Page 33 - KZN Top Business Women 2024

Don’t limit yourself or your thinking.

Often, we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders

and forget to prioritise ourselves.

you often have to work twice as hard just to be taken can build something significant together.” She credits
Chief Operations Officer,
seriously,” she says. “When you walk into a room, you Mngomezulu and other women mentors for shaping her
Total Serve Facilities Management
must know your story inside out. It’s not enough just career. “I’ve been shaped by many remarkable women
to be present — you have to be ten steps ahead of the who have taught me valuable lessons in business and
lengiwe Koza is the chief operations officer of person next to you.” life.”
Total Serve Facilities Management, a company
Hoperating within the built environment sector, Changing perceptions has been a significant part of her The growth of Total Serve over the past 11 years is a
specialising in facilities management (FM). Their services journey. “It’s about proving that we can deliver high- significant milestone. “Being under 35 and leading a
cover everything from cleaning and hygiene to land- quality work that speaks for itself. But we also have to business of this magnitude is no small feat. We don’t
scaping, horticulture, and to heating, ventilation, and air quantify our results and ensure that we are continually always stop to appreciate how far we’ve come,” she says.
conditioning maintenance. educating ourselves to stay ahead in the industry.” Hlengiwe emphasises that her Total Serve’s success is not
just about financial growth but also about the lives it has
Hlengiwe’s path to the built environment was not a Every day is different—you could be dealing with an touched. “The silent prayers of those we have helped
straightforward one as she initially did not set out to engineer one day and something entirely different the keep us going,” she says.“
work in property or facilities management. “I found next. I continuously push myself to learn more, especially
myself in this industry more by chance than by choice,” when I come across something I don’t understand,” she “We’ve touched many lives through our projects and our
she says. “I was never particularly interested in buildings, says. “It’s frustrating not to understand something, and foundation, Ink Foundation,” she says. The foundation
but I became fascinated by the property sector as a that frustration drives me to seek knowledge.” focuses on social impact initiatives and giving back to
whole and how we utilise the spaces around us.” the community. “Some people ask for nothing in return,
Hlengiwe’s pursuit of continuous education aligns with and that makes it all the more meaningful. Knowing
Unsurprisingly, Hlengiwe’s educational background is her vision of expanding their services into construction that someone is grateful for you because you’ve made a
diverse, which she credits as a factor in her ability to and project management. “We’re shifting our focus as we difference in their life is a blessing.”
adapt and learn. After attending school in Pinetown and want to be involved in the construction side of things and
Crawford La Lucia, she pursued higher education at the understand what that entails.” Tackling Challenges
University of KwaZulu-Natal before obtaining her BBA Hlengiwe’s advice to young women entering the industry
from IMM Graduate School. “I haven’t stopped learning “The built environment sector is very technical and often is to avoid self-imposed limitations. “Don’t limit yourself
since then,” she notes, listing additional qualifications does not incorporate softer elements into its thinking. or your thinking. Often, we carry the weight of the world
such as becoming a safety officer, a certification in pest It’s usually very structured, with architects and engineers on our shoulders and forget to prioritise ourselves,” she
control, and credentials in facilities, construction, and designing things purely for functionality,” she explains. says. “I spent a lot of time trying to prove myself to the
project management. “But are we considering how these spaces will be used,
and how they can serve their purpose long-term; these world. Now, I affirm myself instead of seeking validation
Total Serve’s services go beyond standard maintenance, are questions we need to ask.” from others.” She stresses the importance of switching
reflecting the growing needs of the FM industry, especially off external noise and focusing on self-affirmation. “Tell
post-Covid. Hlengiwe observes, “The pandemic has A Partnership yourself you’re enough. Give yourself the thankyou’s, the
made us more people-centred and aware of how important Hlengiwe does not run Total Serve alone, the CEO and recognition, and the yeses that you seek from the world.”
it is not only to maintain buildings but also to ensure they founder of the company is Thandeka Mngomezulu. “It’s Despite her busy schedule, Hlengiwe prioritises rest. “My
are safe and healthy environments for the people who not a solo journey; it’s a working relationship,” Hlengiwe life is quite structured. If I’m not at work, I’m at home
use them. We are changing the focal points by adding a says. “Thandeka is an accountant by profession, which resting and sleeping,” she says. “Sleep is something we
soft element to the spaces we manage. A cleaner, better complements my less structured, more artistic approach. don’t give ourselves enough credit for, but it’s essential
environment enables people to think better and function Together, we bring balance to the business.” for maintaining balance.”
more effectively.”
The relationship is built on mutual support and a shared For Hlengiwe, the future is about pushing boundaries and
The journey has not been without its challenges, vision. “We often talk about the importance of women setting new goals. “I don’t think small. I’m always looking
especially given that facilities management is a male- supporting each other in business,” Hlengiwe shares. “It’s at how we can compete with the giants in the industry,”
dominated field. “Being a woman in this field means not always about competition. We’ve shown that women she says. “Life is ever evolving, and so am I.”

Hlengiwe KOZA | 31