All I wanted to be when I left school was a
teacher. I wanted to do it better. Be more approachable. Change lives. Influence
the impressionable. I had never had a safe space. I had been branded as naughty
and that was it for me. I mean, it’s not as if I showed my teachers anything
different…
Unfortunately/serendipitously, I messed
about and did not get the marks I needed to go to Varsity and study teaching.
And so my dad, who insisted I study, put me into a travel school where I did 6
months of a travel and tourism certification. I went to work in 2 tour operators
thereafter and thoroughly enjoyed my period employed with these wonderful
companies and under these amazing bosses.
In 2001 I needed to get a job closer to home
as I had a one year old child that needed her mommy, and I was the breadwinner
so could not afford to simply not work. I was leaving home before 6 AM and
returning home after 6PM every day. My parents had started a management
consultancy in 1996, and they needed some admin assistance. Historically our
relationship was awful. So this was a short term agreement. In June, I will
have been employed by VCA for 20 years.
I have been the sole shareholder for 3 years,
having bought both my parents out. One in 2010, and one in 2018. This is the
history. But what is the emotion?
The business at the beginning was a space
where I had to learn, and fast. It was a world I had never heard of and a space
I had never played in
I fell in love with the world of commerce
and business really fast. It has ensued in a love affair that has spanned two
decades. Involved me bringing my children up within these walls. Got a NDIP
under my belt, a mini MBA bursary from GIBS, a bursary in business from Wits
Business School, and 22 other short courses.
It has seen me train dozens of people in
our trade, and enabled me to assist people to get their learners licences,
their driving licences, cars, buy property – many the first in their families.
I have met with well over 10 000 small
business owners over this time, in all of South Africa’s provinces, and through
the Cheri Blair foundation, several overseas.
My career has been a labour of love. Of sweat.
Of tears. Of pain and anguish and absolute joy. And I am by no means close to
finishing. Thank you to my beautiful co-creation for holding me in bliss for so
many years. Here’s to the next 20!
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