Page 17 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

I would start a business that would not only be profitable and

sustainable but a business that will empower people.

Managing Director of Emakheni Cleaning & the assistance of mentors and started overcoming these In addition, Emakheni’s employees are well trained and
Industrial Solutions issues one by one. highly empowered. “We motivate them and make sure
that they understand our clients and are able to deliver on
Consequently, said Portio, “I decided that rather than going
a daily basis according to the plans of the client and the
kosithandile Portio Dlamini was born at up the corporate ladder, I would start a business that would
systems that are in place,” says Portio.
Stoffelton, Impendle, which is a village not only be profitable and sustainable but a business that
located a 100km from Pietermaritzburg. will empower people so that they do not spend the rest of Journey of entrepreneurship
NPortio was raised by a single mother of three their lives as cleaners.”
Portio reflected that her journey of entrepreneurship was
and spent most of her childhood at the farm with her
Stepping out of my comfort zone inspired through the support of a number of people who
grandparents while her mother was studying and teaching.
have helped both herself and Emakheni to grow from
After completing her primary school education, Portio Establishing her own business was not easy and Portio had
strength to strength. “Without that support I would
went to the nearest boarding school, Pholela High School to face a number of challenges as well as fears.
not have made it in business because it has been a very
in Bulwer, where she completed her matric.
“One of the major challenges that I faced was the lack intense journey,” she commented.
Portio studied chemical process engineering at Mangosuthu of understanding and skills in how to run a business. I
Portio has also participated in a number of entrepreneurship
and Durban University of Technology respectively and was from an environment where I was an employee and
development programmes including Raizcorp, Sekela
obtained a BTech in chemical engineering. She then more technical. When you are starting out, you need
ESD, Business Accelerator programme, Cataler SA, and
worked for a few companies, for approximately 11 years, to understand every department of your organisation –
the SLG programme.
including Sappi and Sasol as a process technician, and later marketing, financial, HR etc.”
moved to Unilever to work as a chemical process engineer Her desire is to grow Emakheni to a provincial and national
“The second challenge was that I had a lot of fears – stepping
and a production unit manager. level and to penetrate the manufacturing sector with
out of my comfort zone to go into such a risky venture
other specialised services such as waste management and
Making a difference including leaving a secure job was one of them. But I was
fuel and chemical transportation. She also wants to solve
now choosing to step into something bigger than myself.”
During this time, she felt unsatisfied with the work that she other industrial problems in the manufacturing industry.
was doing. “I felt that I should be in an environment where Emakheni Cleaning & Industrial Solutions is a Level 1, “Personally, I would love to get involved in empowerment
I was empowering or making a difference in people’s lives, 100% female owned business that has now been trading programmes where I am in touch with initiatives that are
rather than working mainly with processes and machinery,” for eight years. The company’s focus is on the industrial empowering marginalised communities in terms of financial
commented Portio. and commercial sectors providing contract cleaning, literacy, personal development and skills development.
hygiene solutions and garden maintenance as well as Anything and everything that would elevate their lives
“I started to have a desire to have a cleaning and hygiene
specialised cleaning – high pressure and high-level from one level to the next.”
business that would empower cleaners and general workers
cleaning – for factories.
beyond the cleaning industry. While I was working as a Portio explains that she achieves work life balance by
unit manager, I began to start empowering them through Understanding the issues planning. “It’s not an easy thing to do especially for us as
speaking about their future and their potential. They all women because we play a number of roles in our families
Portio’s background in chemical process engineering ensures
have something to contribute to their communities, and communities. I make sure that I plan my day and my
that she understands what is required from a compliance
more than cleaning, which is the steppingstone towards week and that everything is done accordingly. I have also
point of view from the manufacturing and commercial
something better.” learnt to train my staff and to delegate so that I am able to
sector, which has strengthened the business’s position.
get time to myself, to do the things that I love and to spend
Portio experienced a lot of personal challenges as a
“I understand the issues that are experienced in factories time with the people that motivate and empower me.”
female in a male dominated field. During her early when it comes to poor service from contractors. We have
career she struggled with issues such as low self esteem made sure that we are aligned in terms of systems and that In conclusion Portio said, “My advice to other women is to
and limiting beliefs. Portio reached a point when she we are aligned with our clients in terms of making sure that discover who you are as a person. Discover your passions,
felt that the career that she had chosen was wrong for we are ISO 9001 certified, meaning that we have quality and your abilities and your strengths and start working on your
her and she felt inadequate. At that time, she drew on safety systems in place.” own growth or your own career based on them.”

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