Women Unlocked: Nox Magwaza on how to develop thick skin in business

Nokuthula 'Nox' Magwaza has several businesses under her belt.

She is the founder and MD of @BloomMarketing (Marketing Agency), BLOOM Infinite (Digital Agency), @Make_upMOBza, Growth Coach at bloominsideout, Curator & Retailer at shopbiocollection, SA Ambassador of WEDO (Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization).

Nox prides herself in being a dynamic leader.

"I’m a vibrant and dynamic leader who has over the past 16 years in business identified her strengths not only in marketing, advertising and communications but also in public speaking, coaching and leadership development," she says. 

She adds that she is a leader who resonates with leaders from across different sectors. 

"I resonate with leaders across all age groups, from youth to executives, from private to public enterprises, transferring leadership competency skills and personal branding skills to nurture sustainable growth," says Nox. 

We chatted to her below to find out more about how she has successfully run all her businesses and how to develop a thick skin as a female entrepreneur. 

READ: Women Unlocked: Husmita Ratanjee-Vanmali shares tips for aspiring female entrepreneurs

August is Women’s Month. What do you celebrate the most about being a woman?

The power to carry, nurture and bring life into this world. The innate power to be, do and have whatever we set our minds to. We all have that Wonder Woman within us. I celebrate women’s ability to not only tap into their power but to show up in their power occupying all the spaces we want to despite the world’s continuous bias to make us women a lesser human species.

Who is your female role-model?

My mother ~ she’s a strong woman of faith, loving and the glue that holds our family together. She has always been industrious and entrepreneurial, and still to this day continues to generate income with her own hands from small-scale farming, to sewing and running a snack tuck-shop for the neighbouring schools.

How does one build a successful brand in business?

The best way to build a successful brand is [by] crafting a consistent brand narrative, that is clearly differentiated and is purpose-led in meeting people’s needs.

What motivates you to work as hard as you do?

I believe we are all born with a purpose, to serve this world with our gifts, talents, experience & expertise to make it a better world than we found it. My purpose is my grandest compelling reason WHY behind all that I do and continues to fuel me daily to keep blooming.

When you look at the work you have achieved, what are you most proud of?

Proud of building Bloom Marketing from the ground up and continue to nurture our growth as an independent, female-owned agency for 16years later and counting, despite the resistance of this industry to transform.

What are some of your failures, and what did you learn from them?

My biggest failure was in financial management, around 2010 where I almost sunk the whole business, with massive debt. I learnt never to give up. I learnt to tap into the collective power and ability of my team in turning the business around. I learnt that there’s always a way out, always a solution if you focus on the positives and not dwell on the negatives.

What is your advice to an aspiring female entrepreneur?

If you can’t stop thinking about it, get up and do it. Say yes to yourself, yes to your dreams and desires. You have everything you need within you, you have the power and control to create your dream life. No one will do it for you.

What advice would you give to struggling authors during these tough times?

People are looking for books to equip themselves through this time, looking for books for mental escape,  make your book relevant and offer value for the readers.

Evolve, it’s the only way to thrive. Convert published hard-copy books into e-book versions, audio-books and digital courses.

Lastly, women today are still not given the same respect and treatment as men when it comes to business. Why do you think this is so and how did you develop a thick skin?

This is based on the flawed narrative that men and women are different and the skewed societal views of women at an early age, which get transferred into business, eventually becoming a culture of unconscious bias. Beyonce said it best “We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.” To develop [a] thick skin, I learnt to not see myself through their eyes but through my eyes and those of my creator and enabler.

READ: Women Unlocked: Nonhlanhla Joye

Image courtesy of: Supplied