Page 83 - KZN Top Business Women 2024

I’ve learned how to market,

and it has really impacted my business.

empower others with knowledge, Monica took the bold business, she realised its impact. “I’ve learned how to
Founder,
step to launch Mons Accounting and Business Consulting market, and it has really impacted my business,” she says.
Mons Accounting and Business Consulting
in 2020 while still working full-time. Her approach to client relationships is deeply personal. “I
make sure I meet my clients in a personal capacity and
onica van der Berg, founder of Mons The true turning point came in early 2024 when Monica
go the extra mile for them,” she adds, describing how this
Accounting and Business Consulting, speaks found herself unexpectedly unemployed. “In April, I has impacted her business and her customers.
Mpassionately about her journey in the world of lost my job, and for four months, despite being highly
accounting and business consulting. “I have a passion qualified, I kept hearing, ‘Sorry’,” she remembers. Faced Recognition came as a surprise for Monica, who describes
for accounting, income tax, and all your business with this challenge, Monica knew she had to take her herself as a humble person. “When I received the email
consulting needs,” she shares, reflecting on her path to business from a side hustle to a full-time venture. “It notifying me of this achievement, it took a few days for
entrepreneurship. was daunting and scary to take that first step, but I told it to sink in,” she says. For someone who doesn’t often
myself, ‘Monica, you have to do this,’” she states. With celebrate her successes, entering competitions and
Recalling her early years, Monica explains, “I grew up in determination and a willingness to learn, she embraced receiving accolades has been a new experience. “I’m
a small industrial town called Richards Bay, and that’s the entrepreneurial journey, finding support from her part of the Umhlanga Women Achievers, and entering
where I matriculated and got my accounting diploma.” network. “People came forward with advice, encouraging competitions was initially a challenge. “I hesitated
Interestingly, she didn’t initially consider accounting as a me, saying, ‘Monica, you can do this,’” she shares. because I thought that there are so many more qualified
career. “I never thought of doing anything in accounting people out there,” she admits, but it turned out to be a
during matric. I didn’t even have it as a major subject,” Monica’s drive to succeed is deeply rooted in her belief valuable exercise in self-belief.
she reveals. Instead, her academic interests lay in maths that circumstances should not define one’s future. “My
and physics, subjects that required precision and balance. biggest dream is to show people that no matter what The entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been without its
“With maths and physics, you have to balance everything; happens in your life, you can succeed,” she declares. hurdles. “Finding clients was challenging at first,” Monica
it has to come to a specific number.” It was this fondness Her own experiences are a testament to this belief. “I explains. She frequently encountered rejections, whether
for numbers that ultimately led her towards accounting, didn’t have accounting as a background, and I also have due to existing accounting relationships or pricing. “People
even though it wasn’t part of her initial plan. epilepsy,” Monica reveals. Despite these challenges, she would say, ‘Sorry, you’re too expensive,’ and I would
achieved her matric, earned a diploma, and now runs think, ‘But my rates are reasonable,’” she says. Yet, Monica
Monica’s entry into the field was unconventional. “I got her own business. “There’s nothing stopping anyone, no overcame these obstacles by persisting with her marketing
my diploma through Boston, and all you needed was matter what they’re facing,” she emphasises. efforts. “You just have to keep going, keep getting out
your matric. You didn’t have to have accounting,” she there, and continue marketing yourself,” she advises.
recounts. After obtaining her diploma, she began her Follow Your Dream
career in Richards Bay, working in various accounting Monica’s advice to young women is straightforward
firms. “I did my articles and gained ten years of experience Throughout her career, Monica has been inspired by and powerful. “Just continue. Don’t ever stop. Follow
in accounting firms, and I also ventured into the imports those who believed in her abilities. She fondly recalls a your dreams no matter what they are,” she urges. She
and exports industry,” she says. mentor from her days of doing articles. “There was a lady encourages perseverance even when the path seems
I worked with who always encouraged me whenever I felt uncertain. “If you feel like you want to sit on that little nest
Empowering Others like I couldn’t do it. She would say, ‘Monica, you can do this and not continue, just don’t stop,” she stresses.
even if you make a small error. You’ve got the knowledge,
During Covid, the transition to starting her own business you’ve got so much potential, just keep following your Looking to the future, Monica is focused on growth,
came gradually, sparked by demand for her expertise. “I dream’,” she recounts. Monica kept these words close to both for her business and for the individuals she inspires.
began receiving calls asking for help with income tax and her heart as they provided much motivation to continue “My goal is to grow my business further and help more
other accounting matters,” she recalls. She noticed a gap her journey. people follow their dreams, just like I did,” she shares.
in the market where traditional firms were falling short. Balancing work with personal life is essential for her well-
“A lot of accounting firms help people, but they don’t Marketing was a skill Monica never anticipated mastering. being. “I find balance by walking on the beach, attending
really give them the specific tools or explain why certain “I always thought I wasn’t a very creative person,” she church on Sundays, and spending time with my faith,”
things are taught,” she explains. Driven by the desire to admits. However, as she worked on promoting her she concludes.

Monica VAN DER BERG | 81