Page 59 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021
P. 59

If you know who you are internally,


               the power that you have will motivate you to get going and succeed.







          Founder and Managing Director of Nozibele      Nozie’s first job was as a stock replenisher at Wool-  that I bring to entrepreneurs is that it is important to
          Solutions                                      worths, Pavilion where her desire to achieve soon saw   not look at what we need but what we have.”
                                                         her knowing where to find each item of clothing on the
                                                                                                         One of the things that helped Nozie to arm herself
                                                         shop floor.
                    ozibele (Nozie) Sogoni whose first name                                              was to give her services out for free. She has been
                    means ‘be kind’ is a motivational speaker,   She then worked as a receptionist at the Tower Group.   volunteering at the Durban University of Technology,
                    SETA accredited mentor and coach as   She realised that it was the little things that she    where she is a business advisor in the entrepreneurship
         Nwell as  a trainer.                            did each day that made a difference to contributing   department. She arms the second- and third-year
                                                         to the company’s annual profit of over one and a   students with the insights that she has, which she says
          Nozi launched her women owned level 1 BBEE company
                                                         half million rand, which was the highest since the    has allowed her product to be stronger.
          Nozibele Solutions in 2013. Her goal is to offer solutions
                                                         branch started.                                 Nozie’s goals for her business are to grow the products
          to entrepreneurs in  the South African marketplace.
          She says,  “My passion really lies in entrepreneurship,   Her next job was at Conlog where she started as a   and services that she has and move into the corporate
                                                                                                         sector where she can work with HR departments and
          which has the power to change the economic landscape   receptionist. While Nozie could have remained as such,
                                                                                                         present her course, “The best you that you can be”. This
          of the country.”                               she chose to grow and after ten years left the company
                                                                                                         is especially relevant in this period of Covid as many
                                                         in charge of business and customer relations for the
          Nozie motivates entrepreneurs to develop their internal                                        people are struggling to get themselves going.
                                                         whole of South Africa.
          muscles while focusing on self-development to be “the
                                                                                                         As  the core pillar  of Nozie’s  business  is excellence
          best you that you can be in any endeavour that you do”.   Her promotion within the company was a consequence
                                                                                                         it is unsurprising that she has recently been awarded
          Through attending her three-month self-mastery course,   of her developing herself in local and international
                                                                                                         the Ulibo Champion Award of Excellence 2021
          entrepreneurs are encouraged to find their gifts and     tenders and pricing. Her success in negotiating tenders
                                                                                                         within KwaZulu-Natal.
          set goals for themselves, and their businesses aligned to   and contracts, which was above and beyond her job
          their passions.                                description, saw her travelling with the company’s   A muscle called resilience
                                                         directors throughout the country.
          “I always want people to recognise the inner muscles;                                          However,  as a  woman  in business,  Nozie  agrees that
          they have more  than  what  they  have  externally.  If      “I enjoyed interacting with customers so I decided to   there are many challenges to face.  “It is very difficult
          you know who you are internally, the power that you   demote myself to do internal sales so that I could pursue   when married to take care of one’s husband and extended
          have will motivate you to get going and succeed,”    my dream of being a sales consultant for the company,”   family. As women, we clutter ourselves with a long to do
          Nozie explains.                                explained Nozie. Five months later she was appointed   list. Nozie believes that it is important to find time for
                                                         sales manager for KwaZulu-Natal and by the end of the   yourself each morning to read a book, meditate or pray so
          An internal muscle of excellence                                                               that you are refuelled. She says that the more value that
                                                         year had done R15 million worth of business.
                                                                                                         you can add to yourself – the more value you can add to
          Her professional journey has, she says, been ‘long and
                                                         As a reward for increasing sales, Nozie was sent to Paris   other people.
          tough’ and has been prompted by her own desire to excel   to participate in a women’s empowerment programme.
          and to produce quality work.  This journey started in                                          “My appeal to women is that you should just know that
                                                         This enabled her to see her career beyond an eight
          primary school where she felt compelled to be one of                                           you are significant; you are worthy. Your work and all that
                                                         to five job as well as to see time in 24-hour slots.
          the top five students in her class. Nozie reflected that she   “Time is precious, and we have to push for passion,”    you do, despite having the challenges at home and family
          grew up having a mom who pushed her to achieve by   she explained.                             behind you is enough – don’t second guess yourselves.”
          comparing her to her two sisters. “Having this motivation                                      “In conclusion, especially if you have gone through a
                                                         Look at what we have
          pushed me to be hard working and to develop an internal                                        tough time, find the muscles inside of you. I am here
          muscle of excellence but I had to overcome the obstacle   “I had to convince myself that I was limitless and that I   today because of a muscle called resilience – you can
          of not finding myself significant enough in both my   had the tenacity to continue to achieve my vision, which   rise above the ashes and be the best you that you can
          appearance and abilities.”                     motivated me to open my own business. The approach   be – again.”



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