PAGE STRAP WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY
Garona Communications and Projects celebrates women Garona Communications and Projects (Garona) is a reputable events and exhibitions service provider and has been providing service for the past 15 years. in design, setup and breakdown of events structures and exhibition stands. Garona has been in existence for the past 15 years,” Ms Mokotedi said. Garona pride themselves in delivering complete solutions in the areas of exhibition displays, large format printing, design and branding services. Ms Mokotedi offered Business Events Africa her insights into being a woman in the exhibition industry.
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resley Mokotedi, managing director of Garona, said: “I am a firm believer of gender equality. We are living in the era where everyone is equal, hence Garona has three female managers that I strongly believe in. The female managers working for Garona Communications and Projects do take decisions onsite and can equally do what men can professionally do in the office. Garona is a diversified business. On that note I would like to wish all women of Mzansi inside and outside our industry a Happy Women’s Month.”
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ebogo Mokotedi, marketing manager of Garona, has worked her way up the ladder in the exhibition industry, having begun as an intern and later as a data capturer for a reputable exhibition company. “I was then promoted to logistics manager and an Exco member for the company. I then moved to a wellknown logistics business where I worked for a year. I then joined Garona Communications and Projects where I have been working for eight years as an account manager. I have since been promoted to marketing manager at Garona after obtaining a marketing qualification,” Ms Mokotedi said. “Garona Communications and Projects is an events and exhibition service provider. Garona has a vast experience
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today? Patience, determination and eagerness to learn brought me to where I am today. I work with a lot of people, and it takes understanding each and every one to be able to work well together. What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership? I think the biggest challenge facing women in leadership in the industry we are in, is that it is considered to be a ‘manly’ industry and most people do not believe that a woman can work in the exhibition industry because it involves construction and working with heavy duty equipment. How do you maintain a work/life balance? I balance my life by being available for my family after work. I do a lot of activities with my husband and kids, including taking walks, hiking and going on vacations. I’ve always been a person that writes, and I find that having a diary works for me in terms of balancing my work, organising and planning. What are the highlights and challenges in your career? The highlights of my career have been the ability to pass skills to other women I have worked with so that when I have moved to better positions, they too, can move to greater positions, and also seeing growth in others.
24 Business Events Africa August 2022
What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders? The biggest challenge women face is being oppressed and undermined by their male counterparts; however, more women have taken higher positions in different industries and organisations. One of the challenges is that women are constantly faced with lower expectations than their male counterparts and receive lower incomes too. I hope that changes. What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders? If they can be able to factualise the content that is consumed through social media and not live according to the media standards. Be vocal and expressive of any misconduct and abuse, always believe that you are capable of so much more. www.businesseventsafrica.com
