MENTHER MAGAZINE ISSUE 01 by MentHerMagazine

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Launch Issue

MARCH 2021

#01

NTSIKI MKHIZE Vision and Purpose for Impact

LAUNCH CHALLENGE CREATING A BUSINESS THAT MATTERS

w w w. m e n t h e r. c o . z a

Publisher’s LETTER

Publisher MentHer

Founding Editor Ntsiki Mkhize

Production M e D 8 M e d i a ( P T Y ) LT D

Cover Photography W i s i - O i Te a m & Amogelang Makgethe

Cover Outfit Armour Designs

Contributors Advocate Aurelia Nxumalo Clothes to Good Gugulethu Mfuphi Joni Peddie Kelebogile Molopyane Kholeka Mkhize Kim James Lianne Lutz Louise Mitchell Modiegi Mulaudzi Mona Willis Sustainable Fashion Scotland Viana Maya Vimbai Schwalm Zanele Njapha

#01

The 8th of March world over is celebrated as International Women’s Day (IWD); celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness about women’s equality, lobbying for accelerated gender parity and fundraising for female-focused charities (IWD). Each year is celebrated with a unique theme and this year’s theme is Choose to Challenge. During and post Covid, we’ve all been tested at a higher level and have risen above. Challenging as the past year has been, we continue to rise. The call to choose to challenge is most fitting now as the past year highlighted many of the social and economic inequalities faced by different people. Lockdown for some meant fighting for a livelihood every day. Women in abusive relationships were confined to the home space with their abuser and families dependent on a single mom’s daily wage had to find new ways to survive. To say we’ve had to be resilient is an understatement and with this fight hopefully behind us, the task of rebuilding lays ahead. We talk building trust (p.7), unlearning (p.9), wellness (p.44) and resilience (p.47). A recent SCORE report found that women are now slightly more likely to go into business than men; women often set-up healthcare and educational businesses; and 62% of women reported their business as their primary source of income. In the private sector we are seeing more women in executive roles and board positions. In the informal sector many women run their own businesses women are no strangers to business, they’ve just gone a long time unrecognised and not celebrated. Women dominate the third sector, often being the founders and most employed in charities, non-profits and non-government organisations. Central to the mission of MentHer, is supporting female social entrepreneurs, which means empowering women to explore alternative business models. In this issue we explore ‘purpose, passion and profit (p.20), creating change together (p.11)

and inclusive green ecosystems (p.28). We also celebrate women as disruptors and innovators in our women in technology section (p.40). Even with our increasing levels of participation and recognition, many women still struggle with mentorship. I was surprised when attending a ‘women in business’ networking event in Scotland to hear some of the many complaints I’ve heard from women at similar events in South Africa. John C. Crosby defines mentorship as, “a brain to pick, an ear to listen and a push in the right direction”. According to FSB, 70% of small businesses with a mentor survive five years more than those without. There’s plenty of research to speak to the effectiveness of mentorship, yet mentors and mentorship programmes seem to still elude many. More so challenging is finding a mentor when you’re trying to launch an impact business. Finding a community of like-minded social entrepreneurs is also rare. MentHer aims to inspire more women to set up impact businesses through our magazine and podcast. To connect women wanting to create impact business to one another and to mentors through our Social Impact Founders membership community. And empower through our master classes. “A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change”, (IWD). So, with our launch issue, we invite you to take a seat at our virtual table to glean from our mentors and experts. In our own words, we call upon you to Launch and Challenge: finally launch that business, action that idea, start that project and as you do, challenge the status quo, challenge norms and beliefs about what is possible for women – and you, challenge your own limitations. Launch and challenge into a world you want to see, a world you would be proud of. Join us in choosing to live a life of purpose on purpose.

N t s i k i M k h iz e Fouding Editor

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TA B L E O F

Contents MARCH LAUNCH EDITON

Lucky subscribers will receive a prize. To subscribe, tap here. MentHer Merchandise My Hall of Mentors Purpose Planner SIF Club Membership

5 MEET THE MENTORS 7 RELATIONSHIPS Building Trust article by Vimbai Schwalm 9 PERSONAL GROWTH Unlearning article by Zanele Njapha 11 SUSTAINABILITY Sustainable Fashion Scotland (SFS) 14 COVER INTERVIEW Vision and Purpose Ntsiki Mkhize 18 SPOTLIGHT Global Girl Project Julia Lynch 20 BUSINESS Purpose, Passion and Profit by Gugulethu Mfuphi 22 Pitching to Clients by Louise Mitchell 24 Real wealth starts with a plan. by Lianne Lutz 27 PODCAST Top Ten 2020 Interviews 28 INCLUSIVITY Creating a fully inclusive, green ecosystem by Clothes to Good (C2G) 30 STYLING Dress for power - Style tips by Mona Willis 31 BOOK CLUB Nuts & Bolts by McLean Sibanda

32 LEGAL Launching with the end in mind by Advocate Aurelia Nxumalo 34 CAREER Fulfill your career ambitions by Viana Maya 36 MARKETING Keep thriving post pandemic by Modiegi Mulaudzi 37 MENTHER Social Impact Founders Club 38 About MentHer 40 TECHNOLOGY Women in Technology by Kelebogile Molopyane 37 INNOVATION The world of women in drones by Kim James 44 WELLNESS Eat to thrive by Kholeka Mkhize 44 RESILIENCE Restorative sleep is your superpower by Joni Peddie 49 SOCIAL IMPACT FOUNDERS CLUB Master Class 2021

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MENTHER MENTORS

MentHer has a unique mentorship programme wherein different experts from around the world host Master Classes each month based on their discipline. Mentees will have the opportunity to attend each master class as a group and will have access to the mentors after their session. Meet the fantastic team of mentors joining us, the mentors featured here are only those who will be hosting master classes in the first half of the year.

ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS

DR MICAELA MAZZEI

Senior Lecturer, Glasgow Caledonian University Micaela is a Programme Leader for the MSc Social Innovation at GCU and leads the module on Social Innovation and Alternative Economic Forms. Her interest is social innovation and the social economy is: Understanding the contextual determinants of social innovation and social enterprise development and performance; understanding the dynamics of local (and regional) economics; and the involvement of voluntary and community organisations in delivery of public services.

SELLING TO CORPORATE

KAT LUCKOCK

The Social Entrepreneur Coach Kat has a background of growing a successful social enterprise herself inspiring the next generation around business for good, through her unique education programme. She grew this successfully by mastering her own aligned method of selling to corporates, so she didn’t have to be dependent on grant funding or sponsorship. Kat now helps social entrepreneurs achieve their vision for social and environmental change. She specialises in helping you attract more clients and customers through confident, aligned sales, mindset and visibility strategy.

BE YOUR OWN CEO

LOUISE STEYL U Rise, Founder and Owner - Louise is a Gallup Global Strengths Coach passionate about helping women find ultimate career fulfilment. In addition to individual coaching, she consults to organisations on building strengthsbased teams, and also facilitate corporate learning programs. Louise has a strong academic record in Political Science, and continued her studies in mainly leadership, personal development and corporate sales programs. She’s had a successful corporate career in leadership roles focusing on new business growth, corporate sales and client management.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOUNDATIONS

LUCY DREGER Grader and Mentor in Social Entrepreneurship at CLSBE Lucy is a Teaching Assistant at Católica University in Lisbon, Portugal in Social Entrepreneurship. She places students in the role of a social entrepreneur and helps them learn in teams how to design and launch an impact venture in class. During her Master studies in Entrepreneurship and Innovation she participated in the Global Social Innovation Challenge in San Diego with her own impact venture, #Buddy4You and deepened her knowledge in the field of Impact Investing with her master thesis.

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ENTOR

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL IMPACT

ADELAIDE SHEIK

Social Entrepreneur & Lecturer, JBS Adelaide is a social entrepreneur and co-founder of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Resource Centre and serves on the board for BigFish Film School. She holds a MBA and is currently completing her PHD in Organisational Effectiveness in Social Enterprises. Adelaide has been exposed to the corporate and non-profit sector in managerial positions for over 21 years. She recently joined the Business Management team lecturing Entrepreneurship and is involved in the academic coordination for the continuous education programmes.

RESILIENCE

WENDY CHALMERS-MILL MD & Principal Trainer, Positive-Performance Wendy began her career in the medical profession working in Occupational Health addressing the associated costs of not addressing wellbeing at work. She holds qualifications in Corporate Coaching and Neuro Linguistic Programming. For the last 20 years she has specialised in corporate management particularly in this field of resilience, wellbeing and human communication. Wendy has a published book, articles and papers. She’s lectured widely throughout the UK and has regularly been interviewed on television and radio management.

MARKETING | BRANDING

MODIEGI MULAUDZI Lefa Communications, MD & Founder Modiegi is an experienced professional within the Digital Communication and Media space. She founded Lefa Communications; a Digital marketing and corporate communications agency. Modiegi is currently completing her Masters of Science in Digital Marketing Communication with the University of Salford. She also holds a B.Com in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg, among other things. VISIT OUR WEBSITE, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAGAZINE AND KEEP UPDATED.

www.menther.co.za

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MENTHER MENTHER TECHNOLOGY RELATIONSHIPS

Building TRUST

ife is really very simple. What we give out, we get back. I strongly believe that everyone, including myself, is responsible for everything in our lives. Every thought we think, creates a lived reality. If a successful business is what you are dreaming of, or having a phenomenal career that has meaningful social impact is what you are in need of, Building Trust is a great interpersonal skill that will get you to live your dream. Building trust within our relationship with our selves creates an opportunity for us to build trusted relationships that

extend into our purpose and ability to serve humanity in our personal and professional lives. In an age of fast paced uncertainty, where it’s all too easy to get pulled into a sense of false connection created through social media and email, real trust can be a rare commodity. By deliberately and consciously taking steps to improve in each of these 5 areas, you can quickly and effectively strengthen and grow your building trust muscles. Be Authentic Authenticity comes about when we are self-aware, this enables us to manage our selves,

become aware of others and therefore influence and manage our relationships with others. With deep emotional intelligence we are able to acknowledge and validate our emotions allowing room to be honest in our relationships. When we are true to ourselves we are then able to be honest with others. People can sense when someone is not being themselves or authentic. Trust comes about when there is good rapport between the individuals in the relationship. Showing up as authentically true to yourself as possible breads success!

