Entrepreneur Tips from Top Businesswoman

Durban Entrepreneurs Club held another successful event  at the Durban Country Club recently, when they hosted  Umlazi educated Sindi Mabaso-Koyana, who is now a successful entrepreneur based in Gauteng, as their guest speaker.  

Grant Gavin and Sindi Mabaso-Koyana

A chartered accountant by qualification, Sindi has held numerous high powered positions in the corporate world, including CFO of Transnet at age 30. Highly respected in the business world, Sindi is currently Chairperson of her own company, Advanced Capital, sits on the Board of Toyota SA and holds a position on the international audit committee of FIFA.

Her message to Durban Entrepreneurs was to follow their passion, whilst staying true to their own principles and values.  “Being an entrepreneur has a degree of risk attached to it, but if entrepreneurs are good at analysing that risk, and ensuring that their businesses have the basic systems in place to ensure that risk is managed correctly, then the opportunities can be capitalised on with much success.” She said. 

She also advised choosing business partners who could match the vision, principles and passion with those of another, and to be careful when going into partnerships before establishing that everyone is on the same page.  Another topic Sindi covered was leadership, and how important it is to be a leader who inspires and encourages, rather than a leader who instills fear into employees.  Finally, and in line with her whole approach to business and life in general, Sindi encouraged members to always give back to those less fortunate.  “Use your own success to inspire others and put your success to good use in your community.” She explained.

Grant Gavin who is the Founder of the Durban Entrepreneurs club pointed out  that there were 2 special moments on the night – the first being the attendance at the event of Sindi’s Headmaster from her High School in Umlazi, and the second being the surprise attendance of the man who headed up the HR department of Robertsons Spices, the company who gave Sindi her bursary for her tertiary education.  “Mr Charles Henzi was thrilled to meet up with Sindi, and to congratulate her on  the success she has achieved in her career.  It was a fairly emotional reunion for both, and epitomises the core principle upon which the Durban Entrepreneurs Club was founded – to connect people.”  Said Grant.