BWASA :: Dbn Past Events 2007

BWOYA ROADSHOW 2007

Monday, 29 October 2007
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Review by: Karen Brokensha, Matatu Marketing

They say dynamite comes in small packages - well let me tell you it comes in the elegant black & vivacious blonde female form too. In the real life personified versions Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe and Renee Silverstone respectively wowed us, inspired us and challenged us to reach down, pull up and strive harder to achieve our dreams and the work/life balance. The Durban audience was slightly overwhelmed by the successful duo but am sure that in the quietness we were all drinking from the overflow of their successful cups. We salute you !

Guests networking

Kanyi Gasa (IDC), Karen Brokensha (Matatu Marketing) & Lara Mellon (Guest Citadel Investment Services)

Farzanah Mall (PWC), Paula Heath (BWA), Khosi Younis (Health Spa's Guide & BWA), Renee Silverstone (Jupiter Drawing Room), Basetsana Kumalo (President BWASA) Angie Makwetla (CEO BWASA), Thoko Mokgosi-Mwantembe (Hewlett Packard SA) & Amantha Maharaj (Thabile Engineering & BWA).

Seventh Joint Venture Creatin Seminar - BWA & IDC

17 September 2007
Quarters Hotel, Florida Rd, Durban
Review by: Kanyi Gasa, IDC

IDC KZN recently sponsored the Businesswomen’s Association (BWA), Durban Branch, seventh Joint Venture creation breakfast at the elegant Quarters Hotel in Durban

We had the pleasure of hosting Bharti Harie Head: International Finance as our guest speaker. The BWA venture creation seminars are geared towards encouraging women to join the mainstream of the SA economy by creating joint ventures with other businesses. Most of the attendees are women already in business.

Bharti’s presentation focused on Importing, Exporting and bridging the gap between contracts and tenders in South Africa. The presentation was well received, with the ladies asking many engaging questions pertaining to existing contracts that they have and other opportunities they had identified.

A very positive response has been received from the breakfast with leads being generated for both International Finance & the Healthcare & Education SBU’s.

Kanyi Gasa (IDC), Vani Moodley (BWA), Bharti Hari (IDC) & Paula Heath (BWA)

Ladies enjoying breakfast prior to the presentation

Business Linkage Tea

8 September 2007
BWA Durban Offices at 54 Clair Ave, Manor Gardens

The BWA Durban recently played host to a Business Linkage Tea, holding a presentation on the exciting developments that have recently occured within the BWA and inviting all professional Businesswomen within the Durban area to attend. In addition, Durban's dynamic Chairperson, Vaneetha Moodley delivered an inspiring and ensightful presentation on "Leading in a Diverse Economy".

We had a fanastic turnout; with many new faces being introduced to our dynamic organisation. All in attendance ensure that the networking opportunity provided was fully utilised, and business cards were dispersed enthusiastically.

We will be sure to host another Tea in the near future, in the hope that it will prove as successful as our first attempt has been. A big Thank You must go out to the BWA Durban Committee who provided all the delectable cakes, sweets and snacks! And to Margaret Kruger, the BWA Durban Treasurer, for the use of her stunning venue.

The delectable treats supplied by the BWA Dbn Committee

Vaneetha Moodley's presentation ensured all in attendance were enthralled thoughout �

Spring Pamper Day

1 September 2007
Spirit & Soul Spa, 17 Windsor Ave, Umhlanga Durban
Review by: Wendy Lewis of Occuwell Health

The arranged date for this function was really so appropriate being it the beginning of Spring and a day to relax and rejoice being alive and well in a revitalized South Africa. The venue, "Spirit and Soul Spa", started the day on a sping-like note with all the spring colours featuring at the Spa, the decor consists of beautiful greens, yellows and oranges. The Spa, overlooking a lovely sparkling pool and relaxation area which was dappled in sunlight, became the most idealic environment when teamed with their relaxing background music.

All in attendance were treated to a relaxing head, neck and shoulder massage; while some chose to also have their hair done. In between the massage and health drinks and snacks there were several, most informative, presentations on Nutrition by Lisa Alcock, and Aromatherapy by Kogie Reddy. The interactive nature of these presentations were a good indication that all present found them both worthwhile and interesting.

Personally I was delighted, for a change, to be able to completely "space out" and enjoy being me. Something, as busy and multitasking women, we all need to make time for from time to time. Bless you for arranging this lovely day and my most sincere personal thanks. Please keep the good ideas rolling.

Spirit and Soul Spa - Garden Area

Spirit and Soul Spa - Aerial View

Ready in waiting

The BWA Ladies enthralled in one of the presentations

The Massueses hard at work

Spirit and Soul Spa

Leadership Coaching & EQ

Friday, 29 June 2007
Thyme Square, Florida Road
Review by: Jessie Chetty, Midlands Medical Centre

Thank you to the BWA and the team for the outstanding talk on leadership and EQ. The ladies, from Midlands Medical Centre, really enjoyed your dynamic speakers, aswell as the opportunity to meet such successful women in business. This has given us all a motivation to excell in our own working environment.

The BWA durban was very pleased to host a seminar on Leadership and EQ by three very vibrant and professional women - Loueen Jones, Lisa Kinnear and Karen Ortlepp. To begin with, a hand over was done to our 2006 Bursary Winner, Monica Haripersad, who delivered an awe inspiring acceptance speech, which turned out to a perfect introduction for our three speakers.

With a captivated audience, our Ladies proceeded to speak of emotional intelligence, different leadership roles, the changing role of leadership in the working environment and how we as Businesswomen can use our unique characteristics to lead our staff to higher productivity in the workplace.

Monica Haripersad, 2006 BWA Durban Bursary Winner

Karen Ortlepp had all our Ladies hard at Work, completing a questionaire, during her presentation on Emotional Intelligence and Leadership.

Loueen Jones, Lisa Kinnear & Karen Ortlepp our dynamic Speakers.

BWA Regional Business Achiever Awards 2007

Friday, 15 June 2007
Southern Sun Elangeni

The Businesswomens Association Durban, in conjuction with Nedbank, hosted a highly successful Awards evening on 15 June 2007. A sincere thanks must go out to all our sponsors, judges, Durban committee members, Viv Turk and the service providers for their valued contribution to a very successful BWA Regional Business Achievers Award Ceremony 2007.

The function was attended by 190 members and guests. The winners in the different categories were:

Corporate: Lillian Kistan
Professional: Karien Hunter and Ms Amantha Maharaj
Start-Up: Premi Subramany
Entrepreneur: Dr Penny Govender

For the first time all our winners will compete at a National Level at the Business Woman of the Year Awards to be held in Johannesburg on 2 August 2007.

From Left: Penny Govender (Winner of our Entrepreneur category), Karien Hunter (One of two winners in our professional category), Lilian Kistan (Winner of our corporate Category), Amantha Maharaj (One of two winners of our professional Category), Margaret Makhaye (Winner of our Lifetime Achievers Award) and Premi Subramany ( Winner in the Start-up Category).

Vaneetha Moodley (BWA Durban Chairperson), Jenny Goddard (Nedbank Representative), Penny Govender (Winner of our Entrepreneur category), Karien Hunter (One of two winners in our professional category), Lilian Kistan(winner of our corporate Category),Margaret Makhaye ( Winner of our Lifetime Achievers Award), Premi Subramany ( Winner in the Start-up Category) and Basetsana Kumalo ( BWASA President).
In Front: Vivien Turk, Paula Heath (BWA Durban Coordinator), and Amantha Maharaj (One of two winners of our professional Category)

Faye Freedman, Thanda Khuboni (2006 winner entrepreneur category) and Karien Hunter ( One of two Winners in the Professional Category 2007)

Successfully Branding Your Business

Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Thyme Square, Florida Rd
Review by: Janet Aldworth, Sure Voyager Travel

Hilary from Thinkerbox in Johannesburg treated us to the most informative and helpful presentation I have ever seen / heard on Branding - having quite a few of these under my belt, I am something of an authority, having also participated in workshops its easy to make the subject something mythical. Not so with Hilary - straight facts, sensible and implementable suggestions - a very fast forward on a difficult subject but one that enabled us all to go back to work and apply some fundamentals in our businesses to help us more clearly see what is vital for the public to read from our logos and presentation of image. But what else would BWA do for us than be the practical helping hand we need in our businesses??!!

Hilary Mitchell

Members enjoying the function

BWA Venture Creation Seminars

Wednesday, 16 May 2007

Thyme Square

Review by: Menaka Padayachee, Operation Upgrade Workplace Unit

If you attended the Joint Business Venture event hosted recently at the elegant Thyme Square in Florida Road you'd agree that it was a resounding success.

Why? Well not only was the venue a delightful place to meet at, but Pria Hassan generously shared snippits of her own extensive experience forging such joint ventures across the continent, and told of how members present might do the same too.

Drawing a distinction between "businesswomen" and "entrepreneur", the latter being someone who's willing to take a risk in starting a new venture, Pria truly inspired us to do something similar ourselves. With such a dynamic group of ladies attending - ranging from financial, building and engineering sectors to someone with Eskom experience, furniture manufacturing and leadership development, it was not surprising therefore that before the end of the event, new alliances were forged right there and then, and some 5-6 businesswomen committed themselves to meeting again as a first step towards creating a joint mining venture. As Pria pointed out, it will mean hard work at first, lots of research and identifying the correct people and procedures, but very possible given the current economic climate.

This first meeting will be held in the next 2 weeks and we will keep you posted about developments.

Our thanks to Vani our regional Chair and Paula our newly appointed full time coordinator for laying on a truly well planned and executed event with an excellent inspiring speaker.

What struck me most about this particular event was the dynamism present around the breakfast table and the willingness of members to work together in the creation of a new joint ventures.

Rachel Singh (My Favourite Investments), Menaka Padayachee (Operation Upgrade Workplace Unit), Kanyi Gasa (IDC) & Adelaide Magwaza (SMA Assessment & Development Cons)

Amantha Maharaj (Thabile Engineering), Zama Phakathi (Durban Chamber of Business), Vash Singh (Standard Bank), Nicole Pillay (KNM Consulting) & Leanne Douglas (20 Questions)

Raksha Beecum-Khadaroo, Zama Phakhati (Durban Chamber of Business) & Pria Hassan (Speaker and WOA Investments (Pty) Ltd)

BUSINESS VENTURE CREATION 3RD SEMINAR

Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Durban Country Club

Vani Moodley (BWA Chairperson) & Kogie Moodley (Nedbank)

The third seminar was an in-depth presentation by Kogie Moodley, BEE Business Development Manager (KZN and Free State) at Nedbank Business Banking. This presentation was aimed at providing vital information on Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partnerships and how to gain access to linkages with big businesses through Nedbank. Kogie Moodley demystified many elements of how companies initiate and manage the BEE process. Kogie also highlighted how Nedbank assess potential deals, and the criteria.

Members enjoying the breakfast

AGM

Wednesday, 4 April 2007
Durban Country Club
Viv Turk

The BWA AGM was well worth attending from the point of view of knowing what dynamic and inspiring plans the Durban branch has for its members in 2007.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation from Monique Labat, General Manager of Trade Point, on the "Importance of Business Information and How to Source it". Monique Labat, a high achieving woman who has a passion for networking and business issues delivered an incredible wealth of information on what networks exist for information and how to access this information at very low cost, the type of information available and who would use it, to a collaboration strategy with organisation.

The attendees at the AGM were delighted to receive a copy of Monique Labat's presentation.

BUSINESS VENTURE CREATION 1st & 2nd SEMINAR

Tuesday, 30 January 2007 and Tuesday, 22 February 2007
Mount Edgecombe Country Club and TIKZN Boardroom
Review by: Gill Whittington-Banda, Enzangakho Consultancy

The Venture Creation seminar series promises to be of value to businesswomen with existing businesses, to those wanting to get involved in deals, and to those with start up companies. It is often difficult for people caught up in running a small to medium sized business to know how and where to access useful sources of support and information, or to step back and consider the bigger picture.

The Venture Creation series of seminars was kicked off by Jane Wiltshire, founder of Valbridge Trust. The Trust has carried out management buy-outs and buy-ins from large listed companies and major multinationals over the last eight years. Jane gave a clear and insightful presentation highlighting the opportunities and potential hazards, based on her extensive personal experience in this field.

The presentation demystified many elements of how companies initiate and manage the BEE process. Jane also highlighted how finance institutions assess potential deals, and what makes them decide that a specific deal is "bankable".

Jane encouraged her audience to think big: the rewards are bigger, and the financing of large deals easier. In addition, negotiating a deal is a lengthy and expensive process, so the rewards need to justify the time and resources committed. She emphasised that it is also critical to get the right type of deal - that is, ensuring you get good advice throughout the negotiation process, and the right deal structure: in some cases, this will mean that one has to walk away from a potential deal, however much time and effort may have been invested, if the final advice is that the deal does not stack up.

The second seminar was a presentation by Trade and Industry KZN (TIKZN). The presentations given by a small team from TIKZN gave both an overview of the Province's overall economic strategy, focusing on target sectors, and a sense of what services could be accessed by business from TIKZN.

The agency, which is linked closely to the Provincial Department of Economic Development, and with Local Government throughout the province, aims inter alia to; identify and package investment and export trade opportunities in KwaZulu-Natal; provide a comprehensive service to potential and current investors and exporters; ensure easy access to investment and export trade opportunities, and sustained aftercare; brand and market provincial investment opportunities and facilitate strategic partnerships.

The presentation also highlighted a couple of excellent online tools available through the TIKZN website, Global Sources, and E-trade platform, which have been designed to facilitate international trade in particular.