.
people made skin contact before they could from my clients, are the best thing ever. I wake I have found something that I am passionate
hear what I was going to say. This is where my about and even on the coldest days of business,
passion for non-surgical cosmetic medicine up in the morning and they make me want to I go back to why do I do what I do, and I wake
do what I do.”
was born. I found a solution that I thought I up and try again. We live in a world of social
should extend to other people and that is Dr Lu commented that we cry a lot about media, where everyone is succeeding in what
how I started. I’m passionate about my work the government and the unemployment they do, people are not going to post their
because I understand what the customer rate being so high. She said, “I’ve got myself failures. Focus on what you are doing, so you
wants and how they feel about their skin. It’s into a position of not being angry with the can achieve what you are called to do and fulfil
not just the physical treatments but we also government. Growing my business enables your purpose.”
tap into the emotional and psychological side me to hire as many people as I possibly can, Dr Lu says that she tries to balance her life as
of our clients.” to try and bridge that gap. When launching my far as she can. “I am a mother to a seven-year-

BE THE CHANGE skin care brand, we built a warehouse where old, so I am very busy at home. I am a very
we manufacture these products thus creating family orientated person, and I’m lucky to be
Speaking of what motivates her, Dr Lu says employment for the unemployed. Others are blessed with family and friends that believe in
that she has a lot of things that push her involved in the distribution and logistics of the what I do and support and push me even when
‘like a step ladder’. She said that getting into products.” I feel like giving up at some point.”

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