Page 17 - KZN Top Business Women 2024

If you take care of the cents,

the rands will take care of you.

Ashika credits her success not just to determination, but career. “All that was left was the building. We had to close
Manager,
to her strong faith. “I give all the glory to God for the the station for months and start from scratch,” she recalls.
Maidstone Service Station
opportunities I’ve had. Of course, hard work and dedication
are essential, but I believe it’s through divine favour that As if that weren’t enough, the devastating floods of April
shika Dorasamy is the manager of Maidstone 2022 struck the North Coast, severely impacting her
Service Station in Tongaat. Born and raised in I’ve come this far,” she states. She also acknowledges the business once again. “We lost over 50% of our turnover
APhoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, her path to success was unwavering support of her mentors and family, particularly for about six months,” said Ashika.
anything but conventional. her father, who has been her biggest inspiration.
When a tornado hit Tongaat in 2024, the service station
“My dad started working at 13 to support his family,” she
Ashika’s educational journey was marked by a life- says proudly. “Through hard work and education, he went was miraculously spared, but the surrounding community
changing experience. At 16 years old, she became the first wasn’t as fortunate and many of their staff lost their
foreign cultural exchange student from her hometown, from being a mechanic at Sasol to owning his own service homes. “We raised funds to help rebuild and provided
station, growing into multiple business ventures along the
travelling to a small town in Germany for a month. “This way. Watching him succeed inspired me to follow in his meals and water to those in need,” explained Ashika.
was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,”
she recalls. “I learned so much about their culture, way of footsteps.” She added, “It has been a rough few years, but we have
life, and education system. It was a pivotal moment that Making an Impact stood stronger together. It’s our staff who are on the
shaped who I am today.” frontline, in the forecourt and in the shop. Everything
Ashika’s influence extends beyond her own achievements. we do is for them — if they are happy, we are happy,”
After completing her matric in 2006, Ashika pursued She is a source of guidance for other retailers, many of reflecting on the experience of standing together as a
a different career path. “In 2007, I earned a Diploma whom seek her advice on business management. “In family and as a community.
in Advanced Make-up and Aesthetics,” she says. Her 2017, our station was named the number one Shell service
Never Give Up
talents in this field were soon recognised, as she won the station in South Africa, and in 2018, we were ranked in the
prestigious Professional Beauty Top Make-up Artist award top five,” she notes with pride. When asked what advice she would give to young
that same year. women looking to follow in her footsteps, Ashika
One of her contributions has been in the area of HSSE responded: “Know every aspect of the business you’re
However, it wasn’t long before her entrepreneurial spirit (Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) practices,
led her down a different path. By 2015, she had transitioned which are crucial in managing a fuel station. “It’s not just in. It makes you more relatable to your staff and helps
into the fuel industry. “That year, I attended the Shell Retailer about ticking boxes. I wanted to make HSSE practices a you understand how your business operates. Most
Training Programme, which was sponsored by the site I way of life for my team,” she explains. Her efforts earned importantly, never give up. As Rocky Balboa said, ‘It
now run. It was an intense experience, but it prepared me her recognition from Shell as the HSSE runner-up in South doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down,
but how many times you get back up’.”
for what was to come,” she shares. Her business acumen Africa in 2018 and again in 2023.
even earned her praise from Shell SA senior management, She also believes in the importance of staying humble.
who praised her business plan as one of the best they had But Ashika’s dedication extends beyond business success. “On my first day at Maidstone Service Station, my dad told
seen. She is an enthusiastic advocate for social responsibility and me to write something down: ‘If you take care of the cents,
community upliftment. “We regularly engage in initiatives the rands will take care of you.’ Those are words I live by.”
Dreaming Big such as teaching children about recycling and the
importance of preserving the environment.” In addition, In the future, Ashika’s major goal is to grow her business
In 2015, Ashika set her sights on a new goal. “I attended my
first Business Plan Cascade as a site manager and watched Ashika has undertaken sanitary drives for young girls, interests into an entity that could rival her dad’s enterprises
other Shell retailers win awards for their achievements. At donating 220 packs, especially as many girls cannot afford at his peak. “I want to build an empire,” she says confidently.
that moment, I knew I wanted to be one of them one day.” sanitary wear. “It’s about giving back to the community Yet despite her ambitions, Ashika remains grounded in
that supports us,” she says.
Her dream came true in 2019 when she was recognised as her personal life. “Balance is important. Spending time
a top retailer, travelling with international peers to Australia Ashika’s journey has been marked by significant with my family, especially lazy Sundays with my husband
for her accomplishments. “It was an incredible moment of challenges. The July unrest of 2021, which left her service and son, helps me stay centred. It’s what keeps me going
validation for all the hard work I had put in,” she reflects. station destroyed, was one of the toughest periods of her in this frenetic world of business,” she concluded.

Ashika DORASAMY | 15