We caught up with one of Africa’s brightest young minds, Tiyani Tey Majoko to chat about her life experiences, business and what makes this young entrepreneur so dynamic.
Who is Tiyani Tey Majoko?
A hustler. Business and busyness define a big part of who I am. I am a tough person with a wicked sense of humour.I choose to see God in everything, so I try to run my life through a God filter believing that it’s all by Him and for Him.
Can you give us your background?
My paternal grandfather is from Mozambique; my paternal grandmother is Xhosa from the Eastern Cape (South Africa). My maternal grandmother is Zimbabwean and her husband is British. My dad calls me “a child of the universe”.
I was born in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) and did my primary schooling in Francistown (Botswana). I went to high school in Zimbabwe (Gweru) and I went to Pretoria (South Africa) for my university. I am currently citizen of Johannesburg.
I’m quintessentially African!
What is your personal motto in life?
I am determined to succeed and my personal motto is “you either make excuses or get results, you can’t do both.”
Who and what inspires you?
I am inspired by God- His purposes for my life. I want to uncover what His mission for me on earth is. It must be pretty important if Jesus died for it!
I am inspired by anyone who overcomes challenges and in the process changes of the lives of many others.
Can you share some of your experiences as a young entrepreneur?
I started my first business at 12 where I was taking pictures of people in the farm area I lived in. The pictures were blurry so unfortunately no one was willing to pay for them! After that I made sandwiches and sold chocolates in high school. I also sold some body care products (bath salts, bubble bath gels, etc) during my gap year and in university I started a Christian clothing brand called Armor of God.
It was very well received, but when I started working full time, I couldn’t keep up with the demand. I am considering starting it up again. (Check out our Face book page Armor of God Clothing.)
As an entrepreneur, what principles do you live by?
Reliability is important in business. People need to know they can take your word to the bank! Openness is another pillar, people need to be able to feel like they can pick the phone and ask anything.
As a start up it’s tempting to say “we can do anything”, but clients will appreciate it if you say your limits and give them a great referral to another professional.
Hard work; you can’t cheat hustle. I alternate between hard work and smart work- but they both require wisdom, discipline and the hours!
I often hear how with my iPhone (best device ever) I have access to more information than Bill Clinton had as President of the USA. That’s a privilege and as a person who is an obsessive researcher, I am grateful because without this technology, I wouldn’t have been able to start my business at 26.
You are also in the legal sector, what are the biggest challenges in this line of work?
Due to my age and perhaps not enough years under the belt, it makes it challenging for big corporates to give me certain jobs to do. The “lack of credibility” becomes a stumbling stone, but it’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation where you need experience to get work, but you need to do work to get experience.
The legal sector is also very competitive and cut throat, so as a start up its very difficult to really put your foot in the door and keep it there. We have been fortunate and blessed thus far as many legal professionals have given us very constructive advice and clients are responding to us very positively!
Our website is www.lawgisticslegal.co.za
Have a look and contact us to let us know how we can help you!
What has been the most valuable lesson of life being an Attorney/businesswoman has taught you?
You need to believe in your product/ service like a crazy person. You need to believe that it’s going to work and that it meets a need. You can’t accommodate doubt in any form; that means cutting some friendships with people that don’t speak life into what you trying to accomplish.
You can’t hang out with fearful friends because fear is contagious. You need friends to check your blind spots that occur from excitement in your vision, but they give you things to consider not reasons to stop!
I am a furiously competitive person, so entrepreneurship has been very humbling.
You need to ask for help and admit your shortcomings. I have been so privileged to be surrounded by other dream chasers and generally generous people.
Time management is everything. “I forgot” simply cannot exist in the vocabulary of a business person.
What advice will you give other young business women like yourself?
Make it a point to speak in every meeting you attend, even if it’s a question. It is vital for you to hear the sound of your own voice and for your presence to be acknowledged.
I also strongly recommend that they join an association that has the same values and vision as they do about the future.
What exciting new projects are you working on?
In my non-existent spare time, my friends and I run a food stall that operates an organic food markets on most weekends. We are called Voroso, we make mutton dishes and we are a big hit! We are trying to grow the business, so follow us on Instagram @vorosomarkettreats to see where we are selling!
Like I mentioned above I am huge techie enthusiast, I have about 30 apps on my phone for all sorts of things! I am currently working on 2 apps.
One is a music sharing platform for African music called Kula and the other is a dating app for black professionals called Black Butter. I am looking for investors, partners and developers. If you are serious and want to get involved email me [email protected].
What Legacy would you like to live behind when you retire someday?
I would like to leave a legacy of faith. I want people to see what’s possible if you only believe.
What does the future hold for your brand?
Only great things lie ahead!
In terms of the legal consultancy business, I am looking forward to having more legal consultants joining us to grow the Lawgistics brand. I want to offer attorneys an alternative to law firms, banks and companies.
Regarding the tech ventures, those are going to be huge when they take off. Currently, there is no money like tech money and I am going to get mine! I am looking to launch them both apps in 2016, or perhaps the dating app later this year, you know to help people find some summer love over the December holidays!
My ultimate dream is to set up all these businesses and take a backseat. Yes, I believe in the hire-a-CEO-model! I love to write- it’s where I am most myself. It’s where I can truly show my heart, affections and emotions- it’s how I connect with God.
The end goal is to travel, read, write and have many great conversations with myself, strangers, friends and God! However, the time to do that is very expensive, so I am paying the cost to be the boss!
LinkedIn: Tiyani Majoko
Instagram: tey_carter
Facebook page: Motherland Funk