Twenty five year old Kelebogile Makhafola from Kagiso, Johannesburg is a business owner who is passionate, ambitious and supportive.
She started her Digital Marketing company called Maruapula Brand. Maruapula delivers on the analytical and creative expertise alongside brand building solutions for companies and entities.
This is done through various creative and strategic measures: advertising, art, corporate social investment, digital media, online media, outdoor media, and marketing deliverables.
Kelebogile has a Fine Arts honours degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and studied her second honours degree at VEGA in Brand Leadership.
Maruapula Brand was selected to join the SAB Lerumo Brunch; the South African Breweries' Entrepreneur Development Programme.
The programme intended to impart core skills to the women to enable them to improve their market access opportunities and to better manoeuvre a large corporate with a complex procurement structure.
Her five tips to young women who would like to be business owners are that:
1. You must have a strong sense of self. (Know who you are and do not compromise who you are)
2. Learn to say No. (You can’t do it all, keep your focus on your passion and master that)
3. You need to find your signature. (Be your own unique self)
4. Have a willing spirit.
5. You are here to serve. (many people want things handed over to them, learn to be someone who gives their self)
Kelebogile recently was honoured to speak at the Small Business Expo at the Ticket Pro Dome and had her business displayed at the expo which won best small business stand.
