In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we proudly feature interviews with resilient women who embody social, economic, cultural and professional achievements. These women are wonderful examples of 2021’s campaign theme: Choose to Challenge. A challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge, comes change. Their stories highlight the importance and power of women supporting women and how their rise to success was made possible through the upliftment of others.
What is your background, what industry do you work in now, and how long have you worked in this industry?
My background is in counselling, but I am in a space where I integrate what my passion is and what my qualification is. I’ve been in this space for 17 years.
What do you love about what you do?
I love being able to be in a space where people trust you and open up to you. You in turn gain more insight into who they are and what they want to be.
What are the professional and/or personal achievements you’re most proud of?
When the scourge of HIV/Aids hit the continent, I was afforded the opportunity to be one of the people to take my counselling into corporate via a peer educator programme and this impacted and changed not just their lives, but my life too.
Being a trainer and imparting valuable information to assist people to know who they are, discard what is not working in their lives and forge forward into a life that they design for themselves is incredibly gratifying.
What advice could you share with young women entering a male-dominated profession?
I have not experienced any challenges in this industry. However, I have managed to ‘infiltrate’ a male-dominated corporate, comprising of mining and manufacturing staff, and ensured that the women who are employed there are revered for what they bring to the field of sharing knowledge and to excel at it.
There are a lot of opportunities for women to excel in my industry and personally I think women are made for this industry and are able to turn things around and empower even the most macho of men.
Who has been your mentor, or what inspires you in your professional and personal life?
Elaine Thompson has been a wonderful mentor. I have known her since 2002 and she leads by example.
Do you have any other achievements, comments or advice for women you’d like to share?
Women are born nurturers and the field of mental and emotional wellness fits perfectly with our makeup. If you have a passion for working with people, use your God-given talent to help others.
Take a look at what People Dynamics and Dux offers:
People Dynamics offers various services and coaching programmes that produce results and bring out the absolute best in individuals, in both their personal and work environments. Through their coaching, training, and consulting services people have the space to think, work through complex problems, achieve goals, grow and develop.
They love to see young people make their dreams come true and are dedicated wingmen in this process.
Visit their website
About Do Digital
Started in 2016 by Kirstin van Heerden, Do Digital is a full service digital marketing consulting firm.
We have experience working with small, medium and large organisations, from start-ups to agencies, and multi-nationals.
We enjoy working with clients who have a product, service or message that they want to get out there, and who value the impact that marketing can have in getting this done well. We only suggest strategies and tactics that we know will add value.
We know our stuff when it comes to marketing strategy, websites, Google Ads, YouTube Ads, copywriting, marketing collateral, branding and conceptualisation.
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