#WIB – Q&A With Robyn de Villiers Founder Of The Three Cs
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
A. The Three Cs focuses on coaching, culture, and collaboration – all of which are essential to running successful businesses today and all of which are interwoven in the critical area of leadership development and support. As an Executive Coach, I support executives at all levels to realise their full potential and get the best from their teams. As a certified Culture Map Consultant, I assist executives and their teams to see the value in diverse cultures by enabling them to understand and work with what makes us similar and what makes us different.
As a Certified Mediator, I assist organisations to reach collaborative outcomes to conflict situations. The Three Cs offers a bespoke service tailored in partnership with our clients to ensure targeted value delivery.
2. When, how and why did you start your business?
A. The Three Cs started officially in March 2021 when I handed over the reins of my previous business – BCW Africa, which focuses on public relations and reputation management – after 32 years as the Founder, Chairman, and CEO. It was time for me to make the change and the timing for the services offered by The Three Cs was right, especially given Covid-19, #BlackLivesMatter, increased globalisation, virtual working, the growing awareness of mental health and wellbeing, and the complex working world in which we all find ourselves today.
3. What is your role in the business?
A. I am the Founder, CEO, and lead advisor to our clients.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. In 1982 I completed my BA Languages degree at the University of Port Elizabeth (as it was known then), which underpinned my success as a communicator and reputation builder. Then, disproving the theory that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, I went back to university and completed a Masters in Executive Coaching at Ashridge Business School in the United Kingdom (2017 – 2019), a certificate in Leading across Borders and Cultures at the Insead Business School in France (2019) and became a certified Mediator in South Africa and the United Kingdom (2019). The latter three qualifications position me to offer The Three Cs. In addition, I am about to complete the certification process to use the Leadership Circle Profile assessment tool.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. I financed all of my studies personally as an investment in myself and The Three Cs.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. The Three Cs consults to client organisations and daily plans are largely driven by client needs. However, I do like to have a structure to my day, which looks something like this: 07:00 I walk with my daughter and her dog, Scruffy. 08:00 We check diaries and to-do lists and make our plan for the day. The rest of the day is filled with client requirements, which include writing documents, responding to RFPs, virtual and face-to-face meetings, networking, developing strategies, facilitating workshops, coaching, and some continued professional development reading. My workday ends around 17:00, except for when international clients have needs that go beyond this time, given different time zones.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
A. In the past this has not been a strong point of mine! However, with The Three Cs I am more focused on achieving this balance. Working from home makes it even more important to structure things in such a way that work does not become a 24-hour activity. I run The Three Cs from my home office and I make a point of going into the office at 08:00 and leaving at 17:00 on most days. I no longer take my laptop to the bedroom, which I always used to do when coming home from my previous ‘out of home’ office. I also try to leave my laptop in the office over weekends.
Since lockdown started, I have been more conscious of my daily exercise – walking with my daughter and Scruffy and, if not with them, then on my treadmill – and of healthier eating habits. All of this has led to me having a better work and home life balance.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
A. Making a contribution to the success of others and watching people grow and achieve their goals is what motivates me every day. I am a firm believer in building networks and partnerships – I built the leading and largest communications network across Africa over 20+ years – and I reap the benefit of the networks and partnerships I have built in my 35+ year career every day. It energises me!
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
A. I am a firm believer that a different setting/environment fosters creative thinking and allows clarity of thought. Some of my best ideas have come to me whilst on leave – which to me usually means in a game reserve or looking at the sea.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
A. I have an extensive network of business associates built up over many years and they are my primary focus at this stage of The Three Cs. I am also active in organisations like business chambers and charities (where I make a pro bono contribution), which broaden my network of contacts and open doors for The Three Cs. By word of mouth/referrals are the main source of business introductions for now.
11. What is next for your business?
A. It is early days for The Three Cs so we are focusing on the NOW rather than the next.. Building relationships and extending our geographical reach will keep us busy for a long time to come.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
A. I would always encourage entrepreneurs to reach for their dreams. Bearing in mind that it is not easy to start any business, this needs to be done carefully and solid foundations are important to future success. My past experience – going back 32 years – taught me that success comes to those who are resilient and have staying power. Success also comes to those who can overcome their fears, and there are guaranteed to be scary times as a new entrepreneur. So, I would encourage all entrepreneurs, when the frightening/uncertain times come, to take a step back and ask themselves what they would do, if they weren’t afraid. And then to go for it!
Robyn de Villiers Biography
Robyn is the Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of BCW Africa. She has been engaged in public relations, corporate communication, and training, both in South Africa and across the continent, for 30+ years. Robyn’s experience includes reputation management, issues, and crisis management, corporate and marketing communications, public affairs, and investor relations. She is widely known for her contribution in the areas of training and skills development across the continent. Robyn is an internationally certified executive coach and is actively engaged in working with companies to improve cross-cultural awareness and inclusivity.
Robyn has spent 30 years working, not only with the myriad of cultures across the continent but also as part of global PR networks, with all the cultural diversity that brings. She has always had an interest in and focus on cross-cultural communications and on leading effective cross-cultural teams. In her work as an executive coach and with The Culture Map, she brings cultural awareness to the service of her clients, helping them to get top results through enhanced awareness of cultural similarities and differences and improving cultural competence.
In 2019, disproving the theory that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, Robyn attained a Masters in Executive Coaching from Ashridge University, part of Hult International, in the United Kingdom. She was also accredited as a Commercial Mediator in South Africa and in the United Kingdom and completed a certificate course at INSEAD on “Leading across Borders and Cultures”; this in addition to her BA (Languages) degree.
Robyn is a Chartered Public Relations Practitioner (CPRP), the Vice President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), a member of the Advisory Council of the National Business Initiative (NBI), the Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce for South Africa and a steering committee member of the 30% Club of Southern Africa. Robyn is a co-founder and the current chair of the Unicef CEO Initiative in South Africa.
Twitter Handle: RobynDeVilliers@RobynDeVilliers
LinkedIn: Robyn De Villiers – Founder – The Three Cs | LinkedIn