Startup Story
There is nothing quite as powerful as women who share their experiences and insights through storytelling in order to inspire others. Gugu Mpungose, founder of Black Tie Media and Communications, is creating platforms through publishing, content creation and event experiences to tell stories and share information that can help and inspire others.
LoA chatted to founder Gugu Mpungose this month to learn more about her vision for the business and for the women’s magazine she has launched.
What does your company do?
We are a media company specializing in: Public Relations, Publishing, Content Creation, Events and Experiences. We have recently founded a magazine for women called Womanity Magazine. We also host seminars and lifestyle experiences for women.
My life experiences put me in a position to understand and be sensitive to the needs of our audience.
I wrote a journal which aimed at inspiring women on their everyday life journey. Soon after that a magazine was born. I share stories of different people who have gone through things and came out stronger.
What inspired you to start your company?
I was inspired by my own life experiences. Having gone through a great ordeal that sought to bury me under the ground, I managed to rise above the situation and became the best version of myself. Not defined by any situation, I questioned myself, how many women go through things such as rape, divorce, but never recover from those experiences. I then started looking for ways and platforms I could use to inspire other women who might be going through similar situations. I started hosting seminars for women which proved to be very powerful and healing. I then wrote a journal which aimed at inspiring women on their everyday life journey. Soon after that a magazine was born. I share stories of different people who have gone through things and came out stronger.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
My life experiences put me in a position to understand and be sensitive to the needs of our audience.
Tell us a little about your team
We are a very vibrant team. Excellence, quality and professionalism are the core of our work ethic.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I don’t come from an entrepreneurial background, nor am I from the media space. I’m an IT Developer by profession and am now finding myself in media space. It has been very challenging. I did not have people who were open enough to help and mentor me. It’s been a lot of researching and learning on my own. I managed to define my scope without anyone’s influence. I am still trying to find my footing and trying to set up the company as a full-blown media company.
“I managed to define my scope without anyone’s influence. I am still trying to find my footing and trying to set up the company as a full-blown media company.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
To run a successful PR and media company. To get the magazine to the market and grow the company.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Being in a position to inspire and positively impact lives
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Make the first move. Be determined to do something that will contribute to your business growth every single day. No matter how small it may be, a sum of them collected amount to a big step. Idea plus action is a gateway to you living a fulfilled life.
Contact or follow Black Tie Media
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL Info@blacktiemedia.co.za
Why LoA loves it…
Often the inspiration to start a business comes from personal life experiences and the desire to make a difference and positive impact other people’s lives. That is certainly the case with Gugu Mpungose and she has channelled her own experiences to create a wonderful platform for women’s storytelling through publishing. Her magazine, Womanity, is giving voice and visibility to women’s experiences from all walks of life and business, and aims to inspire others through shared stories. Gugu is a great example of a woman entrepreneur who is harnessing both passion and the power of storytelling to make a difference. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa