By Mzukona Mantshontsho
BEMDZABU CREATIONS is about healthy healing hobbies that generate revenue. Art is a gift and a skill that needs constant harnessing.
Yo School Magazine spoke to Founder at Bemdzabu Creations Philile Dlamini about her personal, professional, and entrepreneurial journey thus far.
What does your role mean to you and what do you DAILY?
My Role within Bemdzabu creations means a lot to me because it is a reminder why it is important never to lose sight of your passion or gift. Each time I am able to deliver a service or product to a client, a friend or even a stranger, my heart is filled with a deep sense of fulfillment because of their reaction of appreciation for my work. I am affirmed that I have made a difference in their lives. I strive to be a positive influence and I’m an ambassador for building and not breaking people. I would say my role is a daily representation of who I am and what I believe and love to the world out there.
What are you currently working on and what can we expect from you going forward?
God Willing, I am currently finding ways of transferring skills to young people that have a passion for and retaining the gift of art. Be it painting, beadworks, building household art structures, etc. These are to be made from recyclable items so as to make funding less of a problem whilst incorporating the culture of innovation. I try and source young individuals that are gifted already and harness their skill. The second project I’m working on is promoting bead work. There are different kinds of bead work from bead weaving to metal castings and seed beading. I have been focusing on putting out bead weaving and seed beading because of their healing effect on the student or the creative as I would call them, as well as the cultural history these carry; symbols and the meaning of the different colors for different cultural events.
What initiative (if implemented) would leave the greatest impact for you at Bemdzabu Creations?
I also work with communities in government and private sectors alike. I have worked with municipalities (Communities and Staff – Women’s Day Initiatives), on HIV and mental Health Awareness. I have found that most companies raise awareness on these subjects but have no follow through on finding the different individuals within their teams that are affected or infected and don’t come up with structures that say “Yes you have a disability. But we are still here to accommodate you because you are not your disability but you live with it”; an affirmation that these individuals are valued as employees and not labelled as ones with disabilities and a risk.
Instead of counting numbers on recruitment and adhering to policies, the corporate sector can appoint those individuals into positions of influence, those that are willing to be open on how the overcome daily challenges. I would like to give back by exposing Human Resource Corporates on how to walk in the shoes of those infected and affected and trusting those that have won the battles so as to empower the ones that are struggling to cope with the battle.
If this can change one or two corporates by 50%, I would have achieved my goal. I know it is the beginning. I’ve worked with individuals that live with different mental illnesses and they are amazing in their work when they have the necessary support structures. Business is Business through its people. I have also found that those that suffer with mental illnesses are the most creative. This allows business to re-align characters to positions and appointments which business needs. With the 4IR at our door step, the need becomes even more of a necessity where the skills MUST be innovative, agile and creative as must be the mode of implementation. This is a challenge I’m willing to embark on while making use of my corporate background in many sectors, especially IT.
Mental Disabilities like depression are inevitable especially in the times we live in. Therefore, we will see an increasing number of depressed employees. Question is? What role do we play as individuals and corporate sectors to retain the skills without judging the resource because of a manageable cause?
What would you change if you had all the powers in the world?
How human beings see each other and how they relate to themselves as well as others, especially the female species, as they have power to change things for the better or worse. First by the relations they have with each other. That’s where their sons and daughters learn the lessons of life before they send them to the working world. They build families of their own, that adversely build communities and nations and our Universe.
What would you say are the most critical resources for your successful leadership?
Humility – It is said that “Humble ones are teachable ones”. I would say spirituality is a core resource. Taking in Knowledge – reading towards your passion, sharing information – allows others to be more willing to groom you. No procrastinating attitude – if I need to do it I do it as needed and planning – I plan in everything – being detailed comes naturally – 80% I plan and 20% is implementation even towards small projects as bead work.
Creative, resilient, detailed, and motivational. I really cannot tell you what people would describe me as because they rarely would tell me what they think. I can tell you though that who I know I am and that I change every day of my blessed life, otherwise I would not grow. My life’s intentions are to positively impact anyone I speak to and change a single thought of doubt in their mind. I constantly push myself with areas that make me fearful and I try to encourage others to do the same. I am true to who I am and I’m never apologetic about being authentic to self and others. I am very empathetic towards others as we all grow within our different life journeys that make it hard to endure. I am Human.
What is the legacy that you would want to leave by the time you retire?
All My Beaded Art Effects to my Daughter, they will be valuable in retaining the culture and art of beading and revenue generating. I would love to see the beading skill become means of making a living for young people as well as carry the rich culture and history of African beadwork. I would also have loved to help many find a way forward in terms of challenges with living life with HIV and Mental Illnesses in their diverse nature. Taking away the stigma would be a great achievement.
How does Bemdzabu Creations contribute to the community?
All Projects are community based especially the mental health and HIV Awareness.
What have been the highs and lows in your working career?
My AHA’s have been acquiring skill after skill and sharing with individuals that retain and teach others. I have also met amazing people especially with so much to offer to the world with their different styles of working and generating revenue. I have the privilege of seeing my work worn and celebrated by the many respectable individuals in society. The time spent working has trained me to be resilient and patient but most all humble in all my dealings.
My lows have been learning curves…. Each time I’d hit any rock from achieving a goal I would go back humbly and see where I could do better, therefore these have led me to my AHA’s with a stronger and bolder conviction… (“There is no low in what you love….”).
What are your words of advice, inspiration, and encouragement for young people to start small businesses?
“Do what you love with all your heart, so that when you do it daily you do not tire out, in that blessing ……… You will be a Master at it and you’ll never go to bed hungry or sad, because the love of your life lives in you”.
