Page 63 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

If you’re prepared to fight for what you want,

nothing is impossible.

development, and spends much of her time with Highlighting the truth that most successful business
Chief Executive Officer, clients. She loves the operational side of the business people achieve success despite failures along the
of Azisa Consulting and can be found on site two or three days a week, way, she notes that if you want success, you can’t
often presenting training courses on construction give up when things get tough. “Whenever I fail, he
s CEO of Azisa Consulting, Natasha Naidoo safety.
leads a busy life. Asked about her journey, picks me up and dusts me off, so I can start again.”
Ashe is candid. “I got this far through hard “The construction industry is tough, and I believe it’s Natasha is very grateful to her mother. Admitting
work, long hours and being prepared to make harder for women in this industry. We constantly must that she has no real work-life balance, working
sacrifices in my personal life. When you want prove our expertise, and that can be disheartening. long hours most days, she is fortunate to have her
something badly enough, and you’re prepared to But for me, that makes me try harder. I’m a firm mother’s help daily. “My mother is up and active at
fight for it, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” believer in the importance of customer service, and I 6am, and I rely on her for a home-cooked dinner
think that’s helped greatly.” most nights too. I couldn’t do what I do without her
Things haven’t come easily to Natasha. Brought up
by a single mother, she says she knows what it’s like Natasha’s head office is based in Durban but, after support and I’m lucky to have someone who loves
to go without. “My mother is an inspiration. She’s only five years in business, the company has extended my children, helps me take care of them, and is a
always had to fight to keep her head above water, operations to Johannesburg. “I planned to expand big part of their lives.”
and it’s her strength that made me who I am today. into other regions, but I had to put that on hold for a An understanding partner
We grew up knowing what it’s like to not to have while.” Natasha’s brother was murdered in 2017, and But the long hours aren’t relentless, and Natasha
lights and water, and sometimes even food.” for almost two years her priority was the fight to get does enjoy precious time with her family. “I do steal
justice for him. “The two men who killed my brother
As a schoolgirl, she dreamed of being a lawyer, but were convicted in August, and now we have closure. time to fetch the children from school and spend
there was no chance of studying after school. While Hopefully I can put this behind me and focus on my a few hours with them. I can’t do it every day, but
her brother left school early to help support the I love that time.” She also points out that it helps
business and begin the expansion project.”
family, she was lucky enough to complete matric. to have an understanding partner. “It takes a great
Natasha was only recently able to study safety Natasha’s business has grown dramatically from her man to support his wife unconditionally, and not
management and construction. beginnings. Her move into construction safety and every husband is willing to bath kids and feed
telecommunications has borne fruit, but making them. If you don’t have a good support system, it
“Life doesn’t always work out exactly as you’d hoped the leap from salaried employee to entrepreneur is
but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve great things always a risk. must be exhausting trying to do it on your own.”
– if you’re prepared to put in the effort.” Asked what advice she’d give her younger self, she
A year of planning responds instantly: “Fight harder, be stronger, be
When Natasha finished school there wasn’t money
to learn to drive. “I need to renew my driver’s licence “I was clear that I wanted my own business but I knew better.” When it’s suggested that she’s a bit hard on
for the very first time this month,” she smiles. “I only that there were no guarantees that I’d generate an herself she’s quick to explain. “I don’t ever want to
got my first licence five years ago!” income immediately. It took a year of planning and have to go without again, so I fight harder. I want to
I was terrified. We have two children, and I wouldn’t be heard.”
It’s harder for women jeopardise their security, so I saved almost my entire She admits to one legacy of the hard times. “I tend

Today, as CEO of her own business, things have salary for several months before resigning. This gave to over-buy. It might be a bit paranoid, but I want
changed considerably. Competing in diverse me a cushion and covered essential expenses until I to make sure I have the things I need. But I’m proof
business sectors, her focus is on construction safety could draw a salary from my business.” that you can change your life. You may need to make
consulting, safety management and telecommuni- Asked about her support structures, Natasha says some sacrifices, but if you’re prepared to fight for
cations. She’s responsible for marketing and business her husband is the foundation she stands on. what you want, nothing is impossible.”

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