Page 57 - KZN Top Business Women 2024

I don’t see business highs and lows as different.

When things dip, it’s just a sign that we need to adapt.

Balancing Business and Motherhood Brenda reflects. “When I see others who started later but
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, moved faster, I realise they had access to coaching that
Imbokodo Electrical Construction Brenda’s motivation has always been her children. “I I didn’t.” Despite these setbacks, she has maintained a
have four girls, ranging from young adults to a nine- steady momentum, which has kept her business strong
renda Ndlovu, the founder and CEO of Imbokodo year-old,” she says. “Growing up, my dream was to be over the decades.
Electrical Construction, shares her story with a a mother who could provide for her children in ways I
Bblend of pride and humility. “I was always curious never experienced. Being my own boss was the ideal For Brenda, setbacks are simply indicators of where to
about business,” she says, tracing her entrepreneurial way I could achieve that.” make changes. “I don’t see business highs and lows
roots back to her childhood in Hammarsdale, west of as different. I think my mother shielded me from the
KwaZulu-Natal. “My mother was a street vendor, and Balancing her role as a business owner and a mother tough times growing up, so I learned to handle business
I was exposed to the world of sales at the tender age has been a central theme in Brenda’s life. Following as a constant. When things dip, it’s just a sign that we
of six. From then on, the idea of being employed by her divorce, she reshaped her company to allow more need to adapt.” This resilience was especially tested
someone else never really appealed to me.” flexibility. “I didn’t want to be tied to an office all day. I during the Covid-19 pandemic, but her positive outlook
structured my business so I could have the freedom to remained intact.
Her company’s work involves electrifying rural areas that parent and still run things effectively. In the past two
previously lacked power, and recently, has moved into years, I focused on expansion, but I made sure I could Looking to the future, Brenda is eager to expand
transmission, building substations and pylons. “We’re spend quality time with my youngest daughter and six- Imbokodo Electrical Construction into the independent
involved in vegetation management, including clearing month-old grandson,” she shares. power producer business. “I want to move into biomass
alien trees along power lines. Our clients include and wind turbines. South Africa, and Africa at large, has a
municipalities, Eskom, and private entities,” she explains. Brenda’s parenting approach extends beyond her own massive need for innovative energy solutions, and I want
The company, which began as a small endeavour in 2002, children, impacting her employees and the communities to be part of that trend,” she says. The government’s
has grown into a key player in the industry, electrifying they serve. “In the early days, I would visit schools to scout recent move to open up the energy sector presents an
over 100,000 homes and constructing thousands of for workers. Many of my employees are people whose opportunity that she is ready to seize.
kilometres of power lines throughout KwaZulu-Natal. families I know well. It’s not just a business; it’s a family
affair,” she says with pride. Her dedication to uplifting Her advice to young women aspiring to follow her is
Brenda’s introduction to the electrical sector came by straightforward: “Just start. You don’t need all the skills
chance. While still in school, she was offered a job by rural areas through electrification is not merely a job but right away because the industry will teach you what you
a passion that she finds deeply fulfilling. “Seeing the joy
an electrical contractor who used to give her lifts. “I was need. It’s the action that matters — it’s doable.”
curious and eager to learn, and within a year, I’d taught on people’s faces when they get electricity for the first
myself everything in the office,” she recalls. It was during time is priceless.” Brenda’s spirituality plays a role in her journey. “I start my
this time that she realised her potential in the field. With Overcoming Challenges day with personal devotions, it’s a routine that grounds
the encouragement of her foster father, Rob Hill, Brenda me, especially with my children being such a big part
registered her own business at just 22 years old. Navigating the challenges of a male-dominated industry of my life.”
has not been easy. “In the beginning, being both black
She acknowledges the unique opportunity that came and a woman was an issue. I had to prove myself three Brenda’s story is not just about building a business; it’s
with being a young, black woman entering a male- times over to be taken seriously,” she says. This reality about creating a legacy. “For me, business is more of
dominated space. “My company was the first black- demanded that she learn quickly and work harder than a hobby,” she admits with a smile. “I love strategising,
owned, female-led electrical construction business in her peers. “Being a Zulu woman brought its own set of seeing my plans come to life, and watching my team
the area. It definitely gave us a boost, but we’ve earned expectations, and I wasn’t given time to grow into the grow. The real reward is knowing that I’m making a
our place through hard work and consistency over the role of a boss. I had to hit the ground running.” difference, not just in my own life, but in the lives of my
last 23 years.” Brenda’s company has been recognised employees and the communities we serve.” Her journey
as the Eskom Contractor of the Year 2012, as well as The lack of mentorship in the early years slowed her continues to light the way for others, illuminating not
runner up as both the Sebenza Women of the Year in progress compared to her contemporaries. “I was self- just homes, but the path for the next generation of
Construction 2022 and FMI Impactor of the Year. taught, and there was no one to show me the ropes,” women entrepreneurs.

Brenda NDLOVU | 55