Page 15 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook
P. 15

Plan in advance


                                    and do not leave everything for the last minute.





                                                          Determination and hard work                      Pravina has assisted many organisations by doing
          Executive Director,                                                                              pro bona work for schools, and NGOs through
          thoughtFIRE Events cc                           Pravina’s determination and hard work has certainly   marketing and promoting their organisations,
                                                          paid off. Fast forward 30 years, and Pravina is proud to
               RAVINA COOMBS is the owner and executive  say that she is one of the most sought-after conference   including arranging events and providing public
               director of thoughtFIRE, which has established   and event organisers in Durban.            relation services. Examples of these include helping
         Pitself as one of the leading event management                                                    to establish the Gin Girls and running the wood
          companies in South Africa. Over the last 30 years,   Reflecting on her success, Pravina says that a mixture of  work course business plan for the KwaThintwa
          thoughtFIRE has managed hundreds of events  with   solid connections and sheer determination is what has  School for the Deaf, to name a few.
          expertise  including  conferences,  banquets,  seminars,   got her to where she is today.        Pravina has sat on many boards and associations
          exhibitions, live events, and specialised meetings to  In addition, she says, “My inspiration comes from  in her career. These include the Businesswomen’s
          name a few.                                     learning every day, and these lessons come from my  Association of South Africa – Durban Branch
          Her professional journey started back in 1989 while   friends, family, my children, my staff, contractors, and  committee and she was the first elected chairperson
          she was working for a local NGO in Durban. Pravina   other business people.”                     of the PR & Liaison Committee of the Durban
          commented  that  as  a  single  mother  to  a  young   Her success must also be attributed to, “A good team at   University of Technology. She has done guest
          daughter, life was tough.                       the office, a good team at home and having the ability   talks and lectures at various institutions which
          However, said Pravina, “I had a fire burning in me in  to pre plan all my tasks and responsibilities in advance.”  have included participating in career days to assist
          that knew I was better than my circumstances of living   “I  have  to  say  that  since  I  am  so  overly  organised   students in their career choices.
          salary to salary. So, I worked on all the strengths I had,   and efficient, or so I would like to believe; I plan in   Pravina is involved in her son’s schooling and has sat
          and realised that I could fulfil a need in the market   advance  and  do  not  leave  everything  for  the  last   on the school’s Parents’ Council for five years. She
          and become a professional conference organiser.  This   minute.  I can pack a lot into a day – so as stressful   currently sits on their Educational Trust committee.
          was still a new profession, but I knew I had to take    as my work is – I am able to enjoy both business and  All falls into place
          up the challenge.”
                                                          time outside of business.”
          With the help of her now husband, who offered   Training and mentorship                          Pravina says that she is comfortable with what she
          Pravina a rent-free office for six months, and financial                                         has achieved in her current business and in what she
          help from a friend who loaned her some money to  In commenting on the role of women in business,   has done for the industry. “But the end goal for me
          buy her first computer, Pravina said that she was ready  Pravina said that while perhaps differences do   would be to own a boutique hotel and conference
          for the biggest challenge of her life.          exist for men and women in business, in her line   centre that would cater for unique events. I think
                                                          of work, the differences have not been an issue. “I   that from my work and experience I have gained
          She started calling people from previous contacts                                                sufficient knowledge and insight and definitely see
          she had made through the charity asking them if she   also think that as much as there are huge issues with   this as amongst my goals.”
          could  help  with  marketing,  promotions,  events  or   corporates and unfair practices in respect of salaries
          public relations.                               and  promotions,  women  do  have  the  confidence  The advice that she would give to her younger self
                                                          and power to succeed in business today.”         is: “Take it easy, but not too easy; everything will
          Thanks to the solid relationships built throughout her                                           happen when the time is right but don’t wait too
          career, in the first month of going it alone, Pravina made   Pravina is proud of the role that she has played in   long for the right time – give time a push now and
          more money than her last salary. “This confidence in my   helping numerous women and men to succeed   again and then all falls into place eventually.”
          ability gave me the push I needed to continue, pursue   through her training and mentorship. In addition, she
          and develop my business.”                       often educates her clients and other businesses in  Last thought
                                                          public relations and first-line marketing.
          “I knew I had it in me. I believed in myself, I met                                              While many businesses have failed, and many are
          deadlines, I went out of my way to deliver the goods,  “In my professional life, I have helped many people to  struggling, and others simply fail to get off the ground,
          be different and I never made promises that I could  start their own businesses and given advice on how to  Pravina’s business is a huge success story. If anything,
          not deliver on.”                                improve their businesses.”                       that says it all about Pravina.


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