Startup Story
South African entrepreneur and philanthropist, Snoekie Mabena-Saleh, founder of S.MAB Group, is passionate about making a difference in society, and her business is doing just that through its various service and product offerings.
LoA met founder, Snoekie Mabena-Saleh, this month as she spoke at the Lioness Business Agility Webinar in Johannesburg.
What does your company do?
At S.MAB Group, we have four key solutions offerings for our clients:
Service: places Health Care professionals to Public sector, Private sector, Mine Hospitals, Clinics and Private Companies.
Education: Aviation Academy for training of Flight Attendants.
Properties: Properties leasing accommodation to students.
Manufacturing: Textiles and Manufacturing of Uniforms, Graduation Gowns and Corporate wear for companies, and additionally we supply Covid-19 products.
“My passion was to improve the quality of patient care in South Africa, and to develop people through training and to be a role player in the mainstream economy of South Africa.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I was motivated to provide innovative solutions that will benefit society. My passion was to improve the quality of patient care in South Africa. To develop people through training and to be a role player in the mainstream economy of South Africa. Above all I am a philanthropist. What inspires me is I feel fulfilled when I serve unconditionally.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our service is unique, we are experts and experienced in what we do. Our prices are market related. We respond quickly to the needs of our clients. We are known for giving our clients excellent service.
Tell us a little about your team
The S.MAB Group team is dedicated to the Vision, Mission and the Values of the Organization. They are focused and organized. Every employee is a team player and they work like a system. They complement each other to achieve the goals set for them. They are very supportive to one another. Our culture every morning is praying, to strengthen our spiritual well-being required to sustain us throughout the day. This managed to see us through these twenty years. There is harmony and peace in our organization.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My journey as an entrepreneur was not easy when I started my business, there were a lot of challenges. Firstly, I experienced funding problems. Secondly, the challenge of proving myself to my clients that I am capable of supplying as requested. I did not have funds to recruit and employ office personnel. I was marketing the organization, screening candidates to be placed, booking and placing them. I was also managing business finances, paying health care professionals on a weekly basis. All of this taught me to be passionate about my work. It also taught me to be patient, humble and self-motivated. I developed resilience. In my family I was the first born of the family, my brother was a Principal Estate Agent.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future plans and aspirations for S.MAB GROUP are to alleviate poverty through job creation in South Africa. To offer more bursaries to children from impoverished families to realize their dreams in Aviation space. Above all to have a self-sustained African continent which is reliant on its inhabitants to produce and supply products inter-continentally.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Critical thinking in terms of providing innovative solutions. Creativity is one of my biggest competitive advantages in business and agility. Independence in terms of how I manage myself as an individual and how I manage my time in business. Networking and having met women of influence throughout the universe. Wealth creation for future generation and having built a legacy for my family. All of this satisfies me a lot.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Know where to focus based on your capabilities and strengths. Hold yourself responsible and accountable in acts in your business. Never fear to ask for assistance from your stakeholders ( banks and associations related to your industry). Never be afraid to fail, for failure exposes you to learning. Believe in yourself. Nothing's impossible. As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it is done".
“I was motivated to provide innovative solutions that will benefit society.”
About Snoekie Mabena-Saleh
Snoekie Mabena-Saleh is the founder and Director of S.MAB GROUP in South Africa. She is a serial entrepreneur and award winner of International Enterprising Women in 2013. Snoekie's business comprises, a Placement Agency for Health Care professionals, an Aviation Academy for flight attendants, a Properties business, and a Textile and manufacturing business for uniforms and corporate wear for companies. All these entities operate in South Africa, nationwide. She founded this business twenty years ago and now employs fifty-four permanent staff, and plus/minus two thousand temporary personnel on a daily basis, mostly women. She is a Success Coach, Visionary Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Strategist.
Contact or follow S.MAB Group
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL snoekie@smabagency.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
Snoekie is an entrepreneurial force to be reckoned with. Not content with simply building one business, she is a serial entrepreneur who sees opportunities to make a difference to the lives of so many people. Her philanthropic approach means she can see the bigger picture and impact of what business can do for society when it is driven by a simple vision and mission. Snoekie is living proof that one person really can make a difference to the world if they have the passion and the drive to turn ideas into reality. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa