#WIB – Q&A With SA Entrepreneur & Inspirational Speaker Nomalanga Sitole
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
A. The Voice Within is a communications business that provides Public Speaking services (MC | Facilitator | Presenter | Voice Over | Inspirational Speaker), End to End Event Management including Personal Development and Career Guidance to Teenagers between the ages of 13-19.
2. When, how and why did you start your business?
A. My first business registration took place in 2008 as a CC – and I didn’t use it then. I then had to register as a PTY Ltd in 2014 and became operational in March 2015 when I took a leap of faith and left an incredible 18 yearlong corporate career (across various sectors). My business was started from my gift of public speaking and my love for the entertainment and events industry since I was 18 years of age.
3. What is your role in the business?
A. As the founder and owner – my role is honestly A-Z, work in the business, work the business and continuously put me and the business out there for people to experience, fall in love with and do business with.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. I hold a BA Communication Science degree from UNISA and as of this April I am a certified Neuro Life Transformation Coach through the Neuro Coaching Institute.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. Bootstrap and still going as such. I’ve had one corporate support my journey back in 2018.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. That varies depending on the day – if I’m not doing a gig somewhere I am working on my business (the different brands under TVW and seeing who to collaborate and partner with), working on my other business – Health Matters with Kannaway, attending courses to continuously equip myself (in July and August this year I attended the UNITAR United Nations Young Leaders Programme) and applying for business funding on various platforms that focus on women-owned businesses (one day it will come through).
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
A. I work from home mainly as a result of the pandemic (bar clients who were comfortable doing face-to-face and Hybrid events since 2021). I am able to rest most importantly, serve at church and work when work doors /opportunities arise. I’ve learnt to focus on what’s important at that particular moment – if one can call that balance.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
A. Passion, Purpose and Excellence in Execution – whatever I do my fulfilment comes from happy clients, achieving what I have set out to do (in fact pushing myself and overachieving) and transforming the lives of people I interact with – especially the Teens.
This below quote drives me:
“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”- Myles Munroe.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
A. My ideas come at any time of the day – I walk a lot and talk to God at any given moment, when I scroll through social media at times and whilst interacting with people.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
A. Referral has been my core business driver – people who have seen me in action, people who have experienced and continuously experience Nomalanga as brand and my work – (either back in my corporate days or currently), people who have heard of me through their networks and now through Clayton Morar Media.
11. What is next for your business?
A. 1. Continuously focusing on Growing the brands within TVW (Nomalanga Speaks; TeenSpiration; Be You Nje; Why Not Me)
2. Health matters being my new baby requires a lot of attention and with the effects of the pandemic – we are all looking to focus more on our health (Head, Heart, Gut, Finances) – and this business gives me the opportunity to help many people. (I’m a previous Bank employee and financial education is topic we can never exhaust).
3. Presentation skills and personal branding Coaching is in demand, now that people are getting back into face-to-face work / presentations I have the opportunity to build that side of the business too.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
A. 1. Research your industry thoroughly – know what is current, what’s working, what isn’t and create your Unique Value Proposition – (what makes you stand out, what’s your differentiator, what makes you better than your competitors).
2. Love what you do, Be Passionate about what you do, align what you do to your Purpose – I always say to people “Fulfilment trumps Fatigue any day” (Quote by Nomalanga Sitole).
3. Be Authentic, Be Bold, Be You – no-one can do it like you do.
4. Start with what you have – networks, people, you and your ideas – these are your greatest resources – the money etc. will follow especially if what you offer (Product / Service) is solving a problem / pain point for your client(s).
5. Stop worrying about what people will say – go ahead and do what’s in you.
Contact information:
Website Addresses: www.thevoicewithin.co.za & www.healthmatters.kannaway.com
Social media handles:
Facebook Page: @Nomalanga Speaks | Nomalanga Sitole
Instagram: @Nomalangaspeaks
Twitter: @Nomalangaspeaks
LinkedIn: Nomalanga Sitole
YouTube: Nomalanga Sitole
Short Bio:
Through her booklet entitled “Be Authentic | Be Bold | Be You”, Nomalanga has become a recognized voice of hope and inspiration, equipping young people to rise into a fulfilling future through their faith and authenticity. She believes the youth can change the world and make history, simply by cultivating their gifts and talents.
As a change agent, with an entrepreneurial spirit, and a global perspective she carved out a corporate reputation as one of the best business-to-business facilitators and has received several awards and accolades for her work.
The Voice Within is the business vehicle Nomalanga uses to harness her 20 years of experience in the field of Public Speaking (MC / Facilitator/ TV Presenter), and also her 9 years of specialist marketing, events coordination and management, and promotions experience, gained whilst she was still working in the corporate world.
A multi-award-winning, expert facilitator with an exceptional work ethic, Nomalanga is able to bring dynamic energy, enthusiasm, and humour to any event that she hosts, capturing hearts and engaging minds.