Ilovestories.Beingawriter,that’snosurprise.ButI
thinkagoodstorycanchangetheworldmorethana factevercould.Stories,Ibelieve,havethepowerof transformation–inbothpositiveandnegativeways. Therefore,itisimportanttobeawareofthekindofstories youaretellingyourselfandthepeopleyouareidentifying with.
Thestoryyoutellyourselfisperhapsmoreimportantthan thestoryyoutellothers.Areyoutheheroortheside characterofyourlife?Areyoutheonetowhomthings happen,orareyoutheonewhomakesthingshappen?Do youwriteyourstory,ordoyoujustreadit?Yourhero’s journeywillbedefinedbythewordsyouhavechosenfor yourself.
Thepagesofthismagazinearefullofstories.Storiesof painters,teachers,lawyers,andothers.Storiesofpeople tryingtomakeafailingbusinesssuccessful,oflosinga passiontofindanother,ofstrugglingtobekindinan industrythatrewardsthecutthroat.Storiesofovercoming challenges,findinghope,anddreamingabouttheimpossible.
InthelatesteditionofInsightsSuccess, The 10 Most Empowering Women in Business, 2023, youwillfindstories ofwomenwhoareleadingthedynamicbusinessarena.The starletswhohavenotletanyobstaclescomeinthewayof pursuingtheirdreamsandwomenempoweringotherstodo thesame.
Ihopethatyouseeyourselfinthesestories.Ihopeyousee thatsuccessispossiblebeyondthestrugglesyouface,as thesewomenhavefound.Thesestorieswillinspireyouto dareandwishformorethanyouhave.
Thesestorieswillteachyouthatdoubtsarejustthoughts worthapenny,butdreamsareinfinitelyprecious,and failingisonlyamidpointtowinning.Andremember,asthe authorofyourlife,youcan,atanypoint,choosetorewrite yourstory
AllthebestinyourjourneyandHaveaDelightfulRead!
Editor-in-Chief
Marry D'Souza
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March, 2023
FeaturedPerson
EllenVoie CEO
HeatherAnneHubbell
CompanyName
WomenInTrucking womenintrucking.org
Phundex phundex.com
EllenVoiewashonoredasaChampionofChangeforhertime andeffortdevelopinginnovativewaystohelpgrowandexpand thetransportationindustry.
Heatherispassionateaboutenablinganddrivingstrategic businesstransformation,particularlyusingdigitaltools, processesandapplicationstoincreaseefficiency
KandyLukats
KarenLeslieSimon
3GIG 3-gig.com
EmersonsCommercial RealEstate emersonscre.com
KateBolseth
KimRobertsonSmith
Kandywasanamazinglyenergeticandfunpersontowork with,she'dcomefromBPandrelishedworkinginasmall company
KarenLeslieSimonisoneofthefirstwomenrealtorstoforge thisgoldenpathwithhersheerdetermination,hardwork,and passion.
Kate'sleadershipisremarkable,highenergyandworkswell acrossvariousdepartmentsandleaders Fortra helpsystems.com
SmileFoundation smilefoundationsa.org
LinaAcosta
MelanieLauer
NillyAssia
SianMorgan
CMO ManagingPartner CEO CEO CEO CMO CEO CEO CEOGLT shipwithglt.com
TriSports kettlersport.com
G-CMO g-cmo.com
HafanCymru
hafancymru.co.ukKimRobertsonisarenownedperformer,arrangerand recordingartistwhohasstretchedtheboundariesoftheharp foranewgenerationofperformersandaudiences.
Linaisdeeplypassionateaboutgettingourbrandexposedby engagingnotonlyouraudiencebutalsoconnectingmore peoplewithourstoryandpurposeasalogisticscompanyat GLT
MelanieisanoutstandingdriverofEagle'sMarketingprograms andalwayshasnewideas,aswellasisbeingopenfornew waysandactivitiesfromtheoutside.