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Show Empathy Empathy comes with the ability of being able to actively listen to the next person. People trust other people when they feel that they have been understood. The more we are able to listen deeply, the more we are able to learn about what the next person values. Listening makes the next person feel heard and understood. This in turns give you the ability to add value to the relationship by showing that you are invested in the relationship. Without truly listening to others, you will not have their trust. Committing to tune into what the next person is saying and remaining curious is a great skill of showing empathy in building trust. Be Vulnerable Finding opportunities to be vulnerable in each moment in each conversation, engagement and moment builds trust. Especially when you are new to a team or coming into contact with your client or stakeholders. Showing that you’re “only human” can help bridge a trust gap. You might share a personal story in which your human weaknesses shine through, or admit that you’re still learning the ropes and don’t have all the answers.

It is in this human to human interaction where the magic of building trust happens. Show your Competency We trust competent people because they are credible, effective, and efficient. In some industries, the correct use of specific terms and jargon helps signal your competence, showing that you “know” your product, strategy, or business culture. By using terms correctly, you demonstrate expertise and that in turn fosters confidence and trust. We can truly attest to this when we look at leaders like, Instagram’s Kevin Systrom, or Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

They gain the trust of their tech teams by speaking their language and understanding the challenges they face, thus growing trust, loyalty and innovation. Be Consistent Trust comes along with consistency. Consistently showing up will go a long way towards building trust. Walk the talk and talk the walk. This is easier said than done. Building trust takes times. It is built in each conversation, moment, engagement and interaction in each relationship. It takes a lot of practice and should be brought into your daily actions. Focus on the small steps and small commitments. As Stephen Covey says, “When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant and effective.”

Vimbai Schwalm Trust Builder and Coach Healing With Trust

www.healingwithtrust.com Instagram:@healing_with_ trust

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MENTHER PERSONAL GROWTH

click to connect

UnLearn Your Way IntoThe Future of Business

Zanele Njapha Unlearning Coach www.zanelenjapha.com Instagram: @zanele_njapha

’ve always been passionate about the environment, so helping to sustain it, while empowering others was always on the cards for me. That’s why I founded Zutifil in 2016 - to promote a green economy and empower skilled women in the township of Umlazi, where I spent the greater chunk of my childhood. Using a company’s branded and used billboards and other pre-loved PVC products, we’d up-cycle (repurpose) them into corporate gifts for the company. Although I’d been sold on the concept for a while, on one particular day, I was driving through town and became aware of one or two digital billboards along the highway. That’s when it hit me - how sustainable is it to repurpose PVC billboards, when they were clearly on their way out? I was in my early 20s at the time and although I’d invested so much in the business, from my time to my finances and other resources - I knew that something had to give. Where I was in my business on that particular day is where the world currently is when it comes to

the institution of ‘work’ and building a successful, impactful business. We are collectively realising that we’ve gotten it wrong and we’ve been getting it wrong. Our ideas, frameworks, models and systems cannot serve us in the new and redefined paradigm of the 2020s. It’s similar to the global cooling trend between the 1940s and 1970s, that had many conclude that an ice age or ‘global cooling’ was imminent. Funny enough many now look back at this and scoff at how ridiculous it sounds. We’ve now come to see that in every venture, there existed the belief that we are undeniably right. Unfortunately in a world of unprecedented change, where the rules to business are rewritten daily, how can you possibly always be right? It was Maya Angelou who said that when we know better, we do better. And this is the premise behind UnLearning - opening ourselves up to the possibility of a different way, so that we can show up better and transcend our current models, systems, concepts and perceptions.

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Think about a cup that is full to the brim. You wish to pour more into it, but there is no longer any capacity for ‘newness’ because the cup is filled with the serving you poured into it first - no room for something new. The solution? Tip the cup over, in order to make room. This is what UnLearning does for a business, for a team, for an organisation and for us - it helps us make room. When I saw that digital billboard, it was an indication that my cup needed to be emptied, so I could make room for more future proof ways of doing business. Businesses across the globe, large and small are undergoing the greatest unlearning experiment of all time, and here are some of the things they’re having to unlearn, that you may also need to empty out: “That sounds outrageous” Ideas that seem ridiculous and ‘extraordinary’ are the lifeblood of innovative organisations. As we design teams that consistently design, test and prototype new ideas, coming up with those ideas must be encouraged. This means having a structure or platform within the team where teams can think these ideas up and brainstorm around them. Further to that, think tanks and hackathons only scratch the surface if they do not have a system around them that allows

the best ideas to be prototyped, tested and rolled out into market. “That’s how we do things around here” - The workplace of the 2020s looks very little like what we’ve known it to be previously. One factor most affected is company culture, or ‘the way we do things around here’. Holding tightly onto outdated company dogmas, strategies and models that no longer serve us, is more detrimental than many of us realise. In an attempt to guard a frail organisational identity, we sacrifice the potential of a new identity of consistent

development and remodelling. Think about an organisation like IBM that has managed to sustain their relevance through different eras of business. We can argue that their biggest secret was what Madonna also got right - the way we’ve been doing things is not permanent, we must reposition. “Clients don’t know what they want until you show it to them” - This Steve Jobs quote is often squeezed in to support a range of different arguments, but when it comes to the consumer of the 2020s, it could not be more wrong. Consumer trends data consistently shows that the consumer of this day and age sees themselves as a co-

creator of the products and services they consume. The organisations that have tapped into this insight, ‘partner’ with consumers to unleash a deeper understanding of product engagement and benefit from client-centric business. Out of the multiple business traits that have defined how we do business in the past, the above three are playing a key role in shifting organisations into the forefront of the disruptive 2020s. The businesses that can not only entertain, but promote outrageous ideas position themselves for innovation. Further to this, teams that are open to a shifting and fluid company culture build organisations where top talent wants to work and stay, while contributing outrageous amounts of value. Possibly a bigger trend than those two, however, is the consistently shifting role of the consumer. The businesses that not only acknowledge this, but take advantage of it are well positioned to do business in a consumer’s market - which is what the 2020s will be. So as we apply all of these, while balancing a great many balls that fly through the air simultaneously, our ability to UnLearn and ReLearn will be our greatest asset in a changing world.

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MENTHER SUSTAINABILITY

Creating Change Together I

f you feel that some aspect of an industry or economy is exclusive and hard to access, chances are that others experience this feeling as well. Knowledge, access to economic means and ability are just some of the ways some industries have been designed to benefit the few rather than the society at large, the fashion industry is one of them. The fashion industry has a multitude of issues from overconsumption, inhumane treatment of workers, polluting the environment and a lack of supporting the local communities. These issues are part of an extremely complex system where the issues and potential solutions are interconnected. Yet, the current sustainable fashion solutions mostly address actions individuals can take and better materials. Sustainable Fashion Scotland (SFS) is a communityled social venture with the mission to connect the fashion community in Scotland and facilitate a sustainable fashion transformation through collective impact and knowledge exchange. Although the fashion industry faces problems on a global scale, we act locally in Scotland. This is because we

believe that systems change will only be achieved through the collective impact of many innovative local solutions working together towards a shared vision. A place-based approach to systems change can inspire action and empower individuals to work towards

solutions that are relevant and tangible to them. More than this however is the need for a community approach to systems change, where social relationships are strengthened and multi-stakeholder collaboration is enabled. A better connected infrastructure will increase potential for synergy by opening access to exchange knowledge, resources, and practical skills, and inviting new diverse perspectives to

contribute and expand our collective knowledge - all supporting the community to develop equitable, effective and innovative local solutions together. By creating an open and accessible space for people to share knowledge no matter their expertise or level of involvement we aim to shift the existing power dynamics in the fashion industry. We are working to welcome people who are often excluded from the spaces where fashion is discussed to help shift these dynamics. Through using positive and solutions-oriented language rather than problemfocused communication, we hope to inspire action and encourage people of all levels of understanding to get involved. This has unlocked new ideas previously not explored and has worked particularly well at providing insights for us to direct our strategy and meet the hidden needs of the community. Providing spaces for open conversation means we also create space which enables collaboration between those working towards a shared vision of a sustainable fashion transformation for Scotland.

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Why Sustainable Fashion (SF) SF is the answer to current destructive practices of the mass fashion industry (often called fast fashion) - Conversation predominantly centres around consumption - buy better, buy from certain brands that use certain sustainable materials (often the only way to participate in SF). - SF can feel inaccessible due to price, convenience and limited size and style range. - Buyers often need to make effort to ensure the brand is not greenwashing. - Considering a person as only a consumer distances them from actively participating in the solutions. This can be alienating and pressuring people to consume better in a system that doesn’t support it will only make them feel frustrated. - People who are working on imagining this system in their own ways can be isolated which makes the work difficult. - Power and contribution of western countries and their effect on other countries through fast fashion. - By opening up conversations, explaining terminologies, shifting what we value, we can open spaces where everybody can join and be active in changing the system. How SFS is making a difference At SFS we are determined to develop our strategy through

challenging the current norms that have driven the social and environmental crises of today. We are challenging the competitive and elitist global fashion industry that celebrates successful individuals by instead showcasing the multitude of essential skills, roles, and opportunities that are available locally from research to manufacturing, home-making, crafting, farming, teaching and more. By centering the narrative on community, transparency, and collaboration we are redefining the value and meaning that fashion has in

our lives. We are also looking to shift the role business has in society by setting up as a social enterprise. On top of being mission-led and providing a much-needed service to our community, we are working on a business model that supports wealth and resource distribution instead of private accumulation. This will enable us to create more equitable opportunities within the industry making it accessible to anybody wanting to participate, inviting marginalised communities to get involved. We regard people as active citizens with multi-faceted roles within society rather than simply a passive consumer whose only power and responsibility is to shop ‘better’, therefore shifting the narrative of the level of change individuals are capable of achieving within their

communities. At Sustainable Fashion Scotland our role is not to prescribe what the solutions for this systemic change are, but to enable the community’s collective capacity to thrive and develop innovative local solutions together. Acting as a connector, we support new social relationships that improve wellbeing and bring us joy, as well as improving the infrastructure of our local networks to help individuals and organisations collaborate and create change together. We are incredibly excited at the potential for communities to transform fashion from an industry based on mass production and consumption to a practice that strengthens joyful community relationships, develops community capacity and resilience, supports people and the planet’s wellbeing, and develops more diverse, equitable, regenerative and distributive economies. SF can be about so much more. By connecting with others in your community you can join mending groups, remaking workshops, be an activist, care for your clothing, and swap with friends or through apps with others in the community.

