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From owning your space to daring to become a success: 7 books with practical tips from inspirational women

books with practical tips

By Keshia Africa Over the last ten years, the career landscape for women in entrepreneurship has changed tremendously. Women have single-handedly redefined what modern entrepreneurship looks like, in the world of business. Today we take a look at inspirational South African women in business and the books that they’ve written. If you’re a woman in business, looking for inspiration and advice on how to overcome the odds that have been stacked against you, this list is for you: 1. Meeting Your Power: Returning Home To Yourself by DJ Zinhle and Nokubonga Mbanga Entrepreneur and Dj, DJ Zinhle and business coach Nokubonga Mbanga, co-wrote this book. Both women tapped into their lived experiences as women in business and within their personal lives and shared their lessons with us. Meeting your power was written to ignite the desire you have within yourself, to do great things and also be great while doing so. If you want to be an empowered woman, this is the book for you. 2. Own Your Space by Lori Milner and Nadia Bilchik These two authors have successfully navigated the corporate world and also assisted other women in doing so. If you ever wondered if there was a toolkit for women in the world of work, this book is it. The book is filled with guidance, practical advice, disciplines and techniques specifically designed to help you tap into your true potential. The authors have focused this book on women who want to take their career to the next level. Does this sound like you? 3. Nothing is Impossible by Anthea Ambursley Anthea Ambursley is an award-winning entrepreneur. She experienced many highs and lows as she embarked on the journey of creating successful business ventures. Because of this, she realised how much she had to share with the world. Packed with valuable and practical insights, Nothing is Impossible is the book for any entrepreneur;  which will help you set and achieve the goals you want to, in your own business. 4. Keep Going by Keneilwe Magula Keneilwe Magula, aside from being an author, is a certified life coach, entrepreneur and NLP practitioner. Adversities and challenges are all a part of the journey in our careers. Kenielwe lives and believes that life is a journey, and it is how we respond to it, that will impact how it plays out. She encourages readers to navigate the journey and be reminded that your current location is not your final destination, and you should, Keep Going. 5. The Business Tango by Anna Shilina  Placing the microscope on entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, author Anna Shilina compares business to the tango – a dance that requires strategic planning, continuous effort and hard work. This book was written from her experience combined with that of other business professionals from various fields within entrepreneurship. If you love to read about someone’s personal experience that provides thought-provoking questions to your own life, this is the book for you! 6. Dare to become a Success by Mulenga Kasoma We all have hopes and dreams in this world, and things we’d like to achieve. However, for many of us, that’s all they are. Mulenga Kasoma’s book speaks about the courage it takes to put action behind those goals and how everything you desire is on the other side of discipline. This book is full of practical guides designed to help you move your life from where you are to where you want to be. Start succeeding in your life, stop making excuses and Dare to become a Success! 7. Power in the Paddock by Yolanda Sing Author and entrepreneur, Yolanda Sing’s life, and corporate career came to a standstill when she fell ill with a malignant brain tumour. It was in her time of recovery that she realised how much she had to share with the world; specifically, those caught in careers that are very demanding and no longer inspirational. Yolanda’s book shares how she became an entrepreneur on a mission through building her own company, after surviving a life-threatening condition. Her book is filled with hope, healing and transformation and written to show you that even in moments of despair, hope can arise within you.

One in a 100 000: Resolving workplace disputes

Workplace disputes

By Jessie Taylor South African employees have various options to challenge unfair practices in the workplace, from courts to bargaining councils. One organisation protecting employee rights is the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). The CCMA deals with over 100 000 cases yearly, most relating to allegations of unfairness against employers. Among the issues raised with the CCMA are discrimination, unfair dismissals, retrenchments, the provision of benefits, suspensions, warnings, whistle-blowing and sexual harassment. Around 60% of cases referred to CCMA arbitration are resolved in favour of the employee. The Labour Relations Act makes it very easy for employees to challenge alleged unfair dismissals and other unfair practices at private or statutory dispute resolution forums. Along with private firms, employees often have access to the dispute-resolution arms of bargaining councils and the Labour Court. However, one of the most popular bodies for addressing conflict in the workplace is the CCMA.This is the forum to be used by those industries that do not have their own bargaining councils, such as retail, IT, security, financial services, and others. The CCMA is a statutory body established in terms of Section 112 of the Labour Relations Act, and draws its legislative mandate principally from Section 23 of the Constitution. It is an independent body that neither belongs nor is affiliated with any political party, trade union or business. The CCMA derives its mandate from the purpose of the Act, which is to “advance economic development, social justice, labour peace and the democratisation of the workplace”. The CCMA is mandated to:   If you have a labour problem, take steps immediately. In the case of an unfair dismissal dispute, you have only 30 days from the date on which the dispute arose to open a case. With discrimination cases, you have six months. If a party does not comply with the arbitration award, it may be made an order of the Labour Court. The matter will go to the Labour Court instead of arbitration if the dispute relates to multiple retrenchments, strike dismissals, or unfair dismissals. The arbitration or Labour Court hearing would normally take place at a later date. Sources: CCMA | Labour Guide