According to Lungiswa Mzimba, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Enterprising Women Programme awardee for 2018, this programme was the best catalyst to kickstart her business.

Initiated in 2013, this six-month flagship programme of the NWU’s bhive Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) provides business support services to women who wish to establish a business. Participants are taken through an in-depth programme to explore ideas, develop a business model, and put the wheels in motion to initiate the business. 

Lungiswa, a founder and brand consultant at Border Frontier, won the award for the Best Business Concept in the 2018 rendition of the programme. Border Frontier is a brand consultancy that delivers impact-focused creative solutions for a variety of clients. 

“We are in the business of helping changemaker brands with strategy, design and growth. We work with people, organisations, and movements that care about society,” she explains.

She praises the Enterprising Women Programme for boosting her business skills and acumen.

“The programme was an incredible learning and development experience for me. It helped me to activate my ideas and elevate my business with practical tools, expert guidance, and resourceful networks. The seminars and hands-on training sessions helped me to formalise my business and identify my competitive advantage,” says Lungiswa.

As a member of the Brand Council of South Africa, the Marketing Association of South Africa, and the Institute for Public Relations in Southern Africa, Lungiswa says her passion is at the intersection of culture, creativity, and change, working with brands that are responding to some of the most pressing challenges affecting humanity.

On top of the award, the Sebokeng-born businesswoman who holds a degree in communication from the NWU and an honours degree in strategic brand communication from Vega, received sponsorship prizes which assisted her to develop her business. These sponsorships included a financial mentoring sponsorship, marketing material from the Small Enterprise Development Agency, and a promotional sponsorship, among others.

She also had the opportunity to join the bhive EDC’s Incubation Programme to embark on the next phase of operationalising the business and developing it to full commercial potential.

The deadline for this year’s round of applications has been extended to 24 May 2021.

Click here  for more information about the Enterprising Women Programme, or send an email to Leonie.Greyling@nwu.ac.za.    

Lungiswa Mzimba says the NWU’s Enterprising Women Programme was the best catalyst to kick-start her business.