#WIB – Q&A With Xoliswa Moraka Founder Of Colab4Growth
1. Tell us about yourself.
I am Xoliswa Moraka, affectionately known as “The Purposeful Entrepreneur. I am a driven and purposeful young woman from Alexandra Township on a mission to become a global change-maker.
I am home-schooling mom of two girls, serial entrepreneur, SMME development strategist and equity activist. I have been working in the development sector for over 16years and have dedicated my life and career to facilitating the economic inclusion, participation and prosperity of African people in the formal economy through access to entrepreneurship and/or employment opportunities.
I am the Founder of Colab4Growth, a personal mastery and SMME venture building consultancy for entrepreneurs, I am also the author of my new book that will be launched and published in April, titled – The Entrepreneurial Guide to the Promised Land – a Guidebook aimed at helping entrepreneurs lead purposeful lives and build businesses that matter.
Outside of work – I am an avid book reader that led me to start a book club for entrepreneur, I am a foodie who loves bringing people together over a plate of food and I am a budding traveler.
2. Tell us about your business?
I call Colab4Growth my mission business – it is vehicle in which I serve God through serving his Children.
Founded in 2018, Colab4Growth is a global personal mastery and SMME venture building consultancy for entrepreneurs. We exist to enable entrepreneurs to lead purposeful lives and build businesses that matter. We marry personal development and business development to achieve lasting results.
Grounded in our mission of growing people and growing businesses, we provide community, venture building programmes and consulting services that enable entrepreneurs to build purposeful, viable, value-adding and profitable businesses that contribute to the communities in which they operate and the economy.
We predominately equip new entrepreneurs to move from idea to market, and support entrepreneurs with operational businesses to transition from survivalist to sustainable growth.
3. Why did you start the business?
The business was inspired by my own journey into entrepreneurship back in 2009. As a first-generation entrepreneur with limited knowledge, networks and resources I had to navigate the world of the unknown. I failed catastrophically in my first few ventures, but that also gave me an opportunity to learn more about myself and the vehicle that is entrepreneurship.
The opportunity to work in Corporate as an Enterprise and Supplier Development Specialist also afforded me a sit at the table to inform, influence and direct ways in which entrepreneurs can and should be supported. I possess the best of both worlds and that has made effective in my venture Colab4Growth.
4. What is your role in the business?
I am the Founder, Managing Director and Brand Ambassador in the business – my core function is to share our company vision and mission with the hope of attracting partners and clients who believe in what we believe – that entrepreneurs’ matter and that it is them that can help us solve many of the global challenges that we face today.
We believe entrepreneurs need to be adequately supported to build and grow businesses that can contribute impactfully in communities and the economy at large.
5. Where did you study and what did you study?
I went to the University of Life studying all things personal mastery and business development. Books, life experiences and 16years in the field of development have given me a solid foundation in my career.
In 2004, I enrolled for a national diploma in Marketing at the University of Johannesburg – however had to drop out at the end of my first year when my late Father was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and the family needed to redirect all our financial resources to his health care. I was unfortunately the missing middle – I could not quality for student aid and I was also not in a position to pay for my fees.
Since then I have done various professional development courses to enhance my skills in my field.
6. How did you finance business?
Personal Savings and Clients were financers of my businesses – I used my personal savings to set myself up in the business and focused on securing clients.
Because my business is predominately a service business this was possible to start with what I know and what I have.
7. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
One word to describe my work day is flexibility – As an individual, mom and working professional it is important for me to design my days in a way that honor who I am and ensure I am present to be, do and have all that I desire. Work – Life integration is a model I live by.
Below is my typical day
- The first two – three hours of my day are dedicated to “me” activities – I call it my purposeful morning routine (I use this period to read the bible, journal, exercise, read a book, meditate and shower) before I start my day. I wake up at 5:00am
- This is followed by breakfast with my children
- We then prepare for homeschooling classes and I set aside about two – three hours to guide and assist my children with their “school” work
- My work-days are themed (e.g. Mon – are ops & management, Tuesday & Wednesday are Business Development, Thursday -Product Development, Fridays Content Development – I take Sat and Sunday off – Using Sunday as my weekly planning day.
- I put in 4 – 6 hours of work daily
- In the evening I balance (dinner, watching tv, second reading and journaling about my day before I sleep)
There are things that happen at a specific day, every time but in most cases my day is flexible to respond to life demands.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
I am driven by my purpose and the understanding that each and every one of us have been created to fulfil a specific mission here on earth.
Having faced various life adversaries and losing my father, in 2008 I contemplated suicide. I was going to overdose on pills, but somehow by the grace of God I also had the bible with me and I was lead to read 1st Peter 4:10 – Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” This verse saved my life and set me on a path of self-discovery to find my gifts and talents and how I can use those to serve others and that has been my mission.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
The ideas are brought about various circumstances (e.g. engaging with other people, experiencing a problem I want to solve and sometimes just taking a walk thinking about how I want to serve in the world) a flood of ideas come about, and I choose one that I can implement.
10. When and how do you market /advertise your business for sales leads?
Personal networks, word of mouth and referrals have been my great source for leads, we have recently been exploring digital marketing as a tool to attract and connect with our market.
11. What is next for your business?
The focus for 2023 and the next few years is the launch of my book and the targeted effort to deliver purposeful entrepreneurship development programme across the continent.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs?
The first place to start is with self – reflect on who you are and clarify your reason for being. Then think about the natural gifts and talents that you possess and how they can be used in service of others using entrepreneurship as a vehicle to deliver value and then start where you are with what you have, the rest will unfold as you move.
For more visit: www.colab4growth.com
Email: info@colab4growth.com