By Luyanda Mzobe
The Trailblazers Podcast celebrated its first season with 12 episodes; on Monday, October 12th, the last episode aired on Saturday, October 17th at Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT). The platform brought entrepreneurs and business professionals together to share practical strategies for building and sustaining successful businesses.
photo by: Luyanda Mzobe
trailblazer host conducting the discussions
The event featured live panel discussions and a question-and-answer session, creating a platform for conversations about entrepreneurship, business management and the challenges facing small businesses. The discussions highlighted the importance of corporate governance, compliance and customer relationships in helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) improve operations and remain competitive.
photo by: Luyanda Mzobe
Mr. Janny, a representative of Umlilo, a corporate governance consultancy, challenged the perception that corporate governance is only necessary for large corporations, explaining that small businesses also need proper structures to grow and attract investment. Umlilo assists businesses with corporate governance, legislative requirements, and compliance to improve stakeholder value. According to the representative, businesses that fail to meet compliance requirements may struggle to secure grants or bank loans.
“If you are not well governed, if your compliance is not in order, chances of you getting a grant or chances of you getting a loan from the bank will be slim,” she said.
She also explained that good governance could increase a company’s value when its owners decide to sell. Small-business owners were encouraged to establish appropriate management structures and boards of directors well before putting their businesses on the market. The importance of governance was further illustrated through its application in the beauty industry. Principles used in the consultancy business were incorporated into a nail salon through employment contracts, codes of conduct, workplace policies, and clearly defined job descriptions.
These measures help employees understand their responsibilities, reduce workplace confusion, and create a more organized business environment. While governance provides a foundation for business operations, customer relationships were another important aspect of entrepreneurship discussed at the event.
Elina Sithole, founder and owner of Elina’s Sophisticated Hair Beauty, based in Winterveld, Mabopane, shared how customer feedback helps her improve her services and encourage clients to return.
photo by: Luyanda Mzobe
Sithole specialises in ponytails, braiding, freehand hairstyles and protective hairstyles. She explained that following up with customers after completing a hairstyle allows her to identify shortcomings and understand whether clients are satisfied with the service. “I always go back to them and ask them, how was the hairstyle? And then, are you still comfortable? Did I do anything that you didn’t like or something?” she said.
Sithole said the feedback she receives helps her grow her business and improve her work. Her approach demonstrates how small businesses can build customer loyalty by listening to clients, addressing their concerns and using their experiences to improve service delivery.
The two business experiences highlighted complementary approaches to entrepreneurship, establishing sound internal structures and maintaining strong relationships with customers. Together, these practices can help businesses build credibility, improve service quality and support long-term growth.
The Trailblazers Podcast Season 1 celebration was held in collaboration with the Morongwa Foundation, with support from TUT’s Higher Education Development and Support (HEDS) and the Directorate of Cooperative Education (DCE).
The event offered a platform for sharing practical business knowledge and experiences, highlighting how entrepreneurs can apply governance principles and customer-focused strategies to strengthen their businesses.
