Meet Anele Mni, a Uitenhage born motivational speaker and businesswoman. Anele currently resides in Port Elizabeth, also known as Gqeberha where she runs most of her business engagements. Raised by her grandmother after losing both her parents, she grew up in an environment with a lack of love and support. Staying at grans came with more challenges. She had to play the role of a mother to her siblings and other younger relatives left by their parents at her gran's place. She gave birth to her daughter during that time, but the challenges did not stop as her brother was physically and verbally abusive. She spent nights in tears but was scared to report the incidents as she would be beaten again.
"I've been ambitious throughout my life. As a child, I would list what I will have one day, and leading women has always been one of the things I wanted to achieve in life. Growing up, I wanted to be a TV personality to express the hurt and pain I had gone through as a story meant to heal others. I may not have had a perfect childhood, but I prayed that God never leaves my side till I make it and shame the words of those who kept discouraging me", she said.
When did the organization start operating and what inspired the beginning of this organization? "The organization began in 2019 as a vision. The challenges I faced as a child inspired me. Those challenges are the reason I established this platform. I was once a girl who depended on others for love, money and emotional support and that tired and frustrated me most of the time. I realized that we need a peaceful place for those seeking peace, where we share love through empowering events, and since inception, we saw that women needed this. A platform that would allow them to grow, love, laugh, be creative, lead and be independent. We exist to empower women to own their unique powers and unite their collective strengths to revolutionize the business landscape and rise into unimaginable potential, whilst empowering others".
What are the services you offer as an organisation? "WIBF offers the following services: Mentorship programs, Skills/Training Development, Self-discovery sessions, Networking sessions, Events management (workshops, seminars), Enterprise development, Entrepreneurship & Funding facilitation, Executive Leadership Coaching, Small group/Team Coaching, Public Speaking engagements".
Lastly, what lessons have you learned through assisting other people in registering their businesses and mentoring them to run their businesses properly? "I have learned to start with myself. I realized that we couldn't pour from empty cups. I learned to take steps and create what will sustain myself and my family. I started a business specializing in making oils that can heal our skin and hair conditions. We offer various products, but our main specialty will be oils. That helped me also to offer something to others. Soon I will create job opportunities under this business. Working with women also helped me to choose myself over anything, to love and appreciate all my scars".