A curious personality and an enquiring mind were things that Aisha Pandor valued in her life while growing up in a family of successful and professional people.
Pandor was a guest speaker on a virtual webinar hosted by MANCOSA, private higher education institution, where she provided students and graduates with practical tools and tips to successfully improve their employability and progress in their chosen career.
The 36-year-old is an award-winning scientist with a PhD in Human Genetics, a business management graduate, and the co-founder of SweepSouth, South Africa’s first, on-demand cleaning app which connects busy people to trusted, background-checked cleaning professionals.
Pandor said one day during the December holidays some years ago, she was trying to look for a stand-in domestic worker to help out around the house, when she thought of a genius idea.
She wanted to have greater interaction with people and how best to organise domestic work and address the mutual needs of employers.
Pandor drew inspiration from online shopping and food delivery apps and together with her husband, they created the award-winning SweepSouth app.
“While studying for my PhD, I always thought about what type of work I would do and whether that work would be aligned with my purpose in life.
“The SweepSouth app was launched seven years ago, focusing on changing the mindset of home service professionals.
“The value of having supportive networks such as a partner, colleagues and family played an important role when having your own business”, she said.
Pandor advised students and graduates that you cannot be taught how to become an entrepreneur, but the skills learnt in courses will provide you with the confidence to become one.
“The best learning comes from being able to do things on your own. Having self-confidence and learning to sell yourself by selling your product will be essential for entrepreneurship.
“I learnt to become a source of strength and lead people through unforeseen circumstances such as the pandemic.
“Entrepreneurship is challenging and there should be no shame in failing as long as you have tried your best and you are aware of the mistakes made and have learnt from them”, she said.
Pandor expressed that success for her is constantly living in the present and trying to make the best out of any day, whilst aligning her purpose in life and being of public service.
She said SweepSouth continues to be a platform that helps combat unemployment and underemployment to help dignified people with a job and contributes to being the voice of women with no voice in public.
ENDS
ABOUT MANCOSA
MANCOSA, a leading provider of management programmes through supported distance learning in Southern Africa, is renowned for its MBA offering, which is ranked among the 10 of the best MBAs in Africa. A member of Honoris United Universities – the first Pan-African private higher education network focused on nurturing the next generation of African leaders and professionals. MANCOSA serves as an innovation hub for undergraduate and postgraduate management, offering 50 accredited programmes. A selection of Executive Education Short Learning Programmes is also offered to meet the requirements of professionals in both the private and public sectors. See: www.mancosa.co.za
For queries or additional information call 031 300 7200, email [email protected] or visit https://www.mancosa.co.za/.
About Honoris United Universities
Honoris United Universities is the first and largest Pan-African private higher education network committed to educating the next generation of African leaders and professionals able to impact regionally in a globalised world. Collaborative intelligence, cultural agility and mobile mind-sets and skills are at the heart of Honoris’ vision of higher education. Honoris United Universities joins the expertise of its member institutions to develop world-class African Human capital that is competitive in today’s fast-paced, demanding and increasingly digitised labour and start-up markets.
Honoris United Universities gathers a community of 57,000 students on 70 campuses, learning centres and via on-line, in 10 countries and 32 cities. The network counts 14 institutions: multidisciplinary universities, specialised schools, technical and vocational institutes, contact, distance, and online institutions. Students have an opportunity to experience exclusive partnerships and exchange programs in more than 85 universities across Europe and the United States. Over 300 degrees are offered in Health Sciences, Engineering, IT, Business, Law, Architecture, Creative Arts and Design, Media, Political Science and Education.
Honoris United Universities. Education for Impact. www.honoris.net
Issued by:
Yogin Devan
Meropa Communications
(031) 201 0550 / 083 326 3962
On behalf of:
Honoris United Universities
Durban