Businesswoman to share lessons learnt at Italian conference
ARMED with lessons from women-owned enterprises from around the globe, a Port Elizabeth-born businesswoman has returned to South Africa to pass on those lessons.
Tradelane operational director of enterprise Lusanele Mahlutshana returned from a trip to Italy in December, where she attended a rural development conference hosted by the International Training Centre (ITC) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
However, Mahlutshana decided to stay on another week after the event, as a participant of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Development conference, also hosted by the ILO.
“It is a topic I feel passionate about, so I asked to stay on to attend the women’s conference that dealt with all the different aspects – from law to money – that affect women enterprises,” Mahlutshana, who now lives in Pretoria, said.
She was one of about 90 delegates selected from countries around the globe who participated in “The Promotion of Decent Work in the Rural Economy” conference.
Following both conferences, Mahlutshana, who travels extensively for Tradelane’s business interests in the Bay, Cape Town and Pretoria, aims to impart the knowledge she gained.
“Although it is a trend worldwide that the ownership model for small scale entrepreneurial ventures are mostly women-based, there is not enough depth in terms of the industries these enterprises represent,” she said.
“It is mostly retail, which shows that stereotypes still exist worldwide.
“Very few women enterprises are represented in major innovative sectors, such as technology.”
While South Africa had excellent policies in place to encourage women and youth entrepreneurs, Mahlutshana said there were still many barriers to industries and sectors, which needed to be overcome.
“Women, especially, need to be encouraged to enter any field they choose, and it starts by giving young girls the right academic and social education,” she said.
“They must be afforded the option to access industries which were traditionally seen as maledominated.”
Mahlutshana also said the red tape involved in obtaining government funding left many women discouraged.
“There are also barriers women face daily, such as getting the right experience, gaining respect from male colleagues and being seen as equals in their industries,” she said.
“Conscious, deliberate investment in women will not happen overnight, but it can be done if the right measures are put in place and all the role players come together.”