True transformation can be achieved when women, youth and people who come from marginalised backgrounds are given the equal opportunities and support, to trade in the same space as established businesses.
The founder of 100% black female-owned environmental sustainability Consulting company Linchpin Environmental Sustainability Solutions (Linchpin ESS), Sizeka Dyantyi says when she started her business two years ago, some people in the industry used to undermine her capabilities because she was a young, Black and a woman; a trifactor of hurdles for a determined start-up.
Dyantyi has more than six years of experience in implementing sustainable business practices for clients in various sectors across South Africa, but she says people stereotyped her and underestimated her ability and resolve to succeed in the business.
“I remember in one training session when I was the only female and one the participants assumed I was a consultant. He further asked me if I was sure about venturing into this business industry.”
She says this stereotyping didn’t break her spirit but instead motivated her to work harder and build confidence. She says the commemoration of national Woman’s Day for her was a reminder of what the power of unity of women can do to tackle serious issues that need to be addressed to overcome social, political, and economic injustices faced by many Black women.
In her capacity as a technical consultant in her business, she conducts environmental sustainability assessments advising companies to reduce their environmental footprint by helping with their water and energy efficiency management, waste minimisation or better material handling. With these saving come improved compliance and in many cases profitability.
“In a waste audit/assessment, we have helped one of our clients in identifying industrial symbiosis opportunities, where they now exchange their waste with other companies that then use it as raw materials in their manufacturing. We also provide water and energy reduction solutions to companies in the tourism and hospitality sector, through internal process optimisation where we introduce new technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV), rainwater harvesting and greywater systems,” Dyantyi explains.
Linchpin ESS and two other green economies, entrepreneurial start-ups, Dihlashana Consulting and OWE resource efficiency company, formed the Greenshoots class, graduating from the 18-month Momentum Metropolitan Enterprise Supplier business learnership programme.
The curriculum focused on providing access to business and professional skills, funding and access to markets for African, Coloured and Indian (ACI) suppliers and particularly Black women-owned businesses. This intake focused on three environmentally focused entrepreneurs with investment in training support to the value of R2 million. These SMEs have used their funding to upgrade their marketing platforms and to hire professional marketing agencies to provide end-to-end marketing services.
Dyantyi says: “The programme has helped me to improve my overall business acumen, has challenged my thinking and problem-solving skills, and has empowered me to keep on persevering because entrepreneurship is a journey, therefore it is not uniform. It has helped me increase sales, including sub-contracting as the official environmental auditor on two new contracts plus increasing my profit margins by 69%. I have updated my digital identity and branding by revamping the logo and launching the website, (https://www.linchpiness.com), all complimented by a clear marketing strategy. There are good and bad days and wins and losses, but perseverance will always carry one throughout the journey.”
Commenting on the Greenshoots entrepreneurs, Fiona Ally, Group Lead of Enterprise Supply, at Momentum Metropolitan said: “We share in the success of these women and more so because of the potential of the impact they can make in their chosen field of eco-consciousness and sustainability. Sizeka articulated her passion for both people and the planet and integrating those together and we are proud to support her passion.
“The greatest obstacles facing entrepreneurs and new SMEs are the access to skills, funding and markets. If we can help young entrepreneurs face down or overcome these hurdles, the chances of success are greater.”
Since the inception of the Momentum Metropolitan Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Trust in 2015, they have run Enterprise Development with 51 SMEs of which 21 are Black female-owned businesses, with a total investment from Momentum Metropolitan Holdings of R11 million. In terms of their Intermediary (financial advisers) Development Programme, the company currently has a cohort of 140 intermediaries of which 47 are Black females with a total investment of over R12 million.
Ally continues: “This is part of our commitment to address inequalities in South Africa and drive authentic transformation. We believe that fair equality of opportunity requires not only careers to be opened to talents, but also that those with the same talents and ability and willingness to use these talents should have an equal chance of success in their business endeavours”.
When asked how transformation and empowerment of Black female entrepreneurs can be achieved, Dyantyi said true transformation can be achieved when women, youth and people from marginalised backgrounds are given equal opportunities and support to trade in the same space as established businesses.
Dyantyi expressed her appreciation for Momentum Metropolitan Holdings’ support and hopes the company can extend its support by encouraging other companies that are already thriving in their respective fields to collaborate with SMEs to give them a step up into the market.
“Entrepreneurship is continuous learning. It’s like studying towards a qualification, you always stumble, fall, learn, and get up to try again. Enjoy the journey and never give up because there will be days when all you want to do is give up, and there will also be rewarding days that are fulfilling, which is why it’s essential to always remember why you started,” Dyantyi concludes.