Page 37 - KZN Top Business Women 2024

Start wherever you are, with whatever you have.

Find a mentor or a coach, and don’t be afraid to rewrite your story.

away from formal education, Thabisile decided to go and public speaking skills, and recently introduced organic
Owner and Founder,
Tabby M. Wellness Boutique back to school, studying somatology at Kloof Academy sanitary pads for young girls in rural areas. “These young
of Beauty. “I thought I’d take a short course to fit around women face unique challenges, and I want to make a
my kids’ schedules, but once I learned about somatology, difference in their lives, even if it’s something as simple as
habisile (Tabby) Madondo, the owner of Tabby M.
Wellness Boutique based in Port Shepstone, draws I fell in love with it. The magic behind the treatments providing sanitary products.”
Ther inspiration from a deep sense of purpose to uplift was fascinating, and I decided to pursue a full three-year Rewrite Your Story
others. She is the second-born in a family of four siblings, programme, including international certifications.”
has been happily married for 17 years and is blessed with Her newfound career took her to various spas, where Running a business is not without its challenges.
three boys. “Family is at the heart of everything I do,” she she gained experience before opening her own spa in Thabisile acknowledges that managing staff turnover
says, adding that her upbringing shaped her journey in life Musgrave, Durban, in 2013. Unfortunately, the venture was can be disheartening. “I invest so much in training young
and business. short-lived due to Thabisile’s husband’s new job in Pretoria, therapists, sharing my skills with them, only to see them
Thabisile’s business specialises in skincare, massages, which required them to relocate. “I had to close the spa leave. It’s disappointing, but I understand that they also
need to grow,” she says. “I may not know everything
and weight management. As a trained somatologist after two years, and while in Pretoria, I fell pregnant with about the business side of things, so I outsource tasks
and certified life coach, she integrates her coaching skills my last- born. I found myself at home again, feeling lost like accounting and marketing. It’s about finding the right
into her services. “When clients come in for a massage, and depressed,” she recalls. Thabisile eventually expressed support to keep moving forward.”
they often find themselves sharing their stories with her desire to return to work, though it was difficult to find
me. It becomes a form of therapy for them, and as a life consistent support for her children. When the Covid-19 Thabisile’s drive comes from her parents, who taught her
coach, I can be a good listener,” she explains. Her holistic pandemic hit, her family moved back to Port Shepstone, the value of hard work. Her father’s entrepreneurial spirit
approach to wellness ensures that the physical, mental, and she began selling supplements to regain her left an impression on her. “He would wake up early in
and emotional needs of her clients are addressed. “It’s not independence. the morning to deliver bananas to sellers, and now he is
just about working on the muscles or the skin; it’s about The pandemic gave Thabisile a chance to rediscover her a successful businessman. His determination showed me
touching the whole person — mind, body, and soul.”
passion for wellness, leading her to enrol in coaching. that it’s possible to start small and grow big,” she says.
Thabisile places an emphasis on self-care, self-love, and “I was working on myself, addressing insecurities, fears, Her mother’s decision to go back to school and become
self-awareness, values she actively promotes through her and feelings of inferiority. Coaching helped me grow and a teacher, despite raising four children, inspired Thabisile
business. “Many people rarely receive physical affection, redirected me to reopen my wellness business in 2020,” to pursue her own education later in life. “I thought, if she
even a simple hug, from their loved ones. The touch of a she shares. With limited resources, Thabisile started small, could do it, so could I.”
massage is a way for them to feel complete and connected borrowing a massage bed from a friend. “I had a clear vision Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is: “Start wherever
again,” she notes. For Thabisile, the business is not just — my space would be a place for people who are seeking you are, with whatever you have. Find a mentor or a
about providing services; it’s about creating a space where change, longing to step out of their current situations.” coach, and don’t be afraid to rewrite your story. If a
individuals can find healing and rediscover themselves. “I Her dedication to wellness extends beyond her business. chapter doesn’t go as planned, turn the page and keep
want my clients to leave not only looking better but also Thabisile participates in charity events related to wellness writing. Everyone has a purpose; it’s up to us to fulfil it.”
feeling rejuvenated and empowered.”
and supports local causes in her community. She initiated
Regain Her Independence an online skipping challenge to motivate women to Looking ahead, Thabisile has big plans for Tabby M.
Wellness Boutique. “I hope to expand globally, franchising
exercise, using a WhatsApp group to encourage each
Her journey to entrepreneurship was not straightforward. other. “It’s hard to exercise alone, especially for mothers my spa and tapping into other sectors to grow the
After completing her Grade 12 at Marburg Secondary who always find excuses. So, we share our skipping videos business,” she reveals. Her journey is far from over, and she
School, she briefly pursued further studies before getting and cheer each other on,” she says. continues to find balance through family activities, such as
married. “I got married early at 25 and became a stay-at- beach outings and gym sessions with her boys. “For me,
home mum, but I always felt there was more to me than In addition, Thabisile is enthusiastic about empowering relaxation is essential — I enjoy playing music, meditating,
just being a housewife,” she reflects. In 2010, after years the youth in her church. She promotes self-care, self-love, hiking, and sometimes just getting a good night’s sleep.”

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