Page 45 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

There’s nothing more precious

than being authentic.

She’s enthusiastic about being their cheerleader and do… it doesn’t feel like work,” she smiles. Concerned
Executive Head “seeing them grow to be a billionaire one day!”. she was spending too much time working, her
of Vodacom, KZN daughter’s affirmation was welcome, “Mom, I want
She attributes her success to her formal education,
and the support of others. She graduated with a to be like you… You do so many things, love what
LENI KWINANA has notched up an admirable you do, and give us the best of everything.” The
list of top positions. She began climbing psychology degree after transferring from medicine. trick, Eleni feels, is being fully present in whatever
Ethe corporate ladder as an 18-year-old “It was the right decision as now, in the 4IR, doctors she does.
student who, after walking into CNA to request a could be replaced with robots capable of making
job, within three months was tasked with taking diagnoses while my focus on emotional intelligence Eleni’s approach to life has been coloured by her life
up her first management role. A few years later, she makes me less likely to become redundant.” experiences. Although born into apartheid SA, she
was requested to draft a business plan – without Eleni disagrees that women need a different approach shuns the label ‘previously disadvantaged’. “That’s
a template, or previous exposure to such a big from men to achieve success in business and stresses not the way I see it,” she says, although she describes
responsibility – overnight! It gained her boss the new the importance of being yourself. “There’s nothing the dichotomy of never being quite enough of one
store he wanted, and wet her appetite for bigger and more precious than being authentic,” she maintains. thing or another to fit in, always feeling something of
better things in business. a misfit.
Being an inspiration
Eleni’s career includes positions at the Spar Group, Her greatest support has been her mom who, as a After graduating, Eleni married, raising her two
Clicks, Musica and Dimension Data among others. domestic worker being paid less than the minimum children while struggling to survive a violently abusive
These diverse experiences have enabled her to wage, was able to leverage a network of people marriage. When she decided to leave the marriage,
provide on-point business advice in a range of fields. who assisted to support Eleni. While she stayed she was empowered by the fact that she had the
As well as running the business units of Vodacom with a friend to get to and from school each day, financial independence to set up her own home.
enterprises, she is on the board of SmartXchange, her mom subsidised her studies by waking at three Eleni’s advice to her younger self, who stressed a lot
Durban, which nurtures entrepreneurs and incubates each morning to cook and sell ‘magwinya’ (vetkoek). and wondered ‘why me?’, would be to enjoy every
businesses to achieve success.
“So”, Eleni adds, “every woman I see who works in her step of the journey; when having fun, have GOOD fun,
Achieving growth through technology tuckshop, or sews traditional dresses, is my ‘Shero’, and know that everything you go through is going to
and that’s what inspires me… A lot of people have make sense one day. Rather than being bitter about
Eleni describes her role in Vodacom as enabling
start-ups and SMMEs to thrive in the 4IR digital era, big stars as their inspiration; for me it’s the millions challenges she’s faced, Eleni is gracious and pragmatic
achieving growth through technology. The pride of women sitting in rural areas and townships with about how they’ve enabled her to strengthen her
Eleni feels in providing a supportive role is apparent children, who come up with great entrepreneurial connection with others.
when she describes her business venture, Pure ideas to sustain themselves and their children, and Partnerships are important to Eleni. As a business
Pharmacy, which supports small pharmacies in rural one day go to a graduation for their children, going leader, Eleni loves her team; she never talks only
areas and mining towns to withstand the threat into whatever field it may be, from nothing.” about KPAs, but connects instead with the person
posed by corporate pharmacy groups, thus ensuring Eleni herself feels under pressure to be an inspiration. inside, assisting them to reach their personal goals.
their sustainability. “Because I was the first one to have a car, a degree, all She enjoys the warmth of KZN, and the opportunities
my cousins look up to me; failing or dropping out is to partner with government leaders and businesses to
Eleni is happy with her accomplishments saying, “not
many can tick all the boxes at my age”. Adding that not an option. I cannot fail, because otherwise I will achieve pockets of excellence.
she’s realised that “Either I would die young, having give them a reason to fail… I push myself to inspire Eleni urges people to stop exporting their skills: “Keep
done everything, or I would live to give back to them to be able to grow as well.” them here and make do with what you have because
others.” Eleni looks at people who have great ideas, Being fully present we are sitting on a pot of gold… That’s how I got here”.
but lack skills and experience, and can’t wait to start On maintaining a work-life balance, Eleni admits that She pauses momentarily, then adds, “and because of
imparting her learning to fast track their success. the boundaries are blurred, “Because I love what I my Mom… my biggest champion”.

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