LEARNING CURVE: NMB brand developer helps local and national businesses soar
Entrepreneur Xoli Masoka’s passion is to help give businesses wings to fly in the online space, through brand development and digital marketing.
The 30-year-old Ntinga Brand Consultancy owner is committed to assisting entrepreneurs with refining their messaging so that they speak directly to their target audience, using relevant tools and effective communication platforms.
Please share some background on yourself and how the business was started?
I am originally from a small town called Ngcobo in the rural Eastern Cape, but I grew up in Zwide township, Port Elizabeth.
My late mother was a street vendor, selling fruits and vegetables for a living, while my dad worked as a bricklayer at a construction company.
Between the two of them, they had about five “side hustles” which included renting out back rooms at home and selling livestock to generate more income, and that is how I was introduced to entrepreneurship.
I studied at Nelson Mandela University towards a BA degree in media, communication and culture.
Unfortunately, after my second year I had to drop out due to financial constraints.
During this period, I joined the SANDF, where I served as a public relations officer in the South African navy.
This was a turning point in my life and taught me so much about resilience, teamwork and discipline.
I am now a three-time graduate, as well as a masters candidate in strategic communication at the University of Johannesburg.
Ntinga Brand Consultancy started with me helping a few friends who were starting their own businesses with brand development and digital marketing strategies.
At the time, I had very little intention to pursue the business on a full-time basis, but the economic downturn inspired me to take that leap of faith.
Article published by HeraldLive