NillyAssiahasaknackforbuildingenergeticmarketingteams, andcreatingstrategic,out-of-the-boxmarketingprogramsthat aimtooptimizemarketing’sdirectimpactonbusiness.
SianhasworkedcloselywithGovernmentbothlocallyand nationallyandhasprovedtoworkeffectivelywithinanumber ofarenasbothsocialandpolitical,withaclearunderstanding oftheimpactofdevolutiononaCountry
“I was the first female to head an industrial or to head any commercial department within the Miller organization. When I walked into a room, people knew who I was because I was the only woman.
Karen Simon, President, and Managing Partner Emersons Commercial Real Estate
Leadingthewayforotherwomen,KarenSimon,a
three-decaderealestateprofessional,hasbeen fosteringgrowthatEmersonsCommercialReal Estate.ExhibitingsheerbrillianceasthePresidentand ManagingPartneratthecompany,shestartedhercareer intherealestateindustryatatimewhenfewwomenchose theprofession.
Karennowspecializesinleasingandsalesfortheoffice, retail,industrialandlandsectors.Shewasthefirstwoman inTarrantCountytopractiseindustrialrealestateandthe firstfemalebrokertobecomeoneofthedepartment'stop producersintheentirestate.
InAugust,Karenachievedtherecognitionof “BusinesswomanoftheYear”whenshewasacknowledged tothefamousMarquisWho'sWhobiographicaldirectory. Thishonourwasgiveninrecognitionofherposition, notableachievements,exposure,andimportanceinthe industry
EmersonsCommercialRealEstateisaskilledgroupofreal estateexpertscommittedtogivingitsclientsallthe advantagesofaninternalrealestatemanagementoperation withouttheusualoverhead,costs,orproblemsrelatedto hiringtheirownemployees.Itsskilledteamprovides owners,developers,andtenantswithexpertproperty managementservices.
Inanexclusiveinterviewwith Insights Success,Karen sharesherjourneyasawomanintherealestateindustry, thesuccessessheexperiencedandthechallengesshe overcame.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Briefusaboutyourcareerpathasawomanleaderup untilnowtoyourcurrentpositionatyourorganization. Whatwerethechallengesyouhadtoovercometoscale yourprogress?
TheHenryS.Millercompanywasthelargestrealestate companyinTexas.Theyhadnowomenfillingrolesasthe chairpersonofanydepartmentwithintheMiller organizationotherthanitsresidentialdepartment.
Iacceptedtheiroffertostartandchairanindustrialand landdivisionwithintheHenryS.MillerofficeinTarrant County,specificallyFortWorth,whereIlive,thelargest cityinTarrantCounty.Partoftheopportunityofchairing thatdepartmentwasthattheywerewillingtosendmeto
All clients wanted was someone who was concerned about their business, and was willing to get a job done. So, although I was the first, I always felt that I was pushing the envelope and that there was progress.
industrialrealestateschoolstolearnthetermsandthe jargonandgetabackgroundinthefieldthatIwasgoingto attempttogrowforthem.Iheldthatjobforsixyears.
Inthelate1980s,therealestatemarkettookatremendous fall.BecauseIwasafemaleandwomenandminorities weregivenopportunitieswiththefederalgovernment,I foundedacompanycalledtheR.E.GroupAdvisors,Inc, knownas“TheRealEstateGroup,”andgottohavealot moreopportunitiestodobusinessforthefederal governmentwhenitcametothedisposalofallthe foreclosedassets.
AnotherpositionIheldwastheheadoftheindustrial departmentfortheWoodmontCompany,alargeregional firm.In2003,Iwasaskedtostartacommercialrealestate officefortheBradfordcompanyinTarrantCounty,andI heldthatpositionforthenext12years.Ultimately,in2016, ImettheownersofEmerson’scommercialrealestate,and theywerelookingtoopenanofficeinTarrantCounty.One ofthemwasfromFortWorth.Theyfoundedthecompany in2004,andin2016,webecameequalpartnersinthe TarrantCountyoffice.ThatiswhereIam,theofficeI managewithintheirorganization,andithasbeenavery fulfillingrole.
