Akhona Mosiane is the proud owner of a MAN Dealership on the Garden Route, but throughout her journey to success, it has always been about creating jobs for young people.
South Africa (16 October 2023) – Given the opportunity to go to university on a bursary, Akhona Mosiane has worked her way to a position where she can finally give back. Her goal has always been to create as many jobs as possible, and now she does just that.
When she was in high school, her teachers always inspired her to strive for her best. They said that just because her parents didn’t get the chance to finish school didn’t mean she couldn’t either. She worked hard and became the recipient of a bursary to the University of Free State.
Starting her work life in insurance, she is today the Managing Director of the Garden Route MAN Dealership. Through various career moves within the automotive industry, Akhona worked her way into a position where the opportunity to acquire her dealership became a reality; however, she was given a mere three months to find the funding.
Reaching out to Nonkqubela Maliza for advice – a stranger at the time – led her to the path of connecting to the VW Trust Fund, which turned out to be the financial lifeline she needed. Nonkqubela offered her advice during this stressful time, “visualise success and stay calm”.
As the Director of Corporate and Government Affairs at Volkswagen, Nonkqubela Maliza shares how Akhona’s position fits perfectly within the VW BEE Trust, which aims to diversify the supply chain by focusing on women entrepreneurs in the automotive sector.
The VW BEE Trust is igniting a powerful movement to cultivate small businesses nationwide. The Trust focuses on supporting incubation programmes and funding opportunities, with a particular emphasis on women-owned businesses within the automotive value chain. Supporting these women helps bolster their foothold in the industry and inspires progress.
Akhona has broken the mould, overcome poverty through education and mentorship and embraced a career in an industry where she is one of very few women.
She’s committed to paying it all forward by providing employment opportunities to as many people as possible, understanding the transformative power of a single opportunity.
This is her inspiring story:
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