Sustainable Fashion Scotland www.sustfash.scot

Instagram: @sustfashscotland

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Ntsiki Mkhize Dressed by Jennifer B Warren Designs & Thee Sleigh Apparel Photography Wisi-Oi Team & Amogelang

MENTHER

Chief Social Entreprenuer

“Social entrepreneurs, simply put, are individuals who choose to set-up a business (social enterprise) with the objective of doing good (creating positive change, impact or introducing social innovations).“

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MENTHER COVER FEATURE

Vision and Purpose

n international speaker and facilitator, Ntsiki gave her first TedTalk at TEDx Cumbernauld Women, Scotland in 2019 and was featured as the youngest speaker at the International Speakers Summit 2019 and the Epic Entrepreneur Conference 2020. No stranger to the stage, Ntsiki was the presenter of Career Connect on Business Day TV, Basic on My Big StratUp, That’s 20’s podcast and Mentor Mondays on Radio Caley (Glasgow) and was Miss South Africa 2nd Princess 2015. She has been featured as a change maker and thought leader on Fox Documentary series I Remember Me and The Future of Leadership on YouTube. As a certified Five Lens Practitioner and Resilience UP Facilitator, Ntsiki is an advocate for personal growth, self-mastery and resilience in order to live your purpose and fulfil your potential. She is the self-published author of My Hall of Mentors – lessons

learned along a journey of success, which was launched in South Africa and Glasgow in 2019. In 2020 she completed her Masters in Social Innovation, with distinction, at Glasgow Caledonian University and during this time launched MentHer. 2020 was not doubt a very difficult and challenging year for all, how have you managed during the lockdown and global pandemic? It definitely has been and continues to be – 2020 was the year for shacking and I hope as the dust settles us as humanity are clear about what things are important and dear to us. I cut my stay aboard short and was lucky enough to make it home before lockdown. I found the time at home was helpful in completing my studies and really great to bond with my family after being away. One of the interesting things in this time has been the trend of “covid-entrepreneurs”, why did you choose this time to

start a business? Many businesses were hard hit and while some people emerged to take advantage of the chaos and supply sanitizers and masks, I found this a good time to reflect on the needs I’ve seen and used the “force stop” to do something about it. There’s never a perfect time to start, so why not do so while sitting at home for a year – it also helped that my research for my dissertation was aligned to the business I started. What was the inspiration behind MentHer? MentHer is a global mentorship network supporting female social entrepreneurs. I’ve attend networking events for women in business in South Africa and Scotland and what often comes up is the lack of mentorship or difficulty in accessing it. From the perspective of my studies in social innovation and work I’ve done with social enterprises and non-profits over the years, this is a space that many women work in. I thought to combine the two and create a platform that could specifically support women who

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want to drive change in society to create those positive impact businesses and find mentors to help them on that journey. For those who don’t know, what exactly is a social entrepreneur? Social entrepreneurs, simply put, are individuals who choose to set-up a business (social enterprise) with the objective of doing good (creating positive change, impact or introducing social innovations). Contrary to popular belief as social enterprise can make profit and it’s important that we explore new economic/business models to facilitate this so that these social ventures can be sustainable. Why is social innovation and entrepreneurship important for the now and future? When we look at various social issues and inequalities the problems seem to be endless, especially with the ripple effect of the market crash (that most countries are still recovering from) and now covid, which will have its own economic impact (most immediately seen through job losses and business closures). We need businesses and people running them, who can co-create positive and sustainable change through innovative solutions (products and services) and ways of doing business (systems, processes, values). If our world and its people are to survive – it drastically needs to change.

What do you hope to achieve with MentHer? MentHer aims to inspire women to create the change they want to see in the world by starting social enterprises. Connect them to one another for support and mentors for guidance and finally empower women with the tools to turn ideas into start-ups and grow. Through providing tools and resources, as well as creating this global community of mentorship support for women led social businesses, we endeavour to be a partner in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals with our focus on; (SGD4) Quality Education, (5) Gender Equality, (8) Decent Work and Economic Goals and (10) Reduced Inequalities. What’s the significance of International Women’s Day to you? Women make up 50% of the world’s population, yet remain under represented in business and various spheres of society, due to cultural and religious beliefs in some cases and in others a flawed foundation in our economic structures. Be it as it may, we are rising, taking great strides and making progress. Days like this are a reminder of that, although we’re separated by geography we are globally united in our pursuit for equality and we’re winning! Some quickies: Fave Food: Pasta Dream Vacation: Any clear blue warm ocean destination

Go-to Clothing: Button up dress (easy to throw on alone or as a light coat) Inspirational Person: My gran Current Book: Nuts & Bolts - Strengthening Africa’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, by Dr McLean Sibanda Social Entrepreneur to watch: Anyone challenging fast fashion and innovating for slow/ sustainable fashion, such as Wisi-Oi. About the cover Ntsiki partnered with Wisi-oi to set up an online store on their platform selling her pre-loved clothes. Wisi-oi Marketplace is the digital home of pre-loved influencer fashion, founded by Phumi Körber. Wisi-Oi (pronounced We-See-Owe-Eye) stands for Wear It. Sell It. Own It. Their main goal is to encourage sustainable fashion by decluttering closets and giving high quality clothes a second chance in the world. The e-commerce platform is available to men and women who can take the time to pick out their stylish clothing that they’re ready to part with and carefully check that each piece is in excellent condition before uploading it to our website. Users can create their own store profile within the platform, take snaps of their favourite outfits from the comfort of their home (or events they were worn to), upload, set a price and sell.

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MENTHER SPOTLIGHT

Global Girl Project A network of girls who recognise their intrinsic power as change makers and are inspiring and motivating each other towards, individual, What does your business do? Global Girl Project is an international NGO that runs leadership programs for disadvantaged girls from developing countries. We work with the often forgotten girls around the world, mobilising them to create the change that they want to see in their communities, through social action inititiaves.

world. There didn’t seem to be enough training and education

Why did you start this business? I started Global Girl Project because I saw a gap in what was being offered to poor girls throughout the developing

around leadership for our girls or opportunities for girls throughout the developing world to connect with each other and mobilise each other for change. Also, as a girl my own power was not celebrated. I didn’t know how powerful I was until much later in life, and I feel that it’s so important for our girls to connect with their own intrinsic power as girls and realise that they can use this power and voice to create change in their communities. Estimated impact so far?

We measure impact in two main ways. Founder

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The first is the direct impact that we see on our girls, and the second is the impact that our girls’ initiatives have on their community members. We create our impact through the ripple effect that is created by the power of our young leaders who then go into their communities as role models and changemakers. So we have worked with around 200 girls and then each of them have run their own initiatives in their own countries and on average impact 100 community members each so 20,000 community members globally. You can go to our website to read our impact report What keeps you going?

What keeps me always pushing forward is that if I am asking my girls to be their strongest, most powerful and compassionate selves, then I need to be their role model and do it myself. I am their example and they will be the example for others, so I always need to do my best, regardless of the obstacles.... my girls are watching. And I see such change within them and their communities, through our

programming, and with so many more girls to reach we need to keep going, mobilising more and more girls. Where do you operate?

We currently run our programming in Haiti, Afghanistan, South Africa,

us to Move. Mobilise. Make a difference as we collectively race around the world. Go to www.globalgirlproject. org/run-the-world to get more info and register as a fundraiser and start moving for the month of March! New Programs

Cambodia, Jordan, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Nepal and we are expanding into India in May 2021. How / where can people sign up for your programme, buy your product/service/ register with you

Right now we are actually running a totally epic virtual race around the world, covering the 17.623 miles between all of our partner countries in a fundraising race called Global Girls Run the World. We are raising $17.623 to run our next cohort of the Blended Learning Leadership Initiative with 60 more girls and 6000 more community members. So come and join us, in celebration of IWD and Women’s History Month and help

We are launching a new online platform called Global Graduates Connect, which will be a place where all of our graduates can go to connect with the rest of our girls, learn more about leadership, healthy relationships, gender issues around the world, education and much more. We are creating a network of girls throughout the developing world who are mobilising and inspiring each other for change. How do we connnect with your organization? facebook.com/globalgirlproject twitter.com/GlobalGirlProj instagram.com/globalgirlproject Linkedin: Global Girl Project

www.globalgirlproject.org

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MENTHER BUSINESS

Purpose, Passion and Profit “Secure the Bag” - this is a slogan that has become synonymous with today’s Millennials and Gen Z in defining their financial and business interests. And while profits remain imperative for running successful operations, there is something entirely different about these generations that sets them apart. They are socially conscious. They are fully aware of the environment around them, given their heightened sense of awareness driven by social media and global connectedness. This has shaped their views on how they choose to become economically active, influenced their investment behaviours, brand preferences and which companies they choose to work for and align with. “Serving, fulfilling a purpose and making a difference in the lives of others” - these

are often phrases that accompany the views of how younger generations opt to engage with a business. This has supported a rising trend in which businesses, specifically those founded and led by younger generations, implement better policies to do “good business”. Despite the efforts of previous generations, Millennials and Gen Z’s are more deliber-

ate in the role they play in being a part of the “solution and not the problem.” In a world where corruption and has thrived for so long, this has led to the question – can both profit and purpose drive the business agenda? Many would respond with an emphatic, yes! Social entrepreneurship and Shared Value Social entrepreneurship often is misunderstood - sometimes disregarded as the “softer” side of entrepreneurship, without the grit, effort, and overnight success stories we often hear about from profit-driven entities in the heart of Silicon Valley. Generally defined as “deploying entrepreneurial principles, processes and operations to address social challenges” and driving sustainable social change, Social Entrepreneurship has been identified as a critical tool driving social development needs the world over and aligning to global policies like the Sustain-