Atwhatstagedidyourealizethatyouwereontheright trackregardingyourcareer?
IdecidedIwasontherighttrackformycareerwhenI
openedtheofficeforBradford,whichwasfora12-year stintandwasanormalizingexperience.AtMiller,Iwas activelyinbusiness,butthenallofasudden,wewereno longerinbusiness.Withtherealestategroup,Iknewthat wehadsometimeexpirationbecausewewereoperatingthe waywedidbecausewewereprimarilyrepresentingthe federalgovernment.
Bradfordwasafull-servicecompany.Wedidmanagement, sales,leasing,andconsulting.Wecoveredthewaterfrontof commercialrealestate.Everydaywasdifferent.Irealized howmuchIenjoyedthefactthatIhadbeengiventhe opportunitytodosomethingIlove.Iwasn’tcompletely satisfiedwhenownershipwasnotavailable.Bradfordisa highlywell-runcompany.It’srunandownedbyone individual.Andalthoughwegotmanagementparticipation infeeswhenourofficesweresuccessful,wewerenot partners.Wemightmakesuggestions,butwereallyhadno seriousinputinthedecisionsastohowitwasrun.
Karen,canyoutellme,beingawoman,howdifficultitis tosurviveinrealestate?
Well,whenIstartedintheindustrialrealestatebusinessin 1983,IwasthefirstwomaninDallasorTarrantCounty.I wasthefirstfemaletoheadanindustrialortoheadany commercialdepartmentwithintheMillerorganization. WhenIwalkedintoaroom,peopleknewwhoIwas becauseIwastheonlywoman.
ThefirsttimeIwenttoanindustrialrealestateschool,there were32menandme.AtthesecondoneIwentto,ayear later,therewereapprox.threewomenoutof42.Iplayeda roleintheestablishmentofthefirstcommercialrealestate women’sorganizationinTarrantCounty,andthatwasin 1987.So,webegantomakesomeprogress.
Ilearnedthatclientsdidnotresentdealingwithawomanat all.Whattheywantedwassomeonewhowasconcerned abouttheirbusiness,waswillingtosaythattheydidn’t haveananswer,buttheywouldtrytofindout,andsomeone whowaswillingtoworklongerthanfrom9:00to5:00ifit wasarequirementtogetajobdonewithinaspecifiedtime period.So,althoughIwasthefirst,IalwaysfeltthatIwas pushingtheenvelopeandthattherewasprogress.
Whatstrategiesdoyouimplementtopromotegender diversityforvariousleadershippositionsinyour organization?
IthinkwithinEmersons,genderhasnotbeenasignificant
issuebecausewhenIcametoworkforthem,theyalready hadawomanwhowasinaleadershiproleonthe accountingside.Theyalsohadwomeninotherleadership positionswithintheorganization.Genderhasneverbeen significantwithinEmersons,norhasracialethnicity Emersonsisaverydiversegroup.Ifyouweretoseethe membersofEmersonsandtheirco-partner,youwouldsee thatitcrossesallracialandethniclines.It’snothingIever hadtoworkfor.Thatopportunityexistedonitsown.
Whatvaluesdoyouincorporatetoenhancethework cultureatyourorganization?
Well,someofthepeoplewhoworkedwithusduringthe worstpartofCOVIDwantedtoworkremotely AndI understoodthat.Acoupleofthemstillworkremotely.I don’tconsideritideal,butIdorespectthefactthattheyfeel morecomfortableandchoosetodothat.Theycome
I think women need to be able to say, as should men, “I don’t know the answer to your question, but it’s a good question, and I will find out.”
