Page 33 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

Being mindful to others stands you in good stead.

Rather ask questions and listen to those responses.

Founder of Monique Labat Consulting them to grow their businesses in order to retain their One of Monique’s passions is to support young women in
staff, and to grow their export opportunities.” Durban during August, which is Women’s Month. “It’s not
difficult to put together business opportunities in a box for
onique Labat was born in Mauritius, and Monique says that she got to where she is today thanks
young women, so that they can start-up their own small
she holds dual citizenship – Mauritian to her love of working at the Chamber of Commerce.
business. That small business could be a greetings card
and South African. Her family moved to The Chamber’s senior management were instrumental
business, it could be a start-up baking business from home,
MSouth Africa when she was five years old. in mentoring and teaching her about business processes
it could be sewing, it could be a knitting project. Buy a table
and the role of effective lobbying to ensure retention of
Monique reflects that it is advantageous to speak more for them at the eThekwini small business fair, it doesn’t cost
member companies for the Chamber. “The Chamber
than one language. French is her home language, she a lot. Train them on what they can expect when they have
senior management, motivated and encouraged us to
did German at school, and has enjoyed a basic isiZulu people popping into visit them at their stands and see how
grow our own networks within the organisation and with
course. The reason she says is that it’s always wonderful to they will grow themselves as entrepreneurs; thanks to that
the member companies. The reason I was inspired was
greet people in their home language. To this day, French opportunity you have afforded to them.”
that they gave us the time, the energy and the support
has stood her in good stead as her company, Monique
needed to grow ourselves within the organisation. To this When asked how she strives to make a difference in her
Labat Consulting engages with companies in Mauritius, business or community, Monique says that is easy for her
day, I’m particularly grateful to my senior manager, Nadia
Reunion Island and in France. to answer. “By providing pro bono advice and assistance
Thomson who played a wonderful role at the Chamber
She established Monique Labat Consulting in August for many years.” to small, medium, and micro enterprises throughout
KwaZulu-Natal. By connecting those businesses to
2011 to provide valuable specialist skills to both public
Being mindful to others the larger corporates and demonstrating to them that
and private sector clients. Monique consults to local and
opportunities exist and that they are not to be discouraged
international clients on market linkages and business to One of the challenges Monique has found is that in South
and rather to grab the opportunities with open hands and
business opportunities, co-ordinates detailed programmes Africa, people are quick to jump to conclusions and have open minds. In this regard, Monique says that the advice
and itineraries for international trade, investment pre-conceived ideas. In response, she finds that listening
that she would give to any young women, is to give back to
and being mindful to others stands you in good stead.
and inward buying delegations and compiles market the community within which you live and work, volunteer
intelligence reports for multiple industry sectors. “Rather ask questions and listen to those responses. That
way you will learn far more, and you will gain a greater your time, and assist others where possible. Even if you
A learnt skill empathetic understanding of the colleagues that you work don’t have employment at the outset, ask those that you
are volunteering for, to write a letter of reference for you
with, the clients that engage with you, as well friends and
Her career has spanned the Durban Chamber of explaining how you’ve helped them and what you did.”
family,” says Monique.
Commerce and Industry, the City of Durban’s Investment
Promotion Agency as well as Tradepoint South Africa An active Rotarian, Monique volunteers her time and Living her dream
Durban. These roles have meant extensive international and resources to assist communities within the greater A foodie at heart, Monique lived her dream and 10
local travel promoting Durban as an investment location Durban area. Her core values are in line with Rotary’s years ago, spent three months at Ballymaloe Cookery
and presenting at Durban’s Sister Cities abroad and at the motto, ‘Service above self ’. Her future goals are to School in Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland. Monique’s
global World Trade Point Federation conferences. continue learning, and to continue volunteering through first cookbook comprising 100 recipes and full colour
her Rotary club. photographs was self-published. Monique gives
“My business in community achievements means being
presentations and food demos all over the country and has
able to communicate both with small and corporate “My husband and I look forward to leaving behind an
spoken at many Rotary Clubs and business organisations.
companies. It’s a learnt skill which I picked up at education legacy through Rotary, which is the creation
the Durban Chamber of Commerce early on in my of an ambassadorial and peace scholarship. We are One of Monique’s favourite presentations is entitled
career. One of my team’s best achievements is that the actively engaging with the youth on a new project at “Mauritius: Two Centuries of Cuisine”, a nod to her
Chamber was fielding over 60 000 business enquiries. the moment, with my business associate, where we are birthplace in the Indian Ocean. For each cookbook
What that meant, was that those Chamber members looking at training youth to become drone pilots in sold, Monique donates R10 to Rotary Foundation’s
were able to use the research that we had compiled for various industry sectors.” #EndPolioNow Campaign.

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