Page 19 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

Hold your head up high,

and just go with it.

as Best Concept and Best Design, before returning “For me, it’s one of the most difficult things to
Heads of Marketing, to South Africa. achieve – if it’s about a project, everything about
for Expand a Sign International and Uzwelo Bags as that project will consume me, and I learned a really
well as ExpandaBrand USA Learning from mistakes
difficult lesson where I had to slow down a bit…
She attributes her success to two things: making it’s something I have to continuously work on,
IRSTY FONZARI heads the marketing team mistakes – “You can only progress by making mistakes something I have to remind myself of. I also know
for Expand a Sign International and Uzwelo and learning from those mistakes,” she laughs; and from experience that when you’re exhausted, you’re
KBags as well as ExpandaBrand USA and her work ethic. “I’m not afraid to work hard with my no good to anybody, so it’s important to have those
supports several Expand a Sign agencies globally in team, communicate the vision clearly and get stuck times when you can just sit back and relax and take
marketing. Kirsty’s energy is never ending, and she
will be opening a 360 turnkey agency called The in and get my hands dirty – that’s a big part of the in the view.”
Buro next year. There was a gap in the market to reason I am where I am today.” Kirsty’s advice to her younger self, knowing that
help Expand a Sign customers with various marketing Kirsty’s inspiration has been Anna Wintour, chief women put themselves under pressure to be perfect
disciplines. editor of Vogue in the US. “What I really love about because of our inherently critical society, is: “Don’t
her is that she says: Don’t be apologetic about take other people’s opinions on board…it’s okay
Kirsty has founded a networking group called
brand Cult that has been successfully running for decisions that you make. Make your decisions and to make mistakes and don’t sweat the small stuff.
three years. know they’re the right decisions. Hold your head Just enjoy life, because tomorrow’s going to be
up high, and just go with it.” another day.”
“I think one of the biggest gifts in business is An Incredible Journey
being able to share knowledge and encourage That resonates with Kirsty who describes herself
collaborative partnerships,” she said. as a risktaker. “Rules are meant to be broken”, she Talking about her background, Kirsty admits that
jokes, and then more seriously, “I’d rather be a where she is today comes with a story around her
She also has a passion for coaching young women leader, than someone who follows”, something she
use and abuse of alcohol and drugs while designing
in business. “I want to share what I’ve achieved with believes is evident in her marketing plan for Expand bars and restaurants in London. She talks of juggling
others and to remind women that business models a Sign.
are changing. They need to be open minded and two balls, ‘the addict alcoholic’ and ‘the work
person’, until it all came crashing down around her.
explore all avenues of creativity to follow their Kirsty is confident that women have a different
dreams and to continue to challenge the norm.” approach than men do in achieving success in “My addiction could potentially have crippled me…
business. “Women are edgy and risk takers who know there were a few occasions when I could have been
Kirsty is all about understanding customers and how to get a lot of things done in one go.” Kirsty is dead today.”
their needs and believes if you focus on your driven to giving women wings. “And so,” she concludes, “my journey has been that
intention and you are specific with your communi-
cation amazing things happen. Owning her achievements, Kirsty is happy with what I want to start adding value. I’ve been clean and
she’s accomplished in business. “My whole life has sober for quite a few years now... I have the freedom
She admits to climbing the corporate ladder to be myself; to carry a message of hope, courage
quickly, working her way up from operations manager been around business…I’m into achieving things, and strength; to not be ashamed of who I am as a
of various restaurant management groups to director I’m really pleased with where I am today, but I’d be woman today. I have the freedom to talk to people
of operations for a group of healthy restaurant’s in a fool to think I’m just going to stop here; there’s so openly about it…It’s been an incredible journey and
the United Kingdom (UK). Kirsty has successfully much more I want to achieve.” so, in order to be completely authentic, I need to be
opened over 40 bars and restaurants in the UK and Kirsty’s insights into achieving a work-life balance are able to share my story, and so that’s kind of where I
won the London “Time Out Bar of the Year”, as well that there can be costs too, attached to success. am today.”

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