I think that the humility of recognizing that you can’t be the best at absolutely everything and have all the answers is essential.
togetherwithuswhenwehavecompanymeetingsacouple oftimesamonth.Wetrytoallowpeopletoworktothebest oftheirabilitywithintheframeworkthattheyfeel comfortableworking.
Doyoufeelinrecenttimesthatthereisadifferencein opportunitiesforwomeninrealestate?
Well,womenarestillsortofrecognizedasbeingaminority asfarasrolesincommercialrealestate.Buttherearea greatmanywomentodaythatplayessentialroleswithin theirownorganizations.Iwouldventuretosaythatinthe last30years,womenhavemadeleapsandboundsin recognitionwithinthisindustry
Whatdoyoubelieveisthesignificantfactorforwomen inthebusinessarena,andwhatisthemostcritical aspectofyoursuccessinadheringtothese fundamentals?
Ithinkwomenneedtobeabletosay,asshouldmen,“I don’tknowtheanswertoyourquestion,butit’sagood question,andIwillfindout.”Ithinkthehumilityof recognizingthatyoucan’tbethebestateverythingand havealltheanswersisessential.
Thewillingnesstogotheextramile,Ithink,issignificant. Thewillingness––forexample,ifsomeonecan’tseea buildingonaMondaythroughFridayandyoufeelan obligationtomakeitavailableonSaturday,youshouldbe willingtodoityourself.Youdon’tnecessarilyneedto “sendsomeone.”Youneedtoshowthataclient’sinterests arevitalenoughtoyoutoputyourselfout.
Whatcouldbethenextsignificantchangeinthemodern businessarena?
Somuchhasgonedigitalthatithaschangedthewaywedo businessinconsiderablemeasure.Butwearestillrequired, inmyopinion,tomeetaclientfacetofacetoshowa propertyasopposedtotellingsomeonethatthereisa lockboxandhereisthecombination,andyoucangetthe key.Imean,Ithinkwecannotpushthatenvelopesofarthat wehaveatotaldisconnectfromhumancontact.I sometimesfeelthatmyyoungerassociatesarenot practicingtheartofconversation.Theyalmostdo everythingbytextoremail.Idon’tthinkthatisthebest methodofgreatsuccess.Ithinkyoumustshowapersonal interestandparticipation.
Whatadvicewouldyougivetothenextgenerationof womenleaderswillingtoventureintothemodern businessarena,especiallyinarealstate?
Iwouldsay,amongotherthings,don’tallowgendertobe anactivepartofyourtransaction.Inotherwords,ifyou’re dealingwithsomeonewhoiscourtlyandwantstoopenthe doorforyou,letthemdothatasopposedtopushingback foratotallackofinvolvementfromthefeminine perspective.Benatural,benormal.Butatthesametime,be thebest-educatedpersonintheroom.Bethepersonwhois willingtogotheextramile.Atthesametime,don’tbe disruptivebecausegeneralbehavioralpatternsaresuchthat weliveinasocietyinwhichmengenerallydoopendoors oratleastoffertodoso.
Everynonprofitorganizationwasformedfromidea
bysomeonewhosawaneed. Currently,thereare over1.8millionnonprofitorganizationsinthe UnitedStates,andtheyrepresentnearlysixpercentofthe USeconomy.Therearedifferenttypesofnonprofits,and thelargestcategoryincludeschurches,schools,and foundations(40%)whicharesupportedbycharitable donations.
Anothertypeofnonprofitisatradeorprofessional association,whichcompriseaboutfifteenpercentof nonprofitorganizationsintheUS. TheWomenInTrucking Associationfallsintothiscategorybutisahybridtrade (representingorganizations)andprofessional(representing individuals.)
IfoundedtheWomenInTrucking(WIT)Association becauseIrecognizedtheneedforanentitytorepresent womenemployedinthetruckingindustry. Ourmission includesencouragingtheemploymentofwomeninthe industry,addressingobstaclesthatmightkeepwomenfrom succeeding,andcelebratingthesuccessofitsmembers. Ourmembershipincludesbothmenandwomenwho supportthemission. Wecurrentlyhaveover8,000 membersintencountries.
