Page 41 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

We need to develop our young people to meet the needs of their

generation and of the future, to create positive change.

Centre Manager SmartXchange Port Shepstone “I get super excited to see the growth and development of One of her current goals is to see the KwaMashu
our startups during our coaching, mentoring and business centre completely functional.
development sessions. I am proud to announce that four
atima Moolla is one of the KZN South Coast’s The Digital Hub in KwaMashu has created a strategic
innovations, which are currently being commercialised,
leading businesswomen. She has completed a link to the township economy and her team is now
were developed at Port Shepstone.” Innovate Logistics
B. Com (Accounting and Economics), PGCE working on co-creation projects with their stakeholders
is an optimisation of delivery loads; Eazi Health ID is a
F(Postgraduate Certificate in Education), an 360-degree medical app that manages patients’ records, and township communities to address the challenges
MBA, as well as a certificate in Incubation Governance bookings, referrals etc., Smart Beehive Management uses faced by a lack of digitisation of local businesses and
and Management. technology to manage the harvesting and well-being of a also problems around domestic and industrial waste,
crime and the lack of technology in early childhood
beehive and SA Smart Film Art is a platform promoting
As a child growing up in a business-oriented family, Fatima centres. All the co-creation projects are focused on the
and linking local producers, scriptwriters, actors and
developed her astute business sense from a very young age integration of youth, women, and people with physical
aspirant filmmakers.
by observing and working alongside her parents in their challenges as the economic empowerment opportunities
family-owned businesses. Their mentorship and guidance Fatima admits that while this job comes with its fair share within these groups is miniscule.
provided the platform for her to pursue her dreams to of challenges, the opportunities encourage her to persevere
Fatima says, “I am blessed to be part of an organisation that
succeed in business. and draw on her own strengths. “I prefer to look at myself
is constantly evolving. My opportunities to learn and grow
as someone who stands alone, who believes in what she
Before joining the business world, Fatima was a teacher have increased exponentially as we embrace the 4IR and
does and who goes out there and does it.” She adds that
at Port Shepstone Secondary for eight years. However, the my passion to explore new opportunities for our SMME’s
she does not have the space for the male/female argument
desire to take up a new challenge and a sense of a ‘calling’ often keeps me awake, feeding my dreams of growing both
or agenda in her life. Fatima prefers to see projects as team
saw her joining SmartXchange in 2015 as centre manager rural and township economies to become a reality.”
directed rather than focusing on individual differences.
at the newly established branch in Port Shepstone. Creating positive change
Building prosperous communities
Fatima’s dynamic leadership produced amazing results as In the future, Fatima would like to use her knowledge in
the Port Shepstone incubator grew beyond expectations In reflecting on the general challenges her ecosystem the education space to develop innovations and systems
faces, Fatima says, “The accessibility of cheap, reliable
and exceeded its three-year targets within the first year. This that would allow our education system to function better
internet connectivity is still one of our major challenges
success, says Fatima, was ‘awesome’ as she was concerned to be meaningful and impactful. “We need to develop our
in township and rural areas as we strive to build
that they would not be able to get the type of incubatees young people to meet the needs of their generation and of
communities and societies that can prosper through fair
and businesses that SmartXchange was looking for in a the future, to create positive change,” she says.
and equitable access to information, data and resources. It
small town.
was exciting for our team when we onboarded a company In advising other women, Fatima says, “Firstly, I would
The incubator has received local recognition by winning the that provides internet connectivity to township and rural like women to educate themselves holistically to develop
Port Shepstone Mayoral Award twice since inception and areas using the concept of Television White Spaces as innovators, leaders and globally recognised persona.
contributed to the overall recognition of SmartXchange as a (TVWS). The roll out of this technology means that The spectrum of education is infinite and there is so
provincial and national leader in the incubation ecosystem. previously disadvantaged and inaccessible communities much you can learn at different levels. Once you have
The success at Port Shepstone served as a stimulus to now have an opportunity to digitise their products and the empowerment of education, follow your passions and
establish a township Digital Hub in KwaMashu with services enabling the democratisation of technology and chase your dreams. It is your life, and you have to write
transfer of knowledge.”
further replication plans on expanding into rural areas. your own story.”
With her experience in setting up the Port Shepstone
Rewarding beyond expectation In her personal capacity Fatima serves on the executive of
SmartXchange Incubator, Fatima was given the oppor- an organisation called Sistrs for Humanity (S4H). Their
Fatima says that working at SmartXchange and being part tunity to lead the establishment of the Living Labs, core focus is providing relief to impoverished societies
of the entrepreneurial and innovative journey, supporting funded by the National Technology Innovation wherever they may be. This is achieved through intensive
and contributing towards the success of a small business or Agency (TIA), in KwaMashu. This project presented fundraising within our networks and communities. “The
the development of an innovation has rewards that are far the opportunity of incorporating the Living Labs impacts achieved give us joy, and adds meaning to life as
beyond any expectation. within the SmartXchange KwaMashu Digital Hub. well,” concludes Fatima.

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