Conversation Strategist, Broadcaster and Financial Journalist

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able Development Goals. There has been a growing demand for the development and support of social entrepreneurs. Academic institutions like the UCT Graduate School of Business’s Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, The Social Enterprise Academy and The Gordon Institute of Business Science’s GIBS Development Academy all have dedicated and accredited academic programs to advance social innovation and entrepreneurship. Shared Value is a similar concept that is considered by large local corporates— centered around a change in company policies, practices, and strategy that contribute to the competitive advantage while strengthening the company’s communities. Shared Value has been academically proven to derive sustainable long term profits for businesses and impact its broader focus on increased stakeholder value and not just shareholder value. This is a concept used by several South African businesses. Consider Woolworths in expanding its supply chain to include more black farmers to procure fruits and vegetables for its stores. Discovery, through its Vitality model, encourages customers to prioritise overall health care through its incentives model. New innovative private school models developed by Spark Schools – offering quality private education at a fraction of the market-related costs. Big business has benefitted from implementing these models and

gained increased support from its stakeholders based on these different approaches. ESG and CSI ESG and CSI have become acronyms that also continue to feature in the financial results of big companies and future strategies of developing enterprises. Research conducted in 2019 by global advisory firm deVere Group found that 77 per cent of millennial investors prioritise Environmental, Social and Governance issues over returns when making investment decisions. The American Marketing Association report also revealed how younger employees have a keen and vested interest in the Corporate Social Investments that the companies and brands they partner with and participate in. Reports of this nature have allowed us to appreciate that for our generation, social entrepreneurship is not a “different” type of entrepreneurship but rather the only type that is recognised and respected. While CSI, ESG and Shared Value may all be separate concepts within the business community, they all speak to the common principle of ‘doing good’ - for the environment, for others and your business. For our generation, this is fast becoming the only way of doing business. “Doing good business” is quickly proving to be the only business that makes sense as global regulators and governments look to respond with the necessary policy changes. According to the 2019 Trialogue

Business in Society handbook, South African companies spent an estimated R10.2 billion in corporate social investment - marking a 5% increase from the year before. For these local large corporate, this spend is beyond the annual painting of the classroom and the delivery of food parcels, but a concerted effort to bring change in the communities within which they serve - in a sustainable manner. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange monitors and measures a company’s performance and investment in CSI and ESG initiatives through its SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) Index. Given the current Covid-19 pandemic, stakeholders have increased focus on how these entities have managed the pandemic and its impact on their staff, communities and customers. What does this mean for you as an entrepreneur? Globally, there is a rising focus and shift towards businesses and entrepreneurs, who go beyond forecasting profits gains and market dominance. Rather, social impact, sustainable profits, and all stakeholder groups’ advancement over profits are the business’s new focus. So, in a world where: “securing the bag” remains a key goal and objective of the youth, as a budding entrepreneur, don’t underestimate the value of addressing societal needs and challenges through the businesses that you can create and partner with. Why change the world one Rand at a time, when you can change it… one person at a time?

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MENTHER BUSINESS

Pitching To Clients

ou’ve heard your friends and colleagues say it. You’ve said it often enough, yourself. “I’ve got a client pitch today,” or “I’m preparing for a client pitch.” What does that even mean? How often have you said it, reached the final hour before the pitch and grabbed a bunch of company documents, your laptop, a few business cards, raced off and hoped that the traffic will be light enough to get you there on time. Now, with online meetings being the go-to place to pitch, that same panic happens before the Zoom conversation. You book it, check your teeth for spinach, start the call and cross fingers that the elusive client remembers the meeting. If not, you have to start the process all over again. Most of us have discovered, to

our horror, that it’s more difficult to find a ‘missing’ client over the Internet than it ever was when there was a kind receptionist to help search the building. Nowadays, the worst part for me is that I get totally dressed up and made up before a Zoom meeting. But, before and after the meeting, there is literally

nowhere to go for coffee, besides into my own kitchen. It seems a dismally small reward for all the time and effort that has gone into the call! A pitch meeting traditionally is the pre-cursor to the negotiation process. Whether you are using it as a warm-up process or whether you expect to make a sale in the meeting, why not improve the experience all round and aim to GIRFT - ‘get it right first time’? GIRFT is my motto when I pitch. However, I know well enough that not everyone is on the same timeline as I am. If I don’t clinch that deal first time round, I don’t beat myself up. I go into every meeting knowing that I’ve done the preparation; I’ve made the connection and have a relationship in place that I can build on.

LOUISE MITCHELL Pitching Coach

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This brings me back to the beginning, the experiences we all know and some we’d rather avoid, and the words, “preparing a client pitch”. If you are really early stage with your company and haven’t lined up any client calls, do the prep anyway. Give yourself a deadline as though you really do have a pitch in the pipeline and then get down to doing the work. It will never be time wasted nor time lost.

- Here are five tips. 1. CREATE A CLIENT PERSONA Decide who your ideal client is. By that, I mean your ideal paying customer. Profile the company or person. As you get further down the line and, if you can, name those ideal clients – they’ll make the basis of your mailing list.

2. IDENTIFY YOUR IDEAL CLIENT’S PAIN POINTS This requires empathy. You need to understand your client’s business and you need to get to know their customers. Personalise this as best you can so that you truly understand how you can relieve that pain.

3. DO RESEARCH INTO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS This isn’t a quick process and if you get it wrong, you will end up miscommunicating with the client. I’m guessing that you don’t want to make a poor impression or look uniformed and lacking in concern. Clients want to feel that you care about them and how your product or service affects them. It’s all about mutual respect.

4. PREPARE EARLY It’s that old expression of “have all your ducks in a row”. Take that to heart. Consider each

‘duck’ as a building block that you need to get ready for the meeting. How many ‘ducks’ are there for you? Work with each one individually and tick them off as done! They might represent your research process into the client and their customers, your pitch conversation and your pitch deck. It might even include the simple task of making sure that your connectivity is 100% on the day. Make a long, blueprint list of ‘ducks’ and choose the ones you need as you prepare and tailor your preparation for each, individual pitch.

5. CONTROL THE ROOM You might be going online or you might be pitching in a boardroom. Whatever pitch space you are working in, control it! By ‘control it’, I don’t mean that you should stride in cracking a whip. Or, that you should turn off your client’s microphone while you do all the talking. What I mean is that you should have a clear plan that allows for a short, well-organised meeting. You could even communicate that to the client in advance by sending a brief agenda. It helps everyone else in a meeting if they have early understanding of the parameters of the conversation. It will help you to remain calm and give you confidence, too!

With online, a way to stay in control is to set up the meeting yourself. It gives you an opportunity for an extra point of contact. Schedule the meeting and then check that the client received the link. It’s simply a courtesy while also keeping the conversation warm. Pitching can be scary. It’s not that you simply WANT the business. You NEED it to keep food on the table. So, when you are starting out, try to take the pressure off yourself. Line up your first meetings in a batch, a week or two in the future. Spend the time you have beforehand with your preparation for the meetings as well as with organising meetings for the following few weeks. Block them. If the first few don’t go so well, you’ll know that you have a few more in the pipeline Maybe this piece of advice, given to me, will help you. Never waste your time pitching to the wrong company. However, in the early days, plan to pitch to smaller potential clients. Hone your skill with the smaller players. When you have learnt more about your market, as well as how your own service or product fits the market, then you will be ready to pitch to your truly ideal client.

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MENTHER BUSINESS

REAL WEALTH STARTS WITH A

PLAN Lianne Lutz a Registered Financial Planner

walks us through the steps to follow on your path to great financial success

magine the excitement of starting your own business, it’s been your dream, and you are finally ready to take a leap of faith. Your family and friends have had mixed reactions. Some adopt a stereotypical sociocultural stance with a few traditional dos and don’ts thrown in for good measure. Others have been quietly supportive, cheering you from the sidelines. will enable you to command respect. When launching a business, womens emotions and stressors are many—juggling looking after a family, often as a single parent or sole breadwinner, maybe a constant worry. Then there is the anxiety about the risk that the business may fail.

“

Launching a business can be quite a scary step to take for women. Transitioning the glass ceiling and gender equality is not for the faint-hearted. It is necessary to learn how to maintain assertiveness when communicating and operating in male-dominated environments. Adopting a firm (not high-pitched) strong voice

There is so much to do and many decisions to be made. It can be overwhelming.

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MENTHER TECHNOLOGY

Some of the questions that To get started, you may you should ask yourself are: need: • What type of business would suit your needs? • Will you work from home, or will your business be online or even an e-commerce operation? • Will you provide a product or a service? • Who will be your customers?

• A business plan • Upskilling, training, or mentoring • Capital or funding • Cash flow available to see you through until the business becomes profitable • A marketing plan • Sourcing suppliers • Finding customers

The strength, aptitude, and ability of women are underplayed in the financial world. Men often underestimate women, and you can use this to your advantage. Women are strong and courageous, and they have been multitasking for generations. They are experienced with running a home and deciding on how to spend the family budget. This is not so different from managing a business. SPECIFIC

Setting Goals It’s essential to set goals, whether to buy that stylish jacket or to growing your business. Goals should be classified into the categories of short, medium, long term, as well as SMART. This is a good acronym to guide goal setting.

The goal should be clear. What exactly do you want to achieve? How would you achieve it? MEASURABLE

How will you know when you have reached your goal? An example may be making a profit in the first three months of trading or getting five new clients a month. ATTAINABLE

Is your goal attainable? If you set impossible goals, you will feel frustrated and face failure. RELEVANT

Is reaching your goal relevant to you? Do you have the resources and skills necessary to achieve your goal? If not, could you get them? TIME-BOUND

Set a timeframe for your goals and be able to meet your deadlines.

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A SWOT analysis is a handy business tool. It is always essential to understand and acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. Doing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis can give you insight into yourself. Strengths and weaknesses are internal and need to be identified. Hone in on your strengths and try to get someone else to assist with your weaknesses. Opportunities and threats are external. Be aware of opportunities and be quick to take them up. Threats are your competitors, but as a new business, awareness is good, but it’s unnecessary to lose sleep over this.

Network, Network, Network As women working together and networking with each other, we can realise our goals and dreams. There is no need to muddle through aspects of finance, cash

flow, and taxation on your own. As women, we can work together. Networking with other women is supporting one another. There are women out there to help you with whatever you need. Be it lawyers, accountants, financial planners, tax specialists – they are all out there to advise you. Reach out, there are women that will share their experience and wisdom. They will empower you with information and knowledge on how to run a business. Be bold in your search for a mentor.

Facing your fears In order to move forward, you have to face your FEAR and move confidently and cautiously towards your dream. Women fear failure, and it’s often due to a lack of selfesteem or self-confidence. Also, fear can keep you stuck, and the best way to get unstuck is to talk to another businesswoman or a councillor. Staying motivated and persevering

through fear is an amazing accomplishment, but this takes practice. An excellent way to face fear is to acknowledge it and then break it down into smaller, manageable tasks.