Startinganonprofitisachallenge,asfiftypercentofall nonprofitorganizationswillfail. WITwasformedin2007, whichwasrightatthebeginningoftherecession. However,wereachedourgoalof500membersourfirst year. Thechallengewasinobtainingthesupportforour mission,whichhasneverwavered.
Manyofourmembersjoinedusinourfirstyear,butevery oneofthemwaitedtoseeifwewouldexecuteourmission beforetheyrenewed.Theyneededtobeconfidentinour abilitytocreatepositivechangebyincreasingtheranksof womeninallcareerlevels,fromthecabtotheS-suite.
Sixteenyearsago,genderdiversityinthetruckingindustry wasnotapriority. Infact,thetypicalresponsefrom carrierswasthattheyjusthiredthebestemployee. Once wepointedoutthefactthattherewasn'talevelplayingfield forwomen,westartedtoconvincethemtochange.
Thetrucksweredesignedformen,whoareusuallytaller andhavelongerarmsandlegs. Thetruckstopswere designedformenaswell,astheloungeswereonlyformen andtheshowerswerelockerroomstylewithnoprivacy Eventheuniformsweremen’ssizesandstyles,andwomen hadtoadapttheshirtsandpantstotheirsmallerframes.
Additionally,therewasn’tmuchdataavailableabout womeninthetruckingindustry. Companiesdidn’teven trackthepercentagesofwomenasdrivers,managers, CEOs,ordirectors. Beyondthedemographicdata,there wasrarelyinformationregardingsafetyorinspectionby gender
Wehadtocreateamovementbybuildingabusinesscase forgenderdiversity.Originally,weusedanydatarelevant tofemaledriversorwomenasleaders. However,aswe pushedforamorelevelplayingfield,westartedseeing positivetrendsinattractingandretainingwomen.
Thisallowedustostarttomeasurediversitynumbersandto identifybestpracticesfromthecompanieswithhigher femaleleaders,managers,anddrivers. Thedatabeganto follow,andwewerethrilledtolearnthanwomenaresafer commercialdriversthanmen. Wealsofoundthatwomen weretypicallyeasierontheequipment,betterwith paperworkandmoreengagingwithcustomers.
Althoughwomenwerenotprevalentinthehigherlevelsof companies,theoneswhodidpromoteandempowerwomen intomorepowerfulroleswerefindingtheirnetprofitswere increasing. Women’svoicesreflectdifferentdecisionmakingprocesseswhichcreatesabroaderrangeof perceptionandunderstanding.
Insteadofsonsautomaticallyassumingthetruckingcompanyleadrole,manydaughterswerechosentostepintothetop position. Moreandmorecompaniesarebeingstartedbywomenandrunbywomeninthetransportationindustry.
TheWomenInTruckingAssociationhasbecometherecognizedresourceinprovidinginformation,education,bestpractices andmoreforcarrierstocontinuetoadvancethewomenintheirorganizations. Additionally,wearetrackingthenumbersand watchingmorewomenfindsuccessfulcareersasdrivers,dieseltechnicians,safetydirectors,managers,anddirectors.
Wewillcontinuetomonitortheprogressoftheindustryandsharebestpracticessomorewomencanfindahomein transportation. Weareproudofourhistoryofbeingthebestresourceandforstartingaculturalchangeinalltrucking relatedrolesandwewillcontinuetheseeffortsuntilthegenderimbalanceisnolongeranissue.
Inthelead-uptoInternationalWomen'sDay,I'vebeen
thinkingabouthowthingshavechangedsinceIstarted myworkinglife. Thisyear'sthemeis"Chooseto Challenge,"encouragingindividualstochallengegender biasandinequalityinallaspectsoftheirlives. That includeswomen'scontributionstoourfamilies, communities,andsocieties.
