Lerato Ndlovu: The Creative Genius behind exquisite African-inspired accessories

Entrepreneurs, this is a great example of what the outcome of determination and hard work can look like. Whilst balancing her career as a Supply Chain Project Manager, this boss lady is holding down her business at the same time. Its no small feat, but she manages to put her creative juices to work in the evenings and on weekends.

Lerato Ndlovu is the mastermind behind NDAKA CREATIONS and in this story she inspires other entrepreneurs to believe in themselves and kick self-doubt to the kerb.

NDAKA CREATIONS is all about African beauty. By combining modern and traditional styles to create African-inspired accessories, these unique masterpieces will get you making a statement. However, if you're somewhat a creative guru yourself and have your own ideas in mind, NDAKA CREATIONS can also make customised pieces as per your request, be it colour or design.

So how did she get here, you may be asking. Having found the love of beads from a young age, she went on and took the bull by the horns by learning how to bead professionally; yet most of it comes naturally. Just by looking at her and her work, you can't deny that she has an eye for style and design and this comes across when she's bringing the pieces together. Not only in the final outcome, but her heart is in it all the way, NDAKA CREATIONS is named after her mother "Ndakanaiwa", so every piece is made with love.

"Having been in business for five months now, my biggest achievement has been getting an order within my second month that exceeded my expectations. It was overwhelming to say the least, it had me barely sleeping but it was worth it. The fact that I was willing to put all my efforts on it proved to me that I was indeed passionate about seeing this business grow. Another big achievement has been the support I have received so far. I know I am on the right track. "

"I enjoy the design process the most. I often take days or weeks visualising a design and trying to figure out how I can make it. It sometimes takes long to get the design right but when I do eventually get it right, it's like a Eureka moment! We are passionate about bringing a versatile product that can be worn in both traditional and modern settings. I even wear my pieces to the office which gives me a sense of pride in my African heritage. We make pieces for the woman who wants to make a statement about her love for the African continent."

When it comes to challenges, there is no denying that the first year of business can be difficult and a common challenge that early-stage entrepreneurs face is getting their name out there.

Lerato says, "My current challenge is getting the brand to be more visible and accessible. I am working on overcoming this by tapping into social media platforms. The next step will be to be accessible at markets and other online shops."

On a broader scale, Lerato contemplates the challenges that other entrepreneurs on the continent may face, "Speaking as an African entrepreneur embarking on the entrepreneurship journey, the biggest challenge I see is conquering the mind especially when in doubt. It took me more than two months after mastering my beading skills to actually let people know about my new venture. The fear of failure played a big part but also the fear of people not liking my product. However, when I put NDAKA CREATIONS out for the world to see, it was met with amazing reception. The budding African entrepreneur should not allow self-doubt to deter them from realising their dreams.

Also, I would like people to learn the importance of thinking more long term and to explore various avenues of being able to realise their goals. If anything, there are life lessons

that can be drawn from the experience. Because an idea is really just an idea until you put into action.

I would advise other entrepreneurs looking to start a business, to plan it like they would a project. It requires one to do their research and look at all the components that are required to at least give the idea wings. After that it's then about bringing those components together. More importantly, it is about not dwelling on the idea for too long, but about just starting to fly with it."

So what does the future hold for this gem? Nothing but growth and excellence and the seeds have already been planted.

"With the plans I have on expanding my product offering, I do intend to eventually grow to the point where I can also create lots of employment. Part of the plan this year is to keep making a variety of beaded jewellery but to also expand into different beading products. We want to be known as your one-stop shop for all types of African-inspired jewellery. I also hope to get to a point where I can nurture NDAKA CREATIONS enough to sustain itself whilst I focus on being an entrepreneur."

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