Personal and business growth Always start small and grow big. Most multinational enterprises started small. If a business grows too fast without capital and infrastructure in place, this may become your worst nightmare. Never underplay your abilities. In business, too much humility is overrated stand tall and strut your stuff. A good starting point is to practice persuasive soft selling. A presentations skills course is a great confidence builder. You can’t do it alone – call in your ‘Girl Gang.’ We help women to become financially savvy. We provide guidance, financial planning service, and advice on dealing with debt.

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MENTHER PODCAST TECHNOLOGY MENTHER

TOP 10 2020 Interviews CLICK AND LISTEN

Physical engagements with people we admire and thought leaders aren’t always possible. MentHer Conversations is an invitation to take your virtual seat at our table and glean from our guests, who are experts in their field, mentors, founders and change makers. Here’s a highlight of our top 10 conversations from 2020 - CLICK ON NUMBER TO LISTEN

Styling for Entrepreneurs

Pitch Like a Pro

Virtual Stylist Mona talks style as an extension of our brand, styling on the go and mompreneurship.

Pitching expert and coach, Louise Mitchell shares tips on how to create and deliver a pitch.

7 Farming, Agribusiness and Food Security It’s all about how to start, what to think about and small-scale farmers, with high quality yields.

8 Women in Fashion

Incorporating technology and e-commerce is a great way to start small and grow gradually – Hanim Jain CEO of @womeninfashion. community.

Startups & Marketing

Food for Healing

Eden Myrrh, Co-founder of Msizi Agency and Hey Happy Studios shares on avatars, asking for feedback and being consistent and authentic.

Food isn’t just eating, it’s how we heal - we learn from Phumi Nhlapo, Founder of @home_grownsa

Women in Technology x Africa & 4IR Kele Molopyane, CEO of AB4IR says; there’s so much room for women show up and take your space.

Exploring social entrepreneurship around the world We talk entrepreneurship and crypto currency and how emerging markets are innovating.

Digital Marketing and Impactful Storytelling Growing your digital presence with a budget of ZAR50 per day over two weeks and tracking engagement.

The Workplace Revolution Sihle Bolani is all for; supporting your tribe, calling out the BS and challenging the status quo.

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Photo sourced: clothestogood.com

MENTHER INCLUSIVITY

Creating A Fully Inclusive, Green Ecosystem

ver the last nine years Clothes to Good (CTG) has synergised an ecosystem of like-minded organisations, led by individuals committed to meaningful, sustainable, positive social impact in enterprise development, inclusion (i.e. especially people with disabilities) and caring for our environment. CTG finds great joy in using what others categorise as “waste” to empower community women through micro-business development, create jobs for people with disabilities and creating educational resources for children in low-resourced early childhood development (ECD) centres. We are passionate about using an asset-based approach and empowering

communities to “use what they have, where they are”. Through the sourcing, sorting, up-cycling and selling of post-consumer pre-loved clothes CTG programmes collaborate with high resourced schools, businesses, nonprofit organisations, the public, people with disabilities and their families, and people previously disadvantaged into a sustainable ecosystem. Together, the valuecycle includes people, passion, technology and post-consumer environmental change resulting in sustainable, high social impact. We are especially passionate about people with disabilities and the challenges generally preventing people with disabilities from becoming gainfully employed. This is

reflected by the current South African unemployment rate of 99% among this community. They remain critically dependent on their parents, particularly their mothers, who are often forced to remain at home to provide care, hindering the family’s opportunities and potential to find pathways out of poverty. One of CTG’s focus areas is therefore on a micro-business development programme for Mothers of Children with disabilities. Critical to achieving this sustainable goal was to marry a real social and environmental challenge with a solution that addresses some of the barriers to empowering mothers of children with disabilities, people with disabilities and people wanting to participate in this

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MENTHER TECHNOLOGY change. Mothers of children with disabilities are invited to be micro-businesses at CTG. They are provided with a startup ten-kilogram bale of used clothes, recycled through CTG programmes nationally without risk and stress of failure as they can return the bale or pay for the bale. The women are visited at home, by social workers, occupational therapists, other therapists and facilitators using the ‘Poverty Stoplight’ and other well recognized tools to assess their living conditions, economic standing, situation analysis of their child with disability and their own overall wellness. The aim is to support the mother to move in the direction she chooses by engaging her assets and dreams. Key to this process is improving the support to the child with disability and the inclusion of people with disabilities into the community. Through the recycling programs many people with disabilities are included into the CTG ecosystem, from people we source clothes from, to suppliers and customers, creating a fully inclusive ecosystem of meaningful change. CTG follows a value-cycle approach, renewing resources as opposed to exploiting them. CTG sources clothes with the intention that a person recycling their clothes is rewarded for their effort. CTG believes that ‘free is expensive’

and to create a sustainable ecosystem in an emerging economy, participants need to be rewarded for their effort, and not rely on a pure penance culture that is prevalent in first world

diamond economies. In one of our programmes the public recycles at H&M stores nationally and receives a 15% discount on their new item of choice, while schools and businesses receive, in addition to their H&M discount vouchers money towards outreach programmes. Some support the CTG programmes: ‘Clothes Play’, supporting low resourced ECD centres, ‘Clothes to Wheels’, fitting children in orthopaedic wheelchairs, ‘Clothes to Trees’, planting indigenous trees or ‘Clothes to Cash’ to invest in their own outreach programme. The paradigm of CTG is built on the new capitalist manifesto, that breaks traditional views on shareholder value and profitability focus, and is built on a value-cycle focus rather than a value chain ‘get the most out of each resource mentality’. The leadership is focused on a renewable

value chain approach, where each participant creates more value, beyond their initial intention. CTG goes beyond recycling postconsumer textile, by creating awareness, empowering student led-change at schools, empowering microbusinesses to be community change agents, insisting on full inclusion of people with disabilities with passionate therapists, educating children at low resourced ECD centres through up-cycled toys, and finding new ways reusing waste with communities and Universities. The CTG collaboration approach with the individuals, the public, communities, schools, business and NGOs has been key to our success over the last nine years. We are leveraging on each other’s assets to execute on common, shared goals, with an understanding that we are an ecosystem and not a value chain. A value cycle of an ever changing world that requires an adaptive mindset with a strong foundation grounded by the Nine Universal Human Values: Patience, Commitment to Excellence, Forgiveness, Truth, Righteous conduct, Love, Peace, Non-violence, and Service. To participate in the Clothes to Good value cycle please contact us via www. clothestogood.com or email jesse@c2cx.co.za or call 0126634168 or WhatsApp 0742427414

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MENTHER STYLING

Dress for Power Style Tips

remember considering leaving my job at the beginning of the year. My husband and I both had Covid just as 2021 started. I walked around in my garden, planted new seeds, spent a lot of time playing on the floor with my girls and even more time in bed resting. Being infected with the virus that has turned the whole world upside down suddenly put so many things into perspective for me. The idea of ‘fashion’ and ‘trends’ and ‘wear-this-not-that’ just seemed so...pointless. I’m sure I’m not the only woman that has felt like that in the past year! Working from home and traveling less has not only changed our habits (anyone bake a banana bread recently?) but also affected the way we dress. We went from having a reason to groom ourselves every morning to staying in our pajamas until 5pm. Don’t get me wrong - I love a chill-day! But there is a definite correlation between the way we dress and how we feel. It is for this reason that I’ve experienced such a spark in my heart regarding what I do - I teach women how to buy and style the items in their wardrobe in a way that gives meaning. Seeing women walking out more confident and secure than they walked in has been such an encouragement to me.

had to pivot their businesses and adapt their offering due to the changes Covid has brought on. I myself changed my in-person sessions to virtual styling sessions purely out of necessity and today it’s one of the most successful areas of my business! We have been challenged by external factors, forcing us to show up and be more creative. You might find your financial position changed. You might be more aware of which items of clothing you buy and how they have been made. Items in your wardrobe that previously enjoyed much attention are now gathering dust. Even now, even here, I am here to tell you that what you wear matters. In my opinion, we are moving into a time where short-lived fashion trends are becoming less important. Trendforecasters and designers alike are gravitating towards sustainability and practicality. If

the history of fashion has taught us anything it is that fashions change as a direct result of socio- and economic factors. The rise of Covid has seen people spend more time at home, recycling their wardrobes and making the most of their belongings. In the midst of all this we still launch and we continue to challenge. I believe in the power of dress and maintain that the right outfit can give you the confidence to conquer any mountain! I know y’all aren’t going to let me off the hook if I don’t give you some concrete fashion tips. Here are my current fashion favourites that you can add to your existing wardrobe: – The oversized collar – Gingham- anything and everything Gingham just brings me so much joy at the moment! – Fancy masks- these bad boys aren’t going anywhere soon, we might as well make a statement with it – Sets- the 90’s trend is here to stay. Whether you’re into something more creative or tend to opt for something less extravagant there is a set for every kind of girl. Remember adding small accessories and a few key pieces to your collection can completely transform your wardrobe and give you the style and confidence you’ve always wanted!

