Page 59 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021
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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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