By Matebogo Dorothy Mokgatla
I’m so honoured to share my story with you — especially as a young, black, female entrepreneur still learning and growing in the world of business. Entrepreneurship, to me, has never been just about profit. It’s about possibilities, independence, and building something that reflects your vision — no matter how small the beginnings.
My first experience with entrepreneurship came in high school. I needed money for a university application fee, and my mentor at the time advised me to start selling sweets at school. I did just that — and from the moment I earned my first profit, something in me clicked. That was my first taste of what it meant to create value and earn from it.
Later, in university, I faced a tough year where I had to pause my studies due to mental health challenges. But once again, I found myself turning to entrepreneurship. I began supplying local spaza shops with snacks sourced from a unique supplier. It wasn’t a long-term business — I returned to my postgraduate studies the following year — but looking back, I sometimes wish I’d kept it going alongside my academics. Still, I learned a valuable truth: entrepreneurship is a calling. It kept showing up in my life, no matter what else I was doing.
Today, I’m a qualified accountant and work full-time as a specialist in my field. I also run a small accounting firm that assists emerging SMMEs (small, medium, and micro enterprises) with compliance and financial matters — and I manage a growing pub and grill restaurant business. Both of these ventures I manage part-time, alongside my full-time work. Balancing these roles has taught me discipline, patience, and just how much is possible when you commit to your vision.
Now, I’m setting my sights on real estate. I want to buy rundown buildings in the CBD and transform them into safe, affordable residential and recreational spaces. I know the journey will be tough, but I’m focused on improving my finances and tapping into funding aimed at previously disadvantaged female entrepreneurs like me.
To the young people reading this: You don’t need to have it all figured out. I didn’t. What you do need is the courage to start — even small. Most great ideas never see the light of day because their creators are stuck planning instead of doing. Remember: thinking is not doing. Be brave enough to take the first step.
Mistakes will come — but life gives us second chances, often disguised as “tomorrows.”