Many entrepreneurs have Virtual Stylist

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MENTHER BOOK CLUB

NUTS & BOLTS McLean Sibanda believes that Africa must be deliberate about its economic development and that change requires champions and, importantly, fertile enabling environments. In Nuts & Bolts you’ll gain unique perspectives of the challenges faced by leaders overseeing a turnaround in any organisation and the thought processes behind innovation initiatives that yield value. McLean provides practical insights on innovation and entrepreneurship for Africa’s development through a narrative of his seven years of repositioning Sub-Saharan Africa’s first internationally recognised Science and Technology Park, The Innovation Hub. Reflections from successful entrepreneurs who experienced support and expertise through the Hub, who have all gone on to build successful businesses, will be useful for those working

on a start-up or innovation and don’t know where to begin. The musings of entrepreneurs, innovators and ecosystem builders provide relevant context, inspiration and examples how best to make use of support programmes provided by incubators and organisations similar to The Innovation Hub. Described by Dr Niel Kruger from University of Johannesburg as “A book written to be understood. Refreshingly honest and open,” Nuts & Bolts is a book about hope and inspiration; stories about real people and companies who are making a difference that are influencing the future of our planet and its people. It captures deep insights from the considerable

time McLean has spent with entrepreneurs and innovators, on the importance of inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship, and provides a mix of global experiences and entrepreneurship narratives that eloquently sketch out the ‘nuts and bolts’ for entrepreneurship and innovation. “I hope this book will be of value to those wanting to make a difference, or be the difference, in solving many challenges faced by our world today, and in developing new products and services to create new market opportunities for a better world.” E Book - CLICK HERE

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MENTHER LEGAL

Launching with the end in mind

n the effort to shed some light in launching your business successfully and further providing a softer landing for and when the business faces challenges. We can all agree that it has taken the Covid-19 global pandemic for us to take a step back and reexamine many aspects of our lives and reflecting on what matters most. The traditional forms of operating a business are fast becoming redundant in the forever changing digital landscape. For instance, we see how remote working has now become a viable option as well as having seen a trajectory in the home

services sector which has opened us to multiple streams of income in

CEO of Bliss Director at Meraki Legal Co- Founder of Learned Friend and The Professionista

using the digital space. Start-ups are said to be rising at the fastest rate in more than a decade, more so with the rise of social media, we are seeing more and more digital entrepreneurs. Every entrepreneur needs a website and that comes with legalities. You need not have a fully-fledged website but you can start with a one-page and build as you grow. Electronic Commerce (eCommerce) plays a vital role in our daily lives whether personal or professional. Before the coming of eCommerce, the dominant form of commerce was the brick-and-mortar businesses

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such as retail outlets that have at least one physical location. Brickand-mortar commerce still exists, but is quickly being replaced by eCommerce. In an evolutionary sense, most of the brick-andmortar stores are transforming into eCommerce stores. So, what are the common “to-do’s” before launching an online business or electronic magazine just like MentHer? When establishing an online company, the common preliminary steps include, considering the form of company to be incorporated (whether private, public or non-profit) as these are incorporated for different purposes. Incorporating the company with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The main constitutional document for a South African company is its Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI). Shareholders’ agreements are subservient to the MOI and are not filed with the CIPC. It is also possible to purchase a shelf company and subsequently make changes to it (directorship changes, share transfers, adoption of a bespoke MOI). What one must also consider are licences that a company

will need to obtain to operate certain businesses, such as a bookmaker’s licence for instance. Further, considering the registration of intellectual property (such as trademarks, domain names and/or patents) especially in the information era. On incorporation, a company is automatically assigned a tax number by SARS for income tax purposes – so another important consideration is registering for the correct taxes as well as understanding the specific applicable thresholds. Businesses are governed by

contracts and an online business is no different. The parties that an online business can expect to contract with are similar to those with which a brickand-mortar business will interact and are largely dependent on the type of business conducted.

Over and above contracts required for the operation of any business, online businesses can generally expect to contract with:

- Developers, web, application

and user interface designers and providers of various services required to provide digital products and services such as connectivity, hosting services, payment platforms and payment

gateways. - Content providers, if the business will not be providing its own content. - Software providers and antivirus providers. - Customers. It is advisable to seek expert legal advice when drafting these contracts since they can be very technical and the various laws that govern contracting on the internet, such as; - Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA); - Consumer Protection Act (CPA); - Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA); - National Credit Act 2005 (NCA); - Regulation of Interception and Monitoring of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA) Which need to be applied with understanding. As an entrepreneur, I implore existing businesses and startups to put the importance of reflecting and reviewing their strategies to have the agility to positively respond to changing (and sometimes very challenging) circumstances such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

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MENTHER CAREER

Launch and challenge yourself to

FULFILL YOUR CAREER AMBITIONS Have you been thinking about launching your business or upgrading your career? Do you want to challenge yourself to grow towards your idea of success? STOP overthinking; grab a pen and a notebook or your favourite digital note-taking device. Let’s get you prepared to take decisive action today!

“Failure to plan is a plan to fail.” Before you dive into the tips section below that has been created to help you move forward in your desired career, start your own business, change your job, or gain promotion in your current role. The essential tips are the same for all stages, and it requires you to make time for self-awareness and build on your daily action taking habits.

all know that tomorrow never comes, especially if you are already busy.

ip 1: Time to reflect and evaluate your current position Throughout your career and life, you should always reflect daily on your goals, actions and how you feel about the outcomes - good or bad. When planning your next

How to use the tips shared

In this article, I will ask you to do a little bit of self-evaluation by writing down your answers and reflecting on your goals and plans. As you read, write the tips’ heading and fill in your answers straight after reading this. WARNING If you save this bit of work until tomorrow, we

move, ask yourself and write the answers. ● Why do you want the change? ● What do you hope to achieve? ● What do you need to do to achieve it? ● How would you feel when you have accomplished your goal? ● How do you feel about your current situation? ● What are your motivations for the changes you want to make There are various questions you want to explore, and it is essential to note down everything you are thinking about the decision you intend to make. If you have limited time, conduct a SWOT analysis on yourself. This task will give a visual view of your (internal) strengths, weaknesses, (external) opportunities and

Founder / Lead Talent Development Coach pRESPECT

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threats. You will be able to see whats skills you may need to learn to make your career move, what options are available externally to support you, and how your weaknesses and external threats may block your paths. You will then create a plan to turn weaknesses into strengths and find external opportunities to kick the dangers out. I would encourage you to create a Poster of your SWOT and keep track of how you are turning your weaknesses into strengths.

ip 2: Understand what Barriers you have control over and those that require external guidance. Addressing barriers is part of you developing good selfawareness habits and personal growth. Meaning you have to do a little bit of work to manage the obstacles. Start by listing the potential, known, and hidden barriers currently holding you back. Doing this bit of work will help you identify where your mindset is and provide you with opportunities to break down the barriers within your control. It will release excess baggage that you may not realise is leaking out during your interactions with employers, business partners and potential network. Write down your barriers and state which you can

control and those that require external support.

ip3 Research, Insights and Network With every decision you make regarding your career or business plans, research, insight, and networking are your new best friends. Add these activities as part of your daily tasks, such as joining a Facebook group or social media channel within the profession or industry you are interested in entering. Set 20-30 minutes a day reading books, blogs, articles or news specific to your career interest. Connect with people on LinkedIn, attend events and invest in updating your skills set. Write down questions you are struggling with during your research and use this to ask when you attend events or join social media live streams. These activities will help you make the right decisions with launching your business or changing your career. You will be informed, confident and have developed a habit of keeping your eyes on the continually evolving economy.

ip 4 Set goals with a daily action plan Now you have addressed your barriers, defined your reasons for your career change and have some insight and knowledge to

back up your decisions. You now need to set goals and deadlines. We are talking about using SMART with the five principles of goal-setting, including clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback, and task complexity, to visualise where you want to be in 1-5years. Without goals, you are casting your net into thin air. According to research on goal-setting carried out by Dr Gail Matthews at the Dominican University in California, you are 42 % more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. When you have created your long term goals (1-5 years), break them down into short term goals 1-12 months. When you have done that, break it down again, and this time, turn them into daily action. This way, you will know you are always working towards achieving your big goals and taking daily steps will reduce procrastination, improve motivation and focus. In Summary - Evaluate your current position, define why you want to change your career, address the barriers, research your chosen industry and set goals with measurable action that you will reflect daily to ensure you are on track. Add the added secret sauce of keeping your skills updated with short courses. For the over-thinkers, I would say, “Feel the fear and do it anyway”-Susan Jeffers.

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MENTHER MARKETING

Keep thriving post pandemic I don’t have to mention to you that 2020 was not a simple year for many SMME’s

he COVID-19 pandemic traded off the wellbeing of our workers and clients; the absence of subsidizing implied that a couple of associations needed to call it quits for the day. While changes in customer conduct implied that turning your business turned out to be expensive and dangerous for a few. In this way, 2020 was sufficient to send any entrepreneur running for the slopes; and, tragically, every issue organisation proprietors confronted a year ago won’t vanish any time soon. To battle these issues and other challenges that can be expected, here are a couple of ways you can get ready for a more prosperous and forward-moving business this year.

Update your site This post here gives you some understanding into what transforms you could make to your site postCOVID-19. It’s tied in with ensuring your clients are educated and get a feeling of power from your site.

Do you need assistance refreshing your site for a post-COVID-19 world? Each site needs to add a COVID-19 proclamation to the landing page, header, or footer of their site, paying little heed to in the event that they have been influenced by the pandemic. In case you’re a web based business website or have an actual store area, this is the ideal opportunity to invest some energy developing your online stock, refreshing pictures and making enticing item portrayals.

Incorporate Google Analytics Google Analytics is the announcing apparatus to end all revealing instruments for entrepreneurs.

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It is straightforward, simple to utilize and gives you measurements that you didn’t know were conceivable to follow. To introduce Google Analytics inside your site, make yourself a Google account, input the entirety of your business data, at that point add the code to your HTML. In the event that you are not super technically knowledgeable, have no dread, we can get this all set up for you, track your information and even set up extensive reports with nitty gritty activities purposes of what these numbers mean and how to improve. Google Analytics enables you to follow the number of individuals visit your site, how long they are there for, what they do there and on the off chance that they convert. Also following who came from where, your online business exchange rate, and which guests saw items, added to their crate, yet didn’t look at. I could stay here throughout the day singing the gestures of recognition of Google Analytics and why it is so unbelievably imperative to the running of your online business exercises, notwithstanding, it might simply be simpler for you to continue ahead with introducing it.

Invest in Research Streamline your profiles, with the goal that they can show up on indexed lists and endeavor to direct people to your site at each conceivable chance. On the off

chance that you need assistance with building up a substance methodology for your web-based media accounts.

Level up your social media advertising Web-based media profiles can in some cases drop off the radar when you’re a bustling autonomous entrepreneur and refreshing them may feel like an errand. Notwithstanding, setting aside some an ideal opportunity to guarantee that your social records are state-of-the-art, eyegetting and have a fair measure of substance booked, will be imperative in the coming months.

Invest in Research Streamline your profiles, with the goal that they can show up on indexed lists and endeavor to direct people to your site at each conceivable chance. On the off chance that you need assistance with building up a substance methodology for your web-based media accounts.

Surveys and tributes Developing a positive online presence is a lot simpler when your business is accepting normal surveys and tributes. Ask your customers and clients to rate their experience on the web, either on Google or another business webpage, similar to Yelp. You should react to each remark in a cordial and expert way,

whether or not the audit is positive, or negative. Add a tributes page to your site to urge clients to assemble trust with you and, at last, convert.

