Page 47 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

Women are so powerful when we stand together;

we are invincible together.

Former Deputy Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, has been supported by some incredible women. “Women Find your calling
the Vice President of Minara Chamber of Commerce are so powerful when we stand together; we are invincible
In giving advice to younger women, Fawzia stresses
as well as the Chairperson of Minara Business and together,” she says.
that it is essential to find your calling! “When you align
Professional Women
Fawzia added she would say that she is a people’s person yourself with that calling, magic happens. Do not be
and one of her most important achievements is the afraid to fail. It is part of a cycle to success. Create a long-
awzia Peer has had 26 years’ experience in
relationships with people she has fostered over the years. term plan and break that down into bite size, achievable
the Democratic Local Government where
“People matter to me. One has to be bold but in doing goals, but also allow for deviations in that plan. Keep
she has spent a significant period leading
so one should aim to take people with you along the way. going, never give up on your calling. Do not listen to
Fon decisions for positive change and trans-
No man is an island, we are as good as our weakest link. the naysayers. Find a way to incorporate your business
formation of Local Government.
We need to embrace working together in the truest sense idea into helping humanity by adding a strong social
Prior to the dawn of democracy in South Africa, in the of the word.” upliftment angle. Always give back where you can.”
early nineties, Fawzia realised she had to invest in virtues.
In the future, Fawzia hopes to continue her political career “One quality I most admire in women is humility… this
She commented, “Instinctively I knew where my calling
and instead of retiring she would like to help NGOs doesn’t mean that if you are humble, you are weak or unsure
was, if I wanted to see positive change around me, I knew I
find their way through the Covid-19 pandemic. She of yourself. It means you have the self-confidence and self-
had to invest in women and the youth as active agents, for
commented that to create sustainable change, NGOs awareness to recognise the value of others without feeling
that to happen. My heartfelt desire was to have influence
need to realise the importance of working with other threatened. You have to be a very determined woman. So
and power to make this happen. The power to breakdown
non-profits, local government, businesses as well as the please be a non-quitter, be persistent,” Fawzia added.
poverty and inequality. The influence of the Government
communities they serve. This collaboration with the
that I was leading in and becoming the agent for change A positive mind-set
various partners on the ground will deepen the impact
to take place. This is who I am, a politician, an activist, a
and create meaningful and sustainable improvements in Similarly, to many other women with careers, ensuring
businesswoman and a community changer.” a work life balance has been a challenge for Fawzia. She
stopping any form of duplication in the distribution of
As an Indian woman in politics, Fawzia has faced many relief to the needy. explained that one has to adopt a positive mind-set that
barriers and obstacles, both relating to race and gender. is encouraging to others. “A degree of positive risk taking
In addition, Fawzia wants to focus on the “Experienced
However, she has had the mind-set that challenges are is helpful too when one takes on leadership roles. Little
Economy”. She believes that older adults, the 50 plus failures should be seen as stepping stones to successes or
opportunities to be faced. “I was always determined to turn
age group are the largest talent pool in history. They,
challenges that I faced into positive opportunities. The world else one becomes broken many times.”
she explains, are an untapped economic engine, which
of politics and business is alike in many ways. One has to be
She also says that women need to develop the ability to
tough skinned to succeed in achieving success. There will be we have to focus on because their experience is too
be a quick thinker because women are confronted with
valuable to ignore. In order to access this experience,
people along the way attempting to place barriers in your
many emergencies in our family lives.
path and feeding into one’s own belief of oneself. One has a platform has to be designed to catalyse cross -
to be strong minded to overcome these.” generational experience and integrate it into the fabric In conclusion Fawzia said, “Currently and in the future, we
of community so it benefits the entire community. will have many roles to play in our life. However, the
We are invincible together
In so doing we will be able to optimise the value of most important role is how we lead our own life. Only
In reflecting on her journey, Fawzia said an important the older adults’ experience and boost prosperity for two things matter in the end: who you became; and how
lesson she has learnt is that she hasn’t succeeded alone but people of all ages. many lives you touched. Live a life that matters!”

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