Ntsoaki believes that as the youth of South Africa, the onerous is on us to take our power back from whoever we have given it to and to empower ourselves. The onerous is on us to empower ourselves for us to show up better for ourselves and our talents because sitting back and waiting for someone to show up for you and empower you are not a progressive approach to life.
MATATIELE-BORN Mrs. Ntsoaki Sibiya was announced as one of the finalists at Mrs. South Africa 2022. Her journey as Mrs. South Africa Finalist began on 1st July 2022 when she was announced at the Winter Ball hosted by Emperors Palace along with 29 other powerful women. Not being picked as a finalist the previous year did not stop her from re-entering even though she had put herself through that vulnerable moment but hearing her name was an ultimate victory for her.
Ntsoaki is a Pretoria-based Businesswoman who is audaciously carving her path in the male-dominated industry of private security and also as the Founder of Lethuthando Foundation for women entrepreneurs. A foundation that is passionate about the economic growth and empowerment of women entrepreneurs in South Africa. Her parents created an environment that provided them with the space to explore their talents and thoughts of what they wanted to become which she believes inclined her path to leadership. Also growing up amongst boy siblings, influenced her personality and shaped her strong-willed character.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I grew up as a young girl who was assertive, ambitious, tenacious, focused, bold, drawn to excellence, and someone with an unbreakable spirit. I do not recall ever having limiting beliefs about myself as a young child,” she recalls.[/perfectpullquote]
After struggling to find employment for 4 years after completing my studies in graphic and information design. She was offered employment as a receptionist at a startup security company, her ingrained strong work ethic had earned her a promotion to the position of operations manager.
“We had a progressive working relationship for a good 3 years, however, this was short-lived as we began to butt heads and disagree on various management and operational decisions, which affected our professional relationship. December 2016, after four years of dedication and hard work, without reservation, I was discarded. For the first time, I experienced a moment that shattered my spirit”, she explains.
She adds that she ventured into security because It made sense to venture into something she had invested so much of her time and energy into before starting her business. In January 2017, she registered her own security company and undertook the journey to chart her path in the male-dominated industry of security.
Today, Tsoabelo Security Solutions boasts 5 years of operations and continues to commit to an uplifting ethos that promotes social-economic change and progress amongst previously disadvantaged people in South Africa, their core business is site security management and the installations of surveillance and biometric systems and which makes her extremely proud of their growth and the process it has taken to reach where they are today.
As Mrs. South Africa finalist and a woman who believes in the economic growth of women entrepreneurs, she recently started a Foundation called Lethuthando Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs, whereby their focus will be on advancing female entrepreneurs situated in small and rural towns by providing them with entrepreneurial development programs, leadership programs, and mentorship.
“We as women are uniquely wrapped with layers and layers of qualities that make us phenomenal in every way. For me, the essence of a woman is someone who embodies selfless love, values, courage, and grace. Someone who knows that she is enough, with all her gifts and imperfections because her essence is knowing that she is connected to her true self. The transition of a woman’s body does not define her, but if you as a woman have an issue with insecurities and self-esteem because of your body, then you need to take it upon yourself to invest in working on self,” she concludes.