Strategic Partnership It’s not just about beating your opposition. Small and mediumsized endeavors consistently advantage from cooperation, so shaping solid coalitions with others in your industry is an incredible method to move your business to the next level. Presently, we will pardon you for feeling that joint efforts are simply a web-based media giveaway or an online rivalry; they are far beyond that. Top tip: giveaways don’t always work, so don’t burn through your pocket. Reach a portion of different associations inside your specialty and get together to hold an online occasion or community deal. It pays off to get into the psyche of your optimal crowds and target segment, comprehend what they need, and the rest will follow.

Ear to the ground My last tip is to ensure you keep steady over the business news within your area of expertise. Customer patterns have taken uncommon turns in the previous a year, with hand sanitiser makers and tissue move makers scouring their hands… not simply to keep them clean.

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Social Impact Founders Club Thinking about joining our SIFC membership community, but not sure, see if you fit the profile. A woman ready to pursue your dreams Want to live on purpose and fulfil your potential Want to do something that has impact and meaning Want a business that creates positive impact Want to drive social change in your community or the world Want to make money and do good Currently have an idea and not sure what to do next Recently started a business/ side-hustle Keep starting and stopping and feeling a bit stuck Thinking of leaving your job/ switching from corporate Running/volunteering with a non-profit and want to do more or introduce a revenue to be sustainable Join our community membership@menther.co.za Inspire | Connect | Empower

MENTHER

About MentHer Inspire: We share inspirational stories of social entrepreneurs on their journey creating social impact and provide information that will offer guidance on starting a social enterprise. Connect: We create a global network community of social entrepreneurs by connecting them to each other and linking them to mentors. Empower: We offer virtual workshops, courses and a Membership community among other resources to help social entrepreneurs in their impactful work.

Community of like-minded social entrepreneurs Peer mentorship and accountability Private community chat group Monthly skills webinar Access to expert mentors through the MentHer Rotation Signature programme As I Am Purpose Planner (digital) Profile in MentHer Magazine

Topics Covered

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Marketing & Branding Business Strategy Managing Finances Entrepreneurship Mindset Understanding Social Impact Resilience Purpose & Mentorship Selling to Corporates Social Enterprise Foundations Business Leadership Alternative Business Models Visualisation & Goal Setting Inspire | Connect | Empower

MENTHER TECHNOLOGY

Mary Jackson

Katherine Johnson

Dorothy Vaughan

Women in Technology “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure” - Marianne Williamson

had to think long and hard about what to specifically capture in this article in honour and alignment to the launch and theme of this incredible magazine. Then as I was scratching my head, it came to me, the very launch and challenge for this edition is all about inspiring women to unapologetically claim their seats at the technology table in whatever role they play.

seemingly stupid they are (and I say seemingly because it is only stupid when it is not expressed).

In this article we are challenging women to bring forth their ideas no matter how

We want women to share their challenges and breakthroughs with each other and with the world. We recommend that women mentor each other and allow themselves to be mentored to reach greater heights. Just before I lost a patch of hair on my head, I remembered the movie “Hidden Figures”. Have you seen that Powerful movie? If not, please do yourself a favour and watch it. This is a true story about three BRILIANT BLACK women that worked at NASA in the 1960s who made it possible for John Glenn’s

CEO: AB4IR & Founding Director: Drone Council SA

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inaugural orbit around earth possible, Ms Mary Jackson, Ms Katherine Johnson, and Ms Dorothy Vaughan. They were mathematicians but because not only they were Black but Women too, they were overlooked. They had incredible heads on their shoulders but because they were deemed inferior their contributions were ignored. I mean these women could calculate numbers even fast then the machines employed at the time, but they were wearing the wrong pigment and bodies. If you think about the insurmountable challenges that Black people experienced during those times in the United States of America (USA) and for those three women to have pushed their way and be a part of this undeniable history, INCREDIBLE. Does it not make you want to claim your seat in the current times where women are consciously encouraged

through various programmes and platforms to take the front seat? While you are still pondering that thought, may I throw in the fact that there was another Black woman, a Mathematician too who in the 1950s and 60s was very instrumental in the development of the Geographical Positioning System (GPS) technology?

Her Name is Dr Gladys West. Thanks to the movie “Hidden Figures” her story came up. She was finally recognised for her contribution. I guess this is what Marianne Wilson meant right? “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear

is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” So, I ask you, what is your greatest fear in bringing your idea to life or taking your business to the next level? If Black women could do such magic in times where they were considered inferior, what is holding you back from doing your magic in times where you are celebrated. What a time to be alive as a woman regardless of race! Just for today, allow yourself to push boundaries in the technology space and every other space you interact with. Keep shinning!

5 key lessons from the movie: • Unapologetically advocate for yourself and your accomplishments. • Lift as you rise. • Consistency is key. • Humble beginnings can lead to greater opportunities. • Be strategic about your allies, you may need them to show up when it matters most to champion on your behalf.

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Photo sourced: womenanddrones.com

MENTHER INNOVATION

The World of Women in Drones

t has been said that to succeed at something difficult or challenging, one needs to launch into it by taking a leap of faith. Launch into it by starting small, being brave and staying the course. Taking on the challenge and never being afraid to fail. And that is what some trailblazing women have done in South Africa by entering our commercial drone industry. The journey has not been without its difficulties though. Since drone regulations were promulgated in mid-2015 (South African Civil Aviation Authority - Part 101), the initially labelled innovative response to this new cutting-edge technology has turned out to be somewhat more challenging and slower-moving

than expected. Interestingly, drone technology has been dubbed one of the key contributors to the fourth industrial revolution (also known as 4iR). According to a recent McKinsey report, ‘The Future of Work in South Africa’, the question was posed as to what was necessary to ‘reignite’ economic growth and transformation, invigorate skills, and create many high-quality jobs. The report suggests what actions might be required by individuals and should include focus on skills, not just certification, embrace lifelong learning, target highgrowth sectors and roles, and find opportunities for entrepreneurship. The report also highlights that digitisation could create new opportunities for women in the form

Direct: UAV Aerial Works

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of 1.6million jobs, which in turn would boost empowerment. Perhaps we were lulled into a false sense of opportunity because of the perceived low barrier to entry. Drones are so easily accessible; one can purchase a hobby drone in a toy store and start flying almost immediately. There is however much more to the industry than meets the eye. Historically, women have not been synonymous with stand-out jobs in the aviation industry. Even now, one only must google images of ‘Jobs in Aviation’, or ‘Drone Pilots’ and an array of males in the ‘flying’ seats are displayed. The narrative is changing, however. More women are joining aviation and most notably, the drone industry. Women are no longer assumed to be working exclusively as flight attendants or check in desk assistants, and are now proverbially bootstrapping, buckling up, launching to fly, and challenging the norm. If the commercial drone industry has had a slow start, 2020 was the year that challenged that. The Drone Council South Africa was formed to realise South Africa’s strategy within 4iR and the objectives of the National Development Plan. It is structured to support, grow, and empower the entire drone industry, making it accessible across the board, even to those who do not yet know this is an option. In fact, two of the three founding Directors of the Drone Council are women, both of whom bring an awe-inspiring array of experience and credentials. The buzz continued into 2021, with the much-anticipated launch

of ‘Women and Drones Africa’, which is the first international chapter of the well-established USA ‘Women and Drones’ platform. The mission of ‘Women and Drones Africa’ is to raise awareness of the roles women are playing in the African drone industry; to support their greater involvement in the drone industry across Africa and to inspire women and girls to enter the world of drones. So, what about these trailblazing women mentioned earlier? There are several standout examples of women in our drone industry who are here, having been inspired by other women in their own likeness, showcased in the media at the time. These women had no idea what they wanted to do careerwise, until one day they paged through a magazine, saw these successful women in aviation and realised what some of them describe as ‘if they can do that, so can I’. Some of our trailblazers in drones have commented that their early perceived idea of jobs in aviation was that one would have to be resilient, confident, and assertive. In other words, behavioural traits associated with men. Therefore, there was never the natural tendency to consider jobs in this industry. The drone industry ecosystem is of course much more than piloting a drone. In some instances, inspired by their female aviation predecessors, we now see drone pilots, drone pilot instructors, maintenance technicians, entrepreneurs – drone

manufacturing, aviation training school and commercial drone operation. Many of these women are now networking well, are beginning to support each other, and have joined ‘Women And Drones’, where weekly ‘Fireside Chats’ are an opportunity to share, learn and inspire. In my discussions with some of these women, the theme is consistent. Perseverance and sheer grit are required to pursue, self-fund and knock on doors to succeed in this challenging fledgeling industry. Some have worked in particularly malecrowded industries before taking the leap of faith into the world of drones – another male crowded world – would this pose the same challenges? Some have had to ‘convince’ their families that this world of drones is a viable proposition and are now loving the challenge. In the words of Sharon Rossmark, CEO of USA ‘Women And Drones’, “If you can see me, you can be me.” Just as some of these women were inspired by other women who came before them, they in turn are encouraged to fly the flag, engage, mentor and support those who may stumble upon them in a magazine or meet them at a fire side chat.

South African Civil Aviation Authority The future of Work in South Africa Drone Council South Africa National Development Plan 2030 Women and Drones

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MENTHER WELLNESS

Eat to

Photo by Anna Shvets

T hr i v e

Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. Kholeka Mkhize shares useful tips on how to eat to thrive. WELLNESS

s a woman one is faced with lots of challenges daily, be it domestic, work or business related. Society automatically expects women to be experts at multi-tasking as parents, partners, children, relatives, work colleagues, supervisors and or entrepreneurs. In order to succeed in this man-made, male dominated workplace, women often have to work ten times as

good as the male counterparts, which can often cost us our health. We know that our health is our real wealth and it should never be sacrificed on the altar of success. In order to have a balance in life women need a healthy body, a sound mind and to be spiritually fulfilled and that is achieved by eating properly as they say “you are what you eat”. This requires us to challenge our current eating patterns, which may be synced with going for

what’s easiest and most convenient, which often isn’t healthy. We need to move from eating to survive or eating for comfort to eating to thrive. Just like a house is made up of bricks, the human body is made up of millions of cells which differ in size, shape and function. If the cells are fed well – that is given the right kind of food - then they will function properly and keep the person alive and healthy.

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Why we eat?

