Johannesburg - Kagiso Mchunu started a company in the petroleum and engineering sector. IOL chats with her about getting her first startup off the ground.
Q: Is Lebenyane petroleum and engineering services your first startup?
A: Yes it is.
Q: What gave you the idea?
A: I came up with the idea when I was still in Technikon, I was asked in a job interview if I would be loyal to that company and my answer was I would be loyal for 10 years then from there I would start my own business. Business was something that I knew I would end up in from a very young age. Concerning what I’m doing now, metal fabrication the idea came when the company I was working for went into liquidation, then I thought I could offer the same services to clients that the company had since these services are rare in the Eastern Cape.
Q: How is it doing?
A: It is going very well, we have new clients and we are diversifying our services which will make our company a one stop shop for every client’s petroleum and engineering needs.
Q: Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
A: Yes I did, I knew while I was still in technikon that I would one day have my own business. Also when I was still employed my husband kept pushing me to pursue the business.
Q: What made you choose this career path?
A: It was very easy because I studied Mechanical Engineering, so having an engineering business was really inevitable. The other thing is that it is a male dominated industry so it was one of my goals to penetrate such industries.
Q: What's next on your list?
A: Next would be launching into the telematics industry, where we will be providing security services such as installations of CCTV’s, gate motors, access control to name a few and also to go deep into the oil industry, manufacturing and installations of oil pipes.
Q: What would you say to someone who wants to be an entrepreneur?
A: Starting a business is very easy if you have the right tools and resources. Attending workshops opens you up and gives direction in many areas of starting a business. One needs to have a clear vision of what they want and how to achieve it and workshops gives that direction.
Q: Would you say you need a degree to get started?
A: No you don’t need a degree to get started but education in the field where your business is helps a lot in understanding the client’s needs and also for you to be able to provide a suitable solution to the client’s problems.
All you need is to have a vision and passion in what you want to do and also be persistent so that you can achieve your goals. All things are possible if you put your mind to it. The workshops help you to channel your mind in the direction of achieving your goals. Having a mentor also helps a great deal because they will always guide you and correct you and make sure you get results that will grow your business.
IOL