Story provided by The Ballito Magazine
We chatted with three of Ballito’s most influential women and found out what inspires them, and how they integrate their unique personalities into the communities and people around them.
Anna Kelly (Marketing Manager of Chateau Gateaux)
Who are you? I was born in Germany (my Dad was a fighter pilot in the RAF and stationed there at the time) and am from a very large and loving family scattered all over the globe. I have raised my two gorgeous daughters here in SA and they are now both undergraduates. Laughter and good conversation over a mean seafood curry is my favourite way to relax. I love to travel when I can, photography and art remain a real pleasure for me, walks with my three dogs are a treat for the legs as well as the soul, and a glass of red and a bit of Killing Eve on Netflix never hurt anybody!
Tell us about your role at Chateau Gateaux… I have been the Marketing Manager for CG for the past five years, overseeing the marketing of our fifteen patisseries nationally, our food service division, as well as export interests in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
What are the things that customers may not know about CG? The delight when customers realize the decadent treat they’ve just eaten is a defrosted cake! Our sophisticated fresh to frozen process locks in freshness from the day our products are created. Lastly, many people don’t realize that you can cut a slice from the frozen cake and return the rest to the freezer.
We hear that your immediate team are young women – seeing as its Women’s Month, tell us more about them… Having an intelligent team brimming with a “can do” attitude is a blessing. Atha (Marketing Assistant), Thembisa (Customer Care), and Tarishka (Senior Brand Educator), are all in their 20s, embarking on their careers and embracing every opportunity. They realize that they are part of a brand that has grown from humble beginnings and in 22 years is now a world-class business full of opportunity. I am fortunate to have been mentored and guided during the course of my career and their personal development and happiness is really important to me. It is my responsibility to ensure that they get the support and guidance from me that I have had, and continue to have, with my directors.
Yoliswa Gumede (Co-owner of Cappeny Estates Strawberry Farm)
Who are you? I am a child of God, a wife, a mother and a businesswoman.
What do you do? I grow nature’s candy, also known as strawberries.
How do you impact the area in which you live? In these tough economic times, it gives me great joy to keep a small number of people employed.
How does the area and community impact you? I am an active member of the Ballito business community through the “Entrepreneur Competition” where I head the adjudication panel. Contestants come to win, but instead I am touched and inspired by their stories and in a way, I feel like I have won. Furthermore, I cannot get enough of the beauty that is Ballito.
Cheryl Peters (Executive Manager of Enterprise iLembe)
Who are you? I am a goal-driven “go getter” who lives life to the fullest! Mum to two boys, Caleb and Aaron and a furbaby Buttercup, married to Leon for 23 years. I love spending my weekends with family, chilling at home, going to the movies and trying new restaurants on the North Coast.
What do you do? I have the privilege of working for Enterprise iLembe responsible for Tourism, Marketing and Investment Promotion. Enterprise iLembe is the economic development agency for iLembe District.
How do you impact the area and people around you? I would like to think that through my work and personal life I make a difference. I believe in leading by example and am a firm believer that when you do something you must do it well. Working at Enterprise iLembe is very rewarding in that through our various projects and initiatives, we impact the lives of many people making a meaningful and positive difference. I believe in the saying “choose a job you love and you never have to work a day in your life”. This job has allowed me to create a platform for myself to develop and grow, I have had the opportunity to meet some of the best people that have shown me what hard work and dedication is.