Everything we consume is converted into end products in our body, which is the energy the body burns to power our activities for the day. There are 4 steps involved in breaking down the food eaten so that it can be used by the body: Ingestion, digestion, absorption and elimination. Food contains one or more of the following nutrients: Protein, Carbohydrates, Fat, Vitamins and Minerals, Fiber and Water.

in a healthy gut and strengthen the immune system). Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, lowers fat absorption and helping weight management, stabilize blood sugar (glucose) levels and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease Insoluble fiber found in cereal grains, edible skin and seeds of fruits (helps reduce constipation and lowers the risk of diverticular disease).

Protein, builds the muscles and makes the body strong; these are the ‘Builder Foods’ such as meat, eggs, milk, beans etc.

Carbohydrate and Fat, mainly provide the body with energy; these are the ‘Petrol Foods’ as they provide fuel for the body e.g. maizemeal, sugar, fat etc.

Vitamins and Minerals, provide protection against illness and disease; these are immune booster Foods e.g. vegetables and fruits.

Fiber, is essential as it slows down digestion and keeps one full for longer. There are two types of fiber soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is found in foods like oats, legumes, vegetables and fruits (helps to hold water and form gels, also fermentable by good gut microflora which results

Water intake is very important to help regulate the body’s temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Water loss from the body occurs through stools, urine and evaporation. It is important to rehydrate the body by drinking fluids (+/- 2l water daily or 250ml for every 10 kg you weigh) and eating foods that contain water.

What is a balanced diet?

Firstly, diet isn’t intended to imply an eating programme to lose weight, rather what you eat daily (good or bad) is your diet. Therefore, a balanced diet is one that contains carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables, fruits and water which can only be achieved by eating a variety of food throughout the day divided in six meals. The main meals are constituted by breakfast, lunch and dinner while in-between these meals a snack is important to keep the body’s energy constant. A balanced diet in conjunction with a good exercise helps the body utilize the food adequately and to keep fit; therefore; it is important to choose what is eaten wisely to get the ultimate health benefit that maintains the body, mind and spirit on a daily basis.

QUICK POLL There are two camps of people, which are you? CAMP A: Live to eat = ends up with chronic diseases because of over-indulgence and over comsumption of food (gluttony). CAMP B: Eat to Live= keeps body energised according to its needs, thus keeping healthy.

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Tips!

Photo by Anna Shvets

Kholeka Mkhize shares tips for eating to thrive

here are times when one is to meet work deadlines or for some reason the day just unpredictably turns hectic and mealtimes are missed. It is always good to plan ahead and prepare for such days by packing “quick energy snacks” e.g. packet of mixed nuts, whole grain crackers, fresh/dried fruits, water to snack on throughout the day. On such day avoid eating snacks high in sugar and fat because they are not filling and leads to weight gain. Most importantly make time to eat even if it means taking a five minute’s break for a healthy sandwich or some fruit. In order to eat right and keep moLUNCH COMBO | Two slices of brown bread, a tivated in a healthy diet one has to

start by choosing healthy food when buying groceries and avoid fast food as much as possible because these are often high in hidden fat, sugar and are highly processed. Once one gets used to eating the right and healthy food it becomes easy to choose prep and eat healthy. Training the tongue to taste good healthy food helps one to immediately identify unhealthy food with one taste. Do not procrastinate good health, start today and keep motivated the results will show eventually.

slice of cheese, an apple and a glass of juice/water.

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Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

MENTHER RESILLIENCE

Restorative sleep is your superpower The single most important way to protect your brain, and be resilient!

aking up refreshed, energised and excited to start your day … does that seem impossible? Or something that you last did when going to Nursery School. There is literally ‘tons’ of research on sleep. The latest and easiest to read and digest is from Matthew Walker (Professor of neuroscience and psychology and the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley). His book: ‘Why We Sleep’ is brilliant. Watch his YouTube videos with your family

over meal time. Make this a daily

topic of discussion in your house; so that you ignite awareness, curiosity and most importantly shift behaviours for yourself and your loved ones. After all sleep is your personalised Swiss Army Knife, which helps ‘fix’ eating issues, brain-fog, and ensures that you have abundant energy to GSD (Get Stuff Done) in your day. You need ‘restorative sleep’ to ensure that you are resilient and can bounce forward with dynamism and agility to tackle all life’s challenges and endeavors.

Behaviourist

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What can you do to enhance your sleep? Start your day with a mindset of gratefulness. Change your self-talk about sleep. A good night’s sleep for ‘tonight’ starts the minute you open your eyes / your ‘peep holes’ in the morning. While you are making your bed (even if you didn’t have the best night’s sleep) say out loud that you are grateful for a good, solid bed (replace your mattress if you haven’t done that in the last 5 — 8 years); your lovely linen and your comfy pillow. I do this, and I ‘tell my bed’ that I can’t wait to be warm, ‘nurtured’ and sleep peacefully (again) tonight.

End your day well: your bedroom is ONLY for sex, reading and sleep! A few no-no’s: No TV; no mobile phones (put them on flight mode); no laptop and hence no work or even Netflix in your bedroom! Rather read a great novel (forget about your work books), this is far better for your brain. Reading a novel also helps to escape the realities and responsibilities of the day. Being able to escape and ‘tune out’ from the day is a great way to distress, lower your cortisol and get ready for deep, relaxing and restorative sleep.

Before the end of your day, you need to learn how to budget time to winddown

night). These toxins accumulate daily and are called beta amyloid.

Dedicate the last 60 mins of your day to YOU. I have a few nonnegotiables: my 30 min Epsom salts bath with lavender oil. This is researched by Dr Tara Swart, the Neuroscientist to have a calming effect on your brain. In addition, I read my novel, which is great for de-stressing and the unintended benefit is that reading is known to enhance one’s creative thinking abilities. When I am in the mood, I also play soft, gentle music.

Speak to your family, friends and significant ‘others’ and tell them that in the last 60-90 mins of your day, you have decided NOT to discuss family, work/school or house maintenance issues etc. End the day by reading an exciting novel, poem or even an uplifting magazine.

A few more tips that help…

Don’t watch the news and / or be on any device for 6090 mins before bedtime. Reading the news is hardly ever uplifting … in fact it will mostly stress you!

A ‘Game Changer’ is to invest in, and wear blue light blocker glasses (see www.resilientpeople.co.za for reasonable and very effective TrulyBLUE glasses). This enables your brain to start producing the essential sleep hormone called melatonin. This keeps you in the deep stages of sleep: both generative sleep (your brain keeps growing) and restorative sleep (your brain flushes out toxins at

A ‘Gratitude Practice’ to end your day. It is incredibly beneficial to write in a Journal and express (or maybe dump) your thoughts from the day. Express what you are grateful for - from the various chats and other experiences during the day. Write about both your good experiences and your tough experiences. We learn from everything, and most importantly, we benefit from everything! By choosing a ‘gratitude lens’ on life - we also teach ourselves to reframe issues. This is especially important at night, right before we slip into slumber land. We want to actively reduce our adrenalin and cortisol levels so that we can have a restful night’s sleep. We all know that waking up refreshed and feeling brain-fit is a treat!

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MENTHER

Social Impact Founders Club MASTER CLASSES

2021

Our master classes are crafted for entrepreneurs with an idea or in the early stages of running their business. We have a great team of mentors who work in the field of their subject matter who will deliver dynamic and informative sessions to guide you on your journey of creating a business and life to drive social impact. Our master classes are free for members in our Social Impact Founders Club, but open to the public.

Join our community today, membership@menther.co.za

January Wed, 27 Jan

February Wed, 24 Feb

March Wed, 31st

Visualisation & Goal Setting

Marketing & Branding

Be Your own CEO

Mentor Ntsiki

Mentor Modiegi

Mentor Louise

April

May

June

Understanding Social Impact

Selling to Corporates

Alternative Business Models

Mentor Adelaide

Mentor Kat

Mentor Micaela Inspire | Connect | Empower

INSPIRE | CONNECT| EMPOWER

Our Contributors

Thank you for coming together to make this possible and for the work you do to support and empower women Joni Peddie (Resilience) Speaker // Team Performance Facilitator // MD @ Resilient People www.resilientpeople.co.za joni.peddie Lianne Lutz (Finance) Founder // Financial Advisor @ Women’s Wealth www.womenswealth.co.za @womenswealthsa Kelebogile Molopyane (Technology) Chief Executive @ AB4IR www.ab4ir.org @KelebogileMolopyane Kholeka Mkhize (Wellness) Dietician // Nutritionist kholeka-mkhize Advocate Aurelia Nxumalo (Legal) CEO of Bliss | Director at Meraki Legal Co- Founder of Learned Friend and The Professionista www.theprofessionista.co.za www.learnedfriend.co.za aurelianxumalo Gugulethu Mfuphi (Business) Conversation Strategist // Broadcaster // Financial Journalist www.gugulethumfuphi.co.za @gugumfuphi Sustainable Fashion Scotland (Sustainability) Sustainable Fashion Community www.sustfash.scot sustfashscotland Louise Mitchell (Pitching) Pitch & Presentation Architect www.takemyword.co.za www.pitchplatform.biz @louisemitchell-takemyword

Mona Willis (Styling) Virtual Stylist www.wearejona.com moh_nah Modiegi Mulaudzi (Marketing) Founder @ LEFA Communications www.lefa.co.za mo_mulaudzi/ Zanele Njapha (Unlearning) Unlearning Coach www.zanelenjapha.com zanele_njapha Vimbai Schwalm (Building Trust) Trust Builder - Coach www.healingwithtrust.com healing_with_trust Viana Maya (Career Tips) Career and Talent Development Coach www.prespect.co.uk viana-maya Kim James (Women&Drones) Direct: UAV Aerial Works www.aerialworks.co.za kimjamesdrones Clothes 2 Good (Green Ecosystems) Recycle // Reward // Empower www.c2cx.co.za clothes2good

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MENTHER TECHNOLOGY

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MENTHER MAGAZINE ISSUE 01

Articles inside

by Viana Maya MARKETING

TECHNOLOGY Women in Technology

CAREER Fulfill your career ambitions

LEGAL

by Clothes to Good (C2G) STYLING

Dress for power - Style tips by Mona Willis BOOK CLUB Nuts & Bolts

INCLUSIVITY

PODCAST Top Ten 2020 Interviews

BUSINESS Purpose, Passion and Profit by Gugulethu Mfuphi

Pitching to Clients

Vision and Purpose Ntsiki Mkhize SPOTLIGHT Global Girl Project

COVER INTERVIEW

RELATIONSHIPS Building Trust article

Unlearning article by Zanele Njapha SUSTAINABILITY

MEET THE MENTORS