WhenIwasayounggirl,peopleaskedmeifIwantedtobe ateacherlikemymother. NooneeveraskedmeifIwanted tobeanelectricalengineerlikemyfather WhatIwanted wastobeafighterpilotlikemyfather. Womenweren't allowedintheairforcethen,sothatwasn'tanoptionfor me,muchtomydisappointment.
Inhighschool,girlslearnedcookingandsewing;boystook woodworkingandmetalwork. Iknewhowtocookand sew,soIwantedtotrywoodworkingandmetalwork. I negotiatedwiththeteacher. IcouldifIfoundaboywho wouldswapwithme. Noproblem. What'snottolikeabout aclassfullofgirlsforateenageboy?
Duringthefirstfewyearsofmyfirstcareer,Igotturned downforpromotionseveraltimesfornothavingthe"right" experience,andthenIhadtotrainthemanwhodidgetthe job. Ithentrainedasalawyer,onlytohaveamanaging partnertellmethatwomencouldn'tbelitigatorsandhavea family. NevermindthatIdidn'twanttodolitigationand alreadyhadmyfamily! Ipolitelywrotebackandtoldthe firmIwasn'tinterestedinworkingforalawfirmthatfelt thatway. Inthosedays,womenweren'tevenallowedto weartrousersinthecourtroom. Howtimeshavechanged insomerespects.
Iwasaworkingmotherfromtheearliestdaysofmy workinglife,jugglingchildrenandlawschool,workingas alawyerandtheninbanking. Multi-taskingwasn'tan option–itwastheonlywaytokeepeverythingontrack andontime. Thankfullymyhusbandwasprettyhands-on
withthechildren,especiallyoncetheygotinterestedin sports.
Iwatchedmymalecolleagueswithfrustrationastheir wivesmanagedtheirfamilylifeandtheygotonwithwork. ThenIrealizedthatmychildrenenrichedmyworkinglife, andtheycouldseefirst-handthatwomencoulddoanyjob theywanted. Although,whenpeopleaskedmychildrenif theywantedtobealawyerliketheirmother,theybothsaid, "no,that'swaytoomuchwork!”
Havingfelttheinequalityfirst-hand,Iresolvedtobevery awareofmyfemalecolleaguesandfriendstoseehowI couldproactivelysupportthem. Isuggestedtheyapplyfor jobsIthoughttheywouldbesuitablefor(evenwhenthey said,"I'mnotsureIhavetherightskills").Ihelpedthem crafttheirCVsanddointerviewpractice. Ialsohired womenformyteams,eveniftheywouldneedextra trainingtodothejob,becauseIknewitwouldbegreatfor theirlonger-termcareers. Iespeciallylookedformothers asIknewexactlywhattheyhadtodotogettoworkinthe morningandjuggleworkandhomelife.Whatbetter experiencethanthatforbeingabletomanagecomplicated jobsatwork?
Formostofthepast15years,I'verunmyownbusinesses. ThatmeantIcouldmakedecisionsthatworkedformeand allowedmetoworkagainstdiscriminationandopennew opportunitiesforwomen. Thereisnothingmoresoul destroyingthatnotgettingrecognitionorapromotionfor yourworkandcontribution,andI'vetriedhardtocounter thatwithwhateversupportIcould.
IhaveachallengeforyouaswecelebrateInternational Women'sDay. Thinkabouthowyoucanmakeadifference inrecognizingwomen'scontributionsorencourageothers todoso. Startwithonepersonatatime. Youmaynever knowhowmuchthatmeanstothatperson.
avingbeenaninvaluableteammemberofSmile
HFoundationsinceitsinception23yearsago,Kim hasalwaysbeenknownforhernever-give-up attitudeandtheinvaluablepositiveimpactshehasmadeon thefoundation.Inclusivityandtheempowermentofothers hasalwaysbeenthemainstayofthiscompassionateand visionarywoman,whoisdeterminedtocarrythisintoher roleofleadership,asshesupportsandguidesthevisionand missionofSmileFoundation,definedbyitsBoardof Directors.
