Bobonong, Building a successful business requires more than passion and hard work. Entrepreneurs also need strong leadership, sound decision-making, effective management systems and the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges. These lessons took centre stage on Day 1 of the three-day EntreprenHER mentorship and training programme, held in Bobonong under the theme “Building Business Resilience for MSMEs.” The programme aims to equip entrepreneurs with practical skills and knowledge to strengthen their businesses, manage risks and pursue sustainable growth. Through mentorship, training and hands-on activities, participants are being encouraged to move beyond simply keeping their businesses afloat and focus on building enterprises that can withstand challenges and remain competitive over time.
The EntreprenHER programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs in partnership with De Beers Group, UN Women and Stanbic Bank. The initiative brings together entrepreneurs for three days of practical learning and mentorship designed to support business development and strengthen resilience among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). These businesses play an important role in creating economic opportunities, supporting livelihoods and contributing to local development. However, many entrepreneurs face challenges related to financial management, limited resources, inconsistent demand and the difficulty of balancing daily operations with long-term planning. By focusing on business resilience, the programme seeks to help participants develop the skills and systems needed to respond to these challenges while positioning their enterprises for sustainable growth.
In her welcoming remarks, EntreprenHER Coordinator Ms. Lydia Mafoko Ditsa encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training opportunities available to them. She urged entrepreneurs to engage actively in the sessions and apply the knowledge gained to their individual businesses. The value of mentorship and training depends largely on how participants use the lessons to improve their daily operations and long-term business strategies. Entrepreneurs who assess their current practices, identify gaps and implement practical changes can strengthen their ability to make informed decisions. Her message placed responsibility on participants to turn the learning experience into tangible improvements that support business growth and unlock their potential.
Ms. Tiny Gontse, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs Bobirwa District Coordinator, also encouraged participants to remain determined and purposeful throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. She highlighted the important role businesses play in stimulating economic activity and contributing to development within local communities. Small businesses can provide goods and services, create employment opportunities and help circulate income within the communities they serve. Their contribution depends partly on their ability to remain operational, respond to customer needs and manage resources effectively. Her remarks reinforced the importance of supporting entrepreneurs as they work to establish stronger businesses that can contribute to local economic development.
Opening the first day’s session, Dr. Chaza challenged entrepreneurs to move beyond survival mode and begin building businesses capable of withstanding pressure and achieving sustainable growth. He emphasized that business owners must first understand their strengths and weaknesses before deciding how to improve their enterprises. This process involves defining a clear business vision, setting realistic goals and regularly assessing progress against those objectives. Without a clear direction, entrepreneurs may spend most of their time responding to immediate problems without addressing the underlying issues affecting performance. Understanding the current position of a business allows its owner to identify priorities, allocate resources more effectively and make decisions that support long-term success.
Dr. Chaza also encouraged participants to become growth-oriented leaders who establish effective systems and delegate responsibilities. He explained that a business should not depend on its owner to make every decision or oversee every task if it is to operate efficiently and expand. When entrepreneurs handle every responsibility themselves, they can become overwhelmed by routine activities and struggle to focus on planning, customer relationships and new opportunities. Effective delegation allows employees and other team members to take responsibility for specific duties while giving the business owner more time to concentrate on strategic priorities. Clear procedures, defined roles and accountability can also reduce confusion, improve productivity and help businesses maintain consistent standards as they grow.
Business resilience was another central focus of the training, with Dr. Chaza outlining three essential components that can help enterprises prepare for uncertainty. The first is anticipating disruptions before they occur, which involves identifying potential risks and preparing appropriate responses. The second is absorbing the impact of disruptions while protecting the business’s most important operations. The third is adapting business practices to respond to changing circumstances and emerging opportunities. These principles are relevant to entrepreneurs who may face supply interruptions, changes in customer demand, rising operating costs or other unexpected pressures. By identifying risks early, protecting essential functions and remaining flexible, business owners can improve their ability to navigate difficulties without losing sight of their long-term goals.
The training also addressed leadership and the importance of building trust within a business. Dr. Chaza reminded participants that owning a business does not mean carrying every responsibility alone. Entrepreneurs need to learn how to assign tasks, establish clear expectations and hold team members accountable for their responsibilities. Delegation works best when employees understand what is expected of them and have the information and authority needed to complete their work. Business owners must also develop the confidence to trust others while maintaining appropriate oversight of important activities. Strong leadership therefore involves balancing responsibility with teamwork, allowing businesses to operate more effectively while creating room for the owner to focus on future growth.
Another important lesson concerned the hidden costs of poor management and weak business systems. Dr. Chaza cautioned entrepreneurs against concentrating only on employee costs while overlooking the financial losses that can result from ineffective leadership, missed opportunities and inefficient operations. Reducing expenses may appear to improve profitability in the short term, but cutting costs without considering their wider effects can weaken a business’s ability to deliver quality products or services. Poor planning can also lead to wasted stock, delayed orders, dissatisfied customers and avoidable operational problems. Entrepreneurs need to assess costs in relation to the value they generate and consider how better systems, staff development and improved decision-making can support overall business performance.
The first day of the EntreprenHER mentorship programme concluded with a practical exercise that allowed participants to assess their individual business resilience profiles. Entrepreneurs examined the five pillars discussed during the session and reflected on areas where their businesses needed improvement. This exercise encouraged participants to consider how well their current systems, leadership practices and business strategies could withstand unexpected challenges. Identifying weaknesses is an important step towards developing targeted solutions and setting realistic improvement goals. The practical approach also helped connect the training’s central ideas with the everyday experiences of business owners, making resilience a matter of specific decisions and actions rather than an abstract business concept.
The lessons shared during the opening day have particular relevance for entrepreneurs seeking to build sustainable MSMEs in Bobonong and other communities. Business growth often requires owners to move from managing every daily task towards developing systems that allow their enterprises to operate consistently and respond to new demands. This shift can involve improving financial planning, setting measurable objectives, understanding customer needs and ensuring that employees know their responsibilities. It also requires business owners to review their progress regularly and adjust their strategies when circumstances change. Through continued mentorship and practical learning, programmes such as EntreprenHER can help entrepreneurs strengthen their foundations and develop the confidence to make better-informed business decisions.
As the three-day EntreprenHER programme continues, its focus remains on helping participants build enterprises that can do more than survive immediate difficulties. The opening day’s discussions highlighted the importance of self-assessment, effective leadership, delegation, risk management and the ability to adapt to changing business conditions. These skills can help entrepreneurs identify weaknesses, protect essential operations and pursue opportunities for sustainable growth. The programme also reinforces the wider importance of supporting MSMEs as contributors to employment, local development and economic activity. Ultimately, building business resilience requires consistent effort and a willingness to improve, and EntreprenHER aims to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and practical tools to build businesses that are prepared not only for today’s challenges but also for tomorrow’s opportunities.
