#WIB – Q&A With Lebogang Lekotoko MD & Principal Of NDS Chefs Academy
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
NDS Chefs Academy was established in 2013 to reduce the gap of students who could not be accepted in Traditional Universities due to their inability to meet the University’s APS Score or application standards/requirements.
We pride ourselves on our excellent customer and personal service which ensures we meet and exceed our customer expectations.
We are committed to building long-term relationships with our customers and businesses in the different industries that we operate in, to enhance and promote superior service excellence and customer experience for their customers.
NDS executive leadership has 20 years of experience in Hospitality, Tourism, and Information Technology, business management as well as Education and Training. The outstanding results and services attained through focused leadership, which is hands-on and with the outmost goal of building long-term relationships with customers and clients bear testimony to the caliber of the company’s leadership.
NDS Chefs Academy is affiliated with the South African Chefs Association. The qualifications offered provide the students with worldwide exposure and the students stand a chance to be employed anywhere in the world. We are proud to say we offer State of the Art qualification.
Mrs Lebogang Lekotoko (Managing Director & Principal)
I am a woman full of determination. A strong believer in God. Very caring for the well-being of others. I draw my strength from seeing those around me happy and feeling loved. Was raised by two strong women, that’s my mum Princess Anne-Shielah Makhado and my grandmother Rosinah Sebobochi Makhado. I could not have asked to be raised by anyone BUT them, together they sum up my character.
2. Where are the students sourced/do they originate from?
Empact Group invited its staff to submit applications for their family members who wanted to study further but in the industry of hospitality as chefs. This was part of a program that was created to provide their family members with a chance for personal and professional growth. The selected candidates had to submit application forms, provide motivations, and participate in assessments and interviews.
3. What is your role in the business?
I am the Principal of the Academy.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
I studied in the following institutions, for my Diploma in Food Service Management – Technikon Northern Gauteng now known as Tshwane University of Technology, B-Tech Food Service Management – Technikon Pretoria now Tshwane University of Technology, and Masters (M-Tech) Food Service Management- Vaal University of Technology.
5. How did you finance your business?
I used part of my pension fund to start my business.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
Shoo! Where do I start? Can I say I ensure that the college stays open and running, keeping students and parents satisfied with the service we provide? Ensure that all staff are professional at all times. Maintaining the curriculum as prescribed by the different accreditation bodies, both local and international.
Managing all the finances of the college so that I can answer all the questions from the accountant. Marketing the college and the business as a whole.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
I have decided that I will not load my work email on my cell phone, so once I knock off from work I am off. I make sure every day, I am in the office between 08:00 and 17:30 and do my daily duties.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
I have 10 staff members that are dependent on earning a salary. Those 10 staff members have an average of 4 people they are supporting. This is the greatest motivation for me. Secondly, I am inspired by students coming from a background, whose knowledge about food and hotels is very minimal, and to see the penny drop in their faces and they begin to earn a living from the job they get after qualifying, is everything to me.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
During my moment with my God. It happens at any time, but I make sure I write it down when that happens.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
We do road shows, visit schools, attend info chefs, run student functions where they invite the community to come see the college, do flyers, and post on Facebook and Instagram. When we do in-house training for companies as well, we ensure we do a good job as this is a marketing strategy. Collaborate with other institutions.
11. What is next for your business?
Open another branch in Limpopo specifically, Louis Trichardt and deep Venda areas where there is lots of Tourist Attractions. Ultimately a University on Hospitality Studies.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
Consult with your higher power daily, it will guide you. Be faithful in all your dealings and never try to short-change your clients, staff, etc. Be prepared to work the hardest more than any of your employees. Serve God in your daily Job.
Short Bio: Mrs Lebo Lekotoko
Comes from the dusty streets and wildlife in the Limpopo Province. She has over 20 years’ experience in the industry of hospitality and out of those 19 years, she has worked at an Institution of Higher Education, Vaal University of Technology for over 13 years and has been running her training Institution NDS Chefs Academy for 10 years. Apart from being in the education sector, she has worked within the Hospitality Sectors for big cooperates such as BMW South Africa, Mercedes Benz, Nu-Metro, etc in management positions within Hospitality and Catering.
Her highest qualification is an M-Tech (Masters) in Food Service Management. She has a passion for training and her love for people makes her determined to work with much pride and compassion. Her motto is as Dr. Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful tool we can use to change the world.” She believes that the power to make a difference in someone is to believe in their ability, for this reason, she excels in training and upskilling others. “The Industry of Hospitality is very big and there is no stopping its growth. With this fast-growing Industry, comes the importance of training”.
Contact information:
Personal 083 709 8794
College: (() 087 004 1310, 071 179 0610
Social media links:
Facebook- NDS Chefs Academy
Instagram- nds_chef_academy
Website: www.ndsacademy.co.za