Page 46 - KZN Top Business Women 2022 Powed by DRG & BusinessFit SA

PREONA NAIDOO , BRAND CUSTOMER is proud to say that the women within her family
EXPERIENCE AND MARKETING MANAGER
FOR THE SUPERTECH GROUP
P REONA NAIDOO is the Brand and
Customer Experience Manager for the
Supertech Group.
She has worked within the motor
industry for just over a decade. Preona was
selected as a Top 5 Motor industry Women of
the Year 2022 nominee and finalist.
She says, “One of my biggest achievements is
using my position and influence to empower
and upskill other women within this space.”
Some of the other achievements that she has
been quite invested in, ever since she joined
the Supertech team, are the annual corporate
social initiative drives. There are two major
projects, one being the Blanket Drive and
the second being the Toy Drive, under the
umbrella of the Supertech Care’s brand.
Preona explained, “What we do with this
initiative, within the areas that Supertech
retailers operate, is to identify deserving
NPOs, NGOs and local organisations that
need support. This enables them to remain
sustainable for the work that they do within
the community, and provide assistance to
help them do so.”
FEMININE ENERGY
Speaking of who inspires her, she says that she
within her team with the resources and the
inspire and continue to inspire her, especially
her mom and gran.
feminine energy should be. They are both
Preona said, “For me they embody what the
nurturers, they are entrepreneurial and at
the end of the day, they embody this spirit
that allows you to get things done, no matter
what.”
THAT SOFTER EDGE
Commenting on the challenges that she faces,
Preona says that being a female in the motor
industry comes with its own set of challenges.
“Being a young female in the motor industry
is something that I had to contend with for
the past decade. In the past, one of the
biggest challenges is that when you walk into
a room within a leadership position, you are
often judged on your age, and your gender.”
“So, you need to be a little louder to get your
point across, while still maintaining that
softer edge. I am happy to say that the space
that I’m now part of, values your productivity
and your work output versus your age and
your gender, so it is quite a pleasure to be in
this space at this time.”
CONTINUE TO EMPOWER
Personally, Preona’s future goal would be
to qualify as an NLP Practitioner. Within
the work sphere, she hopes to continue to
empower and upskill young women and men
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knowledge for them to pave their own paths.
The advice that Preona would give to young
regardless of the industry, is the same as the
women who are following in her path,
advice that she was lucky enough to have
received when she was younger. This she
says is to persevere. Preona explained, “In
the face of every goal that you are trying to
achieve, persevere and be consistent because
consistency is what drives results.”
When Preona does have the time and does
have a break, she loves to go to the beach.
She says, “I’m drawn to the ocean, for its
tranquillity – I’m a beach-baby at heart. I love
to read and continuously learn and spend time
in the creative space.
THERE IS MAGIC IN POSSIBILITIES
“What I would like to say in closing,” said
Preona, “Is that all women have a voice. Some
of us have the opportunity to use our voice
to inspire and empower others on larger
scales. For some women that don’t have the
opportunity, strive to inspire those around
you and not lose hope, because what you do is
important and does impact your environment
for the better. If I could give advice to young
women who are starting out in motor industry,
don’t forget that there is magic in possibilities.”
“I will leave you with a quote: “Amazing things
happen when women help other women.”–
Kasia Gospoś.