Creating a working environment where employees can thrive and excel is a challenge for many companies and organisations. For South African company, Olwazini Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, founded by Phindi Msomi, this represented a key business opportunity.
LoA learned more about this specialist business helping companies to look after their employees and the bottom line.
What does your company do?
We are an organisational effectiveness consulting company; we tailor make business improvement solutions by aligning employee wellness, your business processes and HR interventions to help drive your strategy implementation and impact on the sustainability of your business, using our uniquely designed ROI measurement tool.
"We tailor make business improvement solutions by aligning employee wellness, your business processes and HR interventions to help drive your strategy implementation and impact on the sustainability of your business."
What inspired you to start your company?
I was first prompted by the need to provide for my kids as I was dismissed from work and was no longer willing to work for anyone else, applying the unfair rules of Corporate HR. When I started my business plan I knew that I wanted to solve the challenges I encountered as an HR Practitioner, IHR Manager and Acting HR Director. I wanted to provide a respected holistic and measurable HR solution to businesses.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our Interventions not only look at Human Resources Projects and interventions in isolation, but our unique Organizational Health and Human Capital Risk Assessment tool enables us to help companies take a 360% degree view of their business (Integrating their business plan including their Balanced Scorecard or Growth Plan), Human Resources, Tangible Resources, etc.
"Our unique Organizational Health and Human Capital Risk Assessment tool enables us to help companies take a 360% degree view of their business."
Tell us a little about your team
I have an amazing team of permanent and casual staff. My team is made up of Counsellors who have a Psychology background and they are responsible for the wellness projects we undertake for various clients. We sub-contract Registered Nurses and other Occupational Health specialists. We also have full time HR & Business Management Consultants who look at the overall HR and Business consulting services. We also have a Project Manager who is responsible for the smooth running of all our projects and is the liaison point for our client relations, as well as an administrator who also doubles as my PA ensuring that we all know what is going on, have all the resources we need, and can schedule client appointments and reports.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
It was a very difficult journey (still has its challenges). I was once faced with an eviction notice as i didn't have any new business and had no cash flow when I started out. I lost my car and was working inside my house in one of the extra rooms, as the cottage which is now the office had to be leased out to provide food for my children. I don't come from an entrepreneurial background but my MBA has played a crucial role in preparing me to take on this role.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I would like to hire more people and develop my contract/client base to cover a lot of corporates, as at the moment my business is in the public sector. I am busy working on my new business, Hazile Group, and I want to position myself in the areas of Renewable Energy, and Water & Sanitation, and provide big corporates with the transport and logistics support they need.
"My greatest satisfaction is being able to provide jobs for other people. Also the learning that comes with the day to day challenges, which I in turn pass forward to other women and girls."
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Being able to provide jobs for other people. Also the learning that comes with the day to day challenges, which I in turn pass forward to the women and girls who are supported by my non-profit organization.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
They need to properly save and plan for at least one year's worth of overheads and salaries for those people who will be part of the business at start-up stage to ensure they have salaries and can cover expenses for that period when there is no business yet. In this way they will not be overly stressed but can concentrate on the proper business development function instead of just mere survival. Also that they must not stay down too long each time they fall, as fall they will, but they must get up, and do it over again, learning each time they fall about how not to fall that hard the next time and how to keep standing for a little longer each time.
Contact or follow Olwazini Consulting Services
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL phindim@olwaziniconsulting.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
They say a business is only as good as its people and therefore its essential for any company to take help care of its biggest asset - its people. This means putting in place the right support systems, tools and initiatives to ensure that employee wellness remains top of mind. South African entrepreneur, Phindi Msomi, has developed a niche for herself and her business providing the right solutions at the right time to big business in order to support their employee wellness and engagement needs. Her personal experience of working in non-caring environments is proving invaluable and helps her to make powerful and lasting connections with customers. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa