Page 23 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

Believe that you are where you are for a reason and

that you’re going to keep moving forward.

– it was our dining room table in our two and a half- and you can’t inspire yourself, then who are you? You
Major Shareholder and Partner, bedroom flat!”
at Dragon Protection Services need to understand who you are, what your purpose
Trisha attributes their success to community is, what your core competencies are, and once you
RISHA GOKOOL PARSHOTAM is exceptionally support and prioritising their expenses. She feels know that you will inspire yourself.” She’s also been
proud of the success of Dragon Protection they were blessed by people who had started inspired by videos and books, and witnessing how
TServices and is passionate about her brand. small, the way they had, and gave them the her father and grandmother, from small beginnings,
She is a major shareholder and partner in the opportunity to guard their properties or their have grown empires. Her mother too, who ‘held
company and heads up the marketing and sales businesses once they had developed them. Living the fort at home’, has been an inspiration. “I’m not
division. life less indulgently was a must and became the only inspired as a businesswoman, I’m inspired as
foundation of Trisha’s lifestyle. She admits to having a mother... That cape never comes off us and that
Dragon Protection Services was launched by her inspiration has come from my mother. Also, there
husband, Manhar Parshotam, in 1995, and relaunched learned a lot from Manhar who she describes as are very few women in the security industry so that,
in 2007 after a few years of working in the finance “a bit older, a bit wiser, and more streetwise”, his to me, is my inspiration – knowing that there’s one
sector. According to Trisha, the company really got considered approach balancing her spontaneity. of me.”
off the ground during the 2010 World Cup when they Vision for the future
managed to get a car on the road and brand it. Trisha Although they have an exciting vision for the future, Trisha identifies being a woman in a male-dominated
says, “From there it’s been a wonderful nine years.” Trisha says that there’ve been times when they’ve industry as a perpetual challenge, particularly
She flags her decision in 2011 to ‘pour her passion’ been tempted to work for someone, knowing when pitching for her business in the boardroom
into growing their brand as the start of their journey. and all the questions are then put to her husband.
there’s a guaranteed pay cheque in their pocket “Unfortunately, women have to have a different
Trisha followed her school career at Durban Girls’ at the end of each month, relieving them of the approach to men in business, simply because
College with an Honours degree in strategic market- pressure of finding staff salaries on time. However, we’re wired differently. The story of ‘Women are
ing at the then University of Natal. As a brand their commitment to empower and give people from Venus, Men are from Mars’, is absolutely true.”
specialist, she has had the expertise to grow their jobs is what keeps Dragon going. Trisha is firm that Speaking from experience, she adds: “Together, as a
business from strength to strength. you have to have faith: “You need to believe that team, men and women are amazing. We both have
you are where you are for a reason and that you’re
Dragon Protection Services is a security company different ingredients that we can add to this amazing
that provides (hu)manpower incorporating armed going to keep moving forward.” Dragon focuses on build up… We work together, I work hand in hand
and unarmed guarding and escorting trucks from hiring staff, deliberately incorporating women, who with men.”
port to border, their specialty being bodyguarding live in the area where the work is so that all residents Achieving a work-life balance is not a struggle for
celebrities, government VIPs, and sports personalities. benefit from those developments. Trisha who, after initially feeling guilty for returning
Bonding in the car Their vision is to start up a training centre focusing on to work after becoming a mother, rationalised her
merging the role of hospitality with security, which position in the workplace by acknowledging that
When Trisha recalls their early days of running the Trisha describes as a niche market. She wants her
business she chuckles, describing how – as newly- staff to know that their purpose goes beyond being she needs to serve a higher purpose where her skills
weds who were the managers/supervisors/directors a presence at the door, and she wants to help them are needed and she can add value.
– they spent their time bonding in the car while to shift their perspective of themselves and their Her advice to her younger self would be, “That was
driving around checking their sites at 6 am in the work, to know that they serve a greater purpose. awesome. I’m so happy you did what you did!” She
morning, and again in the evening for around three continues: “For me, if I didn’t do all of what I did then,
to four hours at a time. “We did not have a full night’s Believe in yourself I wouldn’t be where I am today so there would be
sleep for maybe two to three years. We had the radio Trisha derives inspiration from herself, as well as family no other advice…Live every day to what your heart
going, the cellphone ringing... There was no office members, saying: “If you don’t believe in yourself wants to try and see what you can be.”

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