#WIB – Q&A With Aasiyah Adams CEO Of Cinga Solutions
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
A. Cinga Solutions is a BBBEE strategy consultancy business; we design strategies to comply with all 5 pillars of B-BBEE to be compliant to reach the BBBEE target level, strategy, admin, and compliance. I also am the Founding Director of Abaguquli and we empower unemployed disadvantaged youth with fourth industrial revolution skills for them to become financially independent.
2. When, how, and why did you start your business?
A. Cinga Solutions I started in 2017, is a consultancy business. I saw how companies were struggling and it was an opportunity to advise companies to make a meaningful difference as the B-BBEE act intended. I wanted to help companies get away from spending last minute to reach the points with no impact and no return on investment leaving them frustrated and staff burdened with BBBEE, and no small enterprise of unemployed youth are empowered or financially assisted. I wanted to make a difference.
Abaguquli is an NGO I started in 2019, officially live in 2020 as I wanted people that are marginalised or left out of a financial system due to inequalities, or disadvantaged because of access to opportunities, lack of resources to have an opportunity to create financial independence through harnessing 4iR skills and opportunities.
3. What is your role in the business?
A. I am the CEO of Cinga Solutions and Founding Director of Abaguquli.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. I studied BA degree in Development Administration: Poverty Alleviation and Job creation, and a Diploma in Training and Development (ODETDP). I also did a Diploma in HR and worked in HR and Training Senior Management positions for many years. I did my Director Certification with Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA) and completed a few Business Mentorship and Coaching courses through reputable organisations.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. I funded the operational costs for Cinga Solutions out of my own pocket. For Abaguquli I had funders that came on board.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. Average day: with Cinga, I have to do scenario calculations, this on all 5 pillars, so requesting information from Directors, etc., then doing calculations, writing reports, liaising with Shareholders, Top Management on the way forward, and project managing the process to get to the target BBBEE level, this includes financial projections and budgets to spend and deliver. It includes advisory, project management, and creating templates and tools.
For Abaguquli it is creating awareness, managing projects and Project Managers and operations, as well as networking and trying to find Funders and marketing to sustain the non-profit. Financial Management, Strategy, and Day to Day operations.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
A. I have no idea, I think food and Tikor 5 minute exercises and sunblock of cos…It helps that I do not have to brush, blow-dry, or straighten my hair, which normally takes 5 days, lol.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
A. I think I am inspired by people who have absolutely nothing making a difference in communities, people who can hardly put food on their table but they scrape together vegetables to make soup for the community, the Foster Home I volunteer and manage Anthea Pieters Safe and Foster Home are one of those people.
What inspires me, is making a difference and teaching my son that giving back never makes you poor and that we should all try and make a difference, help those in need, those discriminated against, those being marginalised, bullied, insulted, and made to feel like they are inferior. All the school fees, fancy clothes, games, and clothes mean nothing if I have not taught him to be human and to be a good person, this my parents taught me by leading by example, I hope I do too. What drives me? Being healthy and being alive. I have so many blessings in my life and I am grateful each and every day.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
A. I am a Creator, Innovator according to so many assessments I did. I am always thinking of new ideas, I have a gazillion, and it is implementing ALL of them, and staying focused that I am working on being better. I note everything from paying bills to grocery lists to phone calls I have to make, else I will forget while building some transformer that can run all the errands for me haa haa.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
A. I have LinkedIn for Cinga Solutions but have gotten most of my work through networking and referrals. For Abaguquli it was people making contact with me, checking online leads, tenders and funding, and corporate social investment funding.
11. What is next for your business?
A. I want to expand my client list and run a full project management element for all skills and corporate social investment projects for companies. I am also currently designing a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligent Online school.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
A. I received this from a very successful business person, she said before you start your business, first save enough money to get buy for a year at least, this way your mind is not clouded with trying to hustle and survive and you cannot market, or grow your business, best advice ever. Like anything in business, you have to plan, yes it will deviate but at least you have the fundamentals.
Website: cingasolutions.com