Page 47 - KZN Top Business Women - eBook 2023

If every businesswoman could hand hold another woman; just to help

them to become a businesswoman, we would have done well.

you put your mind to it,” explained Boni. “You must just have one of them graduating last year. I’m glad that I
Managing Director at East Coast
have discipline to make sure that you achieve whatever could be there to navigate tertiary education with her.
Radio (ECR)
you set out to achieve,” she added. It’s really been an amazing four years to see her where
oni Mchunu is currently the managing director There have been many challenges along her journey she is today. I just think that if every businesswoman
at East Coast Radio, and she has been with the explained Boni. “I think the very obvious one is being a could hand hold another woman; just to help them to
B station for the past eight years. black young woman in South Africa. There’s always that become a businesswoman, we would have done well.”
connotation that, are you here because you are a quota?
Her business career, Boni said, has “been really a journey”. And I always want to make sure that people know that Be yourself
She joined East Coast Radio from the KwaZulu-Natal I’m here because I’m worth it. I’m suitable. I’m qualified,
Provincial Tourism Authority and before that she worked and I can do the job.” In advising young women, Boni says that it’s important to
for Unilever, South Africa. be yourself, be authentic and work hard. “If you work hard,
The recent past, especially with Covid, has been a huge your work will speak volumes, whether you are present or
Boni added that she has always regarded herself as a challenge. “It was my fourth year at East Coast Radio and not, and then life will unfold. Be you, because if you try
leader, who is an industry agnostic. She said, “Put me was probably the first time where we were down double and be somebody else, I believe that the universe can’t
in any business and I will be able to tap in and really digits versus what we had set ourselves to achieve as a find you, whereas if you are authentically yourself and
immerse myself into understanding that business.” business.” However, said Boni, they learnt that resilience just work hard, everything else will take care of itself.”
pays off and the station has been able to rebuild and
Reflecting on her position at East Coast Radio, Boni achieve great business results again. One of Boni’s favourite things to do to relax is to run,
commented that it feels like yesterday since she
As the province has also faced floods and unrest, Boni which is her therapy of choice. She also enjoys spending
started her radio career. She added, “East Coast Radio
commented, “One thing that stands out for me about time with her kids, her husband, and having moments
is the heartbeat of KZN, and I am a KZN girl. I was born
this province is that the people in KZN live by the spirit that they can cherish. She added, “I love cooking. I don’t
here, I was educated here and it is home. The station is of ubuntu and that’s why we’ve been able to rebuild.” cook every day, but if I do cook, I cook with my kids,
at the heart of absolutely everything that KZN is about, especially on weekends. We try different recipes as I have
“Personally,” explained Boni, ‘My future goals are about
and I just love it.”
being the best version of Boni every day. I don’t let failure an eye for culinary arts.”
define me. I remember when I started my MBA journey,
Self-motivation Boni says that she believes in looking after yourself. “I
there was a time when I was about to give up, but the believe that if you have self-love then you can extend
Self-drive, self-determination, self-awareness and really resilient Boni in me kept me going.” that love to others. If you don’t love yourself, then it’s
knowing what it is that she wants to achieve have In addition, as Boni is a mother to three children who look hard to give it up. So self-love and time to myself is very
motivated Boni’s journey. She added that her dad died up to her, it’s very important for her to take into account important so I can spend time with people, those who are
when she was in her teens, and he really inspired her a lot. the lessons that she is imparting to them. close to me and those whom I work with meaningfully.”
“One thing he told me was that I must be careful about As a leader Boni is very results driven, so she needs
the decisions I make about education. And education for to make sure that she delivers. Most importantly, as Amazing businesswomen
me has been at the heart of absolutely everything that mentorship has been important to her and she has learnt “Being part of KZN Top Business Women is great as the
I do.” It is therefore unsurprising that Boni is in her final so much through this journey, she wants to give back initiative is centred around this province. I believe KZN is
year of completing an MBA. meaningfully and sustainably through education. an amazing destination with amazing businesswomen.
“I know what education has done for me, so it’s one of
Boni is also inspired by reading about other successful Initiatives like this really go a long way in positioning us
people, such as Steve Jobs, as well as the likes of Mandela. my legacy things that I want to leave behind,” she says. in this province. We can show other women, especially
“If you read about the Mandela journey, you really get to Boni has identified four girls who she is mentoring. “It younger women, that it is possible to take up the space
understand that nothing is impossible under the sun, if really was quite encouraging and satisfying for me to in business,” concluded Boni.

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