Page 55 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

The decisions you make about education today,

must be the decisions you are happy to live with tomorrow.

KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa, she says was one of from different industries with ease.
Managing Director, the highlights of her professional career.
at East Coast Radio “The experience gained from all these industries has
Notably, she got to travel to more than 72 countries been enormous for me, but most importantly, the
ONI MCHUNU, managing director at East around the world and in her own words, “The experience has taught me that business is business,
Coast Radio (ECR) – KZN’s No.1 Hit Music experience cemented the fact that South Africa is regardless of the different industries.”
BStation, is passionate about KwaZulu-Natal the best country in the world and solidified my pride As a woman in business. Boni says, ‘I learnt early on
and its people. in being proudly South African.” that prospective employers care about whether
Boni was born and educated in Pietermaritzburg. She Influencing people’s lives you’ve got the ability, willingness and right mindset
is the youngest of five sisters and after her mother Now as, Boni says that she absolutely loves that to do the job at hand.”
died when she was 10 years old, Boni was brought East Coast Radio has so much influence in the lives “As women, we all need to believe unconditionally
up by a single dad, who she calls her ‘Rockstar’. of the people living in the province. “I consider this that our passion can create the life we really want.

Boni credits her success to her father who encouraged opportunity as a privilege that I will cherish for as We have the in-built ability to do whatever we put
her and her four sisters to take their education long as I live.” our minds to and need not wait for things to fall into
seriously. “Growing up poor in Pietermaritzburg, “ECR gives us the platform to make a difference in our laps. Opportunities exist and we need to seize
my father taught me that I could only improve my people’s lives by influencing and connecting KZN to those opportunities and make things happen for
life through education. A statement he made had the world, and we bring the world to South Africa, ourselves, rather than waiting for society’s approval.”
a profound impact on her as a young girl and has particularly to KZN. We are proudly KZN as we are a Remain true to yourself
stuck with her ever since – ‘The decisions you make brand that considers ourselves as a fabric of KZN that
about education today, must be the decisions you binds people together. KZN’s social matters, matter However, Boni says that discipline is a bridge
are happy to live with tomorrow’. This statement, she to us, whether funny, sad, social, or lifestyle, are all between her goals and achieving them, “In
said, encouraged her to do well in school. important to us.” everything I do, I believe focus, attitude and
discipline has brought me this far.” She adds, “I
The best marketing experience “Growing the station’s brand awareness is my career believe in simplicity, authenticity, straight talk and

After matriculating in 1997, Boni enrolled at the highlight. The ECR brand awareness is above 90% sustainability in everything that I do.
University of South Africa to study marketing. She across all demographics in KZN. I am glad that the Sustainability for me refers to putting systems in
graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, a work I’ve put into making it more diverse, in terms place that will build myself and companies that will
diploma in business management and diploma in of listenership, has paid off. This is evident in the compete for the future, with or without me. You
project management. Recently, Boni attended the growth of our audience, largely due to our brand’s must remain true to yourself, find mentors for every
international executive leadership development association with all things related to KZN. I look area of your life and don’t waste time on negativity.”
programme at Wits and London business schools. forward to continue growing the brand even further.” In reflecting on her future goals Boni says, “One
Her first job was with ABSA and her responsibilities Business is business thing I would like to do in this lifetime, is to create
related to marketing the financial services of ABSA. Apart from being a successful businesswoman, Boni a Boni Mchunu Foundation that will assist the
This was followed by working for another corporate is also a superwoman to three kids of her own, and a underprivileged kids, especially from the township I
giant, Unilever. Of her time there, she says, “I believe wife to her loving husband. grew up in, Imbali Township.”
it was some of the best marketing experience Boni says that that despite the usual everyday Boni’s motto in life and in business is that failure is
anyone can get, as I worked in different categories challenges at home, at work and in the community, merely incomplete success, to be persistent and
from home, personal care to foods.”
the greatest challenge that she has faced has been be grateful for what you have, so good things can
Before joining ECR, Boni was part of the executive seeing people judging her based on her gender and manifest. “I believe in positive reinforcement, not
team at Tourism KZN. The opportunity to work race. She does not let this get to her and her biggest letting your past or present situation in life define
for the provincial tourism authority, representing career highlight is that she has been able to move your future.”

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