Page 95 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

Whether you’re a man or a woman,

you need to be professional.

funds for the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and Facing challenges
Founder, Operation Bobbi Bear.
of Interconnection SA Tanya dismisses the idea that women need to take
Next came a transfer to Durban – not just for a new a different approach to men to achieve success.
ANYA PRICE-CARR has a simple philosophy, business challenge, but also a major life change, “Whether you’re a man or a woman, you need to be
“It’s hard to grow in your career when you’re as she came to join her now-husband. She stayed professional,” she says. “I am who I am. I know I can be
Tsettled in your comfort zone.” So whenever in event planning for another two years, but her emotional, but I have to make decisions based on fact,

she gets too comfortable, it’s time for a change. charity project had left a profound impression, not emotion. And when things go against you, you
Tanya’s ability to capitalise on change has given her and three years later she joined The Clothing Bank can’t take it personally.”
a broad perspective and allowed her to seek out new a social enterprise development NPO, heading up With a husband and two daughters, Tanya’s life is
experiences where she can continue her growth path. the Durban branch that helps people chart a way certainly not all about work. She finds time to chauffeur
out of poverty. her teenage daughter, also a talented sportswoman,
With this approach, it’s no surprise Tanya has had a to her training and games, and has discovered that
varied career. Growing up in circumstances where Leading the way lift clubs are useful way to keep in touch with what’s
role models were few and far between, Tanya After five years at The Clothing Bank, it was time going on with her daughter’s life – and get to know
discovered softball and fell in love. It was the sport to get out of her comfort zone again. Tanya sees her friends. She also has a special needs five year
that gave her a sense of fulfilment and purpose and, herself as a changemaker, and she’s designed her old daughter who she loves to spend time with and
at last, role models who showed her that hard work new venture, Interconnection SA, to help people grounds her to the simple things in life.
reaps rewards, a lesson she credits with her respect change their lives in a different way. “There is so
for commitment to goals and good, old-fashioned much to be done in South Africa”, she says, “and “Work-life balance isn’t easy,” she says. “You have good
days and bad days, and good weeks and bad weeks –
hard work. the disconnection between people means we
aren’t aligned and we aren’t reaching our potential but you do need to make time for what’s important.”
Straight out of school, she went into sales, rapidly as individuals and as a country.” Tanya points out that you might block out time in your
turning to promotional sports gear – because it diary, but things can happen at work that demand
seemed a good place to start earning the money she “Interconnection SA helps people take the next step your attention. “You need to appreciate the good
needed to buy herself a car! When she decided it was in their lives, to connect with their strength and weeks and focus on being present and mindful, and
time for her to travel, softball paved the way, allowing potential to realise their goals, to understand what make your family time quality time, not necessarily
her to spend six years based in the United Kingdom, they can achieve,” she explains. The organisation quantity time.”
also works with businesses to connect function
coaching, competing and travelling the world. In and leadership with the goals as aspirations of Tanya is also still involved with softball. “Softball gave
typical style, she aimed for the top, and represented so much to me as a child – it kept me focused and gave
the people they lead. “When your people see that
Great Britain in the pre-Olympic Test Event in Athens, their personal goals align with corporate goals, it me a sense of purpose – and I get great satisfaction in
Greece before making another change, and coming creates a common purpose and delivers growth,” being able to give back.”
home to South Africa, and settling in Cape Town. says Tanya. One simple piece of advice

But it was in event planning that she discovered her Tanya takes a servant-leadership approach to running Tanya has a strong action orientation and looks to
next career. Organising a spectacular Freedom Day an organisation. She is a firm believer in sharing the future, but says that if she was starting out again,
fundraising event that ran concurrently in five South her experience and allowing her team to grow she’d do one thing differently. “I’d buy property
African cities, Tanya began to see opportunities to authentically. “You can get the best out of people if early,” she says. “It’s a great investment and you really
change lives for the better, in this case by raising you give them space to grow.” reap the rewards later.”

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