Beingaregisterednurseandhealthcareprofessional,Kim isanatural-borncaregiverwithmedicalinsightthatstands heringoodsteadforherroleasCEO.Withherextensive managerialexperienceinthemedicalsalesandmarketing arena,Kimisnostrangertomanaging,mentoring, organising,training,andmotivatingpeople–whichfurther supportsherbeliefthatsolidteamworkwillcontinually growanorganisation.Apartfromthemedicalfield,Kim’s careerspansacrossadifferentareaoffundraisingand outreachprogrammesforvariousorganisations,aligning herevenmoresotoherroleasastrongleaderwithaclear visionandpassionforSmileFoundation.Kimisawellseasonedprofessional,whoiscaringandcompassionate, andalwaysupforanewchallengethatrequiresasmarter solution.
“Myaimistocontinue,withthesupportoftheincredible Smileteam,toseeallchildrensmile.Mylife’sjourneyhas alwaysbeentobeinvolvedwithhelpingothersandinthis position,IcancontinuetodowhatIlove-helpingchildren tobecomethe‘Hero’oftheirownstory.”KimRobertson Smith,CEOatSmileFoundation.
Everychilddeservesasecuresenseofself–thevery foundationfromwhichtheirgreatestpotentialcanbe reached.ThisiswhyweareSmileFoundationaredeeply passionateaboutmakingadifferenceinthelivesofSouth
Africanchildrenlivingwithfacialconditions.
SmileFoundationisaSouthAfricanNon-profit organisationoperatinginSouthAfrica.OurNPOstartedat thebehestofthenPresidentNelsonMandela,23yearsago. Webelievethatmakingarealdifferenceisaboutbringing therightpeopletogetherattherighttime.Indoingso,our non-profitorganisationisabletofacilitateexpertsurgical interventionforchildrenlivingwithfacialparalysis,cleft lip,cleftpalate,craniofacialabnormalities,andburn wounds.
Weofferpsychologicalsupporttopatientsandtheir familiesbefore,duringandaftersurgery Wealsooffer “ParenttoParent”supportwhichenablesparentsand caregiverstoconnectwithotherfamilieswhohavewalked thesamejourney.
Educationandskillstrainingissomethingweare passionateabout,ourpassiontowardsupskillingsurgeons inspecializedtechniquescarriesintotheSmileFoundation skillstraining. Indoingsotheorganisationisableto facilitateexpertsurgicalinterventionandpreandpostoperativecareforcommunitiesinneed.
SmileFoundationworksinpartnershipwith17Academic HospitalsaroundSouthAfricawherealloursurgical proceduresandskillsprogramsareperformed.
Notonlydowefacilitateacademicskillsprogramsfor surgeons,nursesandothermedicalpersonnel,wealso investintheinfrastructureofthepublichealthcaresystem throughpurchasingmedicalequipment,upgradingthe surgicalDepartmentsinexistingfacilitiestothebenefitof previouslydisadvantagedSouthAfricans.
Toachievethesegoals,weenthusiasticallyraisefunds throughourcorporateandprivatedonors.Wealsoreachout tocommunitiestoshareandunderstandingthatchildren withfacialconditionsandburnscanbehelped.
WeassistanychildlivinginSouthAfricalivingwithfacialparalysis,cleftlipandcleftpalate,craniofacialabnormalities,as wellasear,noseandhandconditionsandburnwounds.Ourcontributionsgobeyondfundingchildren’ssurgeryand recovery
OurVision
Wehelpchildrenlivealifeinspiredbyconfidenceandpossibility,nomattertheircircumstances.
OurMission
Wetransformthelivesofchildrenaffectedbyfacialabnormalitiesandsevereburnsthroughthebestpossibleand psychologicalcare.
