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.

Presley 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.”

Tebogo 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 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.

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.

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.

What advice can you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Be willing to learn, educate yourself, ask questions, be adaptable; the majority of the workers in the industry are men and I would like to see women in production, building stands and you are sure to see me getting my hands dirty onsite.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Balancing work life and family life can be difficult for us, however, it’s doable with the right support.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

Believing in myself and in what I am capable of.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I truly admire Portia Modise, the former Banyana Banyana Captain. She is one of the women who was underrated and underpaid during her time and that has never dampened her spirit. She remains true to herself and has since established the Portia Modise Foundation to assist underprivileged up-and-coming female soccer players.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I was fortunate enough to have the boss of the company that I was an intern at, take me under his wing and show me the ins and outs of the industry. When it comes to my personal life, I have learned that taking some time away – for myself – is a form of selfcare and is good for my mental health balance.

What has you most excited about the future?

The future looks bright, as we all saw our women’s national team win the Cup of African Nations, and there has been a lot of talk about equal income, which I am hoping and praying comes to fruition, and Desiree Ellis once again showing the world that we ladies are just as capable.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I would love to study more and grow even more in my field of work.

Meet Thabang Phetla Banda — project manager

An excellent project management professional with nine years’ experience in project sales, planning and execution within the exhibition industry, Thabang Phetla Banda adds exponential value to every project she manages.

Beginning her career in media sales, before moving into the recruitment industry and subsequently the exhibition and events industry in 2013, this young lady has a wealth of knowledge in all related fields of marketing and customer service. With a BA in Corporate Communication, and a BA Hons Public Management and Governance, Ms Phetla Banda is a hands-on, energetic accounts and project manager who is never afraid to delve in, really understand a brief and deliver results for each of her clients and their brands. Her significant effort and work ethic landed her recognition as one of the Top 40 Women in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions & Events) in 2019.

“Being a part of the Garona team has been a great experience thus far. Joining the team has proven why I love working in the events and exhibition space. After being away from the industry, due to Covid-19, as it had restricted us from working for quite some time, it really feels great to be back, doing that which we love the most. I have missed the sensation and the thrill of leading and motivating my colleagues, from late nights to early mornings, to excel. There is nothing like the face-to-face interaction with clients and industry colleagues.”

“Collaborating with a team that is multi-skilled and always willing to go the extra mile has just revived the fire within me, to continue to give back to this wonderful industry of ours.

“It really is a privilege to be a part of this team and to be given opportunities to showcase my expertise and skill set once again,” Ms Phetla Banda said.

Meet Ayanda Zungu — account manager

“With almost 10 years’ experience in the exhibitions and infrastructure building industry, which some might say is a male dominated space, I quickly realised that after putting on that hard hat, I had far more resilience and strength than what was taught to me. Being a black woman working as an account manager at a black-owned company like Garona Communications has given me the autonomy of creativity which I believe would not be available at another organisation. It has assisted me in honing my strengths as a woman in leadership,” she said.

Ms Zungu added: “The Garona Communication team has inspired me to acquire more knowledge within the infrastructure building field and I felt compelled to implement changes to show that women can take up space and succeed in a male dominated, labour intensive field. My nails do still get done, but the world is changing and we need more organisations as brave, non-prejudiced and as forward-thinking as Garona, who believe in people’s ‘abilities’ rather than ‘gender roles’.