#WIB – Q&A With Tivania Moodley Founder Of Feminine Rising

1. Can you please tell us more about your business?

A. Feminine Rising was borne from a desire to create real awareness around gender-based violence and mental health within South Africa, and the world. As a rape survivor and survivor of a failed suicide attempt, I know first-hand what silence does and I wanted to create a platform to begin hard conversations. Feminine Rising is a consultancy where I am essentially the brand, creating conversations of hope and transformation.

2. When, how and why did you start your business?

A. In July 2021 I was retrenched for the second time in a year. I am also an editor professionally. I decided that I needed to monetise the work I’d been doing for free for so long and also truly follow my purpose and passion. I registered the business in July with the intention of it becoming sustainable enough to take care of myself and my kids and making a real difference in the world.

3. What is your role in the business?

A. I am the director and founder.

4. Where did you study and what did you study?

A. The work I do in the business is not related to my journalism qualification. I am what’s referred to as a ‘lived experience expert’. I am an accredited Transformational Life Coach, and that qualification was done via Udemy.

5. How did you finance your business?

A. My business did not require finance. I get paid for consulting, I get sponsored for influencer work, and then I receive donations from CSI initiatives. I have agents who manage my speaking engagements, and they deal with my payments.

6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

A. It definitely does NOT exist! My day is very dynamic and changes daily. There are times where I am talking someone out of suicide and that can go well into the night. There are times where I have to remove women from abusive homes and find solutions and safety in the middle of the night. So, it’s really not structured at all.

7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?

A. I have had to learn how to say no to a lot of things, without having any guilt. It was necessary for my children to have a mother (I’m a single mum so that’s also challenging). But it was necessary for me to recalibrate. Needless to say, the work I do is very emotionally charged and I have to cultivate downtime so that I can serve people better.

8. What drives you and inspires you?

A. Life inspires me! After wanting to die for so long, and now actively choosing life every single day is a miracle. It is a miracle what my life has turned out to be after being relegated to failure category for years. Now when I hear someone say that I’ve saved them from suicide, or that my story gives them strength, I am fuelled to do more and be more.

9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

A. Usually when it’s silent and my children cannot be seen or heard! Haha

10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?

A. I usually work off LinkedIn predominantly but just now started a Patreon account where people can subscribe to follow and connect with me.

11. What is next for your business?

A. A radio show hopefully.

12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?

A. It is not an easy road. It is essential to surround yourself with people who support you and your dream, and if people don’t, it’s okay to cut them off. Life is very precious; you have to be doing what makes you come alive. I would suggest though that you have funds to carry you for at least six months until the business picks up. Most of all, be unwavering in your belief of yourself.

Bio

Tivania Moodley is the author of an autobiography called Girl on Fire, an international speaker, social media influencer and executive committee member, and South African representative of the Global Mental Health Peer Network. She is the founder/director of a business called Feminine Rising that deals with gender-based violence awareness, women empowerment, and mental health advocacy, with a focus on men’s mental health.

Tivania sits on the board of directors of a psychiatric hospital in Johannesburg, and on various advisory committees for GBV and is an accredited Transformational Life Coach. Tivania has survived rape, intimate partner violence, a suicide attempt, and over 20 years of depression, and now spends her life creating awareness around these issues. Her story is one of hope, inspiration, and transformation.

Contact information

Email: info@tivaniamoodley.co.za

Website: www.tivaniamoodley.co.za

Instagram: @phoenix_flame_rising

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tivaniamoodley/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tivania-moodley-35039756/